Suggestion for Hotel w/ Parking. Visiting Seattle area. (Bellevue, Redmond: hotels, university)

[Legacy Bear]

Hello,

We will be visiting Olympia and working our way up to Seattle. Any suggestions in terms of what and where we can visit along our trip up ?

Our primary concern are the hotels in Seattle (downtown area?). A lot of the hotels in the area don't seem to have 'free' parking. Does this mean the parking is hard to find? We want to visit Pike, Space Needle, Woodland Zoo and do some touristy type stuff.

Because of family needs, we prefer having easy access to parking/driving. Is parking as a whole an issue? Should we look for hotels outside like in Bellevue and then drive into Seattle?

Any suggestions or help is appreciated. Thanks.

[Hemlock140]

Most of our friends from out of state stay in Bellevue or Redmond, then go across one of the bridges to Seattle for the day. Parking is not so much hard to find as expensive. Our friends from CA last weekend stayed at the Fairfield Inn near Microsoft Campus in Redmond. Plenty of free parking. Many tourists actually take the bus, much cheaper than paying to park in Seattle, and your car is safe in an eastside park & ride rather than being exposed to the many car prowls in the tourist areas of Seattle. If you do drive, I recommend a parking garage, not street meter parking. You can get off at Westlake Park and walk to Pike Place Market, and from there to the Space Needle if you are up to a mile or so. The Zoo would require taking another bus.

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King County Metro Transit

[CrazyDonkey]

The least expensive option with free parking would be a hotel near Sea-Tac airport, with a free shuttle to the Sea-Tac light-rail station. Light rail can access Pioneer Square/International District, Pike Place Market, the Waterfront, etc. Take the Monorail to the Space Needle/Seattle Center and the #5 bus to Woodland Park Zoo.

[franklin42]

My vote would be for the Cedarbrook Lodge by the airport. You won't even know you are near a major airport. They have a Free shuttle to/from light rail station/airport. The Seattle areas best kept secret IMO. Their complimentary breakfast is really good too. Plus you have access to free bottled water and snacks 24/7. What a concept.

[Legacy Bear]

Thanks for the tips. It‘s more like family needs, like mobility issues and kids that we prefer to have closer access to our car more often than not.

Any tips for parking for Pike, Space, and Woodland Zoo? Or is Wesrlake Park the best spot to park?

We may go that route, look for hotels outside of Seattle like in the Bellevue are and cross the bridge.

Thanks. Also, any places worth going in terms of local seafood? Or food in general?

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by Legacy Bear

Thanks for the tips. It‘s more like family needs, like mobility issues and kids that we prefer to have closer access to our car more often than not.

Any tips for parking for Pike, Space, and Woodland Zoo? Or is Wesrlake Park the best spot to park?

We may go that route, look for hotels outside of Seattle like in the Bellevue are and cross the bridge.

Thanks. Also, any places worth going in terms of local seafood? Or food in general?

There is a public parking garage at Pike Place Market that many restaurants in the Market can verify.

Public Market Garage | Pike Place Market

One option would be to park there, tour and eat at the Market, then walk to the Monorail to go to the Space Needle, which kills two birds with one stone. There are also parking lots and garages at the Seattle Center for visiting the Space Needle and other attractions there.

Live At Seattle Center - Transportation -

For Woodland Park, parking shouldn't be a big problem if going on a weekday, earlier in the day, or in the off-season.

Directions and Parking - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA

[Gardyloo]

There are a few hotels in the downtown/Lake Union/Seattle Center area with free or affordable parking. For example the Silver Cloud Hotel (very nice local chain) has free parking at its Lake Union property - Seattle Waterfront Hotels . They also have a free shuttle that will take you downtown or to Seattle Center (Space Needle etc.) and the Lake Union streetcar has a stop a block or two from the hotel.

[leastprime]

Originally Posted by Legacy Bear

Hello,

We will be visiting Olympia and working our way up to Seattle. Any suggestions in terms of what and where we can visit along our trip up ?

Our primary concern are the hotels in Seattle (downtown area?). A lot of the hotels in the area don't seem to have 'free' parking. Does this mean the parking is hard to find? We want to visit Pike, Space Needle, Woodland Zoo and do some touristy type stuff.

Because of family needs, we prefer having easy access to parking/driving. Is parking as a whole an issue? Should we look for hotels outside like in Bellevue and then drive into Seattle?

Any suggestions or help is appreciated. Thanks.

Summer? If so, Parking is premium. Book early. Lots of tourists and Alaska Cruise people around.
Stay on Bainbridge Island. ?? Pedestrian commute to Seattle. Ferry takes about 30minutes. Nice diversion with kids. Then from the ferry terminal is at bottom of PikesPlace, DT-Pioneer Square-International District-Stadiums, Waterfront & Aquarium. From PP a quick ride to Seattle Center by taxi, zipcar, car2go, Uber, BMWelectric to Seattle Center/SpaceNeedle or wherever.

You can walk from KingStreet Station to South Lake Union, at leasurely pace in under 2.5 hours. From PP to Space Needle is less than 20 minutes walk, leasurely.

Another alternative is stay near Udub. Drive & park at the University Link Station. From there you can get to Westlake (PP). walk to Waterfront.

Another alternative is to stay on the Airport Link route.

Parking is available at PP. Parking is not cheap but if you are staying in a DT hotel, Parking is then relatively cheap and public transportation is the better mode to get around. The advantage of a DT hotel is that you can return to central hotel and crash.

Do Airbnb. DS does ~$90/nite (we the parents stiff him) for a room, private bath, and kitchen privs, common areas. Street Parking available. Bus at door. CapitalHill streetcar is 4 blocks. He also does wholehouse (2+2) if he isn't in town.

[leastprime]

Seafood: Standards are Asian restuarants & shops along Jackson and International Area. Waterfront for salmon, crab, oysters, clam chowder.

[Legacy Bear]

Thank you very much folks. After researching a bit, a couple of hotels do have parking. We just more concerned about the availability of parking because of family.

Thanks for those helpful links. Will research and double check with you folks. I like the idea of parking at Pikes, validating and then stroll leisurely to Space Needle and what not. I also saw the EM museum, which may be cool.

Btw, how will the weather be like in May? We‘ve only been in Olympia during the Fall. Thanka guys,