Weather Shall I Wander: Seattle's 100% Chance of Rain edition

November 21, 2014 1:59 PM

What the hell do we do for all-day in the rain on Saturday. Difficulty level: 2 bum knees, not really a SAM crowd, and sadly, sushi is out (low experimental eaters)

We are heading to Seattle this weekend with a small group of newish friends. Normally, my girlfriend and I drop in, do what we want and then go home, a quick 30 minute drive away. HOWEVER, the Out of Towners don't frequent the city, so we have a hotel for Saturday and tickets for a brunch show on Sunday. We also have drinking and dancing covered on Sat night.

Food rec for reasonably priced, no dress-up required eateries that serve fine items like a decent steak and Coors Light (as long as they have good vodka, too)

On the to-do list: the Space Needle, The Wildrose and Mimosas with Mama.

posted by Mysterious Trousers to Travel & Transportation around Seattle, WA (10 answers total)

If you are going to the Space Needle, what about going to the Pacific Science Center?
posted by jgirl at 2:12 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

There is a pizza place in the Armory right next to the space needle that's pretty good and serves beer. There are also dozens of other small eateries in the Armory that should hit the spot, that also serve alcohol.
posted by hellojed at 2:18 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

There's also the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) on the south end of Lake Union...which isn't too far from Seattle Center (and there's parking).
posted by dbmcd at 2:18 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Space Needle is overpriced and lame, IMHO. The Museum of Flight is fun. The Boeing tour in Everett is supposed to be more awesome, but the drive to Everett is less awesome.

If you are willing to row but not walk, you can rent a canoe/rowboat from the UW Waterfront Activities Centre and row through the Arboretum. If you can deal with Mexican, I like Agua Verde in that neighbourhood.

You can also take the ferry to Vashon or Bainbridge and drive around/have lunch. On Vashon you can eat at the Hardware Store, I don't have a current Bainbridge suggestion. I prefer Vashon, it's a cute little driving tour around the island.
posted by crazycanuck at 2:52 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

If you'll be doing the Space Needle and opt not to go to the Pacific Science Center, I recommend the Experience Music Project Museum. I spent half a day there and left only because the museum was closing. If your guests enjoy music -- they have some really great exhibits as well as a "studio" where you can jam on the keyboard, drums, electic and bass guitars. Even better if you have someone who likes to sing. You can record your session (5 minutes practice, 5 minutes recording). Their current exhibits are really fun, I particularly enjoyed the following:

Indie Game Revolution
Horror Films
Icons of Science Fiction
Fantasy: World of Myths and Magic

It's offers a great group experience because pretty much most of the exhibits have interactive elements.

FUN TIMES GUARANTEED.
posted by loquat at 3:39 PM on November 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

If you want a classic steakhouse, close to the city center, the Metropolitan Grill is excellent and has a full bar. I've heard El Gaucho is good too. Both are on the expensive side, though, at least by Seattle standards.
posted by mbrubeck at 4:12 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Don't forget the Pike Place Market.
posted by sammyo at 5:00 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

When I lived in Seattle [twenty five years] and people were visiting I found the ferry to either Bainbridge or Bremerton - coupled with a short walk north to Ivar's for a steamy cup of clam nectar - an excellent mid-day trip. The terminal is close to Pike Place Market and you can take the elevator to avoid the hill climb. The ferries have good beer, ok food, really comfortable seating, some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen, the trip is cheap, and you get great views of Seattle.

Touristing is exhausting and I like the ferry because you are moving while comfortably seated having a nice Red Hook ESB.
posted by vapidave at 5:18 PM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

There's a pinball museum if you're into that kind of thing. Apparently a $7 entry fee gets you all the pinball you want to play.
posted by elmay at 5:27 PM on November 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for your replies!

We ended up with typical ever-changing weather: rain only in the morning hours and SUN for the rest of the day.

We walked to the Center where we were very touristy and took the ride up the Needle (a request from the Out of Towners) and spent a fair amount of time at the top. It was a beautiful day to be there and the clouds had cleared enough we had a great view to the north, west and south. Beyond Bellevue it was clear why the pass had been closed for an extended amount of time.

Afterward we took the Monorail to Westlake (another request from the visitors) and went to Pike Place Market for the rest of the afternoon: Market, head shop, Gum Wall, Alibi Room, etc. and then back to the monorail and hotel before heading up to Wildrose where we met the friends with the bum knees who wouldn't have been able to tolerate all the walking we did.

Couldn't have asked for better weather given what we went into the weekend planning on.

I appreciate your answers and will be using them in the future!
posted by Mysterious Trousers at 5:53 PM on November 25, 2014