Seattle Travel Forum

My wife matcrazy0 and I visited Seattle in 2003 and we loved this city so much that we decided to come back in August 2008. We will arrive before midnight 12/13 Aug and rent a car in the airport. I may spend 13th and half of 14th Aug in Seattle area before heading up to BC, Canada. As I have already visited Seattle downtown my question is:

- what to visit outside downtown during 1 or 1.5 day?

- where to stay 13/14 Aug to enjoy some good food and nice nightlife (meeting people) on walking distance?

I thought first about visiting Boening factory. Any other suggestions? I mean something relaxing, easy to drive and not extremely expensive. We especially like art, nature and meeting people.

Hugs from Poland ---> :-]]]
Matt.

You might wish to visit the following web site: www.whatsonwhen.com. The site has world-wide listings so you can always use it again. Gary

I have just found Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour but I have no idea whether I should book it in advance? Are there many visitors there in summer working day?

Hi Maciek ... don't know much about Seattle (other than rushing thru it with two vans full of soccer players to make our flight back to Florida ... remember getting all excited running past the Boeing plant as I thought we had arrived at the airport ... but no signs!

Anyhow, we were in Langley for a soccer tournament (came in second place, were missing a defender!) - but we went to a place called Golden Ears park, which we really enjoyed. This was around 1978. I remember having to cross a river by ferry. Very nice place to take a lunch and explore.

In Langley, a great German owned restaurant called Josef's Country Inn - on the main strip ... can't find it now, but it was outstanding food, not just German, the fish was to die for and the steak - best I've had, period.

Sorry, this was a Seattle thread ...

Hi Martha ... haha, it's likely Langley will be my first Canadian city visited, thanks. Seattle is wonderful, you have to visit it.

I would spend the night in Leavenworth, WA. It's a quaint town right out of Germany, with some great restaurants, shops, atmosphere all walkable. The surrounding area is beautiful and there are many nice trails to hike on the top of the mountains/hills or along the river.

The Woodland Park Zoo is also worth checking out while you are in Seattle.

Hi - definitely do the Boeing Tour. We just did it in May and it was fascinating! Sorry, can't help you with the rest; unfortunately we spent too little time in the area! Happy Travels!

I'm not sure how far you intend to go "outside Seattle," but here are some suggestions.
Nice towns to drive to for scenery and arts or nature:
-- Leavenworth, Snohomish, Langley (the one in WA state), Port Angeles (Hurricane Ridge for nature), Port Townsend (arts, culture, possible seals off Fort Worden beach), Sequim (nature walk out on Dungeness Spit, seals, birds).

Within/near Seattle, but not downtown:
-- Discovery Park nature walk. This is our largest park, very rustic with great views over Puget Sound. There's a preserve here for great blue herons, and also the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center.
-- Seattle Asian Art Museum on Capitol Hill. Of course, the main Seattle Art Museum downtown is also superb, as is the new outdoor Sculpture Park at the north edge of downtown by Myrtle Edwards Park on Puget Sound. Adjacent to SAAM is the Conservatory, full of plants and flowers.
-- Canoe rentals at Univ. of Washington, which will take you to the borders of the Arboretum (bird sightings).
-- A ferry ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island (can go walk-on without the car) for a pastoral walk in a small town, lunch.

I hope you have a great time!

Hi..well, you mention meeting people and I find that getting-out of downtown Seattle and going to the Fremont area always yields some good people, food and shopping experiences. It is a short (and intersting bus ride...the no. 26) and worthwhile Seattle experience. There is a also a small park where the famous Google has an office. A wonderful place for a reasonable and delicious meal is the PCC ( a co-op), with many options in their fabulous buffet. You could get you eats to go and walk a block, to the park and sit by water...maybe, even,meet a Google employee.
The Stickman Cafe is excellent, with real drip coffee, the best espresso drinks,and a courtyard like you would find in Europe, but with a distinctive Seattle stamp on it!
The famous Lenin statue is here as well. If you like art, there are many examples of creative architecture and art stores...the Stone Cold Creamery building has some unique sculptures. Peets coffee is another good people watching and meeting place.
Port Townsend is a wonderful, small town with an amazing cafe...the Taylor Street Cafe (a real Parisian pastry chef)...plus, this is just a gorgous and interesting town. There you may visit many boats, see some creative streets/homes and enjoy the charm often missing in touristy places. It is my favorite town in Washington.
Bellingham is about one to two hours away from Seattle...Chuckanut Drive is astounding, offer views of the SanJuans and the famous Oyster Bar restaurant.
It is one of the most beautiful drives in America. (Just after Mt. Vernon, look for highway markers). Then, from here you could zip up to Vancouver. (take the Aldergrove option).
Have FUN!