What to do in Seattle, Washington (and Surrounding Areas)

FrCrilly

Hi All,

I'm planning a family trip to Seattle, Washington for later this year. I'm looking for tourism stuff to do for both the family (fully grown, no children) and myself as an individual. I'm thinking very much along the lines of scenery and the great outdoors but am also open to other areas (eg historic).

If anyone has been in Seattle or it's surrounding areas on holiday, I'd appreciate details of your experience (eg what would you recommend and what would you avoid etc etc).

Thanks in Advance for all responses.

Andrewf20

Things to hit that Id recommend from when I was living in Portland:

Mt. Rainier
Mt St. Helens
Crater lake in Oregon
Mt Hood, Oregon
The Oregon & Washington coast
The one and only Spruce goose plane (http://www.sprucegoose.org/), near Portland
The Boeing factory in Everett 40miles north or Seattle where they build 747, 777 etc.
Seattle space needle
Kurt Cobain & Hendrix's graves.

inisboffin

Pike Place Market
Day ferry over and back to Bainbridge Island (cheap way to see lovely scenery).

Kurt is scattered in a few places
Jimi is out a bit but worth the hike if you are a huge fan.

Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried near town (by Volunteer Park) but they were talking about limiting tourist access.

Fremont is a great funky area for laid back nightlife, and walking around.
Go see the Giant Troll under the bridge.

Brilliant Sushi in Belltown (near downtown) at Chiro

Kids might like the Experience Music Project (museum, gigs, and love-it-or-hate-it architecture) at Seattle Centre, where the Space Needle is.

Space Needle..overpriced, maybe do brunch (cheapest meal there) and see the view for free.

If you DO rent a car, head out (via Bainbridge ferry, or drive around the long way) to the Olympic Rainforest. There are hotsprings and loads of lovely scenery..and then the Pacific.

Snoqualmie falls, close to Seattle.

North Bend (home of 'Twin Peaks' filming)

Roslyn Washington (home of 'Northern Exposure' filming)

giddyup

All the previous recommendations are spot on. I'm here just over 6 months and I haven't scratched the surface. The city itself is nice and compact - you can walk around downtown in an hour or two. Pike Place market has been mentioned - nice buzz there, do the Space Needle, take a water taxi over to Alki beach if you're here in the summer. There's lots of intersting neighbourhoods just outside the city centre - Queen Anne, Fremont, University district, Capitol Hill. Kayaking is a great way to see the city also.

There is no end of stuff to go and do outside of the city - if you are outdoorsy there is lots of great hiking (Mount Si is popular), fishing, climbing etc. There are good wineries within an hour of the city - in Woodinville you have wineries and a brewery with a good tour and nice eats so thats good for a day out.

Boeing looms large so the Boeing tour and the Museum of Flight are good bets.

Also make sure to do as the natives do and get some sport in. Depending on when you're here you have NBA, NFL or MLB + the UW games. If you're here in the summer you can't beat a day at the baseball.

Feel free to PM if you need specifics on anything.

Fionn

thanks
some good tips there, i'll be there in August ranging from Seattle to Pacific coast to Portland to inland Oregon.

Alicano

Dragging up and old thread for the first time! Any Boardsie’s previously or currently live in Seattle? My wife is under very friendly but regular pressure to relocate there for work. It’d be huge for her career etc and I want to be a supportive husband. But we’ve two small kids. I think the stay would be 2 years max. I’m not dead against it but have reservations about USA in general. Anyone able to recommended areas to live for families with small kids etc I’d appreciate and can research more. Just trying to gain and informed opinion good vs bad reasons etc. Many thanks. I wish the SuperSonics still existed!!