Mrs. Piper has a conference next month in Seattle, and I may join her for an extended weekend after it’s over, so that we can have, oh, three or four days there.
So, Seattlites - what do you recommend we see or do over an extended weekend in September? More generally, what’s Seattle like?
Don’t expect to get a tan.
Everytime we are up in Seattle, we make it a point to hit Pike Place Market. Lots of fun, good things to eat, good beer to drink, and crazy fishmongers. See the Mariners lose another one, but in a pretty nice stadium.
thanks - was wondering about the Mariners. What’s the name of their stadium? is public transit good, or would a rental car be advisable?
I don’t live there (now) but visited a year or two ago. Seattle has a very ‘easy to get around in’ downtown area. It is small enough for an averagely active person to walk from end to end without difficulty, but it can be very hilly in places so you might want to ‘angle’ your waking if you are tired. Many hotels offer free shuttles if you don’t care to hoof it, or you can take a bus (which is free in the downtown area).
On one end of downtown, there is the City Center- they have a small amusement park, a ‘space needle’ (expensive to ride up the elevator but cool views), and a museum of music and some artsy shops.
In the ‘middle’ of downtown there is the Pike Place Market with tons of shopping (3 or 4 floors), dining and entertainments such as interesting stores and bookshops. I never saw so much seafood! There are street musicians an market vendors are often entertainers, too. We had very good hot dogs at “The Frankfurter” and the had a fabulous muti-course dinner at a seafood place that left me feeling guilty at the extravagance! We particularly enjoyed the Aquarium nearby. I went in thinking "Well, I don’t care that much about fish’ and came out saying “Wow!” - otters, octopi, rare and unusual seahorses!!
Not too far away is the other end of downtown where they have a free Gold Rush Museum and tours of the ‘Seattle Underground’.
We then rented a car and left the city to drive around the Olympic Peninsula to the Hoh Rainforest and to the top of Hurrican Ridge. We stayed overnight for this. At Hoh, we hiked and I never saw so many shades of green. These forests are related to the giant redwoods further south. We then went to one of the Pacific coast beaches for the sunset. the have tidal pools with critters and the beaches are ususlly covered with giant driftwoods.
On the way back the next day we went up the ridge. It was June and the temp was 72, so the kids were palying in 6 foot snow drifts in their shorts! They cried because we are from Texas and I guess I forgot to tell them that snow is cold and their fingers were sore. :dubious:
Have a great trip!
The Mariners play at Safeco Field, which is very nice. There is pretty good public transportation, at least for what we needed, but we also always had a car available when we needed it. Wait for the residents to weigh in later with the Dope on that. 
If you have access to a car–you can head up to Fremont and visit the Troll under the Aurora Street Bridge. I think most visitors I have taken there have enjoyed him 
It is a troll with a VW bug in its hands—it is huge! Fremont is a nice little fun area (or it used to be-haven’t been there for awhile).
Greenlake is a nice lake to walk around—and it is near Fremont.
Several good restuarants I can recommend if you give me an idea of what types of food you enjoy.
Let me translate.
That would be the Seattle Center . Home of the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, and the Experience Music Project. If your stay included Labor Day weekend, you could attend Bumbershoot.
Pike Place Market is actually closer to the waterfront. As a local, I find it to be mostly a tourist trap. I question the quality of the food in that area too. There are lots of homeless folks in the area and the public facilities in the area are attrocious. I think there is much more to do down closer to the waterfront. Plus there is a free trolley down there making getting around easy.
That would be Pioneer Square. Lots of unique shops and attractions. The best is the Seattle Underground Tour. It is also a good place for Seattle nightlife, lots of comedy and music clubs. It’s not a place to be after midnight, lots of unsavory types show up then. It is also near the Seattle sports stadiums too. There are also some quality brew pubs just south Pioneer Square. Other Seattle attractions include the Arboritum near the University of Washington, Chinatown and the International District and Hiram M. Chittenden Government Locks. If you want to get on the water there are a number of Elliott Bay cruises or you can hop on a Washington State ferry.
If you do decide to rent a car, I would suggest avoiding the Olympic Peninsula at this time, the Hood Canal bridge is being rebuilt with frequent weekend closings. If you do rent a car, for a day trip I would suggest Mt. Rainier or Mt. St. Helens. Both can be done in a day if you leave early enough. If you like fairs the Puyallup Fair should be running then. There are outlet malls in Marysville and North Bend. If you have a couple days and a car a trip to Leavenworth would be nice. Or a trip to the Washington coast, Ocean Shores or Long Beach are the best places to go.
The weather in Seattle in September can be anywhere from fantastic to downright miserable. The temperatures are still moderate so you won’t need any winter clothing.
I’ve lived here all my life. I’d suggest checking out some of the lesser known parts of Seattle, like The Ave (University Way), which contains a ton of really good ethnic food and random local flavor. There’s even a Starbuck’s. We have a rock solid transportation system. The buses are easy to use and relatively cheap. The monorail is pretty cool, theres a really cool science center, and a brand in new football stadium housing the 2005 world champion seattle seahawks.
Come to the Locks! And while you’re here, poke your head into Archie McPhee’s, and get some dinner at the Totem House. (or the Lockspot, if you want to be really touristy, but Totem House across the street is better. Oh, and go to the 7-Eleven and grab a Slurpee, you might see me there 
)
Go through Fremont, lots of interesting things to look at there, and don’t miss the Troll.
My husband loves the Ave. Lots to do and see near the University.
I second the Arboretum, and check out the Japanese Gardens.
If you like animals, check out the Woodland Park Zoo.
Go up in the Space Needle - not because it’s great, but just to say you did it. When you go back home, that’s all anyone will care about Even if you don’t like it, you can say you’ve been there, so you know. I like it. $10 a head, though (if I remember correctly).
Some places are unsavory after dark, but if you find yourself here in Ballard, it’s pretty safe all night long. There are some nice little bars around here. One in particular I love, even if you’re not a drinker, check out the Jolly Roger Taproom on Leary Way, awesome food! If you would like a drink, they have their very own handcrafted ales - and they are wonderful.
And of course, I second or third going to Safeco Field. Get yourself an Ichiro jersey. 
And if you can, check out Qwest Stadium, it’s very nice. I haven’t been there for an American football game, but I did go there to see a football game - Chelsea (my boys!) vs Celtic. I tend to be overwhelmed by big stadiums, but I found Qwest Stadium to be easy to navigate and clean. Don’t hang around that area at night, though.
Pike Place Market is often very crowded. It’s interesting, but it is a tourist trap. If you’ve got some money to burn, get a room at the Edgewater with a balcony and look out over the water. Wow. My husband and I did this on July 4th, and it took my breath away. They are ON the water. I woke up in the morning to see one of the fireboats cruising by, spraying everywhere. It was beautiful. However, the Edgewater is pricey. The museum is near there, and the Aquarium (catch an IMAX film there about the ocean or Mount St. Helens). Or even catch a little ride on the Argosy boat. Whatever you do, wear comfortable shoes.
I’m still newish to the area, so to me it feels like there are limitless things to do and see.
The Ave certainly has local flavor and some interesting shops but if you want really good ethnic food go to the International District. The Ave has some good ethnic food but it also has a lot of crap aimed at college students who don’t know any better.
Whereabouts is the International District? I’m a little embarrassed by how rarely I’ve been to Seattle, given I live relatively close by, but I’ll also be in town for an extended weekend at the end of September, and that sounds like something I’d like to check out.
It’s just north of the stadiums, if I remember correctly.
Thanks. I’m mostly going to be in town to see a couple of concerts (no one good ever comes to Victoria), but that leaves the daytime free to do sightseeing and shopping. Speaking of which, where are the best areas to go shopping? I’m thinking mostly of either unique local stuff, or at least chains that we don’t have in Canada.
Two words – Piroshky Piroshky. It’s a little bakery across the street from Pike Place Market that sells the most awesome pastries. I try to hit it at least once every time I go to Seattle, which isn’t often enough. 
Larsen’s Bakery here in Ballard is also pretty damn good if you ever get a chance to try it out.
It’s sort of north-east from the stadiums. The south end of the downtown ride free zone for public transit is just at the edge of the International District.
I was just in Seattle 2 weeks ago. We stayed in the Queen Anne district, and did not have a car. Most of what we did was touristy stuff, but we did it on foot. Some of the things:
Space Needle
Science Center (has an IMAX, and some exhibits)
Experience Music Project
Science Fiction Museum
All the above were at the Seattle Center area, right next to each other.
Down at the waterfront, we took a harbor cruise, went to the aquarium, and had a buncha seafood. We walked there from our hotel.
We also took the Underground tour, which I really recommend. Pikes Market is also worth a gander, though when we were there, it was insanely crowded.
If any of those sound intriguing to you, check into a City Pass. It gives you admission to several of the above-mentioned things, at a discount. That’s what we did, and it worked out cheaper than paying admission for each thing separately.
I LOVED Seattle. Very cool city.
Go to the Museum of Flight!
2 of my highlights include: sitting in the cockpit of an SR-71 Blackbird and walking through a Concorde. Oh and an Air Force One.
Yeah, the real planes just parked right there!
The correct answer is “all of us.” We’ll dopefest at the drop of a hat. Just let us know when you’re here and available.
And they’re good at it too! I had a wunnerful, wunnerful, time at “swampfest” in Seattle in May. I still smile thinking about it.
Oh, and do the underground tour. One of the more fun things I’ve ever ever done.