Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and Seattle

How to split 7-8 nights between Seattle and Vancouver?

greendress — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:24:01 -0800

With 7 or 8 nights to spend in Seattle and Vancouver, how should we divide our time? My husband and I, along with my in-laws, may be going to Seattle/Vancouver next June. The total trip will likely be either 7 or 8 nights. None of us have never been to either city and I haven't done much research on either yet. I'll buy some Eyewitness guides, but it's sometimes hard to get a good feel from guidebooks for how much time you'll need/want in an area. But in the interest of possibly trying to firm up vacation rentals further in advance than my in-laws usually do (we try to rent houses/apartments most of the time rather than stay in hotels), I'm wondering how to split our time.

So, for those who are familiar with both cities, how would you suggest splitting the time? Half the time in each city? The bulk in one with only a couple of days in the other?

We typically would visit most or all of any given city's major tourist destinations -- e.g., most of the stuff you'd see in an Eyewitness Top 10 guide. Other than that, when we visit a city, we tend to just spend a lot of time walking around, eating and drinking, and sometimes even catching a movie. None of us are outdoorsy -- no hiking or bike-riding will be on the agenda. If one city is vastly more expensive than the other, that could make a difference.

Tell a Seattle virgin cool things to do while going to Bumbershoot.

Lutoslawski — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:24:01 -0800

Whattodoin[insert city]filter: What are the absolutely must do/see things in Seattle while visiting for Bumbershoot? So here's the deal. I've never been to Seattle. I'm going to Bumbershoot this weekend. My SO is performing in the festival, and while I'll be spending a lot of time at Bumbershoot, I'm also hoping to have some free time to myself to explore a little, go see something cool, eat/drink somewhere awesome, etc. I will have a car and I'm staying in a house that's apparently not far from the festival. I've seen this thread, which is really helpful, but given this specific situation, etc. So my questions are:

1) What are important things I should know about Bumbershoot?
2) What things should I do/see that will be manageable (i.e. time-wise, and not too far from the festival)?
3) Good vegan/vegan-friendly eating establishments?
4) Quirky bars with good, local beer/wine not readily available in pdx?

How to get from Vancouver to Seattle?

Cosine — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:39:49 -0800

How to get from Vancouver, BC to Seattle without a car? Looking for suggestions/coupons/tricks for getting from Vancouver to Seattle Airport (Sea Tac) by bus/train/boat/unicycle.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Making the most of two days in downtown Seattle

2oh1 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:21:56 -0800

TravelFilter! A friend and I will be spending two days in downtown Seattle without a car. Any recommendations for cheap yet delicious eats? Aside from Pike Place Market, what should we make sure we see or do?

Four Bulgarians and the great American roadtrip.

halogen — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:05:10 -0800

Help me plan a family road trip from Houston, TX to Seattle, WA. How to get a cheaper rental car, should we go to Monument Valley, and a bunch of other questions. My family (50-year-old dad and possibly mom, 30-year-old sister and 25-year-old me) will be reunited in June for the first time in six years, and we will be driving from Texas to Seattle over the course of ten days. My sister will be visiting from Bulgaria, and she hasn't been to many places in the US, so I'd like to show her as many amazing sights as possible.

At the end of the trip, everyone other than me will be flying back to Houston, TX, so we are renting a car. However, picking it up at an airport in Texas and returning it in Seattle really hikes up the price of rentals, and I couldn't find any places that will let us drop it off at a non-airport address. Do you have any advice as to how we can get the best deal?

This is the tentative route we have planned. We've already booked lodging in Grand Canyon and Yosemite, but everything else is subject to change. Would you advise us to go check out other places, too?

Is it worth visiting Monument Valley? Nobody mentioned it in this previous thread. The surreal photos I have seen certainly make it look incredible, but is there anything to do there? As in, can we hike in the middle of June, or will it be too hot?

Should we spend a night in Napa Valley (if so, where exactly should we stay) or continue on to Portland (presumably at least one of us avid wine drinkers will be sober enough to drive at that point)? What is there to do or see on the San Francisco, CA to Portland, OR stretch?

I've never been in a car for an entire ten days. What should we be prepared for? Are we going to end up hating each other (we get along pretty well, but even better when we are on different continents or coasts), and what could we do to be better prepared?

How to fill up a week?

FatherDagon — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:28:59 -0800

Going to Seattle for all of next week - anything awesome going on? We'll be getting in Monday and leaving Friday, so I'm looking for excellent things to check out during the week. I checked Pollstar.com and it looks like The Haunted are playing the night we get in, so hopefully we'll be able to catch them. Any other interesting events/art showings/etc going on? Industrial/goth/rock club nights that must be seen? Great places to eat at odd hours? Awesome shops to buy bizarre things, antiques, underground music, clothing, old books, or the like?

I want to travel near Seattle but not to Canada or Portland. Where else can I go?

handabear — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:40:55 -0800

Last minute spring break starting from Seattle for under $500? Here's the deal:

We have $500, the evening of March 26 through morning of March 29th free. We live in Seattle and would like to get out of the city. We can drive, but not a lot - preferably not more than 4 hours. Portland and leaving the US are not options. We could possibly take a plane or train somewhere, but that would cut into our budget heavily. Boy, we're difficult! But we're open to suggestions. What have you enjoyed in the area? Any personal recommendations? Thanks!

A good family vacation within three hours (by air) of Seattle?

The corpse in the library — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:27:31 -0800

Sun and warmth no more than a three-hour flight from Seattle? My family and I would like to take a vacation. Somewhere warm, somewhere sunny, somewhere other than Legoland (which is great but we were there recently). Some qualities I'm looking for:

- If we fly the flight can't be more than three hours long, leaving from SeaTac. I think that's going to be the biggest problem.

- Lots of activities for two small, hyper children.

- A reasonable number of activities for two energetic adults.

- All-inclusive is fine, cheesy is fine.

- Nobody trying to get more money from us. (It was annoying and stressful at the San Diego Wild Animal Park to have to keep explaining to the kids why we couldn't do various activities.)

- We're not interested in mingling, or taking part in limbo contests. It's fine if they're going on around us, but it needs to be okay for us to not participate.

- If the three-hour flight is too limiting, we could consider taking a train somewhere not warm but with good snowy activities. Idaho? Montana?

Any suggestions? Don't worry about the budget: please just brainstorm away, and I'll figure out for myself what's possible.

What should I see/do in Seattle?

Vague_Blur — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:18:09 -0800

I am currently visiting Seattle, WA. I will be here until the 01/26/09. I would like some suggestions for things to do while I am here. I am currently visiting Seattle, WA. I will be here until the 01/26/09. I would like some suggestions for things to do while I am here. I have plenty of time during the weekdays and am proficient at using public transportation and walking, I don't have a car or bike here. There are some obvious things that make it onto the tourist brochures, but I figured asking here might yield some more interesting additions to my itinerary. Fire away.

How Shall I Spend My Year In Seattle?

carpyful — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:24:10 -0800

An East Coast raised 20-something working in Seattle for a year; what are some things I must do / things I must eat? I am a 23 year old male who moved from northern New Jersey to Seattle to work for a year.

Even though a year sounds like a long time, I know that it can go flying by, especially since I'll only see each season once.

So what are some things I should not miss while I'm here? I've been to the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and I definitely have plans on taking the underground tour and making a trip up to Vancouver.

Also, good food recommendations would be very welcome.

A little more about myself: I'm not a big party-er (no clubs for me) and I'm into photography.

Relaxing weekend for one in or near Seattle?

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:53:34 -0800

Relaxing weekend for a solo woman in or near Seattle? I'm a burnt-out mom in need of a vacation. I'm thinking of treating myself to a night or two away from my darling family (they don't know this, thus the anonymity). I live in Seattle. Where should I go? What should I do?

I'll be alone, so "romantic getaway" trips aren't appealing. I like walking, I like good food, I like spa stuff like massages, I like hotels with room service and bathrobes and clean rooms, I like movies. I don't like shopping or scented candles or horses. I'm not interested in Victoria (too romantic getaway-ish). Too much free time makes me nervous, so I'd like some structure or activities.

This would be sometime this January, probably, on a weekend.

Traveling by train from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.

bamassippi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:31:33 -0800

Traveling by train from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. I'm planning a weekend getaway across the border from Seattle to Vancouver BC and looking to travel by rail via Amtrak. Why does the Seattle-Vancouver BC route only offer train trips once per day?

Is this only temporary?
Why the odd hours?
Have any of you traveled to BC via Amtrak?
What was your experience?

What are the best places to stop (for great PHOTO ops and delicious FOOD) along Hwy 101 from San Francisco to Seattle?

dcruzin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:16:09 -0800

Please recommend the best places to stop for PHOTO opportunities and delicious FOOD along the 101 from San Francisco to Seattle on a 3-day road trip? I have search some previous posts like this. But I have more specific criteria.

We leave San Francisco early on a Monday (maybe 7-8am), and we want to get to Seattle by 9-10pm on a Wednesday.

Like I mentioned, my friend and I are avid photographers and looking for some great landscape and nature photo opportunities. We also LOVE food, so unique and DELICIOUS places are requested (cheap doesn't hurt, either).

We're planning to camp out, so we need 2 different parks/forests to camp at.

Right now we're thinking about:

-Redwood National Forest
-Eureka, CA
-Mendocino, CA
-Oregon Dunes

We live in Seattle, so we prefer places that would be tougher to get to from Seattle since we could do those another time.

We know that 3 days isn't very long, so we will have to be pretty selective, but just wanted lots of suggestions to choose from.

Any links to photo/travel blogs, especially ones with photos are welcome!

Thanks!

Advice for Seattle trip.

milestogo — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:18:16 -0800

Please help me plan my trip to Seattle. I am going to Seattle with my family for 9 days in mid-August. I have never been to the Pacific Northwest before, but I have wanted to travel there for a long time for the natural beauty as well as the culture. I would like to get a lot of outdoorsy activities into the end of my summer, as well as take in Seattle qua Seattle. General “Don’t-miss”es or “you-will-love”s will be appreciated.

Specifically, however:

Is there a nice place to rent bicycles and ride around a pretty path? What about riding mountain trails?

I would like to go on some nice day hikes. I will have a rental car while I go on these. What reasonably accessible 3-6 mile hikes would you recommend? Also, I would like to go on a 2 or 3 day hike somewhere in the area, sleeping in a tent. Any recommended hikes that I can get to/from without a car?

Sites local Seattlers are proud of that I should make a point to see?

Is there a good place I can play pickup Ultimate while I am there?

Any bookstores that a book lover should be sure to stop into?

Basically, I want to get a feel for the city, and enjoy myself before I head back to school. What is the best way to do this?

Other helpful advice for someone who has never been west of Texas?

Thanks in advance, everyone.

Six hours in Vancouver airport

Artw — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:07:45 -0800

My brother is taking a cheap flight from England to visit us in Seattle, which has a stop in Vancouver (YVR) for six hours. Is there anything taht can be done within that time that's worth doing? Would it actually be possible to get out of the airport? Or should I just tell him to bring a book?

something to do in seattle for a rag-tag bunch?

epersonae — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:16:26 -0800

SeattleFilter: picking up my mom & a friend at Terminal 30 on Sunday, then doing something with them and 3 other relatives, including a 10 year old kid. Any suggestions for parking or fun things to do? I live in Olympia, will be driving up with mr. epersonae, then driving mom + friend to Olympia to their B&B after the day's outing.

mr. epersonae will be driving; he hates driving in Seattle traffic (alas, he is the far superior driver); neither of us is huge on crowds. mom has been to Seattle several times and has seen all the usual touristy places. I have no idea what the 10-year-old is interested in, although I will be asking her mom tonight.

also: should I rent a van/SUV? we have a mid-size/smallish 4-door hatchback, and might be able to borrow a slightly larger car, but I'm a little nervous about trying to fit people and stuff for the ride home. OTOH, when I looked, it was way expensive because of the stupid holiday weekend. is it worth ponying up the extra $$$?

Weekend in Portland or Vancouver?

bamassippi — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:35:18 -0800

Weekend in Portland or Vancouver? This Seattleite cannot decide between a weekend (Saturday afternoon through Monday at 2 PM) in Portland, OR or Vancouver, CA.

Is there anything special going on in either location than could swing me in either direction?

Best beach on the Washington state Pacific Coastline?

bamassippi — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:11:24 -0800

Best beach on the Washington state Pacific Coastline? Taking a looong day-trip (rain or shine) to the Pacific Coast this Saturday from Seattle. Anyone have any recommendations for the best beach with access on the Washington coastline?

Also... I want to head South (Olympia) to the coast and come back through the North (via Bainbridge ferry) on the way home to Seattle. Anyone ever done this? Is this crazy to think to do (by simply driving and not stopping very much) in one day?

(Any suggestions as to good eateries/sights that can be easily accessed en route to or from the coast are welcomed as well.)

Seattle - Florida driving routes?

astruc — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:51:00 -0800

I'm driving cross-country (again) and am feeling dubious about the Seattle-Florida route AAA mapped out on my behalf. I'd vaguely planned a southern route. I'd like avoid the really scary mountain passes and weather. This is what they gave me instead:

Seattle (98119) to Missoula, MT
Missoula to Sheridan, WY
Sheridan to Wall, SD
Wall to Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls to Kansas City, MO
KC to Mt. Vernon, IL
Mt. Vernon to Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga to Jasper, FL
Jasper to Palm Beach (33480)

AAA only mapped it out stop-by-stop at my request, and the woman helping me didn't seem very confident in her knowledge of these routes or where to stop, in contrast to the 90 year old man who helped me in New York and knew down to the minute where I'd be best off stopping. I'd prefer to drive 6-7 hours per day, negotiable. I'm not in any real rush.

Jessamyn, I've already got my duct tape.

Driving is fun, for a while.

517 — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:24:14 -0800

What's the best way to drive from Chicago to Seattle in February? What are some interesting things to see and do along the way?

Any advice on driving through the mountain passes?

Maguro, frittatas and Oly-- Oh My!

dersins — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:17:33 -0800

Seattle recommendations, please? Sushi? Sunday breakfast / brunch? Dive bar? So we're going to be in Seattle the weekend before Christmas. One place I know I want to eat is Quinn's; I'd love to get a recommendation for great sushi the other night we're in town.

I've heard good things about Nishino and Umi Sake House, but I'm open to any suggestions.

We're staying at the Edgewater, but will have a car and a sense of adventure, so we're willing to travel in the greater metro area for the sake of great food.

I'd also love recommendations for the following:

1. Excellent Sunday breakfast and / or brunch.

2. A pleasant neighborhood-y or dive-y bar not far from the hotel (something in Belltown, maybe?). We like to eat kinda fancy but prefer to drink kinda homey, if that makes any sense...

And, yes, I have explored the other Seattle questions here, but restaurants open and close all the time (for example, Quinn's, where we're eating one of the nights we're in town, wasn't even open the last time a similar question was asked) and up-to-date information would be much appreciated.

What to do in the Pacific Northwest next week?

vytae — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:48:59 -0800

What should I do in Seattle, Portland, and points between, during the first week of December? I'll be in the Pacific Northwest December 5-9 (so, next Wednesday through Sunday). My current plan is to spend the 5th in Seattle, then drive down to Portland for the 6th and 7th, and be in Tacoma on the 8th. I leave from Seattle again on the 9th around lunchtime. (A whirlwind tour, I know, but it has a purpose.) I will have a rental car to take me wherever I want to go.

Are there any special events I should make a point of attending? Any fun winter/holiday/December-related activities I shouldn't miss? Any great and not-overly-expensive restaurants/coffee shops/stores I should visit? Any especially gorgeous scenery I should take in?

I'm a pretty outdoorsy, casual girl who would prefer a nice hike (weather permitting) or hour spent wandering a good bookstore, compared to visiting the trendiest bars. I do love a great meal, but I'm not likely to dress up too much for it. I spent a day in Seattle a couple years ago, so I've got the space needle and Pike Place market checked off my list. What else should I check out?

Transit times between Vancouver, Seattle, and Los Angeles

oldlies — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:21:33 -0800

Quickie road trip! How long does it take to drive from L.A. to Seattle? And how long to drive from downtown Seattle to downtown Vancouver, BC? And how long from Seattle to L.A.? How would you budget your time in each city? We're leaving on Sunday evening and we have to get back by Friday night. We might skip Vancouver if the timetable gets too tight. There are two drivers and we'll only stop for gas, meals, potty. We're not going to risk getting a speeding ticket, so we'll be driving (roughly) the speed limit. No time for scenic routes.

1) How many driving hours to get to Seattle from L.A.?
2) How long to get from Seattle to Vancouver, BC (taking ferries and all that stuff into account)?
3) After we leave Seattle, how many hours to get to San Francisco?

Where should I go on a three-day trip, leaving from Seattle?

The corpse in the library — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:23:39 -0800

Where should I go on a three-day trip, leaving from Seattle? I can go on a two-to-four day trip this August, traveling by myself. I'm leaving from Seattle. I want to: walk a lot, see interesting things, eat good food, sleep in a clean and pleasant hotel (not a B&B), walk more, and generally enjoy a break from my lovely-but-exhausting small children.

I have a passport, but don't want to spend a lot of time in the airport for such a short vacation. I don't want to go to Portland or San Francisco, as much as I like them both, because I've been there so often. I want to feel like I've been somewhere new and seen new things.

Don't worry too much about budgets -- help me brainstorm, and I'll figure out what's realistic. (Private jets are not possible. Plane or ferry tickets are.) Alaska? Victoria? Where?

Is it realistic to leave Astoria, OR in the a.m. to arrive at SEATAC for a 1:30 flight?

unccivil — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:26:21 -0800

Is it realistic to leave Astoria, OR in the a.m. to arrive at SEATAC for a 1:30 flight? We are planning a west coast trip and will be in Newport on a Wed. morning. I want to drive up the Oregon coast on Wed, stay overnight and then catch a flight leaving Seattle on Thu @ 1:30...Trying to decide where to stay Wed. night. Enough time to make the airport staying in Astoria? or push through on Wed. to Olympia, WA?...any other nice, hidden places (prefer B&Bs) in between? Recommendations on places to stay are welcome too!