Vacation to Seattle? (best, attractions, ideas, trip)

[princesspolamalu]

I have been doing my research for next years summer vacation and I have come across Seattle, WA. It seems like an awesome city to visit. I know about the rain and all that stuff but it should be ok during the summer from what Ive read. I am the single mom of a soon to be 5 yr old and there seems to be so much to do for children in the city. Has anyone been there? What are your thoughts? Is it easy to navigate without a car? I hate driving in unfamiliar cities. What are some things that are cant miss attractions? Thanks in advance for the ideas.

[Think (Freedom)]

Aww pick me up on the way! lol. I'd love to go to Seattle, actually I was thinking of planning a trip too.. so any responses to this thread would be great for me too.

You've gotta see the Space needle, obvioiusly

I found this on places to see too... Must see and do.

[tangerinepuddle]

I live in Portland, OR (which is about 2.5 hours south) and I've only been to Seattle once since moving here a year ago, but definitely have dinner on the water, check out the Pike Place Market. Don't drive around downtown, the traffic is terrible, not to mention a couple of REALLY steep streets that I started rolling backwards down, and i have an automatic......

Maybe post this question, if you haven't already, on the Seattle forum -

and for the poster in Miami, I'll let you housesit for me here and you can visit Seattle while I come visit Miami and housesit for you. LOL.

[ontheroad]

I spent about 2 weeks in Seattle in '02 and had mixed feelings about the city this time around---but it is definitely a fun city, with plenty to do, and lots of good food--especially salmon.

It can be navigated by public transportation--I did it by bus rather than drive, and didn't find any problems just had to make sure I knew which bus to get on and where to get off--bus drivers and residents alike are very helpful.

I was there in July, so, yes, the weather that people talk about didn't interfere with my getting around--in fact, I don't believe it rained or had grey clouds once in the two weeks I was there.

Enjoy! And bring lots of spending money some nice things to buy.

[Angel Bear]

I went in May in 2003 and it never rained once--it was sunny the entire time

I took the bus everywhere...The bike couriers and skateboarders helped me more than the business people or the bus depot with the bus system Get some schedules on-line, etc.

I did a lot in the 4 days I was there...I had only 1.5 days to sitesee. I went to the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project, the Waterfront/Aquarium, and ate my way around the place...Of course, I had to stop at the original Starbucks and also, Pikes Marketplace. I enjoyed myself so much...I didn't want to come home!

Be sure to take the Trolley along the waterfront if you have kids--they'll get a kick out of it and the rail that goes a short distance downtown

There's shopping galore...They had the best Borders I've been to anywhere.

People are so incredibly friendly too. I had to pinch myself--was I in an alternate Universe? This was too good to be true.

Post Alley has some nice restaurants and a nice Irish Pub that poured me the best Guiness I ever had.

There's museums, etc. galore for the whole family...I like the Lonely Planet travel guide on Seattle...It was very helpful to me

I want to go back and go to the Mt. Rainier park On a clear day, you can see it from the space needle It's breathtaking.

Whoever lives in Seattle is very blessed. If it wasn't so moldy/damp, I'd move there in a heartbeat. Hee hee!!--I think that is why I originally wanted to marry my husband--he studied aerospace in college and I thought we'd move to Seattle or at least Arizona or CA Hee hee! Well, I'm just joking...he's a very awesome hubby.

There's a lot more I saw that I didn't include...Enjoy!!!

Bear hugs,
AB

[princesspolamalu]

Thanks for the information so far. It has been helpful. Any additional thoughts would be helpful.

[Think (Freedom)]

Originally Posted by tangerinepuddle

I live in Portland, OR (which is about 2.5 hours south) and I've only been to Seattle once since moving here a year ago, but definitely have dinner on the water, check out the Pike Place Market. Don't drive around downtown, the traffic is terrible, not to mention a couple of REALLY steep streets that I started rolling backwards down, and i have an automatic......

Maybe post this question, if you haven't already, on the Seattle forum -

and for the poster in Miami, I'll let you housesit for me here and you can visit Seattle while I come visit Miami and housesit for you. LOL.

Its a deal, cause I want to visit Portland too lol

[tangerinepuddle]

Originally Posted by dragonofillfaith

Its a deal, cause I want to visit Portland too lol

Miami in the summer - hmmmmm. I'd rather the winter, but I guess beggars can't be chosers. I am coming to FL in either November or March of this year......possibly to put this wild obsession of living there out of my head. Cause my gut tells me NO (and so do many other people), don't move there! But I always have to see for myself, ya know?

[Think (Freedom)]

Originally Posted by tangerinepuddle

Miami in the summer - hmmmmm. I'd rather the winter, but I guess beggars can't be chosers. I am coming to FL in either November or March of this year......possibly to put this wild obsession of living there out of my head. Cause my gut tells me NO (and so do many other people), don't move there! But I always have to see for myself, ya know?

lol God no dont move here.. I'm dying to get out of here myself But visit in the summer, "winter" in Miami = rain. Which I'm sure youre not a stranger to in OR, but still, you want to be able to enjoy the beaches. March would be better, but theres a LOT of tourists at that time. But I agree, you should come and see what its like for yourself

[princesspolamalu]

I have gotten some information from the Seattle Visitors Bureau which has been very helpful along with the opinions here. Thanks again to everyone who has shared there thoughts. If anything else comes to mind feel free to post I wont be traveling until next summer.