Essential things to see/do in Seattle? (Tacoma, Edmonds: rentals, living in)

[burlshoe114]

We have already done the big stuff: Space Needle, Underground, Lavender Festival, Pikes, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, the mountains, Snoqualamie Falls, etc.
We are going to have a picnic at Gasworks Park if the weather ever clears up, but what else is there to do?
What are the essential things to not miss if you are living in Seattle?

[sillymom2three]

The zoo is really nice, and the aquarium. When we move there we are planning to get a year pass to both for our family.

[Twitch2]

The Ballard locks are kinda fun. You can watch hundreds of boats come into the city and Lake Washington. You can also watch the Salmon fish head through the locks, some of them are pretty big!! You can watch them underwater through windows at a few places there.

Another quick stop is the troll under the Aurora bridge.

[sean98125]

Essential, as in what is the essence of Seattle?

Rent a canoe and paddle through the Arboretum.

Sit in your car and enjoy a Dick's Deluxe, fries and a shake.

Find a hole-in-the-wall Thai place and enjoy lunch or dinner. If it is mentioned in your guidebook, don't go there.

Say "Pike Place Market", not "Pikes" or "Pike's Market". That's a true Seattle experience.

Walk the bluff at Discovery Park.

Go tidepooling at Lincoln Park.

Try to drive south from Northgate to downtown between 4 and 6 in the evening on a weekday. Enjoy the views from the freeway bridge as you are sitting in traffic.

Enjoy fish and chips at Spud's near Green Lake or on Alki.

Wait in line for 60 to 90 minutes for breakfast at a trendy spot on a Saturday morning.

Picnic in the rain. Most parks have shelters. You can still have a great time - just bring a thermos and warm food.

Walk along the waterfront at Magnuson Park. Explore the old Navy base if you have time.

Dinner at Palace Kitchen, the Dahlia Lounge, or Ettas.

Take a stroll through the Japanese Garden at the Arboretum. Even better on a rainy day.

Museum of Flight

Museum of History and Industry (follow up with a walk to Foster Island)

[Bill Loney]

Nice list. Here's a few adds.

Dinner at Ray's Boathouse at Sunset, or drinks on the the deck for same.

The Memorial at Fisherman's Terminal and the Halibut and Chips at Chinooks while there.

Walk through and around Fremont. Lots of cool shops.

Walk around Greenlake, or rents bikes or roller blades and do same.

Take a Seaplane from Lake Union to the San Juans. Or drive to deception Pass and walk across the bridge if you dare and return through the cool village of LaConner stopping at the Snow Goose stand on the way back for a massive ice cream cone If you hurry there may still be remnants of the tulips in the Skagit Valley.

Or head up to the spectacular Chuckanut Drive and dine at one of several great places. The Rhododendron is a fave, or stop in the village of Fairhaven and dine at one of several place there

Or head south to Tacoma for the Chihuly Glass Museum. Take a drive over the Narrows Bridge and stop for lunch in Gig Harbor.

So much to do, so little time.

[burlshoe114]

Thanks!
Good tips!

[seattleite2007]

Those are all outstanding recommendations. Additionally,

- try riding the Burke Gilman trail from Fremont to Lake Forest Park and back.

- check out Snoqualmie Falls up near North Bend

- Edmonds art festival in May

- classic car shows on Alki Beach in West Seattle

- view of the city from the 74th floor of Columbia Tower

- paddle boat rentals down near the 520 bridge

- watching the sea planes land in S. Lake Union from Anthony's Seaffod Restaurant