What should recent transplants do in their first year (Seattle: coupons, rent)

[Mad_Dog]

What are the 3-5 most "don't miss" things to do in the Seattle area for newcomers? Outdoor/indoor and within driving or ferry distance. Currently living in Kenmore.

[jenlion]

Olympic Pensinula -- the whole thing! The beaches on the coast - Kalaloch, Ruby, etc; the Hoh and Quinault rainforests; Hurricane Ridge.

North Cascades National Park. Amazing drive to get there, quiet beauty up there. Long day in the car but totally doable in a day.

The Cascade Loop will take you around most everything. Take a few days and really enjoy it.

Leavenworth, if you like beer and tacky shops (I do, for a short trip!)

Mt Rainier. Nice short hikes if you don't like to go far; longer ones if you do. Amazing views, nice picnics, great stuff.

There are wineries and a brewery in Woodinville.

Get to really know some of Pike Place market. Do it in the cold and damp when it's not as busy. I love that we have our little route -- I try a new cheese, maybe get a little bit; we get the same roasted nuts or donuts; we stop and see the same wooden toys, sculpture-guy, oil and vinegar place, etc. It's just ... nice to go down there and know where things are, see your favorites, and explore a little more every time.

Pacific Science Center, especially if you have kids and/or a prime card. Ditto on the aquarium.

Arboretum in the fall. Take your camera.

Walk the waterfront. Ponder how great it will be when they take down that aqueduct. Or rather, pray that it will all work out down there. One or the other.

Mt St Helens, a weekend in Portland, a weekend in Vancouver.

I really like Scenic Beach State Park - a ferry to Bremerton, drive towards Seabeck, have a nice picnic on the beach, admire the oyster shells, take great pictures of the canal and the mountains, drive back through Bainbridge, take the Bainbridge ferry back. Great day trip for us.

Shoot, I enjoy just getting on I-90 and driving into the mountains and taking a new exit up there. Nov-June you will run into a lot of snow, but summers you can really explore. And it's beautiful.

[pw72]

Take a walk in a misty rain. Once you find it isn't that bad, it will go a long ways with your psyche.

[texastrigirl]

Kayaking, sailing and skiing always make me happy!!

[garrett05]

hello just needed some info

[Djpuma]

Pick up a winter hobby.

I took up snowboarding this year and bought my season pass for Snoqualmie.

Now, every time it rains down here I can hope that some snow fell in the mtns. and take a ride up there and snowboard for a few hours. My friend actually goes after work on weekends and comes back around 10pm. I think that will be awesome to try this year.

[SonicsFan93]

Go to a Storm game, a Sounders game, a Mariners game, and a Seahawks game! They're all fun, and all of them provide a different sporting experience. Safeco ranks near the top of the list in MLB Stadiums, and Qwest ranks near the top for NFL stadiums.

[cabocurtis]

1.I would drive out to I90 to snoqualmie falls, hike to bottom and either have drinks apps at the lodge or drive to new Snoqualmie casino and have cigar/dinner and catch a concert there.
2.Walk on bainbridge ferry walk along waterfront path and rent a canoe or boat then have lunch at Cafe Nola, grab a book at bookstore four doors down and time the return boat trip to hit a mariners game.
3. Take elevator up space needle, enjoy views in all directions, catch monorail downtown walk to pike place, eat your way through it and end up at zigzag for drinks then walk back via Olympic sculpture park to the seattle center
4. Go to chateau St Michelle for wine tasting or Red Hook Brewpub across street and time for evening outdoor concert(Have a town car or limo so you dont have to drive)
5. Take fast ferry for daytrip to Victoria or better yet overnight at harbour hotel or take train from Seattles Union Station to Portland

[hamellr]

Do all the touristy stuff. The Underground Tour to learn the history of Seattle. Go up the Space Needle, get the City Pass and do the Argosy Cruise and Boeing Air Museum. Take the ferry out to the islands and walk around.

[Radnor]

Originally Posted by jenlion

Shoot, I enjoy just getting on I-90 and driving into the mountains and taking a new exit up there. Nov-June you will run into a lot of snow, but summers you can really explore. And it's beautiful.

My wife and I have been doing the same thing - it's fun to get lost in new places.

Originally Posted by cabocurtis

drive to new Snoqualmie casino and have cigar/dinner and catch a concert there

Sign up for their free Crescent card too. I receive coupons in the mail every so often for free money, and I've barely played anything besides a few bucks on the penny slots. Of course they want you to spend in the casino but you can just as easily walk out and spend it elsewhere.