Going to Seattle for a week, what should be see?

[ohmomto2boys]

Just booked flight to Seattle for a week for DH, myself and 2 kids.  What are some "must see/do" activities?  We are visiting SIL but they have only lived there 1.5 years, so they haven't seen/done a lot.  
Definitely doing - Space Needle, Ferris Wheel, Mariners game.  Maybe - Boeing tour.  

DH also wants to go to Crater National Park.  UGH....it is 8 hrs away (driving).  That would take 3 days of the 7 we are going to be there.  He is pretty adamant about going.  His logic is that we will probably never be in the vicinity again - I don't call that the "vicinity".  
Thanks.

[saveinla]

Pike Place Market

The Chihuly glass museum - I think you can get combined tickets to both the space needle and the museum.

Mount Rainier

Snoqualmie Falls

[Deleted]

Underground tour, EMP, Science Center, Pike Place Market

Haven't done the glass museum but want to!

[Sharon]

Depending on when you are going you will need to check and see what roads into Crater lake are open.  They get massive amounts of snow in the winter and not all roads are open.  I would not consider Crater Lake to be in the vicinity of Seattle and the driving time is probably longer than 8 hours.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I remember loving the Underground Tour. And there's enough toilet jokes to keep the kids happy.   

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jan 19, 2016 11:08:58 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Depending on when you are going you will need to check and see what roads into Crater lake are open.  They get massive amounts of snow in the winter and not all roads are open.  I would not consider Crater Lake to be in the vicinity of Seattle and the driving time is probably longer than 8 hours.

Yeah, Crater Lake is pretty far away. How about Mt. St. Helens instead? It's really fascinating!  

[Gardening Grandma]

Kids would enjoy the Museum of Flight. Lots of "hands on" type of exhibits. Another vote for the Pacific Science Center.
Are you going to be there 7 full days? Or are you arriving on day 1 and leaving on day7?
When I'm planning a trip, I only count full days for sightseeing. 
If you are arriving on day 1 and leaving on day 7, then you will have only 5 full days. If you then do make the 8hr drive (each way) to CNP, tnat would only leave you 2 full days for Seattle. Any of the suggestions previously made could take 1/2 day, so you'd have to pare down your plans.

Have you already booked your flights? If not, what about adding 3 days on at the end, taking a train down to CNP and flying out of Eugene?

[Deleted]

We did a food tour once at Pike Place Market that was delicious. Not sure of the cost but it did have kid friendly items.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jan 19, 2016 11:11:38 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Kids would enjoy the Museum of Flight. Lots of "hands on" type of exhibits. Another vote for the Pacific Science Center.
Are you going to be there 7 full days? Or are you arriving on day 1 and leaving on day7?
When I'm planning a trip, I only count full days for sightseeing. 
If you are arriving on day 1 and leaving on day 7, then you will have only 5 full days. If you then do make the 8hr drive (each way) to CNP, tnat would only leave you 2 full days for Seattle. Any of the suggestions previously made could take 1/2 day, so you'd have to pare down your plans.

Have you already booked your flights? If not, what about adding 3 days on at the end, taking a train down to CNP and flying out of Eugene?

Or better yet, Medford. 

[Gardening Grandma]

Or take the hydrafoil to Victoria, BC for an overnight trip. Your DH ever been to Canada?
You dock in tne inner harbor; you can walk to the Empress hotel and take the red double decker bus out to Butchart Gardens. After you get back, there's tne Royal British Museum and the Maritime Museum.
Victoria is very picturesque and the whole inner harbor area lots of fun to visit. No need to rent a car. Lots of hotels right thete.

If you want to see more of WA, you can rent a car and drive to Port Angeles. Park the car overnight and take tne Blackball Ferry to Victoria, to do tne above. Port Angeles is about a 2 hr drive from Seattle and much of tne drive is on scenic Hwy 101

[zibazinski]

Crater Lake probably won't be open.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jan 19, 2016 11:22:06 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Or take the hydrafoil to Victoria, BC for an overnight trip. Your DH ever been to Canada?
You dock in tne inner harbor; you can walk to the Empress hotel and take the red double decker bus out to Butchart Gardens. After you get back, there's tne Royal British Museum and the Maritime Museum.
Victoria is very picturesque and the whole inner harbor area lots of fun to visit. No need to rent a car. Lots of hotels right thete.

Oooh, I love Victoria and Vancouver Island!  

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Jan 19, 2016 11:24:04 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Crater Lake probably won't be open.

The road to the rim is currently not.  Get out your snowshoes!  


www.heraldandnews.com/breaking/road-to-crater-lake-rim-remains-closed-inches-of-new/article_8e2b27c4-be00-11e5-be10-833ebd9f2008.html?modalid=followed-notification-modal-

Really, Oregon is a trip unto itself. It shouldn't be shoehorned into a Seattle trip because it shortchanges both options. Just tell hubby that you guys will plan a family vacation to OR when you can spend sufficient time in that state alone. 

[Gardening Grandma]

Jan 19, 2016 11:24:08 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Jan 19, 2016 11:22:06 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Or take the hydrafoil to Victoria, BC for an overnight trip. Your DH ever been to Canada?
You dock in tne inner harbor; you can walk to the Empress hotel and take the red double decker bus out to Butchart Gardens. After you get back, there's tne Royal British Museum and the Maritime Museum.
Victoria is very picturesque and the whole inner harbor area lots of fun to visit. No need to rent a car. Lots of hotels right thete.

Oooh, I love Victoria and Vancouver Island!  

We do too. Go to Murchies for tea and pastries (skip the overpriced tea at the Empress). Have English style fish & chips washed down with crisp, cold hard cider.  
It's like a quick trip to Europe lite; and you can speak the language...
And the exchange rate right now is great!

[ohmomto2boys]

We are going at the end of May - 1st week of June.  I don't want to go to Crater NP.  If we were staying 10 days, then I would want to go and I wouldn't mind taking a few days away from SIL.  

Kids would enjoy the Museum of Flight.  Pike Place Market.  Mount Rainier
.  Snoqualmie Falls

These are great ideas.  Thanks so much!

[Deleted]

My kids love the EMP more than anything, if you have video game/music/fantasy tv/movie kids at all, do not miss that.

[cael]

Crater Lake is amaaaaazing, but yeah probably a little far from Seattle to make it a viable (short) trip. The only thing we saw in Washington when we road tripped around from OR was Mount Rainier, don't miss that.

[Gardening Grandma]

Even though downtown hotels are expensive, I think that's the best place to stay (if you didn't have relatives).  . No need to rent a car. Use the Metro and Monorail and so much is easy walking distance.

Take a ferry to Bainbridge Island (35 minutes). Walk around, visit the art museum & antique stores, tnen ride back. Nice water views of the city.

Does you SIL live within easy commuting distance of the downtown area?

[shanendoah]

It really depends on what you like to do, how much driving around you want to do, and when you are coming.
You say "Mariners game" so I am assuming you aren't coming until April or later, since baseball season doesn't start until April.
Going with the idea you will be here in late spring/early summer, the weather should be spectacular, so I would recommend doing things outdoors.
While I do love Victoria (and Vancouver, BC), and also Portland, if you are coming to Seattle, I think we should focus on Seattle area activities.

If you like gardens, there is the Seattle Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum, run by Seattle City parks. There is a cost to get in.
There are also the Kubota Japanese Gardens down in Renton, run by King County parks, and is free.
The Rhododendron Gardens are about 30 minutes south in Federal Way. There is a cost to get in.
If you are coming in April, the Tulip Festival is happening up north in Skagit county.


Also in the Washington Park Arboretum area, you can rent canoes and kayaks and go around the shallow(er) areas of Lake Washington.
You might also consider Gas Works Park. It has a great kite flying hill, and I think you can rent some sort of watercraft there, too.
Wandering Ballard is always fun, and you have a chance to see the Troll and Lenin, as well as the locks and the fish ladder.

I love the state ferry out to the San Juans as a day trip - no need to stay overnight, though you can.
You might also consider a whale watching tour.
There are also riverboat tours of Lake Union, and Argosy tours of the Sound and Lake Washington.

If you are doing the Space Needle, consider all of Seattle Center. There's the Glass museum, the EMP and Science Fiction museum, and Pacific Science Center. Plus a little amusement park.
If you are doing Pike Place, head on down to the waterfront and wander there, as well. Up top of Pike Place is the original Starbucks. Down on the waterfront is the original Ivars. There is also the aquarium. And the sculpture park.

Do not forget the zoos we have in the area. In Seattle proper there is Woodland Park Zoo. Head down to Tacoma and there is Defiance Point Zoo and Aquarium.
Also in Tacoma are another glass museum and a car museum.

Other museums include:
SAM - Seattle Art Museum
Henry Art Gallery (Main UW campus)
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Main UW campus)
Seattle Children's Museum
Museum of Flight
MOHAI -Museum of History and Industry (Lake Union Park)
Center for Wooden Boats (Lake Union Park)
Virginia V - 100 year old boat (Lake Union Park)
Pivot Art and Culture (near Lake Union Park)
Nordic Heritage Museum

If you are looking for a beach:
Golden Gardens park
Log Boom park (maybe not a beach, but water access)
Seward Park
Discovery Park
Saltwater State Park
Marine View Park
Seahurst Park
Lincoln Park


Edited to add:
I also agree that Rainier National Park and Snoqualmie Falls are lovely.
Great Wolf Lodge is more than an hour south, and you can find places like that all over the country. If you want a water park/amusement park, Wild Waves & Enchanted Village is just down in Federal Way, about 30 minutes south. The water slides may not be open, but the roller coasters/amusement park rides are open year round.

[HoneyBBQ]

Jan 19, 2016 10:54:38 GMT -5 ohmomto2boys said:

DH also wants to go to Crater National Park.  UGH....it is 8 hrs away (driving). .  
Thanks

Terrible, terrible, terrible idea to drive all the way to Oregon. Definitely cross that out. Oregon is beautiful and I love it and there are so many nice places to see (Mt Hood, Portland, the coast, etc) it deserves it's own trip, not combined with Washington (especially when you're in Northern Washington).

I agree with everyone else in terms of local stuff:
Chihuly museum, EMP, Pacific Science Center, Pike's Place, Seattle Center, Space Needle, underground tour, etc.

Outdoors stuff: MRNP snowshoeing, snoqualamie falls, ferry over to bainbridge, etc. If you really want to go nuts, drive over to Leavenworth and enjoy some good german food and ski at Mission Ridge.

[ohmomto2boys]

Wow.  I definitely need to talk DH into NOT going to Crater NP.  There is too much to see in Seattle.
Thanks everyone for all the ideas.  DS#2 will be celebrating his b-day while we are there. He is super excited to go to the Space Needle and ferris wheel.  

[tallguy]

Yeah, don't even think about trying to fit in a trip to Crater Lake.  FAR too much to do in and around Seattle to blow two days just driving. 

Part of what I want to do now is spend more time exploring all of these things mentioned.  Fortunately (between benefits from my bank and the library) I can do about half of them for free.  I remember the last time I played tour guide we did Woodland Park Zoo, Pike Place Market, the Space Needle (and more of Seattle Center like Pacific Science Center and EMP), Museum of Glass (in Tacoma, because the Chihuly museum was not yet open), the Aquarium and a Harbor Tour.  The CityPass is a good deal, although it was better a few years ago when I did it.  It will still cut roughly half off the admission prices for several places as I recall (if you do all of them.) 

CityPASS Seattle

[lynnerself]

Jan 19, 2016 11:31:40 GMT -5 ohmomto2boys said:

We are going at the end of May - 1st week of June.  I don't want to go to Crater NP.  If we were staying 10 days, then I would want to go and I wouldn't mind taking a few days away from SIL.  

The Rim Road at Crater Lake will still not be open , even in June.  It generally doesn't open until mid July, and we have lots of snow this year.  Go to Victoria to get away from SIL.

[tallguy]

Jan 19, 2016 12:21:29 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Jan 19, 2016 10:54:38 GMT -5 ohmomto2boys said:

DH also wants to go to Crater National Park.  UGH....it is 8 hrs away (driving). .  
Thanks

Terrible, terrible, terrible idea to drive all the way to Oregon. Definitely cross that out. Oregon is beautiful and I love it and there are so many nice places to see (Mt Hood, Portland, the coast, etc) it deserves it's own trip, not combined with Washington (especially when you're in Northern Washington).

I agree with everyone else in terms of local stuff:
Chihuly museum, EMP, Pacific Science Center, Pike's Place, Seattle Center, Space Needle, underground tour, etc.

Outdoors stuff: MRNP snowshoeing, snoqualamie falls, ferry over to bainbridge, etc. If you really want to go nuts, drive over to Leavenworth and enjoy some good german food and ski at Mission Ridge.

Pike's Place?  PIKE'S Place??  Come on, you're almost a local now!  There IS no such place.  I can understand it from a tourist, but....  

Say it with me now:  Pike Place Market  

[zibazinski]

We went to crater lake almost the end of July. There was still snow on the ground. I have a picture of DD making a snowball on the side of the road. Only a miracle would it be open end of May.

[billisonboard]

Saw this earlier but had to get to work.

Don't know the ages of the boys nor where you are from so that can make it difficult.

If you aren't near water normally, I would focus at least some time on that for the boys to experience it.

The Puget Sound area is a great area for outdoor activities if you are in shape at all.
The Puget Sound area is a great area for indoor activities if you aren't in shape at all.  (You have gotten a lot of good advice on those.)

My experience is that Mt. Rainer decides if you are going to see it or not, even if you plan a road trip towards her.

Mt. St. Helen's/Windy Ridge is a great road trip.  If you do it, look for Mt Adams as you come down into Randle.  It will be there like an Ansel Adams photo if the weather cooperates.

Canoes/kayaks around the Arboretum and maybe into Lake Union to see the houseboats featured in Sleepless in Seattle.  Do have to be careful to stay on the edges of the lake unless you are good at dodging the small planes landing in the lake.

If you do head north, Chuckanut Drive into Bellingham is fun.

Biking options are there.  The Burke Gilman Trail is nice.

A ferry ride is something you should do if that isn't part of your normal world.  I think that extended trips to the San Juan's or Victoria are worth it if you have time.  Fun places to bike on the islands.

[HoneyBBQ]

Jan 19, 2016 12:39:05 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Jan 19, 2016 12:21:29 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Terrible, terrible, terrible idea to drive all the way to Oregon. Definitely cross that out. Oregon is beautiful and I love it and there are so many nice places to see (Mt Hood, Portland, the coast, etc) it deserves it's own trip, not combined with Washington (especially when you're in Northern Washington).

I agree with everyone else in terms of local stuff:
Chihuly museum, EMP, Pacific Science Center, Pike's Place, Seattle Center, Space Needle, underground tour, etc.

Outdoors stuff: MRNP snowshoeing, snoqualamie falls, ferry over to bainbridge, etc. If you really want to go nuts, drive over to Leavenworth and enjoy some good german food and ski at Mission Ridge.

Pike's Place?  PIKE'S Place??  Come on, you're almost a local now!  There IS no such place.  I can understand it from a tourist, but....  

Say it with me now:  Pike Place Market  

THEN GO TO NORDSTROM'S!

[kittensaver]

Well by now you've probably been talked out of taking a "side trip" to Oregon - it is beautiful but should DEFINITELY be a trip of its own. Heck, getting to Mt. Rainier and back in one day will be very loooooong, even if you only do a light hike at the lower elevations and take some pictures.

If you WANT to take a side trip, I agree with others to get on a day-tripping tour to Victoria BC and see the Butchart Gardens. Or take a day's boat ride out to Friday Harbor or Port Angeles. Or go whale watching and check out the resident orcas and learn some history about the area.

I assume you've done an internet search along the lines of "kid-friendly things to do in Seattle"?

Hope you have fun! It's a wonderful area to explore. We have family there, but don't get to visit often enough  . 

[tallguy]

Jan 19, 2016 13:48:05 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Jan 19, 2016 12:39:05 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Pike's Place?  PIKE'S Place??  Come on, you're almost a local now!  There IS no such place.  I can understand it from a tourist, but....  

Say it with me now:  Pike Place Market  

THEN GO TO NORDSTROM'S!

(If I didn't know that was a joke, I would quote the immortal Crash Davis.  "This is hopeless.  This is utterly f****** hopeless."  

[tallguy]

    The name is Nordstrom. It is neither plural nor possessive, though people say it that way all the time. She was intentionally repeating the same error just to annoy me.