Help getting around Seattle

[Mama Geek]

We are staying north of Seattle, but would like to do some touristy stuff in Seattle.  We have a large vehicle and know that getting around Seattle in it is a real pain.  What is the best way to get into Seattle coming from the north, we would be happy to park somewhere where there is ample parking and ride in on light rail or other reasonably quick method to get to downtown.  We would rather not be on a bus that made real frequent stops.

 

Also if you have any favorite things to do I am open to suggestions

 

So far I am thinking about the Space Needle, The Center for Wooden Boats, The Flight Museum, The Aquarium, a Harbor Cruise

 

We are planning to be in the area for awhile so it isn't all going to be in the same day.

[Guest]

There's a lot of parking at the Seattle Center (but it's not free). From there you can ride the monorail to downtown and do a lot of the rest. The boiling flight museum, you need to drive to, but there is ample parking.

 

I stay out of downtown Seattle with my car. Too much hassle. There are busses that are pretty speedy from the north end, however. The online Metro guide can help you with planning.

[gardenmom5]

We are staying north of Seattle, but would like to do some touristy stuff in Seattle.  We have a large vehicle and know that getting around Seattle in it is a real pain.  What is the best way to get into Seattle coming from the north, we would be happy to park somewhere where there is ample parking and ride in on light rail or other reasonably quick method to get to downtown.  We would rather not be on a bus that made real frequent stops.

 

Also if you have any favorite things to do I am open to suggestions

 

So far I am thinking about the Space Needle, The Center for Wooden Boats, The Flight Museum, The Aquarium, a Harbor Cruise

 

We are planning to be in the area for awhile so it isn't all going to be in the same day.

the view from the columbia center is better - and it's cheaper.  (unless you like touristy rip-offs.)  the science center is good.

do the locks cruise  (then you get to see the locks)  it goes from lake union to the waterfront (you can do either direction)

museum of history and industry will give you a very good background of seattle history - it's the south end  of lake union.  (I miss the original building & location,  which has now been torn down to widen 520.)  do it the same day as the locks cruise, and do the one where they pick you up on lake union.

also near the center for wooden boats.

 

we generally avoid seattle -north and south is easy - east and west is not. 

 

for the museum of flight (it's big.  they have a space shuttle trainer too). - plenty of free parking.   I would also strongly suggest the boeing factory tour at paine field in Everett.  we drove past it yesterday - the doors were open.  it's fun to see 747s INSIDE a building. . . .   all of Disneyland would fit inside the building.

Edited June 5, 2016 by gardenmom5

[Guest]

We used to live North of Seattle, and went downtown regularly. We just drove in on 5, and paid to park. It's really not a big deal imo. I mean it's $$$ but the driving itself is not particularly onerous.

 

The train and bus system, OTOH is one of the most convoluted and ridiculous I have ever seen in my entire life and I avoided it at all costs. YMMV, of course.

 

ETA--do be aware that rush hour traffic is opposite of what you expect it to be. Lot of people driving INTO Bellevue or Redmond for work.

Edited June 5, 2016 by OKBud

[NorthwestMom]

Honestly I find it easier to drive in and park. Our lack of a coherent mass transit system is shameful.

 

Seattle Center has a LOT more than the Space Needle. In addition to the already-recommended Pacific Science Center, and any other attractions you will find by looking online, there is also a HUGE outdoor fountain for kids to play in and a new-ish outdoor playground that is free. I would not recommend EMP unless you are super huge music fans and have looked at the list of exhibits and decided you NEED to see those, because it is very expensive and not really great for 5 year olds.

 

The Aquarium is on the waterfront, and there is a set of crazy shops there as well as The Great Wheel, Seattle's ferris wheel.  The compartments on the wheel are enclosed and clear, so you can ride on rainy days too.

 

If you drive, make sure to go to Fremont and find the Troll who lives under the bridge. Gasworks Park is really nice too.

 

 

[Guest]

If you do wander down near Pike's Place GET PIROSHKY OR YOU WILL REGRET IT FOREVER.

 

It really is the most delicious thing.

[Stacia]

I've visited Seattle quite a few times through the years. I've always had a car there & driven into downtown. It has never been a problem. (But, I also come from a city that has more traffic than Seattle.)

 

The Pacific Science Center would be a lot of fun for your 5yo, imo. If you're in the area of Pioneer Square, you might enjoy going in Magic Mouse Toys.

 

One thing I don't think I've seen mentioned yet is going on the ferry. You can walk on, of course, but going in a car is quite fun too. We've often done the run over to Bainbridge Island (which I love visiting anyway, esp. Eagle Harbor Books).

 

And Pike Place Market too. Lots of good food (samples too, lol), snacks, flowers, & so on.

 

Have fun! Seattle is a great place to visit.

[Stacia]

If you do wander down near Pike's Place GET PIROSHKY OR YOU WILL REGRET IT FOREVER.

 

It really is the most delicious thing.

 

And, visit Le Panier French Bakery there too! A must!

[Guest]

And, visit Le Panier French Bakery there too! A must!

 

See, you better park and walk :laugh:  Because you are about to have some deeeelicious food in your face!

[DawnM]

1.  Elliott Bay bookstore used to be fabulous.  But I am reading that it moved to Capitol Hill, so you will have to ask someone who lives there now about that.

 

2.  Seattle Underground Tour is wonderful and I recommend it to anyone visiting Seattle.

 

http://www.undergroundtour.com

 

3.  Take a Ferry boats to:

 

Fort Casey, your kids will enjoy checking it out:

 

http://www.seattleandsound.com/fortcasey.html

 

4.  and maybe a Ferry to Paulsbo

 

 

 

Edited June 5, 2016 by DawnM

[Guest]

There is a bakery in Poulsbo that sells something called "Viking Cups." Do it!

[DawnM]

Honestly I find it easier to drive in and park. Our lack of a coherent mass transit system is shameful.

 

Seattle Center has a LOT more than the Space Needle. In addition to the already-recommended Pacific Science Center, and any other attractions you will find by looking online, there is also a HUGE outdoor fountain for kids to play in and a new-ish outdoor playground that is free. I would not recommend EMP unless you are super huge music fans and have looked at the list of exhibits and decided you NEED to see those, because it is very expensive and not really great for 5 year olds.

 

The Aquarium is on the waterfront, and there is a set of crazy shops there as well as The Great Wheel, Seattle's ferris wheel.  The compartments on the wheel are enclosed and clear, so you can ride on rainy days too.

 

If you drive, make sure to go to Fremont and find the Troll who lives under the bridge. Gasworks Park is really nice too.

 

 

Unless you have a stick shift and it has been a very long time since you tackled steep hills and you need to drive up James St. from I5 towards the hospital and get stopped at a red light ON said hill.

 

My knees were knocking I was so scared I would stall out or back up into the car behind me! 

 

Thankfully I gunned it and made it.  

[NorthwestMom]

Unless you have a stick shift and it has been a very long time since you tackled steep hills and you need to drive up James St. from I5 towards the hospital and get stopped at a red light ON said hill.

 

My knees were knocking I was so scared I would stall out or back up into the car behind me! 

 

Thankfully I gunned it and made it.  

 

Yeah, that would suck. :lol:

[NorthwestMom]

And I definitely second the ferry ride!

[LucyStoner]

The light rail only goes as far north at the Univerity of WA at this time. So not that far north and not north of Seattle.

 

I don't think driving to the Seattle Center is hard. You can then get to the core of Downtown for the market/waterfront and aquarium on the Monorail. If you don't want to hassle with drive, you can park at a number of different park and rides along I-5 and get a bus to downtown and then catch the monorail to the Seattle Center. The one in Montlake Terrace is good, there's a small one at the city limit with Shoreline and another option is the Northgate Transit Center. Park for free and then get a bus like the 65 downtown. It's easier to handle the busses and the train with an orca card, available for purchase at the Northgate transit center and in a variety of drug stores and the downtown transit tunnel.

 

Elliot Bay Bookstore's new location is great but not the destination the old location in Pioneer Square was.

 

Drive to the museum of flight. Parking is free and the bus from downtown past the museum will eat of big chunk of time.

 

A bit spendier of a way to get into the city from North of Seattle is to drive from where you are staying to Kenmore and get a sea plane from Kenmore Air. You have to make reservations the ride itself is a good way to see the city and they will land on Lake Union. You can hang there and then get to downtown Seattle or the Seattle center fairly easily. Then for an easy way back to Kenmore to get your car just get the Sound Transit 522 bus from downtown.

 

I heard someone mention Poulsbo. That's pretty far from the city. You will need to catch a ferry and then drive. You will need to take the car on the ferry or else you really can't get around when you get off the ferry. The Snoquamish tribe has a nice museum if you do opt to head out to the Peninsula. I used to live there and the bakeries in Poulsbo are good.

[LucyStoner]

Unless you have a stick shift and it has been a very long time since you tackled steep hills and you need to drive up James St. from I5 towards the hospital and get stopped at a red light ON said hill.

 

My knees were knocking I was so scared I would stall out or back up into the car behind me!

 

Thankfully I gunned it and made it.

My husband drove a stick. When he moved to Seattle and we bought our first car together he was like "screw these hills" and we got an automatic. :P

[Jean in Newcastle]

I learned to drive stick and to parallel park on the  hills in Seattle.  It was really hard but now I can handle anything! 

[LucyStoner]

Oh if you wander into the International District and want Chinese food, you need to go to Sichuanese Cuisine on Jackson. It's a hole in the wall but you will not be sorry.

[DawnM]

My husband drove a stick. When he moved to Seattle and we bought our first car together he was like "screw these hills" and we got an automatic. :p

 

 

I learned to drive in Seattle.  I didn't drive a stick though.  I had an automatic (a huge Caprice Classic!) for the years I lived in Seattle.  I got a stick when I moved to LA.  That stop and go traffic was a killer, but I liked driving a stick.  When DH and I got married, we both had stick shift cars.  When I got pregnant we had to go car shopping. I am too short to press the shift pedal in AND sit behind the wheel! 

 

We are getting my son a car in the fall.  We are seriously thinking we need to get him a SS car.

[TrixieB]

I would not recommend EMP unless you are super huge music fans and have looked at the list of exhibits and decided you NEED to see those, because it is very expensive and not really great for 5 year olds.

 

EMP currently has a Star Trek exhibit.  I thought I'd mention it in case it's of interest.  I haven't seen it yet but it sounds cool.