Seattle on a Saturday?

March 9, 2005 1:09 PM

What are some fun locals type activities in or around Seattle on a Saturday?

My wife and I are traveling to Seattle for the weekend and staying with friends in Lake Forest Park or the LFP as I like to call it. Our friends are kind of homebodies and when we come to visit they generally hem and haw about what we should do once we get there. I've found that the best way to ensure a good time is to make our own plans and bring them along.

Now, we've been there several times and have seen all the typical stuff around downtown. We've been to bumpershoot, I've been on a sailboat in the sound, gone to the market, drank way too much soju at a Korean bar, etc... My wife even made me go to the Ikea there(we don't have one in SLC). Now we're trying to find some new activities that we haven't tried yet. What are some of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday in/or around Seattle. Thank you in advance.

posted by trbrts to travel & transportation (20 comments total)

Off the top of my head: Go for a walk around Green Lake. Go fly a kite at the kite hill at Magnuson Park or Gasworks Park. Sleep late and go out for breakfast/brunch somewhere in the neighborhood. This time of year, go out to a nursery and gawk at all the plants.

(yeah I'm kind of a homebody too)
posted by xil at 1:15 PM on March 9, 2005

* Go wine tasting in Woodinville. Don't miss the Facelli winery!

* Go hike Snoqualmie Falls or Twin Falls, about 45 minutes east of Seattle.

* Catch a movie at the Cinerama, best movie theater in the world.

* Take the Seattle Underground tour.

* Attend the Seattle Symphony.

* Attend a MeFi Seattle meetup.
posted by agropyron at 1:23 PM on March 9, 2005

* Go see the Fish Ladder, if the salmon are running (July and August).
posted by agropyron at 1:26 PM on March 9, 2005

Also, the new library downtown is a lot of fun to explore. It's been a long time since I was in a new building that was actually interesting (love it or hate it).

Archie McPhee is a great place to waste some time on a rainy weekend, too. More random plastic junk than you can imagine.
posted by xil at 1:32 PM on March 9, 2005

I've never been to Cinerama but I like the Big Picture because there's drinking too.

I second Gasworks Park and Greenlake. There's also the Burke-Gilman trail - you could walk it or find somewhere to rent a bike.

Taking a day or afternoon trip on one of the ferries is always fun. The pedestrian ferry to Bainbridge Island is great. Whidbey Island is also supposed to be really nice, though I've never been there. That one requires a car.

There are always lots of local bands playing - when are you coming? Stet and I probably have recommendations.

On preview: Yes, the library!!
posted by librarina at 1:34 PM on March 9, 2005

Do not, I repeat, do not Ride the Ducks.

(Note, this has nothing to do with homosexual necrophiliac duck sex and is completely SFW.)
posted by matildaben at 1:49 PM on March 9, 2005

Don't worry, I will not be riding the ducks.

On Saturday night we will actually be going to see Slint at the Showbox. That's the reason for coming. So, any recommendations on a good moderately priced eating establishment near the Showbox would also be appreciated. But, I'm primarily interested in stuff to do Saturday morning and afternoon.
posted by trbrts at 2:02 PM on March 9, 2005

The Woodland Park Zoo is great!

I've heard good things about the Science Fiction Hall of Fame at the Experience Music Project in Seattle Center.

We're having an early spring, so the Japanese Gardens at the Arboretum should be getting good about now.
posted by Man O' Straw at 2:02 PM on March 9, 2005

So, any recommendations on a good moderately priced eating establishment near the Showbox would also be appreciated.

Le Pichet and the Virginia Inn are both close by, reasonable, and serve good food.
posted by Skot at 2:13 PM on March 9, 2005

If your friends are Seattle-phobic, I second the Woodinville recommendation. While you're there you can have breakfast at the Maltby Cafe, the near mentioning of which causes hot pants for most of the foodies I know.

For in-city activities, you should consider Seattle's local weekly The Stranger to be your "happenings" guide - Dan Savage's hometown paper will not lead you astray.
posted by kidhuevos at 2:19 PM on March 9, 2005

Typhoon is one of my favorite Thai restaurants, very near by. Yum!
posted by agropyron at 2:21 PM on March 9, 2005

The Showbox is, like, right across the street from Pike Place Market. It's a cliche, but I mean, if you're gonna be in the area, why not? There's a chili place in there that's very good, and a couple of hole-in-the-wall seafood places that'll virtually give you hot fish and chips cheap. Also a really nice sandwich shop (Three Girls Bakery), a cookie place, the mini-donuts (oh! the mini-donuts!), fresh roasted nuts... ummmm. Probably not open that late on a Saturday, but if you get there early enough...
posted by kindall at 2:42 PM on March 9, 2005

Yeah, we've just been to Pike Place several times and are looking for something different. Thanks for the suggestion.
posted by trbrts at 2:52 PM on March 9, 2005

Take one of the ferries across the Sound to Bremerton. You'll get some incredible views of Puget Sound at a great price, and it gets you out of Seattle. You also get to experience the largest public transportation ferry system in North America.

If you go as 'walk on' passengers, it's cheap, and you'll never have a queue to wait in.

The ferry dock is right by Pike Place Market, by the way.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:57 PM on March 9, 2005

I would recommend the trip to Bainbridge instead of Bremerton. I'm biased (it's my hometown) but the downtown area (just walk off the ferry, up the hill, and turn left) is much cuter and more friendly. Cute shops and stuff along the way -- and Blackbird Cafe is fantastic.
posted by arielmeadow at 3:51 PM on March 9, 2005

Take the Seattle Underground tour

Disagree. Expensive, touristry, not that interesting (to that extent it is, it's what the guide says - which can be read, elsewhere), and, on a cold or wet day (which this weekend will not be) unpleasant, since you enter and exit at several points.


The ferry dock is right by Pike Place Market, by the way

A few blocks away. Ferries to Bainbridge Island (a shorter trip) also leave from this dock.


This weekend promises incredibly good weather for Seattle for this time of year - if you're at all inclined, the outdoors is definitely the way to go.

For food recommendations, you might check out the Chowhound Pacific Northwest message board - nicely moderated so there isn't a lot of noise.
posted by WestCoaster at 4:21 PM on March 9, 2005

Huh - never thought of Bambridge, actually. Probably because I've never been there.

But yeah - Bambridge probably is the better choice; I've been to Bremerton, and while pretty, also has of a 'hickish' small town feel to it. I yield to the Bambridgeites on this one.

And, while a few blocks away, is still within walking distance of the Market, if you're using that as a reference point.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:37 PM on March 9, 2005

Yeah, I only suggested the Market because you were going to be really close and I didn't notice you'd already been.
posted by kindall at 5:02 PM on March 9, 2005

How about the Museum of Flight? Next to Boeing. I drive by it all the time, and it looks really cool (but I've never been inside). They've got a Concorde you can tour!

I enjoy GeoCaching. It's a good way to find out about places throughout the city that you never would have gone to otherwise.

There's nothing finer than strolling through the arboretum on a Saturday morning, either.

Oh, hey, you're going to be in Lake Forest Park? That's right next to where I live. Check out Third Place Books if you haven't already.

In fact, if you wanted to have a "book" theme, you could go to the three best bookstores in Seattle, and the best place to read them. Start at Third Place in The LFP, then go to The University Bookstore in the U-District. While you're there, check out the Suzzallo Reading Room on the UW campus (parking is convenient). Then go downtown and visit the Elliot Bay Book Company. That would be an awesome day for me, but I don't know if you're that much of a book nerd.
posted by Hildago at 5:16 PM on March 9, 2005

I loved the underground tour, but I can understand why people hate it. While you can get the info easily and elsewhere, I like the absurdity of being down there, and hearing about the history of the city was fascinating.
posted by mzurer at 7:22 PM on March 9, 2005