FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 13 Posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 1613 times:
Hi all,
In a couple weeks, I'm going to be spending a day in Seattle. I want to visit the Museum of Flight and the Space Needle. Beyond that I'm not sure. My friend who is from Seattle said that I should go to the Seattle Center because it's right by the Space Needle. I'd like to go to the Boeing plant, but unfortunately, I'm going to be confined to public transport and it's too far out for a single day.
I'm getting into Seattle at around 10 in the morning and I figured I could get to my hotel, which is near the Space Needle, and get settled in by 11. Is this right? I'm not sure how far the airport it from downtown.
I was checking bus schedules and it looks like the Museum of Flight is about 20 minutes away from the nearest stop. As far as I can tell it's route 174. How good is the bus system in Seattle? How much time is needed at the Museum of Flight?
What is there to see at the Seattle Center? Is there anything else that I need to see in Seattle? What's down at the waterfront? Where's a good place to get a good, but not too expensive dinner?
As you can tell I have lots of questions. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.
CATHAY747 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 170 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 1605 times:
Hello, I was just in SEA end of Sept. You are right about using the city bus to get to the Museum of Flight; bus #174 is correct and it runs roughly every 30mins. The museum website is at www.museumofflight.org; on the home page, click on VISIT at the top, then HOURS, FEE & DIRECTIONS.
As I recall, the fare was only $1.50 each way, and the bus will drop you off right across the street from the Museum (not 20mins. away), which is actually the side of East Marginal Way South on which is their "Airpark" which is where the BA Concorde & the #1 747 are located (among other aircraft).
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 1601 times:
If you're into outdoors stuff, the flagship REI store is quite a sight and I highly recommend it...while Im not sure on how to get there, it is walkable from the Space Needle...I did it when I was in SEA last summer...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 1596 times:
Searpqx From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 1593 times:
Good advice for you so far - take Gray Line to get to your hotel, depending on where you are staying you'll be about five minutes walk from the Warwick (last) stop. You might want to go the the Museum of Flight first, since they close at 5P. From there Seattle Center/Space Needle will take anywhere from an hour to 1/2 day depending on how much you want to explore, ride the rides, etc. I'd say plan on at least 2 hours, and most of the attractions are open later so it's a good way to go into the evening. From there walk down to the waterfront, take a nice stroll, enjoy the lights and have dinner. Your day is done!
"The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity"
CATHAY747 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 170 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 1589 times:
Quoting Searpqx (Reply 4): five minutes walk from the Warwick (last) stop
Yes, the Warwick is the last stop FROM the airport, and I believe the first on the reverse run. Check the Gray Line website. However, if your hotel is near the Space Needle, that's not necessarily close to the Warwick...you'd need to take a cab from there to your hotel, but it wouldn't be far or expensive...probably less than $6 or so.
One tip if you'd like a little "glamour"...go have martinis at the Olympic Hotel (a Fairmont hotel) in the lobby lounge at 4th & University Streets...it's Seattle's "grand dame" of hotels and is a historical landmark. WARNING: not cheap!
You know, there's a word for women like you, not used in high society, outside of a kennel!
FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1576 times:
Quoting FlyingNanook (Thread starter): I was checking bus schedules and it looks like the Museum of Flight is about 20 minutes away from the nearest stop.
Heh, I just realized that I was not exactly clear in my wording. I meant that it's like a 20 minute bus ride from downtown. Silly me. Is that right? (the bus ride part, not the silly me part)
I was planning on taking the Gray line Airport shuttle since it does stop at my hotel, albeit for an extra 5 bucks per roundtrip. It sounds like a good compromise between cheap and convenient (I hate taking luggage on buses)
Quoting Aerobalance (Reply 3): or just hang out at the water-tower and spot!
I don't think I'm going to be much in the mood for spotting because I'm going to be spending an inordinate amount of time in airports (especially in Juneau) on this trip.
Searpqx From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, RR: 12 Reply 7, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1575 times:
Quoting FlyingNanook (Reply 6): I meant that it's like a 20 minute bus ride from downtown
20 - 40, depending on the time of day. Midday shouldn't be too bad, and you'll be going against traffic when you head back into town, so you should be ok.
"The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity"
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10470 posts, RR: 20 Reply 8, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1571 times:
Go to the market (Pikes?) where they throw the fish around...
If you are an avation buff, the MoF will take the whole day anyway...
StevenUhl777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 1563 times:
Quoting FlyingNanook (Thread starter): I was checking bus schedules and it looks like the Museum of Flight is about 20 minutes away from the nearest stop. As far as I can tell it's route 174. How good is the bus system in Seattle? How much time is needed at the Museum of Flight?
Yep...#174. Goes right up Marginal Way. Catch it after you're done and then it goes up 3rd or 4th Ave. Being an aviation nut like me, plan on AT LEAST one full day. Probably more.
The Space Needle is about it...but don't spend $12 or $13 if it's cloudy or foggy...won't be worth it. Apart from that, nothing else comes to mind, unless you're into rock music, then you can go into that eyesore called Experience Music Project. The monorail (from the '62 World's Fair) is up and running and you can take that between Seattle Center and Westlake Center.
Quoting FlyingNanook (Thread starter): Where's a good place to get a good, but not too expensive dinner?
From Westlake Center, go to Union St., then walk towards the water (Elliott Bay...in a westerly direction) and go to 1st and Union downtown, you'll see a building under construction (the Washington Mutual Center...where I'll be moving into next June) and you'll see Pike Place Brewery. That's a good place, so is Islander, which is also right there. There's a staircase that takes you downstairs to Western Ave., and the best happy hour/Thai restaurant in town is there...Typhoon. Kicks ass, man...$11-$14 for some of the best Thai food you'll find anywhere. I can't recommend it enough.
Email me if you have more questions...I'm happy to help.
Kohflot From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 1546 times:
Some other things to keep in mind..
It's dark in Seattle before 5pm this time of year. Assuming you're coming from FAI, I suppose this will actually be an improvement.
Most Pike Place Market vendors are gone before 5-6pm. I think the first Starbucks stays open later tho..
If you want to see some Seattle 'culture', you can walk from the Space Needle into the Queen Anne neighborhood next door. Some good pubs (recommend TS McHugh's), coffee shops (recommend Caffe Ladro), the city's best record store (Easy Street), excellent pizza (Pagliacci), a movie theater, etc. If you feel like exercise, you can walk up Queen Anne Drive to Highland, take a left, and you'll find Kerry Park with one of the best views of the city.
If you don't get to the top of the Space Needle, you're really not missing much. The view is kinda neat, but there are wires preventing good photos.. and as mentioned, if there are low clouds or fog you're REALLY not missing much. If you get downtown before 4:30pm and you want a really impressive view, check out the Bank of America building on 5th (can't miss it.. it's the tallest building in town). There's an observation 'deck' on the 73rd floor.. directions are easy from the lobby or you can just ask. I think it costs $5.
Another interesting Seattle area is on/around Broadway in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Definitely some interesting people-watching there.. you'd likely need to take a bus up there, but if you're up for an adventure just walk up Pike or Pine from downtown and take a left on Broadway.
One more fun neighborhood is Fremont, just north of Queen Anne.. also very easy to reach by bus. It's sort of eclectic, though slowly becoming a draw for the boutique set. There is one very interesting feature there.. a big (and authentic) statue of Lenin brought over from the former USSR.
The bus system is pretty easy, and there's a large downtown area that's a ride-for-free zone. You'll see maps of it at the decent-sized stops.
The first time I visited Seattle, I stayed downtown (just because I wasn't familiar with any other area and I didn't have much time). Knowing what I know now, downtown would be one of the last areas I spend much time seeing on a quick trip to the city.
KBFIspotter From United States of America, joined May 2005, 729 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 1540 times:
There is allot to do in Seattle... Go for a stroll along the waterfront, or walk the streets of downtown. Pioneer Place and Rainier Place are both great areas for shopping and browsing... If you like books, there is an excellent book store in Pioneer Place called Elliot Bay Book Co (it is larger than most Borders or Barnes & Noble) and one could easily spend hours in there.
In Seattle Center, the EMP is awsome if you are a music lover. There is an excellent display of Northwest bands inside that is not to be missed. There is also the Pacific Science Center, geared mainly towards familoes, but they do have an Imax theater with some interesting films... Like the others said, if it is fogy or rainy out, do not waste your money on the Space Needle.
The whole Fremont area and the area around Green Lake is a wonderfull area to go for a stroll (check out the troll under the Aurora bridge). At Green Lake, you can rent a Segway scooter and go for glide around the lake (these are fun... we did it last year for a couple of hours and had a blast).
ScarletHarlot From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 4673 posts, RR: 59 Reply 12, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1523 times:
Another Seattle thing you can do that is pretty cheap and pretty neat is take a ferry ride across the sound. It doesn't cost that much, you can walk on, and come right back. You do have to disembark on the other side but then you can reboard within a few minutes. It will be a bit chilly this time of year but you can stay inside the ferry if you are too cold. It's a neat thing to do.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 4673 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
