Seattle w/o much moolah

[Cortana]

Dh & I are thinking of going to Seattle for a couple of days next month for a mini-vacation with the kids. We'd really like to go to the aquarium and a couple museums or something like that. We'd be going Sunday-Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

 

What places would you recommend and on what days to help stretch a small budget. We're a family of 5 (kids are 12yo, 11yo, 4yo). Looking at around $300-400 max. We won't have any hotel expenses.

 

Thanks. :001_smile:

[DawnM]

Seattle Underground Tour

http://www.google.com/search?q=camp+casey+whidbey+island&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vGNiUP3aCJHw8AS6q4HoBw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1404&bih=731#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=seattle+underground+tour&oq=seattle+undergrou&gs_l=img.1.0.0l4j0i24l6.35828.38487.0.39963.17.11.0.3.3.0.782.3366.1j0j2j1j1j2j1.8.0...0.0...1c.1.y1EL0nSfCq0&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=4a5763ef01859eab&biw=1404&bih=731'>http://www.google.com/search?q=camp+casey+whidbey+island&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vGNiUP3aCJHw8AS6q4HoBw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1404&bih=731#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=seattle+underground+tour&oq=seattle+undergrou&gs_l=img.1.0.0l4j0i24l6.35828.38487.0.39963.17.11.0.3.3.0.782.3366.1j0j2j1j1j2j1.8.0...0.0...1c.1.y1EL0nSfCq0&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=4a5763ef01859eab&biw=1404&bih=731

 

Take the Ferry somewhere- Whidbey Island-Camp Casey is awesome and I believe it is free, other than the ferry fare

http://www.google.com/search?q=camp+casey+whidbey+island&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vGNiUP3aCJHw8AS6q4HoBw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1404&bih=731

 

Pike Place is a given

 

The Locks

http://www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

Edited September 26, 2012 by DawnM

[milovany]

If you want to go up HIGH but don't want to pay the very high price at the Space Needle, go downtown to the Columbia Tower (tallest building, black). Go to the concierge desk and ask for escort to the observation floor. It costs about $3-$4 per person and gives a WONDERFUL view. It's not outside like the Space Needle but oh, well. You still get crazy dizzy when you look down.

 

I agree with the ferry ride! Pop on over to Bainbridge Island or something. Have seafood at the outdoor Ivar's fish bar on the pier when you get back to Seattle.

[Cortana]

Thanks ladies!!! Ivar's is a given, dh loves their food, lol! Dh and I have been but the kids have yet to get to go. And yes, Pike Place is a total given. ;)

 

Milovany~Thanks for the tip about Columbia Tower!!!

[Sun]

If you want to go up HIGH but don't want to pay the very high price at the Space Needle, go downtown to the Columbia Tower (tallest building, black). Go to the concierge desk and ask for escort to the observation floor. It costs about $3-$4 per person and gives a WONDERFUL view. It's not outside like the Space Needle but oh, well. You still get crazy dizzy when you look down.

 

I agree with the ferry ride! Pop on over to Bainbridge Island or something. Have seafood at the outdoor Ivar's fish bar on the pier when you get back to Seattle.

 

There also is a Starbucks on the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower. You can go there for free - or for the price of one cup of coffee. It's not as high as the observation tower, though.

[milovany]

Thanks ladies!!! Ivar's is a given, dh loves their food, lol! Dh and I have been but the kids have yet to get to go. And yes, Pike Place is a total given. ;)

 

Milovany~Thanks for the tip about Columbia Tower!!!

 

You're welcome. When we went (weekday morning) we were the only ones up there for a good hour or so.

 

Oh, there's a new huge Ferris wheel at the waterfront, but I don't know what it costs.

 

By the way, PM me and tell me where you live! I bet you're going to drive within a mile of my house on your trip. We're on the way from the "inland NW" to Seattle.

[Stacia]

Check out Snoqualmie Falls, if you go out of the city a little bit.

 

Agreeing w/ the ferry & Pike Place.

 

We think Magic Mouse Toys (at Pioneer Square) is fun too. (Of course, that may end up being expensive! :tongue_smilie:)

 

Have fun!

[Bang!Zoom!]

We've hit the Experience Music Museum/Sci Fi every.single.time

 

It's just such a thrill to be that close to the original stuff, within kissing distance of Jimmy Hendrix guitar and the Captains Chair from Star Trek.

 

Just makes me swoon.

 

Space Needle is really something. Once you've done it though..eh. The ferry ride to Bainbridge is excellent, there's a lot to see over there, Navy Museum..there's an Anthony's restaurant on the pier if you like them. Ivars is of course a must.

 

Riding the rails around is kinda cool too, that thing goes really fast!

[justLisa]

Well this is the last you will ever get to see the King Tut exhibit if you have not already.

[Amy in TX]

Ride ferries anywhere--doesn't matter where. My boys just loved those.

 

If you want to spend a day outdoors, drive to Mount Rainier National Park. It's a couple of hours' drive from Seattle, but oh, so staggeringly beautiful. There are well-marked walking trails and free maps.

 

The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, about half an hour's drive from Seattle, is wonderful. All four of our dc loved it.

[Stacia]

If you want to spend a day outdoors, drive to Mount Rainier National Park. It's a couple of hours' drive from Seattle, but oh, so staggeringly beautiful. There are well-marked walking trails and free maps.

 

:iagree: It really is my favorite place to visit when I'm in the Seattle area.

[LucyStoner]

Take the water taxi from downtown to West Seattle. Hop the shuttle to Alki Beach for a nice family walk. The water taxi is like the price of a bus ticket so way cheaper than getting a regular ferry ride in.

 

The Seattle Space needle is outrageous now. Really and truly. It's like $19 a head or something. I was totally gobsmacked.

 

Make a day of the Locks+Shilshore Beach+downtown Ballard. The Ballard Library has tours of the green roof. The Other Coast Cafe or Cafe Besalu are great to stop for a bite (Besalu for pastry, Other Coast for killer sandwiches.) or eat at the new Red Mill that is paired with the old Totem fish fry place. Shilshore at Golden Gardens has a great and brand new playground. So that day is free aside from what you do for food. You can get a picnic at any number of grocery stores there.

[Cortana]

Thanks for all the ideas! I wish we could go see the King Tut exibit but it's too pricey. :(

[gardenmom5]

Dh & I are thinking of going to Seattle for a couple of days next month for a mini-vacation with the kids. We'd really like to go to the aquarium and a couple museums or something like that. We'd be going Sunday-Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

 

What places would you recommend and on what days to help stretch a small budget. We're a family of 5 (kids are 12yo, 11yo, 4yo). Looking at around $300-400 max. We won't have any hotel expenses.

 

Thanks. :001_smile:

 

okay - some things that are free (sometimes even parking is free), or minimal cost.

 

Mt Rainier for Hiking. http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm You should get some nice fall color. Box Canyon is closed, so decide which side of the Mt. you want to go to. (south side has paradise and longmire, east side has sunrise and ohanapakosh with big tree grove. some of the trees are over 1000 years old.)

 

You can drive out to alki point in west seattle and it has a great view of seattle/elliot bay/puget sound, as well as sandy beaches. decent place for a picnic, or there is spuds at alki for fish and chips. Lincoln park is nearby and it has tide pools.

 

the Hiram Chittenden Locks and fish ladder in Ballard/seattle (pay parking). (go to larsen bros bakery for treats. You can also incorporate the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery if you want to do a "theme". I think tuesday mornings 9am (you'd have to check) are when they harvest the salmon eggs and milk. there is also a display of the development of the eggs, and the salmon cycle of migration, etc.. Issaquah creek is good for seeing returning salmon, especially if it hasn't been raining heavily the water is fairly shallow. they also have a fish ladder that leads to their salmon tank.

while in issaquah, you can hit Boehm's chocolates. The founder emigrated from Austria, and the buildings are austrian design. You can tour the factory. Also in Issaquah is cougar mt zoo.

from there it is a hop-skip-and a jump to snoqualmie falls. apparently, they also boast a candy factory making caramel corn close by.

 

walk-on ferry ride - I always do bremerton as it is a longer trip. you can get off in bremerton and there are things to do on the waterfront. the return trip is "free". the coolest fountain next to the dock. looks like sub "sails". kids do climb on them. If you drive, you could go up to bangor and the submarine museum. On the seattle end is ivar's - and "ye olde curiosity shoppe". I adored that place when I was a child. (they moved it out of it's olde building.:glare:)

 

I second columbia tower for the view -it's taller and cheaper than the space needle. really decide by the weather. october starts getting iffy.

 

Ft. Nisqually in Pt defiance park in tacoma. there is also a zoo and aquariam there. Washington State History Museum is in Tacoma. (if you like living history, there is also camlann in carnation that is set as a 14th century village.) events vary for both, so it's hit or miss.

 

the older kids would probably enjoy the boeing factory tour - they have a strict height requirement though, so your little one wouldn't be able to go through the factory. the boeing museum of flight is getting/has received at least the first stage of the space shuttle trainier. (my 7yo would live there if he could.)

 

one of my local homeschooling groups put together this list of field trip locations. some information is out of date. http://www.waldsfe.org/fieldtrips.htm

Edited September 26, 2012 by gardenmom5

[Susan in TN]

I'll second (third, fourth...) Pike Place and the ferry ride. All my kids had a great time looking through the shops and vendors. For an inexpensive lunch, buy some fresh fruit and bread. We also went to Mt. Rainier - beautiful and a great place to explore.

 

Our family trip to Seattle (and then on through the rest of the state) was one of my all time favorite vacations. Now if you were driving through the Cascade Mts, well, that'd be another whole trip for you, but so worth it :D.

[TraciWA]

How about the arboretum by the UW. Might be too cold though.

[NorthwestMom]

DON'T take the youngest on the Underground Tour if he/she is not masterful at standing still and listening for long periods of time. They recommend age 6 and up and I agree with their recommendation. :)

 

Make sure to drive by the Fremont troll. It's an outdoor piece of art that is so clever. http://fremont.com/about/fremonttroll-html/

 

If you go to Pioneer Square, the Gold Rush Museum is excellent and free: http://www.nps.gov/klse/index.htm

 

Have fun!

[Amy in TX]

How about the arboretum by the UW. Might be too cold though.

 

 

Oh, yes, I forgot this! We took a nighttime tour that was a lot of fun. We were there in late September and it wasn't too cold, but you'll want to check of course.

 

Sigh... that was one of my favorite vacations. :)