What should we see/do in Seattle with 3 days free time (Tacoma: rental car, rentals)

[phantompilot]

Going to be in Seattle for a bit and have most of the middle of the week free for touristy things.

Looking for any recommendations/tips from locals but just a quick disclaimer, not interested in nightlife/drinking spots or weird art galleries (please don't read anything into that....Not making any assumptions about Seattle here, but I know from experience that when I have asked for recs, there tends to be a lot of "there's this great club/bar" or "you have to check out the indigenous folk art museum blah blah blah").

[Diana Holbrook]

Do you want in the city type recommendations? Or will you have a car and want to see surrounding countryside?

Because IN the city... I would recommend the Seattle Aquarium down on the waterfront...

Seattle Center, permanent exhibits plus whatever touring exhibits might be there now.

Ferry boat ride... you can walk on and ride the local ferries to get a good quick tour of Puget Sound and see the city from the water.



Outside the city.... You could go to the mountains or the ocean.... Mt Rainier, or even, just up to the mountain passes to see the snow.... You can go to the ocean and see the surf... You could drive down to Mt. St Helens to see our magnificent volcano.

Really depends on what you are into and what you'd like to see!

[thatguy950]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

Do you want in the city type recommendations? Or will you have a car and want to see surrounding countryside?

Because IN the city... I would recommend the Seattle Aquarium down on the waterfront...

Seattle Center, permanent exhibits plus whatever touring exhibits might be there now.

Ferry boat ride... you can walk on and ride the local ferries to get a good quick tour of Puget Sound and see the city from the water.



Outside the city.... You could go to the mountains or the ocean.... Mt Rainier, or even, just up to the mountain passes to see the snow.... You can go to the ocean and see the surf... You could drive down to Mt. St Helens to see our magnificent volcano.

Really depends on what you are into and what you'd like to see!

Second all this

I’d also say Snoqualmie falls, very quick drive from DT

[tudorjason]

If you find yourself drawn to going to the Space Needle, I recommend going to the observation deck of the Columbia Center instead. Nearly twice as tall, so you get so much more view. For example, it looks like you can see the whole of the Olympics up there.It's cheaper. It's indoors, so it's warmer. And there are exhibits to read about the Seattle area that aren't at the Space Needle.

The Columbia Center is in downtown, of course, so you'd be close to restaurants and museums.

[leastprime]

Museum of Flight @KingCo/Boeing Field $$$. Highway 99/101. Bus 124 from KingSt to Tukwila-Museum of Flight @ $2.50. Seniors $1.00.
Bonsai Northwest and Rhododendron & Azalea Gardens. Free. South of Museum of flight about 6 miles. Tukwila.
Chihuly Glass (Pacific Seattle Science Center) $$$
Glass Museum $$in Tacoma. via bus $, Sounder $ or Amtrak $$.
Amazon Globe, Free.
Bremerton Ferry $, (Senior Pass)to Naval Harbor Museum, free
(You'll get a glimpse of the many aircraft carriers laid up)
Poulsbro. Undersea Warfare Museum, free.
Bainbridge Ferry $ (SeniorPass), Bike Rental $
{best to use ferry at twilight. Seattle lights are awesome}
Rock & Roll Museum. Near Chihuly/Amazon
Boeing Factory Floor Tour (Future-of-Flight Museum/Paine Field) (Everett/Mukilteo) Best to use car or tour group. bus/train is available.
Bikes rentals are $1/hr (?) get the electric assist.
Klondike Museum National Monument. Free. 1 block from Union Station on Jackson St. towards the Waterfront.
UPS Waterfall Park. Pioneer Sq. Free. Place where UPS was founded.
Seattle Convention Center Freeway Park. Free.
TownHall Seattle. Evening Lectures. $5.

[homesinseattle]

Wing Luke (Asian American Migration to Seattle) Museum. It is history based, not weird at all, really cool. It's in the ID (International District), a really interesting part of town to walk around.

[leastprime]

If you were a F4 aviator, maybe chits are offered at Whidbey Island NAS (?) or at Museum of Flight-Boeing Field. ?

[phantompilot]

Thanks all, will not have rental car, just rideshare. I didn't realize Snoqualmie Falls is close - big fan of Twin Peaks (you guys are probably sick of hearing tourists say that, I bet).

Sounds like some great ways to busy ourselves for a few days of downtime

[Suelli5]

If you’re outdoorsy, and you get good weather, then walk the approx 3 mile loop trail at Discovery Park. If you’re in decent shape, add the beach trails to the walk - it’s a steep climb on the way back.

For a nice free view climb the water tower at Volunteer Park and then, if you want to just chill, walk a few blocks south to the 15th Ave strip on Cap Hill for coffee, food, ice cream, pinball, bookstore, drinks, pot There is a really good French bakery across from Kaiser Permanents (formerly Group Health) Hospital. Victrola Cafe has a big rep for good coffee. Full Tilt has good ice cream and pinball they are both local businesses

[CrazyDonkey]

* Beneath the Streets Tour: https://www.groupon.com/deals/goldst...terranean-tour

$14.75 (Reg. $22) - Smaller groups than The Underground Tour.

Nearby: Klondike Gold Rush Museum (free), Wing Luke Museum, Kau Kau BBQ!

* Museum of Flight: Home | The Museum of Flight

$22 (online), $24 reg - Huge museum! Take the #124 going south from Third Ave & Pike St to East Marginal Way S & S 94th Pl.

* WSF Ferry Ride: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Fe...al/default.htm

$8.35 walkon (RT) - Take the Bainbridge Ferry (~30-minute crossing) or Bremerton Ferry (~60-minute crossing). Check out Bainbridge or Bremerton and catch the next ferry back. In Bremerton, visit the USS Turner Joy: U.S. Naval Destroyer Museum ($15 - www.ussturnerjoy.org) and Puget Sound Naval Museum (free - Puget Sound Navy Museum).