Plan My Free Day in Seattle
September 6, 2010 6:11 AM Subscribe
I'm taking a quick trip to Seattle in early November and, as I've never been to Seattle before, I have several questions:
1) What are my options for getting from the airport to my hotel (Silver Cloud Lake Union)? What should I expect to pay?
2) I'll be in meetings throughout most of the trip, but I have an entire day free to explore the city before taking the red-eye back home. How should I plan my free day to see all the Seattle highlights (my flight leaves at 10:55pm)?
3) Where should I absolutely have lunch and dinner on my free day (it will be a Sunday)?
For travel to/from the airport, I've been pretty satisfied using Shuttle Express. Your fare will be based on which ZIP code you're traveling to or from. There is a rate finder tool on there that will help you pin down the cost.
posted by trunk muffins at 7:21 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by trunk muffins at 7:21 AM on September 6, 2010
For the second half of your question: what kind of food do you like? What kind of things do you like in general? It's hard to know what to suggest without more context. You'll be right near the CWB, for example, which is one of my favorite places, but if you're not interested in small wooden boats you won't want to go there.
posted by hattifattener at 8:11 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by hattifattener at 8:11 AM on September 6, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the responses so far.
To answers a few of your questions:
1. My flight arrives at 9:45pm on a Friday evening.
2. I'm a bit of a foodie, so I'm willing to pay for a quality dining experience or two.
3. My interests are eclectic and I enjoy seeing things that are unique to a particular city/area. I do have a particular interest in art/arts/architecture as well as nature.
posted by tmharris65 at 8:24 AM on September 6, 2010
To answers a few of your questions:
1. My flight arrives at 9:45pm on a Friday evening.
2. I'm a bit of a foodie, so I'm willing to pay for a quality dining experience or two.
3. My interests are eclectic and I enjoy seeing things that are unique to a particular city/area. I do have a particular interest in art/arts/architecture as well as nature.
posted by tmharris65 at 8:24 AM on September 6, 2010
Do you like sushi? I {Heart} Sushi on Lake Union is one of my favorites. Everyone has their favorite sushi bar, but that one tops a lot of lists. Sit at the bar, order omakase, prepare to spend $$$ but leave happy.
If you're not a sushi fan, I like Tango (tapas and spanish food) up at Pike and Boren. If you go with a crowd -- more than four people -- order the meat paella as soon as you sit down, and snack on the tapas until then.
posted by KathrynT at 8:53 AM on September 6, 2010
If you're not a sushi fan, I like Tango (tapas and spanish food) up at Pike and Boren. If you go with a crowd -- more than four people -- order the meat paella as soon as you sit down, and snack on the tapas until then.
posted by KathrynT at 8:53 AM on September 6, 2010
Wow, that was incoherent. I meant to say, the paella takes 45 minutes or so to come out, but when it does, it's DELICIOUS, and with tapas or appetizers will easily serve 6-8 people. I presume that the seafood and veg paellas are also good, but I've never been able to resist the meat one.
posted by KathrynT at 8:57 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by KathrynT at 8:57 AM on September 6, 2010
A few things I'd suggest:
1) The Argosy cruise around Elliot Bay/Lake Union. Good opportunity to see a wide variety of things around the city, and the Ballard Locks are cool.
2) Food might be a little tricker, depending how mobile you are, how far you want to walk, etc. You aren't that far from Capitol Hill, specifically Poppy or Olivar (you can build your appetite climbing the hill). If you can get to the International District (which is about 2-3 miles south of where you'll be), you could try Malay Satay Hut or Green Leaf There are also some places north of you on Eastlake, the only one I've been to is Nettletown, which has some quite good entrees (but I'd suggest you skip the noodles). Serafina is supposed to be good, but I can't speak for it.
posted by Gorgik at 8:59 AM on September 6, 2010
1) The Argosy cruise around Elliot Bay/Lake Union. Good opportunity to see a wide variety of things around the city, and the Ballard Locks are cool.
2) Food might be a little tricker, depending how mobile you are, how far you want to walk, etc. You aren't that far from Capitol Hill, specifically Poppy or Olivar (you can build your appetite climbing the hill). If you can get to the International District (which is about 2-3 miles south of where you'll be), you could try Malay Satay Hut or Green Leaf There are also some places north of you on Eastlake, the only one I've been to is Nettletown, which has some quite good entrees (but I'd suggest you skip the noodles). Serafina is supposed to be good, but I can't speak for it.
posted by Gorgik at 8:59 AM on September 6, 2010
Architecture: Go to the public library, and the flagship Nordstom's. Easy to walk to.
Pike Place Market--sure, it's a cliche, but it's cool.
Science Fiction museum and Experience Music Project.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:42 AM on September 6, 2010
Pike Place Market--sure, it's a cliche, but it's cool.
Science Fiction museum and Experience Music Project.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:42 AM on September 6, 2010
If you do go to Pike Place Market, lunch at Cafe Campagne might be in order. Especially if they happen to have their cassoulet on the menu (and they might, in November). It is utterly transcendent! The Cafe is on the corner of Post Alley and Virginia.
Another favorite of mine, near the Market is Le Pichet.
Both of these places serve French food, but impeccably, and at a fair price.
For more "northwest" take on food, the restaurant at the Art Museum - Taste - is also very good; they emphasize seasonal, local foods and wines/beverages.
I've never had less than an excellent meal at any of the above.
posted by dbmcd at 10:28 AM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
Another favorite of mine, near the Market is Le Pichet.
Both of these places serve French food, but impeccably, and at a fair price.
For more "northwest" take on food, the restaurant at the Art Museum - Taste - is also very good; they emphasize seasonal, local foods and wines/beverages.
I've never had less than an excellent meal at any of the above.
posted by dbmcd at 10:28 AM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
Pike Place Market is a must-do. Ballard and Capitol Hill are fun neighborhoods for local color. Carta de Oaxaca is a great Mexican restaurant in Ballard. If you like architecture, the main library downtown is really cool and world-renowned.
posted by lunasol at 11:48 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by lunasol at 11:48 AM on September 6, 2010
It may take up more time than you have but a Ferry ride across the Sound and back is great on a nice day.
As for food, a classic old time spot is Ivers Salmon House. I had fish&chips on the dock a couple weeks ago during a family visit, fun to watch the boat traffic. It's on the other side of lake Union, perhaps there's a water taxi these days?
posted by sammyo at 11:55 AM on September 6, 2010
As for food, a classic old time spot is Ivers Salmon House. I had fish&chips on the dock a couple weeks ago during a family visit, fun to watch the boat traffic. It's on the other side of lake Union, perhaps there's a water taxi these days?
posted by sammyo at 11:55 AM on September 6, 2010
Response by poster: What a great list! Thanks to all who have responded so far!
posted by tmharris65 at 2:10 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by tmharris65 at 2:10 PM on September 6, 2010
I second the library. And, just a couple block away, the Columbia Tower has an observation deck that is much cheaper and has a much better view than the Space Needle.
posted by clorox at 4:21 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by clorox at 4:21 PM on September 6, 2010
If you like sci-fi, go to the science fiction museum. It isn't huge, but should entertain for an hour or two, and is pretty freakin cool.
Tango has an amazing desert called the diablo cake (or at least they used to), so if you go there, definitely try it. Spicy chocolate rich goodness. Mmmmm...
posted by markblasco at 5:20 PM on September 6, 2010
Tango has an amazing desert called the diablo cake (or at least they used to), so if you go there, definitely try it. Spicy chocolate rich goodness. Mmmmm...
posted by markblasco at 5:20 PM on September 6, 2010
One note on taking the Light Rail:
You only need to buy the one way paper ticket. You'll see references to an ORCA card on posters and the like, which is something you won't need. You'll also see posters above yellow scanner robot machines warning riders that if they don't scan their ORCA card, they'll get a $124 ticket. Again, this won't apply to you; I can't count the number of times that I've seen people mash up a paper ticket against the scanner, then get confused when nothing happens. You can ignore the scanners.
Also, if transferring from the Light Rail to the Street Car, which I recommend, you want to take the Light Rail all the way to the end of the line, at Westlake Station. Then, exit out of the 5th Ave. exit onto the street. When catching the Street Car, you'll want to get off there at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center stop, your hotel is only a couple of blocks beyond it. Your Light Rail fare won't work as a transfer to the Street Car, you'll have to buy a separate ticket for that.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:07 PM on September 6, 2010
You only need to buy the one way paper ticket. You'll see references to an ORCA card on posters and the like, which is something you won't need. You'll also see posters above yellow scanner robot machines warning riders that if they don't scan their ORCA card, they'll get a $124 ticket. Again, this won't apply to you; I can't count the number of times that I've seen people mash up a paper ticket against the scanner, then get confused when nothing happens. You can ignore the scanners.
Also, if transferring from the Light Rail to the Street Car, which I recommend, you want to take the Light Rail all the way to the end of the line, at Westlake Station. Then, exit out of the 5th Ave. exit onto the street. When catching the Street Car, you'll want to get off there at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center stop, your hotel is only a couple of blocks beyond it. Your Light Rail fare won't work as a transfer to the Street Car, you'll have to buy a separate ticket for that.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:07 PM on September 6, 2010
I'll second Nettletown for lunch/dinner. I LOVE the Nettletown noodles (with pork rib!), though the knoepfli didn't thrill me much. I've heard good things about the elk meatball sandwich, too. Other favorites around town are the fragrant duck and vietnamese spring rolls at Wild Ginger. dbmcd had good recommendations for French food above too.
At the hour you're arriving, you can take the light rail to downtown, but will need to take 71/72/73 up Fairview to your hotel, as grouse mentioned above. The streetcar stops at 11pm on Friday night. Enjoy your visit and let us know what you liked!
posted by sapere aude at 11:41 PM on September 6, 2010
At the hour you're arriving, you can take the light rail to downtown, but will need to take 71/72/73 up Fairview to your hotel, as grouse mentioned above. The streetcar stops at 11pm on Friday night. Enjoy your visit and let us know what you liked!
posted by sapere aude at 11:41 PM on September 6, 2010
Did not know that about the streetcar, so yeah - follow grouse's suggestions to get from downtown to your hotel.
posted by spinifex23 at 6:28 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by spinifex23 at 6:28 PM on September 7, 2010
Response by poster: Only had a chance to make it to two places, but both were great.
I recommend Olivar and Cafe Campagne.
posted by tmharris65 at 5:19 AM on November 13, 2010
I recommend Olivar and Cafe Campagne.
posted by tmharris65 at 5:19 AM on November 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Your other options are a taxi or a shared ride shuttle, which won't be worth it because it costs almost as much as a taxi.
2. There's a lot to see here. It'd really be useful to know what kind of stuff you are interested in: views, shops, restaurants, the outdoors, museums, architecture.
3. What's your budget?
posted by grouse at 7:15 AM on September 6, 2010