Visiting Seattle - seeking advice please? (house, vs., airplanes)

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by mamajoy

Hi city-data people, my family and I will be visiting the Seattle area. We're visiting from a small town and don't have much experience with big cities. I was hoping to get a couple of my questions answered about the area by anyone who is willing to help. :-)

We're going to be staying in Fremont area, specifically around N 46th. Would you consider this to be a safe area?

We are going to visit Canada via Cascade Amtrak through King Street Station. Our returning trip will arrive back after 10pm. Would you recommend Uber, Lyft or taxi for getting back to our rental? Would it be difficult to find a ride back during this time? And is the station safe at this hour?

That's all for now. Thank you, thank you!

Yes, Fremont is pretty safe, lots of great live music there. make sure and visit "The Troll" under the bridge, really close to where you will be staying.

[mamajoy]

Wow! This was a super helpful thread! I really appreciate all the feedback.

So to summarize, Fremont seems to be good area to visit. We will be visiting all the highlights in Seattle, but wanted to stay somewhere conveniently out of the city. Looks like we'll be okay. Whew!

The train station may have some shady characters but is overall safe. Arrive at least 60 minutes before departure and request for "waterside" seats. Upon returning taxis or Uber/Lyft can be taken without a problem.

Whoo hoo! Thank you again. We're all so excited! These forums are the best!

[leastprime]

I know people line up. And OP, should arrive early to get a seat assignment. JMO, 60 minutes is plenty. They only open the counter no earlier than 30 minutes before departure. My issue is that if I get to Amtrak (SEA) too early for my return to Oregon, I'd start into the chinese dim sum snacks, vietamese sandwich, takeout combos, and BBQ/Roast meats before I get on the train. The train is 5 hours long for me from SEA to SLM. I discovered that if I finish the snacks too early, then I hit the bistro car for 1-2 bowls of IVAR's clam chowder (it's cheaper on the train and no sales tax)

I hate lines. I have seen the PDX-SEA-PDX Sound Side far too often.

[leastprime]

The issue that I would have with Fremont is that, if you want to see stuff in the City, and points radiating out of the city, Is that you got to go into the City. If you have a car, getting to venues around the central core is great and inexpensive. Use Google Maps for parking and traffic.

Have fun.

[leastprime]

Originally Posted by Blondebaerde

?

I took the Amtrak from Seattle to San Diego the other week, arriving first in Los Angeles at 9:45pm then San Diego vs. the Surfliner at 1:30 AM or so. ....

So did you do coach, business, or sleeper? Your impressions?
I have a lot of Amtrak points. SF or to LAX.

[leastprime]

Originally Posted by mamajoy

Wow! This was a super helpful thread! I really appreciate all the feedback.

So to summarize, Fremont seems to be good area to visit. We will be visiting all the highlights in Seattle, but wanted to stay somewhere conveniently out of the city. Looks like we'll be okay. Whew!

The train station may have some shady characters but is overall safe. Arrive at least 60 minutes before departure and request for "waterside" seats. Upon returning taxis or Uber/Lyft can be taken without a problem.

Whoo hoo! Thank you again. We're all so excited! These forums are the best!

When you get about 1hr to Seattle, call to reserve a taxi/uber/lyft. Normally taxis will be at the station but you don't know how many are reserved or waiting for a fare. The pickup/drop off area is secure, with personnel, and at the doors. You will not see any homeless/vagrants.

[pnwguy2]

I may be painfully out of date here, but when did Amtrak start reserved seating? Last time I rode was many years ago admittedly, but you could walk on and take any empty seat. Has that changed?

[leastprime]

^Sort of. Depends on which station, conductor, how many tickets sold, day of week, season.

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by mamajoy

Wow! This was a super helpful thread! I really appreciate all the feedback.

So to summarize, Fremont seems to be good area to visit. We will be visiting all the highlights in Seattle, but wanted to stay somewhere conveniently out of the city. Looks like we'll be okay. Whew!

The train station may have some shady characters but is overall safe. Arrive at least 60 minutes before departure and request for "waterside" seats. Upon returning taxis or Uber/Lyft can be taken without a problem.

Whoo hoo! Thank you again. We're all so excited! These forums are the best!

...

...uhm, yep!

Enjoy your stay. Agreed with the above in-toto.

~20 year resident

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by leastprime

So did you do coach, business, or sleeper? Your impressions?
I have a lot of Amtrak points. SF or to LAX.

Originally Posted by Blondebaerde

I took the Amtrak from Seattle to San Diego the other week, arriving first in Los Angeles at 9:45pm then San Diego vs. the Surfliner at 1:30 AM or so. ....

Thanks for asking.

SEA to Union Station, in LA, was Roomette. I think think the four options are: Coach, Business, Roomette, full Sleeper (for about four).

Roomette was spectacular for one, might be a bit close for two (maybe a couple would enjoy it). I spent most of my time there, because not lots of reason to go elsewhere other than diner cars (which were pretty cool, too).

Our roomettes were elevated in the car, up some narrow stairs. Bottom seemed to be storage, a couple more rooms (of some kind), the car steward's room, and interestingly enough a shower. I'm an early riser and it was absolutely, positively unforgettable to wake up at 5:45am (southbound), a time typical for me, and the train's stopped....

...?

I put some clothes on and wandered downstairs, and talked to Vanessa our steward: layover in Sacramento for c. half hour.

Dawn, in summer, in Sacramento, at the train station was something to behold. I posted a picture of that elsewhere (travel forum).

I then grabbed an actual shower in the car, which was nice since sitting in my own stink for 36 hours while not awful is neither ideal. Refreshing, let us say, that early!

Second highlight was the grade down into San Luis Obispo. I won't try and describe that much further.

Third was Union Station...wow.

Fourth/fifth were the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara stations. I spent a few minutes with pals at one, an amusingly short visit. They are beyond spectacular period-pieces.

None of this was cheap. It is a dodgy way to travel. The trains are from the 1970s and generally underfunded, so they say. I took vacation days to totally savor this rail experience, and have zero regrets. All the rail stations from SEA to Union Station to San Diego are from another era and thus really interesting. I didn't request water-side and should have, though the other isn't bad either, believe me.

Highly recommended day and a half, if you have some points and some time. I flew home San Diego to SEA in what, three hours (flight time) flat? LOL...