Seattle - What To Do?

The Coffee Shop
1

Any suggestions for things to do/see in Seattle (surely there must be a few)? We’ll be there the first week of July. We may take a couple days to drive to Kennewick & back, and maybe drive by Mt Ranier.

Was thinking of going to Deception Pass, maybe kyacking somewhere, and/or driving to the ocean. I’ll have my running shoes but no bike.

Is there a Boeing or aviation museum or something?

Thanks !

2

Oh wow - there is a TON to do here in Seattle, especially in the summer, and that’s before you even take time out to go to Ranier, Kennewick, etc. Depending on what interests you here’s a few thoughts off the top of my head:

  1. Rent kayaks and go around Lake Union (can be rented from the Northwest Outdoors Center or from Aqua Verde where you can also get Mexican food before or after at the restaurant connected to the kayak shop - both places also offer tours of different areas via kayak so check that out online)
  2. Running around Green Lake (you can also swim in Green Lake if the water is warm enough)
  3. Go up to the San Juan islands (which could also work if you were going to Deception Pass because Whidby - where Dec Pass is - is very close to where you catch the ferries to the San Juans)
  4. Boeing museam, tons and tons of other museams
  5. Visit Pikes Place to check out the fish throwing and the first Starbucks
  6. Tons of other farmers markets going on throughout the city every day
  7. Depending on if your group likes to ride you can rent bikes (just regular old bikes) and bike the Burke Gilman Trail down to Golden Gardens for an amazing view.

There is really a ton to do. You could easily spend a week just exploring Ranier and the Olympic Pennisula or spend a week just exploring Seattle, just exploring Whidby/San Juans…you get the picture. There are a ton of us Seattle Slowtwitchers on here so I’m sure some other folks will jump in with some other recommendations.

3

You could go watch Ken Griffey Jr take a nap at a Mariners game…

4

Not really along the same outdoor lines, but interestingly Seattle was previously burned and rebuilt early in its history. As a result the old section was rebuilt with brick rather than wood. Coincidently they were in need of raising the ground level of the city to avoid some tidal ground water problems, but since time was of the essence in rebuilding the city, they did the building before they did the raising.The original first floors are now the basements. For that reason, there is an underground tour where you go under the current sidewalks in the old section and see the original store fronts, some as they were immediately after the rebuild. It’s a short tour and very interesting. It’s called the underground Seattle tour and starts in the old part of the city.

5

Red Hook Brewery… the troll under the bridge…

6

You could go watch Ken Griffey Jr take a nap at a Mariners game…

hahahahah love it.

7

those are really good ideas. i’m not going to want to leave - i just know it.

thanks.

8

heh heh heh heh. good one.

9

ok, that’s unique. sounds super interesting. thanks.

10

**Red Hook Brewery… the troll under the bridge… **

ok, i’m intrigued. more details please.

11

Google fremont street troll for a cool neighborhood thing to check out:
The Fremont Troll
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/images/icon_fieldreview110.gif
Seattle, Washington

The Fremont troll has been lurking under the north end of the Aurora bridge since 1990. He was sculpted by four Seattle area artists – Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead – for the Fremont Arts Council. The head-and-shoulders sculpture is 18-ft. tall.
The shaggy haired troll glares southward with his shiny metal eye – a hubcap? In his left hand, he crushes an old style Volkswagen beetle (which originally contained a time capsule of Elvis memorabilia; removed after the car was vandalized and the California license plate was stolen). There are plenty of places to pose, and interaction with the troll is encouraged.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/wa/WASEAtroll2_balz.jpg
The community pays tribute to the troll every October 31st with a mobile “Trollaween” party, starting under the bridge and wandering to other funky art sites and events in Fremont. Of which there are plenty: Fremont is also home to the Largest Lenin statue in the US.
The troll achieved more notoriety in 1998 when the a man shot a bus driver and ran the bus off the Aurora bridge, crashing on top of an apartment building. The building is adjacent to the troll, and was reported to get as much attention – for a while you could still see evidence of the impact.

The neighborhood is artsy and fun… I think they may have closed the original fremont street red hook brewery since my last trip – but the new fancy one on woodinville is definitely worth the food and beer.

-Ron

12

Along those lines, if you are a baseball or sports fan, do catch a Mariners game at Safeco. It’s a beautiful place to watch a game, Suzuki is the best outfielder in the sport and will probably do something you’ll be glad you saw, and the menu is as eclectic as any sporting palace. I think they have $4 or $6 cheap outfield seats, but if the game goes on and seats below you don’t fill, the ushers aren’t militant about people occupying their assigned seats.

EDIT: Everything else suggested here is good. PNW summers are the best.

13

OP - If you’re interested in this type of thing check out the Seattle Underground Tour: http://www.undergroundtour.com/
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14

Is there a Boeing or aviation museum or something?

Thanks !
http://www.museumofflight.org/

15

If you or anyone you’re traveling with is a foodie you might want to check this out as well: http://www.savorseattletours.com/pages/3-Home
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