seattle area questions

We're heading to Seattle next weekend for 2 weeks. The second week we will spending on an Alaskian cruise so water activities, while prevelant in Seattle, are not a must for us. We are an active family for 4 with 2 girls ages 10 and 12. The reason for the trip is the national ymca gymnastics meeting that my girls are in. The first week we are heading to Idaho to visit some friends until Tues morning when we'll drive back to Seattle.

Due to the Idaho trek and the gym meet, we have 3 half days to fill up; Tuesday afternoon, 1:00-, Thursday afternoon, 1:00-, and Friday morning 8:00-2:00.

We know nothing about Seattle but have done some research and there is way too much to see! But we've got to pick something. The following look interesting to us:

- Mt. St. Helens
- Seattle Center (Space Needle, Pacific Science Center)
- Waterfront activities?
- Snoqualmie Falls
- Underground tour
- Ferrys to ??? / beach combing

Does anyone have any comments about these or others activites?

Can we see Mt. St. Helens in a morning or afternoon (we are actually staying in Puyallup, 45 min south of Seattle)?

We want to see/experience the best of the area in the limited time we have. Thanks.

Trying to drive out to Mr. St. Helens would be difficult as a half day activity IMO. Last year we drove out to Mr. Rainer for a full day and barely got around the mountain. As a half day excursion to Mt. St. Helens you could come away saying you'd been there but not much more.

We did the underground tour. It was interesting and informative. Don't buy the recommended books at the end of the tour. They are not very well written and not that great of a read.

We skipped the Seattle Center but with the kids it would probably be pretty enjoyable.

There's an aquarium down on the waterfront. Again something we didn't do but with kids it might be nice.

Pike Place Market. is a must see.

Seattle Waterfront & perhaps a ferry ride over to Vashon or Bainbridge Island or Bremerton.

The Ye Olde Curiousity Shop, was a place I always enjoyed as a kid.

These are all around the waterfront and very close to each other, so it's easy to see them all.

Enjoy,

Rick

One of the most striking places is the new Public Library downtown. They also have a whole floor of computers you can use for web surfing and email.

I second the Pike Place Market (aka Public Market).

Both of these places are within 5-6 blocks of each other along with a gazillion coffee shops.

Cheers

A visit to the Ballard Locks is always interesting; as is a drive across one of the two floating bridges across Lake Washington. Yes, you must see the Pike Place Market and waterfront below. A drive up (and then down) the Counterbalance (1st Avenue or Queen Anne Avenue ??) from downtown up Queen Anne Hill can be exciting. A drive around Alki Point in West Seattle is a great view of the waterfront and Puget Sound. And you could always take in a Mariners game if they are in town.

I live in Seattle and have lived here since 1992. Here are my comments on your ideas
- Mt. St. Helens - AMAZING to see, not to be missed, but with just an afteroon, you won't do as much as you ideally could do, but if you don't have to get home by a certain time, it is probably worth the effort.
- Seattle Center (Space Needle, Pacific Science Center) - Fun to do, but not something you should not miss. But with your kids, they will surely have fun.
- Waterfront activities? - Best thing to do is hop on a ferry, but keep in mind that there can be long waits for the ferries. But it's a unique experience and a great way to see the beauty of the area. I recommend going to Port Townsend, for some Victorian charm.
- Snoqualmie Falls - Yes.. great way to spend half a day. Walk down to the bottom and then back up - great excercise and lots of fun.
- Underground tour - Yes... really fun, not too long, and you will start and end up in Pioneer Square which is very unique and a must see in Seattle. Also, head up to Pike Place Market from here, and watch them throw some fish.
- Ferrys to ??? / beach combing - Beaches aren't great here, if you are looking for beautiful sand, but if you like rustic, rocky beaches, they are great.

If I can help you out further, don't hesitate to ask.

All the options are good but here are some others:

First, instead of taking I -90 the whole way to Seattle from Idaho, you could drive to puyallup via Yakima thru the Mt Rainier nat. park. It would take up your Tue afternoon but drop you right into Puyallup.

From Puyallup, Mt St Helens is a very good choice.

On the east side of lake Washington, You can visit Kirkland and take a tour boat on lake washington and see the great houses on the lake. (Bill Gates)

You can rent a canoe at the Univ of Wash. boat house and paddle on the lake and in the arboretum.

Just a few more options.

PAJim said:

We're heading to Seattle next weekend for 2 weeks. The second week we will spending on an Alaskian cruise so water activities, while prevelant in Seattle, are not a must for us. We are an active family for 4 with 2 girls ages 10 and 12. The reason for the trip is the national ymca gymnastics meeting that my girls are in. The first week we are heading to Idaho to visit some friends until Tues morning when we'll drive back to Seattle.

Due to the Idaho trek and the gym meet, we have 3 half days to fill up; Tuesday afternoon, 1:00-, Thursday afternoon, 1:00-, and Friday morning 8:00-2:00.

We know nothing about Seattle but have done some research and there is way too much to see! But we've got to pick something. The following look interesting to us:

- Mt. St. Helens
- Seattle Center (Space Needle, Pacific Science Center)
- Waterfront activities?
- Snoqualmie Falls
- Underground tour
- Ferrys to ??? / beach combing

Does anyone have any comments about these or others activites?

Can we see Mt. St. Helens in a morning or afternoon (we are actually staying in Puyallup, 45 min south of Seattle)?

We want to see/experience the best of the area in the limited time we have. Thanks.

Click to expand...

The needle was boring and we ate there - I wouldn't suggest it.
Take the ferry to Victoria for the day. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.cascadeloop.com

Here's some ideas for your trip from Idaho to Seattle.

You guys are great! ...this is exactly the kind of stuff I am looking for. The excursion thru Mt. Rainier on the way back from Idaho sounds like a winner. That was of interst too. Since we'd be seeing Mt. Rainier, I won't mind missing Mt. St. Helens.

What is the Counterbalance? A road?

How far is the waterfront area from Pike Place Market? We'll have a car, is parking an issue?

Thanks again.

PAJim said:

How far is the waterfront area from Pike Place Market? We'll have a car, is parking an issue?

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

Pike Place Market and the Waterfront are within walking distance of each other, about 10 blocks with some hills. There is a well hidden elevator to get to the market from the lower levels. If fact its so well hidden I can't remember how to find it.

There are several Public Parking areas around both sites but they are usually pretty full.

Cheers

The "Counterbalance" is what the old-time Seattleites call the main avenue going up the south side of Queen Anne Hill from downtown. It's called that because years back there used to be trolleys that went up and down the avenue but because the hill was so steep and long they need a counterbalance system under the road to keep the trolleys from running away and to help with the climb up the hill.
From the Pike Place Market you can walk down a stairway (maybe 50-70 foot drop) down to the waterfront. From there you can walk to most things you would want to see. I don't recall how the parking is; you may have to search unless you stay in a hotel with it's own parking.

A couple of other ideas would include the ship canal locks and fish ladder in the Ballard area, and Green Lake (about one mile around with paved trail) also in north Seattle.

roads in Mt Rainier got clobbered last winter

Some but not all are open now.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/november-2006-flooding.htm

It looks like we will drive through Mt. Rainier on the back to Seattle. I'm trying to figure out how long we will have in the park to get out and explore. Does anyone know how long it would take to drive the southern route from Ohanapecosh to Nisoually?

Jim, keep in mind that at this time of year we have daylight till well after 9:00 PM. So even if your time off doesn't start till 1:00 PM, you'll still have up to eight hours to see stuff. That can be plenty of time, depending on whether you're walking or in your car. (Traffic on the freeways can be brutal, so plan ahead.)

Others have given you some great ideas. One thing that should be emphasized as a fun outing is taking the Washington State Ferry ride across Puget Sound from the Seattle waterfront to either Bremerton or Bainbridge Island. ( http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ ) The four of you can get either a 30-minute or 60-minute "cruise ship" ride for less than $25 total. Just leave your car in Seattle and walk on the ferry. Your girls will love it. Maybe even bring a few slices of bread to feed some seagulls while they're flying above the boat. When you get to the other side, just stay on the boat for the return trip. (I don't know if they'd want you to pay again to come back, but even if they do, it's a cheap ride.) What's especially cool about it is the chance to maybe see a whale or two, and to watch the Seattle skyline, Space Needle, and such, from the walk-around outside boat deck. And it's a great thing to do around sunset. They're beautiful this time of year.

Also give thought to the Seattle Aquarium, especially if it's a rainy day. It's right down on the waterfront, and they've just opened a forty-foot tank exhibit filled with fish from Puget Sound and close-by Northwest waters. A very, very cool place to visit with kids. ( http://www.seattleaquarium.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=183&srcid=-2 )

Have fun, and be prepared to plan a longer visit out here. Washington State offers some of the most amazing scenery in the country, and everyone who visits plans a return trip to see more or it.

Dave