Another Seattle Visitor Thread

disilluzion

We are taking an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle 8/20-27. Was trying to search previous threads to not make a new one, but I have just two questions:

1) The hotel we booked is comfort inn and suites, 13700 aurora ave n. Any issues with this location?

2) Will arriving in Seattle on 8/17 give us enough time to do all on the below list?

Mountain climbing (I think there is a cruise excursion for this)

Twin peaks tour

Easy street records (not necessary)

Space needle (not necessary)

The Sound Garden 

Wharf/pier

Brandon Lee gravesite

Discovery Park & Lighthouse

Stalking Seattle tour

Pike Place

EMP/MoPOP (if they still have the PJ exhibit then)
Maybe DMB at the Gorge after the cruise, assuming they play there this year, but then we have extra days, so would move the Seattle stuff to said extra days.

Thanks much!

jacquelynca

Just a suggestion..when going to Brandon and Bruce lees grace walk over to the park and see the black sun sculpture :-). Have a great time!  I think you get get a lot if not all of that done in 3 days.

disilluzion

Thanks! The sculpture is part of the Stalking Seattle tour. I wonder if there would be time during the tour to visit the graves as well?

Banjo

Stalking Seattle leaves from MoPop so you can do both the same day. I'd recommend it even if PJ exhibit is closed. Space Needle is right across the street too. We spent less than an hour at the space needle so maybe all three can happen together.

demetrios

Stalking Seattle was a great trip.

The duck fairy tour was sweet too that back in 2016.

Check out London Bridge Studios https://www.londonbridgestudiotour.com . The new display in the main lobby has changed since my last visit back in 2013. 

Love the Pike Place Market. 

helplessdancer

the line up is usually long. go when it opens and $40 for the bubble hash is not a rip off, at all
https://haveaheartcc.com/dispensaries/wa/belltown/

disilluzion

Thank you, everyone. What about the hotel location? Any issues with that part of town?

jeffbr

That part of town is fine. It isn't a beautiful part of town, and there's nothing special about it. It is not downtown, and is north of everything you want to do. That would be my only "issue". If you wanted to walk around using the hotel as a base, this isn't the place. If you have a rental car, then it is a fairly quick trip into the city.

disilluzion

@jeffbr Thanks for your response re: hotel location. Sorry for the late reply as I usually only check this site at work. What part of town would you recommend? Nothing fancy since we're there just to sleep. As long as it includes a breakfast and in a quiet/safe part of town is all I care about. I haven't looked into getting around yet, but walking as much as possible would be ideal.

Thanks much!

jacquelynca

disilluzion said:

Thanks! The sculpture is part of the Stalking Seattle tour. I wonder if there would be time during the tour to visit the graves as well?

Oh very cool.  I’ve never heard of that tour.  The park is very beautiful, my husband and i stayed there for the afternoon and had a nice picnic :-). Have a wonderful time, i love Seattle!  

jeffbr

@disilluzion, I would probably recommend checking out places nearer Seattle Center and the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. Is is just north of the downtown area, so a bit less expensive than being right downtown, but you can walk to the MoPOP, Space Needle, a little high down to parks and the waterfront, Pike Place Mkt, etc... So you won't need to jump in a car for a chunk of your activities. Plus you'd be surrounded by places to eat and drink and potentially catch a show or two (easy walk to the Crocodile Cafe, Moore Theater and not a bad walk to downtown (as well as a lot of transit options). I believe there is a member here (or was) who worked at or managed a hotel right near Seattle Center and might have info on rates. There are some relatively inexpensive options to consider there, depending on budget.

ham_on_rye

Don't forget Airbnb. My husband and I are going to Seattle first week of February and got a 1 bedroom apartment 1 mile from the Space Needle for 132 a night. 

disilluzion

@jeffbr Thanks for the info, I passed it on to the wife who makes all the decisions.

disilluzion

Okay, the DMB Gorge tickets are still processing, but my card has been charged. So we will probably fly in on the 19th, cruise 20-27, spend 3 days in Seattle before heading out to the Gorge on the 30th and flying back Monday.

Just found out there is an Evil Dead escape room opening this summer, so that's a must.

I also thought that there were mountain hiking excursions on the cruise, but can only find glacier hikes. Can anyone recommend a beginner mountain in the Seattle area? And I do mean beginner, as there are no mountains in MN, thanks! 

mookeywrench

Rattlesnake ledges in North Bend, WA. You could do it on the same day of your Twin Peaks tour.
The hike is about 2.5 miles round trip, gets very crowded in the Summer though, just a heads up.

disilluzion

Thanks! Would it be less crowded if we went at sunrise, or does time of day not matter much?

foodboy

i was in seattle for one week. i went to mopop and quite honestly i was not that impressed. there are so many great places to go. i went to every neighborhood and all offered something. went to sams sushi bar in ballard. was great. not ridiculous prices at all . sams sister looked after us. have her order for you. 

PureandEasy

I was in Seattle for the Home shows in August, 1st time visitor.  I did the Twin Peaks trip (not a tour).  You indicated two things as not necessary that I believe should be, the Space Needle (that's like visiting Philly and not seeing the Liberty Bell, or the Rocky statue); Easy Street Records, too much history with the band not to go.  We went there but had a time restraint, I definitely could have spent more time there.  Whatever you do, have a great trip.  

mookeywrench

disilluzion said:

Thanks! Would it be less crowded if we went at sunrise, or does time of day not matter much?

Sunrise would be less crowded, but not sparse by any means. Going Monday through Thursday would also cut back on the crowds.

disilluzion

I think the best option would be to hit up Rattlesnake Ridge Friday at sunrise, then we can do all the Twin Peaks spots ourselves since I'm sure all the locations are published online. We're already heading that direction on the way to the Gorge.

If I did pay for the Twin Peaks tour, then I would do it a different day, since they pickup/drop-off in Seattle. Then still hit up Rattlesnake Ridge Friday before leaving town, maybe Franklin Falls on the way as well? I'm just worried there wouldn't be enough time for Rattlesnake Ridge, Twin Peaks and make it to the Gorge in time, all on the Friday. 

I'd rather leave the hiking west of the Cascades, as I hear there are quite a few rattlesnakes in the summer east of there. Something of which I have no experience with living in the Midwest. 

mookeywrench

Cool, make sure you check out which hikes need permit passes if your going to branch beyond rattlesnake.
Franklin requires one, rattlesnake doesnt.

disilluzion

Thanks for the tip re: passes. Not sure I would have thought of that.