Visiting Seattle—would love some guidance

Oh Mardee, there is so much to see and do here! The Argosy Locks cruise is excellent. I like it better than the harbour cruise. Ballard is a great neighborhood and the Nordic Museum there is really good. The farmers market in Ballard is one of the best. You can walk to the Ballard Locks as well. Chihuly garden is gorgeous! Pike Place Market is best is the morning before the crowds. I like going really early when the flower vendors are still setting up. Bacco is our favorite breakfast spot and it’s by the market. The Dungeness crab omelette is my go to there. You could take the ferry over to Bainbridge as a foot passenger and wander the town a bit before coming back.

As for hotels your budget is low since cruise season will have started (check dates to be sure). That said I love the Mayflower Park Hotel. It is the oldest independently owned hotel in the city. We have stayed there for special events. The Westin is good too, but of course more generic. Again we have stayed there for events.

I do think you would enjoy coming up Edmonds. The RS office is only open on Saturdays. It is smack downtown and the town is really cute with all sorts of shops etc. they have a lot of outdoor markets that go on there too.

I’m sure I will think of more but this will get you started.

In 2011 we did an underground tour. http://undergroundtour.com/main/
I really like the Pioneer Square area to stay but it was 15 years ago so I don't know if the neighbourhood is still OK. It probably is because the stadiums are nearby.

Oh and do check out Bill Speidels Underground Tour or the Underworld Tour. Fascinating history of the city.

Mardee!!! How fun! I wish I was in town in April - I'd invite you right out for lunch!!!

I would suggest the Inn at the Market over Hyatt 8. The Hyatt 8 is a little removed from the waterfront area of downtown and I feel like if you're in Seattle, you want to see water, mountains, and the ferries.

I would splurge on a view room at the Inn at the Market. You literally walk out to Pike Place Market, you can see the ferries criss-crossing the waters, the Olympics may well be on display for you. There's nothing prettier.

Seattle highlights - the Chihuly Glass at the Seattle Center is 100% worth it. The volume and variety of glass there is fabulous.

The best and prettiest ferry route out of Seattle is the Seattle-Bremerton run, in my opinion. It's an hour each way - and you don't really need to get off to see much in Bremerton but there is the USS Turner Joy ship/museum there, which is excellent.

Another good ferry route is Seattle to Bainbridge Island. That one is about 35 minutes and you end up in a cute little town...Winslow...and there's a great book store and some nice restaurants for snacks/meals.

And is it worth it to make it up to the Rick Steves Travel Center?

It is open ONLY on Saturdays. Making a trip to just for that probably not worth it. If you want to wander the shops of Edmonds (several wine tasting opportunities) then it might be interesting.

If you go to the Tom Bihn store the FIRST Costco store is not far away. :-)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/TOM+BIHN,+4750A+Ohio+Ave+S,+Seattle,+WA+98134/Costco+Wholesale,+4401+4th+Ave+S,+Seattle,+WA+98134/@47.5627974,-122.3445939,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x549040271ab76e39:0x1f474e0ad2a43c44!2m2!1d-122.3375857!2d47.5593144!1m5!1m1!1s0x549041ce7ac75819:0x42d0987d610a4a8b!2m2!1d-122.3304717!2d47.5653465!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

How do you plan to get around? Be advised that Seattle has the highest uber fares in the country. The good news is there are plentiful. So much so the drivers were picketing the uber office because there are too many and not enough business to go around.

The Waterfront is now done and ready for tourists. Be sure to get some clam chowder and fish and chips at Ivars.

Oh, you all are getting me so excited! I knew it would be fun, but it sounds even better than what I've been thinking.

mikliz, thanks so much for the ideas! It sounds like a wonderful area. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to get to the Rick Steves store, as I leave on Saturday morning. I'm there from Wednesday, April 21 through Saturday, April 25. I will definitely check out those hotels, though! I'd like to get that booked soon.

Allan, I was reading about Pioneer Square, and it sounds interesting. And that underground tour sounds interesting that you and mikliz97 both mentioned! It must be good!

Valerie, thank you for the hotel tips—I will definitely check it out as it sounds great, as do all your other great tips! The view room sounds absolutely incredible, as do the ferry ideas. I can't wait to go to the Chihuly Museum and Gardens. I love his work. And I'm so sorry I will miss you!

Joe, I'd hope to just use walk and use public transportation if possible. To be honest, I haven't really researched it yet, but I guess I was assuming that Seattle was big enough to have some decent public transport. And of course, I don't mind using Uber either. Thanks for the seafood recommendation. I love fish and chips—and clam chowder.

I’ve visited many times but usually visiting people and not much touring.

The season cries out for a garden visit since it's the perfect climate. Kubota Japanese garden is a little south of downtown, but too far to walk. Azaleas will likely be flowering.

Having done the MSP>>SEA run on Alaska note that there is an inch more legroom in economy on the port side of the plane behind the exit rows, if every inch matters to you (it does to me).

For shops, I'm partial to Market Spice tea at Pike Place market, the cinnamon orange flavor is my favorite. https://marketspice.com/ It's definitely fun to wander through the market, be sure to watch the fish shops toss their catch around. The original Starbucks is near there but unless you are a die hard it's not worth waiting in the VERY long line. Ferry rides are always fun, even in the rain, and if you're lucky the mountains will be out (PNW talk for "visible"). An outpost of Portland's Salt and Straw ice cream has made it to Belltown, always worth a taste. Endless beer and wine choices - you can't miss in that department. If you happen to be into aviation, the Museum of Flight is between downtown and Sea-Tac. My nephew works there so let me know if you want to visit I can ask for a favor :)

Our local forum members will help you with nitty gritty, but you can take light rail from the airport to downtown area. Parking especially around the market is AWFUL so definitely use your feet and transit. And it goes without saying, bring your water repellant outerwear and shoes, it's possible you could see four seasons in one day (multiple times).

Like David, I was immediately thinking Tulip Festival.

Oh gosh yes, the tulip festival! Not on a weekend though!

There is a market on Saturday the 25th in Edmonds at the Masonic Lodge, which is in the heart of downtown.

https://tulipfestival.org/

Tulip fields are ~ 65 miles north of downtown Seattle so walking or transit are not practical options.

If you do go to the tulip fields, the town of LaConnor would be worthwhile to visit for its shops.

Mardee, you won't be able to experience much of Seattle just by walking. (Well, you will, but only after you get to the place where you'll be walking. I definitely wouldn't recommend you spend all your time within walking distance of downtown.) I'd consider getting an ORCA card (https://seattletransitblog.com/seattle-for-visitors/) so you can easily jump on buses or light rail to get around.

If you've never seen working locks, it's worth visiting the Ballard Locks (https://ballardlocks.org/). And Ballard is a great neighborhood to wander around and explore on foot.

I second the recommendation for the Underground Tour. I think I did it four or five times, and only the last time did I decide that for my next visitor, I'll bring them here and wait for them to do the tour without me.

I also second the recommendation for The Inn at the Market.

If you are into theatre, check out if anything is on at the Intiman, Seattle Rep, and Union Arts Center. All three do excellent work.

You'll love Seattle and environs. I haven't stayed at the Pali Hotel near Pike Place Market, but friends did last fall and liked it. Might be more budget-friendly than Inn at the Market or Mayflower Park, which would also be good choices. Another one, too rich for my blood, is the Edgewater, right on the waterfront but a considerable walk from downtown.

The Orca card for visitors would be a good idea. You'll want to use public transit over three days in Seattle. The suggestions about the ferries are spot on -- either to Bainbridge or to Bremerton. You'll have to get off but you can get right back on again. Great views (weather permitting, as always) of Mt. Rainier, the Olympics, and the city skyline. Otherwise I'd suggest avoiding "day trips" out of town, you won't have time.

But if you insist on a day trip, and it's Friday morning, come take one of my tours of our beautiful state capitol (inspired partly by yours in St. Paul). ;-)

If you're interested in the Museum of Flight

https://www.museumofflight.org/

You may be interested in a tour of the HUGE assembly plant they build the planes in.

https://www.boeingfutureofflight.com/visit

More pics:

https://www.flyingmag.com/inside-the-worlds-largest-airplane-factory/

but if you're not an enthusiast, maybe not.

Hi Mardee,

Wow, that’s a great price! Enjoy spending your “new found free money”, what we called the extra from an unexpected sale, in Seattle.

It’s been five years since I lived there, but I would prioritize a ferry - I’d choose the Seattle to Bainbridge Island. And go to one of the parks where the rhodies & azaleas are blooming. I would go to Edmonds for the shops but would not have prioritized the RS store, even if you were there on a Saturday. It’s the items that are available on-line, and a large room of reference guidebooks. But Edmonds has some cute shops, especially if you’re looking for something artsy.

Take the monorail over to the Chiluly museum - one of my favorites! It’s great for beautiful photographs; hint: use the building’s & garden features to highlight or reflect some of the glass displays.

Have a great time!

David, I do like flowers!

Toby, I'm on the short side, so I'm not all that much in need of extra legroom, but good to know. And thanks for letting me know about the Kubota Japanese Garden. I saw a photo of it yesterday when I was doing a little research, and it was beautiful.

CL, Thanks for the info on the light rail. That sounds perfect for me—I always used the light rail at the airport when I was traveling to and from Minneapolis. I will definitely be bringing a water repellent jacket and shoes. And thanks for the ice cream tip—I've heard of that brand before and would love to try a good, small-crafted ice cream! The Pike Place market sounds really interesting, and especially the tea store. I love good teas so I'm sure I will be heading there!

SunnyBlueFlax: Tulips would be nice to see. 😊

Joe, thanks for the information on LaConnor. I did notice the tulip fields are farther north, but it also looked like there were some tours available. That said, I just don't know if it's a viable option with only 3 days..

mikliz, sadly, that's the day I leave, so I won't be able to get up to Edmonds. Maybe another time. I want to take a road trip up to the Pacific NW at some point in the next few years, so maybe can get there then.

Lane, thanks for the public transport info. It sounds a lot like Minneapolis with light rails and buses, and I'm used to that, so hopefully I'll be able to get around fine, especially with the ORCA card. Ballard also looks really interesting. Mikliz mentioned it also, and that would be a good stop to wander around. I also think the underground tour will have to be a must for me!

I will check into the theatre offerings as well. I had a friend who used to work at Seattle Rep always raved about their productions, but he is retired now and moved away. It would still be fun to see something there or one of the other theatre offerings. Thanks!

Dick, I can see that I will love Seattle! I'm already in love with it, and I haven't even been there yet. 😊 Thank you for the additional hotel recommendations. These will all come in very handy. Everyone has given me such great ferry information. I can't wait, as I love boats. I think you're right about the day trips. With only three days, I'd rather concentrate on being in the city and seeing what's there without spending a lot of time traveling.

That's pretty neat about your state capitol being influenced by Saint Paul's (which is gorgeous, I must admit). I love St. Paul, as it has a more European feel to it. One of these days I will have to make it to Olympia; perhaps on my Pacific NW road trip that is still just an unticked box at this time.

Robert, thanks for the links. I would be interested, so I might check them out. I do appreciate the history of flight. My uncle was a pilot during World War II and was shot down over the Pacific, and that's always been a factor in my family history. Plus, my brother is a pilot and recently retired from Delta.

Jean, I will definitely have to be taking multiple ferries to see all these ferries that have been recommended, but I don't mind doing that. I do love boats. That's a good idea about going to a park with blooming flowers. They certainly won't be blooming here in Duluth yet, so it will be nice to see some color in the ground. And I really want to get to the Chihuly Museum. He is one of my favorite artists, and I love his work. Thanks!

Good grief, Mardee. I’ve never been so I’m bookmarking - but it sounds like you need a week, not 3 days!

I know, TTM!!! What the heck was I thinking by only booking three nights? Well, it will just be additional motivation to come back again.

Hotel Update: To all of those who recommended Inn at the Market, thank you! I just booked a room there and got a really good deal. They had reduced rates on my dates, so I was able to book the room for $235 a night. It's a city view, not a water view, but most rooms were in the $300 to $500 range, so I can live with that if I save $100+ a night. 😊

I used to live in British Columbia, and Seattle was almost a second home. I love it. Our favorite parts:

• Alki Beach Best views of the Space Needle over downtown. The best brunch I've even had is at a place called Salty's on Alki Beach (all the usual brunch stuff, plus amazing crab legs and other seafood, and the aforesaid views of downtown.

• Belltown After doing the obligatory (but underwhelming) Pike Place Market, walk north a few blocks to the cool part of Seattle with the best bars and restaurants.

• Ballard Locks Nice park, water views, boats passing by. Its too bad, our favorite restaurant Hiram's used to be there, but it has long since closed down.

• The U District So called because it is the area surrounding UDub (the University of Washington).

• if you have a car, Kirkland Nice suburban area right on Lake Washington.

Top Tip Before you go, watch the movie Singles with Matt Dillon and Bridget Fonda (special cameo by Pearl Jam).

Belltown After doing the obligatory (but underwhelming) Pike Place Market, walk north a few blocks to the cool part of Seattle with the best bars and restaurants.

We stayed in the Belltown Inn when we visited Seattle!

Mardee, I think we were only there for 3 nights, also (I'd like to go back to explore beyond Seattle). Our trip was part of an Alaskan cruise starting from Vancouver and ending with land travel in Alaska up to Talkeetna and Denali. The underground tour was great!

Darren, thank you for all those recommendations! I won't have a car, so Kirkland will probably be out, but that leaves a lot of other places to get to. However, the name "Kirkland" makes me curious. Is that where Costco got the Kirkland brand name?

mnannie, even with only three days, I'm hoping to see as much as possible, but like you, I would like to explore further. I mentioned above that I'm seriously thinking about taking a road trip up there at some point in the next few years. If you're interested, I could stop by on my way and pick you up! 😂

Adding to the chorus of those recommending the Ballard/Chittenden Locks. Pleasant area and just relaxing to watchs the locks do their thing. And the Ballard Farmers Market is jumping too.

I would also recommend the Queen Anne neighborhood tour. They offer different architeture tours as well.

We stayed at the The Maxwell Hotel at the foot of the Queen Anne neighborhood just a few blocks north of the Needle. Very nice and reasonable and free cookies! They have a deal where if you stay 3 nights, the 4th is free.

"Is that where Costco got the Kirkland brand name? "

Apparently so.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/kirkland-signature-brand-history/

[snip]
Around 30 years ago, it’s unlikely you would have found the Kirkland name in your Costco warehouse. That’s because up until the ’90s, Costco didn’t have a single brand that covered all of its packaged goods. Rather, about 30 different brands made up all the store-brand products at Costco.

But Jim Sinegal, Costco’s co-founder and then CEO, was inspired by an article in Forbes to overhaul Costco’s branding. In 1995, Costco took all its private label products and gave them a single brand name: Kirkland Signature. The name came from the company’s original Washington State headquarters. While Costco had recently moved to Issaquah, Sinegal said, “Nobody could spell Issaquah, so we kept it.”

I loooooove Pike Place Market, and go there regularly for lunch or dinner, or just a wander around. Great suggestions already. I do recommend the Orca card if you're over 65 - all rides $1. Better than tap to pay, which doesn't know how old you are. Also, when heading for the Market, choose the Symphony light rail stop rather than Westlake. They are approximately equidistant, and Symphony plays music as you get to street level - also the station is cleaner, without a whiff of pot smoke.
Have a wonderful time!

Edited to add my favorite Market places to eat:
Lowell's - in the main Market building a short inside walk north of the Pig. Three levels of atmosphere and good food, with views of the Sound. We like to sit on the 2nd level, get table service by the bar, and people watch down at the main Market level
Pink Door - good Italian food in a pretty setting. Across from the Irish bar in an alley about 2 blocks north of the main Market
Place Pigalle - elevated French/PNW food in a sweet setting with killer views of the Sound. From the Pig, walk toward the water on the right side of Don and Joe's Meats. You'll briefly go outside, and then find the restaurant on your left.
You can get fish at most sit down places, or order from Jack's Fish Spot in the Sanitary Market Building, next to Three Girls Bakery, and walk across through the market stalls to eat outside with a view of the water.

And two museum comments:
The Seattle Art Museum is excellent, and close to your hotel
The Chihuly Museum on Seattle Center grounds is amazing. If you go, eat at Skillet in the Seattle Center House - bacon jam hamburger on brioche bun is to die for

GeoffB beat me to it regarding tap to pay on Sound Transit.

I don't think anyone mentioned it but the outdoor sculpture garden north of Pike Place Market is a nice outdoor stroll walkable from Inn at the Market. I stayed there about 35 years ago. Got oysters, an oyster knife and beer from the market, went to the roof patio of the hotel and had a nice little snack :-)

Another thing to look for in Ballard and Bainbridge are the Thomas Dambo trolls. I haven't see the ones in Ballard or Bainbridge so not sure how to get there. There is also one in Lincoln Park in West Seattle. I've only seen the one on Vashon, which would be a worthy daytrip if you had more time and a car. https://www.parentmap.com/article/giant-trolls-thomas-dambo-seattle

ETA: Looks like the troll on Bainbridge is about 1.5 miles from the ferry terminal.

Mardee, if you’re planning to come out for the Coeur d’Alene weekend in September, you might need to return your rental car in Seattle and finish Part 2 of your Seattle trip! : )

I don’t think anyone has mentioned the International District yet - always good to have lots of options. Not only is there the Wing Luke Museum which includes re-creations of the Freeman Hotel apartments and a marketplace that were a part of the Chinese immigrant experience in Seattle as well history, art and culture relative to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. It’s a Smithsonian and National Park Affiliate.
Within the neighborhood is also the ginormous Uwajimaya market as well as the Panama Hotel, home to a tea room and museum dedicated to the Japanese-American relocation in Seattle during World War II. The latter is especially moving if you’ve read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Mardee, that’s a great price. I quickly checked my schedule and found I was gone on a trip during that time. Otherwise I would have been glad to be a local guide.

Transportation: take the light rail from the airport downtown. For this first trip just tap on and tap off with your credit card. Once downtown go to the ride store and get a senior Orca Card. Ride almost anywhere for a $1 a trip with it. Once you have your hotel nailed down, we can tell you which stop is closest. Add some cash to the Orca Card and it can also be used as a foot passenger on the ferries, although it will cost more than $1.

Pike Place Market should be experienced as early in the day as possible to avoid ridiculous tourist traffic.

Hint; there are elevators between the Market and the waterfront. You do not need to climb 200 stairs there! There is also a new viewing area between the Market and the Aquarium that is great for going down.

An interesting walk is to keep walking north along the waterfront, past the sculpture park toward Smith Cove. Walk there and people will think you are a local.

If you have the slightest interest in aviation, The Museum of Flight is world class and just a short bus ride from downtown.

I also encourage people to look beyond the downtown area. Seattle is made up of quite a few interesting neighborhoods.

Another free sight is the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic park located near pioneer square. Worth looking in if in the area. Half of this park is in Seattle and half is in Skagway.

nixit71, I think everyone has me sold on the Ballard Locks. And the Queen Anne neighborhood tour looks nice. I do like architectural tours. Also, thanks for the rec for The Maxwell Hotel. Unfortunately, I'm only there 3 nights, so the fourth free night wouldn't do me any good. Plus I've actually already booked a room at the Inn at the Market. They had some good deals there, so it worked out well. 😊

Robert, thanks for filling me in on the Kirkland history. love the story about why they didn't use Issaquah. That's very funny!

GeoffB, thank you, that is good to know about tap and pay. And thank you for the tips on the neighborhoods and the Museum of Pop Music. This all looks pretty wonderful. So many places in so little time, unfortunately, but I'm looking forward to testing my endurance on this trip.

KC, Oh, that's great to know about the ORCA's senior discount! And that is so awesome about the Symphony light rail stop! I can't wait to try that out! Thank you for all the lists of eating places. Everything looks wonderful, and OMG, bacon jam hamburger on brioche?!! Yum!
I do plan on going to the Chihuly Museum as I love his work And we'll hopefully stop by the Seattle Art Museum. Thank you for all this!

Trotter, thanks for the information on the Trolls! Those sound pretty cool. I think I'll have to put the Vashon one off for a later trip, but the rest sound interesting, and I love the idea of an outdoor sculpture garden right there by Pike Place Market. That sounds very nice, and I just read last night that the hotel has a roof patio, so I'm pretty excited about that.

Jean, ha ha! That's a great idea!

Patty, that's so neat that Seattle has such interesting areas. I love that it's so multicultural, and I will definitely check out the International District. I have not read that book, but I might need to rectify that. Thanks!

CarolNR, I'm so bummed that you will be gone! I would have loved to have met up with you. Thanks for the tip about using the Orca card. I love that, and it's nice to know that you can use it on the ferries as well. I do have my hotel nailed down at this point. I found a great deal at the Inn at the Market ($235 per night in a city view room) so I decided to take advantage of it.

Thank you also for telling me about when to visit Pike Place Market. I don't like crowds, so that's good to know, and even better to know about the elevators, lol! I just can't believe how many wonderful places Seattle has to visit. I'm sure I'm going to be overwhelmed, but in a good way. I really can't wait to visit your city!

Mardee--I agree about Skillet! There is also one inside SEA.

Mardee, I am so happy you asked this question, and everybody, thank you for your responses to Mardee !

Alaska is instituting a new direct flight between Seattle and Tulsa (this month, I think). My niece is a student at the University of Washington now, and so I have a ticket to go visit her in October before going to see my parents. So I am looking forward to seeing what I can see of campus and of the city this fall.

I have only been there for a couple of times, and the last one was probably nearly 25 years ago, so it will be like a totally new experience to me.

So, I have duly bookmarked this thread, and I thank all our Seattle-area locals for their wonderful responses !

Mardee, Seattle is a great city to enjoy. 3 days is not very long. Be strategic to make the most of it.

Arrival day. Monorail to Seattle Center, Chihuly, Space Needle, Theatre? Seattle Rep is excellent and at the Center. https://www.seattlerep.org/

Full Day. Market in the morning. Spend three hours there and explore. So many shops, produce, fish mongers, artisans, odd and specialty shops in various nooks and crannies, upstairs, downstairs. Spice shop mentioned above, collectibles, magic, bakeries, wine, and so much more. Breakfast and lunch in the market. The Athenian has great views and good food. So many spots at the Market to sit down and dine or just grab a sandwich, pizza, French pastries and more. Bolivian food, Filipino food, some fine dining. https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/category/where-to-eat/ Then, after lunch, down to the waterfront, perhaps an hour at the newly expanded Seattle Aquarium and then walk down the waterfront to take a ferry over to Bainbridge Island or the Elliott Bay passenger ferry to West Seattle and Alki Beach. If you go to Bainbridge, visit the very nice museum there, a couple of blocks from the ferry terminal.

Another full day. - the International District and Pioneer Square are near one another. In the ID, check out Uwajimaya Market, as well as the Wing Luke Museum. In Pioneer Sq., there are galleries as well as the Underground Tour. Plus time for downtown shopping near your hotel, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and an evening concert (classical) at Benayoya Hall? Or Jazz Alley? https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/

An alternative to the Kuboda Garden, mentioned above, would be the Arboretum near UW. Great azaleas and a Japanese garden, as well. And the UW campus (about a mile away) is gorgeous. You can get the light rail from downtown to UW or you can get a bus from 4th and Pike downtown that goes up Pike and then Madison to the Arboretum.

Do you cycle? You can get one of those Lime Green bikes - or maybe rent a bike from a shop or find a cycle tour. I see some bike tour groups when I’m out on my own. There are a lot of bike lanes - some dedicated, downtown - and some great bike trails, though Seattle’s network is a bit spotty. Private message me if this is a possible interest. We bike about 2000 miles a year in and around Seattle. BTW, Seattle has 86 miles of shoreline and great walking and cycling trails along many shorelines.

mikliz: Oh, thanks for that info! Skillet sounds great, and anything with bacon in it has to be good, lol!

Kim, I know, I can't believe the wonderful responses this thread has gotten! You guys just rock. I'm so excited about coming to Seattle and trying to fit everything in. However, as TexasTravelMom said, I would need at least a week to do that, so some of it will have to be saved for my next visit. And I'm sure that there will be one!

That will really be great fun, I'm sure, to visit your niece, and how handy that Alaska Airlines is now a direct flight. I'm looking forward to trying Alaska Airlines for the first time. I've heard a lot of good things about it on this forum.

fred: Can I just hire you as my travel consultant? Your itinerary looks awesome! Seriously, everything on there looks wonderful, so I will definitely be using it as at least a base for some activities. I do bike, although I haven't biked much since I've been in Duluth, as it's just so hilly here and we live on a very busy rural road that's hard to bike on. I really miss it, and that would be something fun to try there.

I'll send you a PM once I get my thoughts together about this. Thank you so much for all this—I really appreciate the time you took.

Mardee -- Yes, I am excited to try Alaska Airlines too !

Thanks for the post, Mardee. Since we (DH, DD & Dsil) ended up canceling our UK trip for early March, we are going to spend a few days in Seattle with our daughter & SIL , and son (who live in Seattle) doing tourist things we've never done on our visits. Now I have a nice little list from which to choose.

For Inn at the Market, get off light rail at Westlake station. Just a three block walk to the hotel.

Mardee -

Great that you’re staying at the Inn at the Market. Among fine dining (dinner) spots in the Market, there is Cafe Campagne in the same building. The Pink Door, already mentioned, requires a rez many weeks in advance. Other high end dining spots in and around the market include Place Pigalle, Matt’s in the Market, and Aerlume.

The Wild Ginger, at 3rd & Union, about three blocks from the oft-pictured entrance to the Market at 1st and Pike, is a great Asian fusion restaurant. Wild Ginger is next to the Triple Door - a good music spot - and just across the street (Union) from Benaroya Hall, home to the Seattle Symphony. SAM is just 2 blocks away at 1st and Union.

But some of the street life at Third and Pike and about a block in every direction is on the down and out and drug influenced side. Better to walk down First and then up Union. Simply avoid engagements with street people and walk with purpose. If you can’t avoid a word, just be polite, say sorry you can’t (whatever, help, give directions since you don’t know) and keep moving. A smile, positive engagement and recognition is usually the right response and all that is needed. A handout is exactly what is NOT needed or appropriate.

If you want to help down and out folks, give to the clinic at the market. https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/vendor/neighborcare-health-at-pike-place-market/. And https://neighborcare.org/serving-the-pike-place-market-community/

I will second Matt's in the Market. We had a late lunch there this past summer. We didn't have reservations so sat at the bar. So instead of looking out towards the water we chatted with the bartender. :-)

Thank you Fred for your many great suggestions and for advice on how to best perhaps share in a helpful way.

CanAmCherie, wow, everyone is coming to Seattle now! That's so cool! It's too bad we're not all going to be there at the same time, but I'm very excited about everything that's available. If only I just had the time to do it all. Sigh.

Carol, thank you!

fred, Thank you for the dining tips, especially those that require a reservation. I need to keep that in mind. And I like the sound of The Wild Ginger; I do love Asian fusion. Also thank you for the info about the street people and what streets to avoid. We have the same issue here in Duluth (on a smaller basis, I'm sure) and of course it was prevalent in Minneapolis when I lived there. I think every large city and even small cities have that problem so I'm good at just passing by or smiling and telling them that I never carry cash (which is true). Thanks for the suggestion about donating, though. I will certainly so if I have a chance. Organizations like that are always in need of help.

Trotter, thanks for the rec. I like chatting with bartenders. That sounds like a nice place to do so. 😊

Dittoing the suggestions for the Nordic museum (especially since you’re headed to Scandinavia this summer!) and the Underground tour in Pioneer square. And I love the Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry every time I’m on it. Being on a boat and the Seattle skyline never get old.

We spend a lot of summer time in the San Juan Islands, and there's a high-speed catamaran ferry from Seattle to Friday Harbor. From there, there's whale watching boat trips, kayak tours, cute little town, and you can return to Seattle via a float plane. Don't know enough about Seattle proper to make suggestions. There's also the large ferry system although there are none from downtown. Port Townsend is also a really cute town "stuck in time".

We'll be on our way to Scotland on May 2, so we can't offer you a sailing adventure...

Mardee, you received some great suggestions, but I don't think two of my Seattle favorites were mentioned.

(1) Discovery Park - This is in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. Lots of hiking trails that bring you to the shores of Puget Sound with lovely views. Features a lighthouse, and we even saw some harbor seals when we were there.

(2) Kerry Park (Seattle) - AI description: "....offers the most iconic, post-card perfect and panoramic views of the city skyline. "

There's also the large ferry system although there are none from downtown.

NOT CORRECT

from the downtown waterfront, there are LARGE state car ferries across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. Walk on passengers can take these, as well. There are three Kitsap Country passenger ferries across the Sound to Southworth, Bremerton and Kingston. And King County operates passenger ferries across Elliot Bay to West Seattle (near Alki Beach) and also to Vashon Island. ALL these ferries allow bicycles at no additional charge to the walk on or passenger fares. All these ferries depart from Colman dock on the central waterfront.

Last year, the Victoria Clipper - from the waterfront a bit to the north at Pier 69 - did NOT run its second boat to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. They only operated the once a day boat to Victoria. You should check the Victoria Clipper website to see if Friday Harbor service has been restored. (So should I.)

The vessel for the Friday Harbour Clipper service has apparently been retired (hence why there has been no service to Victoria for 2 months since January, resuming this Friday) as they now have no spare vessel.
A brand new replacement vessel is apparently due in May 2026, although unclear if it will just do whale watching trips and not run the Friday Harbour service- https://www.workboat.com/new-whale-watching-boat-ordered-for-the-pacific-northwest-1744847117526

I'm excited for you to visit our wonderful city, Mardee! I am late to the response party but I want to heartly echo everything Fred said. He offers great ideas that I would also suggest. I would add, if the weather is pleasant, take the ferry from downtown to Bainbridge Island (Winslow). It's a great place to meander around, have a local beer or wine. And, you might even see some orca's (though May/June is the more usual time to see them.) Inn at the Market is fantastic! Café Compagne, Le Pichet, Pink Door all wonderful food choices as is Ivar's (an institution here in Seattle.) I also enjoy Matt's in the Market. If you enjoy tours, Savor Seattle offers great food tours. The original Sur La Table store is also at the market (well, across the street.) And if you enjoy improv theatre, there is the Unexpected Productions at the Market Theatre (right at the gum wall.) I hope you enjoy your visit!!

Stuart,

Thanks for your info about the whale watching cruise and new boat. I went to the Victoria Clipper’s website and I see the whale watching cruises beginning May 1, 2026. click here

It says -0- about stopping at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, unfortunately.

Oh how I miss the days when you could take a clipper to San Juan Island, then a state ferry over to Vancouver Island and the Victoria Clipper back to Seattle. We did that once with our bikes. E-biked on both San Juan Island and Vancouver Island with a stop at the Butchart Gardens. No car. Just bikes and panniers. Now the only one of those three ferries operating is one between Seattle and Victoria. The Washington state ferries through the San Juans no longer extend to Vancouver Island, as our aging fleet is suffering from too many years of deferred re-investment.

If you do take a State Ferry and use a credit card, there is a 3% fee. Just went into effect.
Not a budget breaker, but alerting so it isn't a surprise.

Luv2Travel: Yes, the Nordic Museum will be really interesting to see prior to my July trip, and I'm getting very excited about seeing that Seattle skyline on a boat! Thanks!

jjgurley, thanks for the suggestions! I will check them out. Haha, I need to get back to Scotland soon. I'm thinking maybe 2027.

Terri, those both sound wonderful! I think I'm going to need a month in Seattle! Either that or many, many trips back there. 😂

Fred, thanks for more information on those ferries. I do love ferries, and these all sound really interesting. I really do wish I had more time. I should have posted this first and then booked my trip, although at this point I am not sure I could allocate more time. But again, I'll just have to come back And with Alaska Airlines flying direct from Minneapolis, it's not that difficult of a flight.

Stuart, thanks for the information on the replacement vessel. I don't know if I'd have time to do a whale watching trip, especially since I'll be going to Iceland and hope to get one in there if possible. It's still good to know.

Kimberly, I'm excited for me to visit it, too! 😂 Yes, Fred's ideas have been wonderful, but I like yours as well. That's good to know about Inn at the Market and all the places around it. In fact, I saw Sur La Table on Google Maps the other day when I was perusing that area and got very excited because I love that store. I didn't realize this was the original one, so that's even better!

Fred, your journey, your story about taking a clipper to San Juan Island, then over to Vancouver Island and back sounds really special. I love living near Lake Superior, but I'd like living near the ocean even better. 😊

Joe, thanks for the info. That is good to know ahead of time.

Mardee

You can definitely take one or another ferry from downtown as part of any of your 2 and 2/3 days in Seattle. Bainbridge or West Seattle/Alki Beach. Get off the boat, take a walk, and on Bainbridge you can enjoy the nice little town of Winslow and its Bainbridge Island Art Museum. https://www.biartmuseum.org/.

Ferry back and forth and a walk should be accomplished in about 3 or 3-1/2 hours; less for the Elliott Bay Alki boat which does not get you OUT of the city, just across Elliott Bay.

If you will be satisfied with 1-2/3 days plus all three eves in Seattle - and you really want to explore areas out of the city by bike or by a combo of bike and ferries - there are more options, yet. You can rent a bike either downtown or in the U District and bike anywhere from 10 to 35 miles on relatively flat routes.

One of those includes our “four ferry” trip that includes probably about 25 to 30 miles of cycling including some shoreline cycling in Kitsap County as well as along Alki Beach in Seattle. (Elliott Bay Ferry, bike past Alki to the ferry from Fauntleroy to Southworth, bike from Southworth to Poulsbo. Lunch in Poulsbo and then ferry from Poulsbo to Bremerton and ferry from Bremerton to Seattle; 6 hours.)

Or you can bike along Lake Washington in Seattle and include the UW campus and University Arboretum. …. Or beyond Seattle to St. Michelle winery in Woodinville for some wine tasting and a picnic. 3 to 6 hour variants.

fred, once again thank you for this wonderful information! I definitely plan on taking the ferry out at least once, and Bainbridge Island looks nice, as does Alki Beach. I'm still on the fence about biking. Honestly, it's been so long since I biked that I might hold off until I visit again to do something like that. I know biking uses muscle memory, and the ability doesn't really go away but I'm still a little nervous about biking in a strange city. Although I suppose I could go down to the Cities and get some biking practice in there. Hmmm...

ORCA card update: I found out that you can buy the ORCA card in advance and they mail it to you! I was so excited to see this. I just ordered the Senior Orca Card by creating an account, uploading my driver's license, and they are sending it off to me within five business days. I was able to put money on it, and I don't think there was a charge for sending it. It was such an easy process, and now I'll be able to use it as soon as I get there. I love Seattle!

Mardee, I’m happy you’ve chosen to visit Seattle. It was mentioned before - referring to the walk on Elliott Bay ferry, which is actually the King County Water Taxi - to take this small ferry from the Seattle waterfront to West Seattle to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and then explore West Seattle. The Water Taxi dock is just South of the main ferry terminal in Seattle (Colman Dock). to get there, it is a pleasant walk from Pike Place Market along the beautifully revamped Seattle waterfront. The ride is short - maybe 15 minutes but usually very pleasant. You’ll see the entire Seattle skyline from North of the Space Needle to South beyond the two stadiums. Once you dock at Seacrest Park in West Seattle, there are timed shuttles available to just hop on. One shuttle goes in the direction of the center of town, Alaska Junction, and the other shuttle goes all along Alki Beach Drive. Please double check the schedule before you set out. They have extra runs for sports events and in the Summer, but might be limited any other time. I’m thinking cutoff is around 7 pm in Winter. They may be switching to a Spring schedule soon though.

You have a choice of either going up to the Alaska Junction where there are multiple options for shopping, restaurants, bakeries, bars/pubs or to travel along the Alki waterfront - mostly restaurants bars and beach activities. If coming up to the Junction, you must try Bakery Nouveau’s offerings (closed on Mon/Tues). It is, IMHO, the best French patisserie in the Seattle area.

If you want to see a troll, the one in West Seattle is fairly easy to get to by public bus from the Alaska Junction (C Line). You’ll get off at Lincoln Park and walk down the hill to the waterfront. Same bus going back to Junction, then the shuttle to Seacrest Park for the Water Taxi. There is somewhat of a secret way to see this troll avoiding the steep hill but you would probably need a vehicle for it.

I’m a senior resident of West Seattle and use this Water Taxi for easy access to the waterfront activities and to attend Sounders soccer matches. I use my Senior Orca card ($1.00/ each way).

The city of Seattle has really outdone themselves with the new waterfront - partly in preparation for the visitors attending the FIFA World Cup matches in June and July. I’m very excited for this event because I am volunteering at the stadium during the matches. Seattle will be bustling during this time.

Let me know if you would like to meet up - I could show you some of West Seattle, including the easy way to the troll. Here are some links for transportation and the troll. I sure hope you enjoy your visit. It will be hard to narrow down your choices but I remember you like to pack in quite a bit on your adventures. Hoping the mountains will be out for you.

https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/travel-options/water-taxi

https://parkways.seattle.gov/2023/09/15/meet-lincoln-parks-troll/

If you decide you want to see the tulips, here is the information:
https://tulipfestival.org
You can take the train to Mount Vernon and then a bus or taxi out to the fields (or arrange to meet a like-minded forum member with a car?). Amtrak runs two trains and two buses in each direction each day. The trains run along the water for much of the route, and the views are pretty great. Advance senior tickets cost as little as $14. The schedule isn't great, but it's not impossible.
Another plant-based option, especially if the weather isn't great, is the Volunteer Park Conservatory. It's possible to walk up the hill to get there from downtown, but it's pretty steep, and the buses go up there. The area around the park has some pretty amazing old homes/mansions. Shopping on Broadway and on 15th Ave E.
The UW Arboretum has a Japanese Garden that is closer to downtown than Kubota (which is GREAT, by the way), and they offer a tea ceremony, for which reservations are required:
https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/tea-ceremony
Finally, the art walk on Lake Washington behind NOAA includes The Sound Garden, an installation that inspired the name of the band Soundgarden. This is a beautiful area from which you can see Mt. Rainier on a clear day. There is a bus (#62) that you can take from downtown or from the UW station on the light rail. There is probably a different bus you could take from the north end of the UW campus if you decided to take the light rail and then walk through my alma mater's very beautiful grounds (stopping in to see the reading room on the third floor of Suzzallo Library). High-end shopping at University Village. Less high-end shopping on University Way (called "The Ave"), including Shiga's Imports, which has been around for ages.

Linda, thank you so much for all this incredible logistical information. This will come in so handy. Everything sounds just wonderful. I like the thought of going to the Alaska Junction and Bakery Nouveau; sounds perfect. I love a good French patisserie. I've been in the process of working with everything I'm finding here and laying it out on paper and then putting it in my notes and also Wanderlog so I can remember it. Always a big issue for me, lol! And I totally forgot that they were hosting the FIFA matches. That will be so cool especially that you will be volunteering at the stadium! Thank you for the links! And I will PM you about your offer.

G3rryCee, Thanks for this great information! I'm still up in the air about the Tulip Festival. I would love to see it, but I just don't know if I will have time. I will have to play that one by ear, but there are so many other things in your response that sound pretty wonderful, especially the parks you mentioned. I do love gardens and to be honest, I think I might enjoy that more than going to see the tulip fields. The art walk also sounds pretty fascinating, and you have definitely piqued my interest with your mention of the reading room. I think I will most certainly have to stop there and see what that's all about. This is going to be such a fun trip!

Lane et al regarding Underground Tours
My daughter says there are several Underground Tours, including family tours and evening tours for adults. Which tour/s did you do/do you recommend?

Looks like the mountains are getting lots of snow this week & weekend. We're headed over on Friday night. I went over in early February and there wasn't much snow in the Pass at all.

Thanks.

@CanAmCherie

I've only ever done the standard tour, never the family tour or the evening adult tour. And I don't see anything about those alternative tours on their website (https://undergroundtour.com/).

This seems to be the main competitor to Bill Speidel's underground tour.

https://www.beneath-the-streets.com/

[snip]
After Hours: The Adult Version of our Tour

Adults only tour with a focus on the "underside" of underground history. You will see and learn about the Seattle underground and Pioneer Square but with more adult themes than the standard tour. Gambling,drinking, sex work,drugs,and vice are the types of topics covered.
This tour is for guests 18 and older.

Staying by Pike Place is perfect for what you described - tons of quirky shops and easy walks around downtown. If the weather’s nice, the Bainbridge ferry ride is a super chill way to see the skyline.

Lane--I just looked and apparently the Underworld tour ceased when the pandemic hit, but they still do it as a private tour. My daughter and I did it and it was really good!

Thanks for the info on the underground tours. The adult tour sounds like one that is in Pendleton, OR.

Alas! We decided to stay home this weekend + as the passes are expecting many days of heavy snow and aren't eager for bouts of road closures. (most recently, did that last year) We're looking at either the first or last weekend in April.

Mardee,

I would follow Trotter's suggestion to see the Thomas Dambo Trolls! We have one near us and we really enjoyed seeing it. If we go to Denmark next year, we will check out some more of them.

Thanks, Katie! I think I am going to get to see one and I'm excited about that! I know there are some in Norway, but I don't think I'm going to get to see them this year, so I hope you get to see yours in Denmark!

If you're staying down by the market there'll be no shortage of good food. DeLaurenti's for snacks. I know they sell slices and I think they make sandwiches. Piroshki Piroshki is also good. Get there early. Every time I'm down there, they have a line (never used to be like that waaaay back when). The Can Can is a fun experience (not necessarily everyone's jam).

Thanks for the ideas, hulagirl—now I'm getting hungry!

DeLaurenti’s has great sandwiches! Grinders and subs on excellent bread, well-filled with various choices. Plus their chocolate chip hazelnut cookies are magnificent. You can take the sandwich upstairs, there, and find a much quieter spot to eat, rather than by the entrance.

Or French savory and sweet pastries and baguette sandwiches at Le Panier, just below your hotel on Pike Place. I often take mine across Pike Place and directly through the market, past the crafts stands and onto the deck for harbor views.

Or a nice sit-down Bolivian lunch at Copacabana Cafe, looking onto Pike Place. And there’s the Athenian Cafe, where Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner lunched in Sleepless in Seattle. You could have breakfast there. Or lunch.

Our recent, very Parisian dinner at Cafe Campagne, in the same building as the Inn at the Market, was perfectly fine. But our Italian dinner up Post Alley at the Pink Door a few days later was absolutely spectacular. It may be that you don’t need a rez in the bar area, so check on that. They also had jazz in the bar the weekday eve we were there.

And then there’s the Wild Ginger about 3 or 4 blocks away, by The Triple Door (jazz) and Benaroya Hall (classical), that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.

LATE Notes. When you explore the market, go down below in the main market building. Or up above in the “Sanitary Market” and other buildings, for clothing, magic, imports, spices, middle eastern foods, knives, collectibles and more.

And there are other restaurants that are quite good, mentioned in posts above. Matt’s in the Market, Place Pigalle, Kell’s Irish Pub.

Between the Market, whatever gardens or parks you choose, Pioneer Sq. & the Int’l. Dist., Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Center (take the Monorail to and from) with its Chihuly Glass Museum and possibly a play (Mary Jane, showing through 4/19) at SeattleRep, plus a ferry to Bainbridge Island or the water taxi across Elliott Bay, you will have a very full visit to Seattle.

Thanks so much, fred! As always, you give such great and detailed information! More to add to my list. I'm getting very excited about this trip.

So many good suggestions for my hometown!

I'll add another vote for Ballard (via bus) and West Seattle (via water taxi). Other than Kerry Park, West Seattle has one of the best views of downtown Seattle, and it's a beautiful walk (or bike) around Alki beach. There's also a good restaurant (Marination Ma Kai) right next to the dock.

Capitol Hill (via bus or light rail) also has great dining and shopping options (such as Elliot Bay Book Company), plus good people watching! The Pike/Pine corridors + Broadway are the busiest stretches, but the neighborhood around 15th Ave E is fun, too. In addition to the conservatory at Volunteer Park, there's also the Asian Art Museum (I think the building itself and view over the city are gorgeous). The park was designed by the Olmstead brothers (the same who designed Central Park in NYC!).

For nice walking, the whole area north of the Olympic Sculpture Park is great - Centennial Park and Elliott Bay Park (it was improved and updated by Expedia when they moved their campus to Seattle).

If you visit Chinatown/the International District, Uwajimaya is fun for snacks or shopping, and Fuji Bakery has delicious coffee and pastries. There's also Maneki restaurant - supposedly the oldest restaurant in Seattle. Saigon Deli has some of the city's best banh mi (my opinion :)

Another walking option is around Lake union (~6 miles). You get to see the Museum of History & Industry, Gas Works Park (another good view of downtown), and cross the Fremont Bridge (one of the busiest bridges in the world!). You could even detour to see the Fremont Troll.

Thanks, AC_pnw! I just saw this and we'll look it over. I'm actually down in the Twin Cities this weekend, and planning to attend the rally tomorrow, so I haven't had much chance to get to the forum. But this is great stuff!