Seattle Area 5 Day Vacation Advice (Vancouver, Bainbridge Island: rentals, hotel, shop)

[blufjdj]

I am surprising my husband for his sixtieth birthday with a trip to Washington state. We will be coming into Seattle in late March for five days. Please, if anyone has any advice for areas to visit, I'd love to hear them.We have never been there before.
Thank you!

[scottinpdx]

What are your/and his interest? What kind of stuff do you like to do? Have you booked your hotel yet?

[blufjdj]

We like to hike and bike. I was thinking a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and rent bikes... but I don't know if in March any place would do that. I haven't booked anything yet. I was also thinking of booking a treehouse for a night?

[scottinpdx]

Last time I was in Seattle I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island. There is a awesome ice cream shop there. I also went wine tasting.

[blufjdj]

That sounds like fun...ok, Bainbridge Island will be on the list. I was also thinking Olympic National Park.

[Hemlock140]

Kind of wet for bike riding in March (October-June, actually) but people do it. We hike all year but plan on getting wet. It's usually a light, constant drizzle in March but we have gotten a brief snow then too. For bike riding you can do a more urban Seattle trip by renting at a shop at Madison & Alaskan Way, then ride down Alaskan through the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront, and go through the industrial and cruise terminal at Pier 90/91, on to the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Popular Rides | Our favorite rides around Seattle | The Bicycle Repair Shop
Seattle Department of Transportation: Bike Program

[CrazyDonkey]

March can be wet, chilly, and sometimes windy - dress in layers (sweater, scarf, warm jacket/coat) and rain hat (with chin strap - don't bother with umbrellas):

* Decide if you're going to get a CityPass, which gives you two visits to the Space Needle, a visit to the Seattle Aquarium, an Argosy Harbor Cruise, and a choice of EMP Museum or Woodland Park Zoo and Pacific Science Center or the Museum of Flight.

Official Seattle CityPASS® | Visit 5 Seattle Attractions for $64

* Other don't-miss attractions: Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square (Underground Tour and Klondike Gold Rush Museum), Waterfront (Sculpture Park, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Colman Dock ferry ride, as well as harbor cruises and the Aquarium), Seattle Center (Chihuly Garden and Glass, Monorail, as well as the Space Needle, EMP, and Science Center). I would also include the Ballard Locks, except March is not the most ideal time to visit (lower boat traffic and no fish in the fish ladder).

* Top museums: Seattle Art Museum (downtown), Seattle Asian Art Museum (Volunteer Park/Capitol Hill), Museum of History and Industry/MOHAI (South Lake Union), Burke Natural History Museum (UW campus/U. District).

* Other options: Visit Victoria, BC, on the Victoria Clipper, or Vancouver, BC, on the Amtrak Cascades train. Either can be done as a day-trip or, even better, as an over-night trip. Since you've got five days, one of these excursions is highly recommended. Note: Arrive early for Amtrak Cascades train and ask for water-view seats (the train runs along the shore of Puget Sound much of the way).

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

It's usually a light, constant drizzle in March

now, that is an exaggeration, especially for late March. Last 2 years there were days in high 60s in late March. Of course, every year is different.