Visiting Seattle -- What to do?

[slag]

My dad and I are going to fly into Seattle on Thursday the 1st and head to Bremerton for a week to visit with family. There will be a lot of time where we don't want to just sit around. What things must we do when visiting the Seattle/Bremerton area? I'd like to see the original starbucks, but I think everyone does this already. The space needle for sure, whether its just a tour or actual lunch there.

What else? I think Mt Ranier and Mt. St. Helens are too far away.

 

[corwin]

If you've never been then Pike's place market, expensive shops but fun to visit...eating in the Space Needle is also expensive and the food generally sucks, just pay to take a ride up to see the city from above...also Pioneer square for night life, they've got some good music and clubs if you're into that sort of thing...and have some seafood down on the docks, if you like clam chowder go to Ivars

 

[TecHNooB]

have trident show you around

 

[slag]

have trident show you around

...

Maybe I'll just cancel the trip.


But seriously, I'd like to go somewhere where they serve killer fresh sushi but my dad can also get a steak or something more traditional.

 

[TecHNooB]

...

Maybe I'll just cancel the trip.


But seriously, I'd like to go somewhere where they serve killer fresh sushi but my dad can also get a steak or something more traditional.

now you're talkin!

 

[shortylickens]

Visit Frasier at the Elliot Bay towers?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

...

Maybe I'll just cancel the trip.


But seriously, I'd like to go somewhere where they serve killer fresh sushi but my dad can also get a steak or something more traditional.

I really don't know of any places that specialize in fresh sushi and quality steak at the same time -- not saying such a place doesn't exist, but when I want one or the other, I choose different restaurants.

There are a bunch of great sushi places around the downtown area. I really like Nijo Sushi, but it draws kind of a trendy crowd, and they'll often have a DJ in the restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays, so that may not be your kinda thing.

For steaks, the Metropolitan Grill is a sure pleaser, but it'll be expensive, like $50-$70 steaks expensive.

 

[KaOTiK]

Protest outside of Valves office for Half Life 3

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

If you're looking for a cool little out-of-the-way Irish pub, there's Paddy Coyne's. They sponsor my rugby team so I gotta plug 'em. We're in there most Saturday nights, and the food is actually really good, too. I actually enjoy going in there on a Sunday morning for breakfast and a pint or two.

They have one in Tacoma, too, but I've never been in it. The one on Thomas & Minor is the "home base" and Pat Coyne himself is usually found there.

 

[John P]

What do you like doing? If you're into history or planes or both hit up the Museum of Flight. Music - hit up the EMP. Critters - hit up the Seattle Aquarium and/or Woodland Park Zoo (go on a weekday). Snowboarding and skiing at Snoqualmie or Stevens. Cheap decent burgers - go to Dick's (think 50's style drive up place, small but decent burgers and shakes). Fish and Chips - Sunfish on Alki Beach in West Seattle (a bit expensive for a fast food type fish and chips place ~ $12, but really good).

There's also a couple outfits that do tours by boat and land/sea duck boat thingie.

 

[Rudee]

There's an awesome sushi restaurant downtown. Can't remember the name of it though, but I'm sure you can Google and find out which one it is.

 

[Deeko]

I would recommend not coming to Seattle at all. Especially not this time of year.

That said, if you insist on visiting this swamp, and you want sushi, go to Wasabi Bistro downtown - http://www.yelp.com/biz/wasabi-bistro-seattle-3

If you're looking to get your money's worth for the Space Needle, the best thing to do is get the double deal. Don't eat at the restaurant - its not BAD food, but its way overpriced. The cost of going up once is kinda expensive, but getting a twice-in-a-day ticket is only a couple of bucks more, and you can get the trip both day and night, which is kinda cool.

Personally, I find Pike Place Market vastly overrated, its just not that interesting to me. If you're interested in history, perhaps check out the Underground Tour: http://www.undergroundtour.com/

My favorite bar, which doubles as edible pub fare and a good place to watch sports, is Buckley's: http://www.yelp.com/biz/buckleys-in-belltown-seattle-3

Ahhh....I dunno. That's all I've got off the top of my head. Since I grew up on the other side of the country, everyone that wants to visit does tourist stuff, so I've done just about every tourist activity imaginable (which is often not the case for born-and-raised locals, for example I've never been to half of the historical destinations in Philly), so if you have any questions, ask away...

 

[CountZero]

My dad and I are going to fly into Seattle on Thursday the 1st and head to Bremerton for a week to visit with family. There will be a lot of time where we don't want to just sit around. What things must we do when visiting the Seattle/Bremerton area? I'd like to see the original starbucks, but I think everyone does this already. The space needle for sure, whether its just a tour or actual lunch there.

What else? I think Mt Ranier and Mt. St. Helens are too far away.

I don't think getting to Mt Rainier park would be too far but the drive up and spending time while up there all together is time consuming aside from the fact that in March you might not be able to go very far up, I've been up in early July with massive amounts of snow still around.

Pike's Place Market is fun. Waterfront can be fun with Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe being something every visitor I took to enjoyed. Aquarium is overpriced but decent. I really liked Woodland Park Zoo but it isn't particularly large so some folks don't like it. Seattle center has the Space Needle and EMP/scifi museum. Space Needle is expensive to go up to, nice view though. EMP is cool if you like music history. Cinerama is a nicely redone single screen movie theater which is down the street from Top Pot Donuts which are pretty tasty. Underground Tour that starts in Pioneer Square is cool. Seattle Art Museum is ok though I never made it to its current location. The downtown public library is kind of interesting architecturally. If you like architecture there are lots of interesting buildings on the UW campus. The International District is essentially Seattle's Chinatown/Japantown/Koreatown, it has some interesting little shops and restaurants tucked away in various corners.

Anyways I could go on and on but will stop there.

 

[davmat787]

If you want to see mountains, but staying in Bremerton you could see the Olympics or visit Hurricane Ridge. Both of which are on the peninsula.

I highly recommend the Museum of Flight, but I am a airplane geek. Chances are you will see the new 787 on the flightline, probably the new 747-800 as well. Test flights depart and arrive frequently, and the museum parking lot is maybe 150 yards from the end of the runway, even close to the taxiway.

Nothing like the sound of a 777-300ER spooling up to full thrust that close.

Oh, you could always visit Forks for some Twilight action! :awe:

 

[Born2bwire]

There's an awesome sushi restaurant downtown. Can't remember the name of it though, but I'm sure you can Google and find out which one it is.

:|

 

[BoberFett]

I was out there about 10 or 11 years ago. Went to the Space Needle of course. Walked around downtown at night just kinda taking in the sites. Visited Bruce and Brandon Lee's graves. And I went to a strip club.

All in all a pretty good trip.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Downtown Seattle has a lot of stuff today. Definitely do the space needle. We went to the aquarium during our trip and it was pretty fun. Ate at some different places including sushi. I believe we went to one called Umi Sake House and it was pretty good.

We also had pizza from a place called Serious Pies. Pretty good pizza.

Went to Pike's place and had the chowder in the area of course and bought random snacks to sample while walking around. Ivar's has good fried seafood to sample as well.

We also took a ferry ride that tours you around the rich area of seattle past Bill Gate's house and etc.

You'll have a good time for sure.

 

[velillen]

Well I live (or grew up) in bremerton and now live in Port Orchard which isnt to far. As for what to do IN Bremerton....there isnt anything really. You could go tour the USS Tuner Joy if you've never seen/been on a navy ship. Other than that its a Navy town with no real tourist activities. As mentioned hurricane Ridge is ~ 2 hours away but expect winter driving conditions.

As for Seattle if you dont have a car theres plenty to do within walking distance. Pike Place market isnt to far. (maybe half mile walk?) Nor is the Space needle (say a mile?...ive walked it plenty of times....you can also head to the "mall area"...forgot the name of it....and hop on the monorail to save a bit of time/walking). Theres tons of shopping/dining in between those. For touristy things the Underground tour is actually pretty cool. Or you can do the "ride the ducks" which takes you on a nice tour of the downtown area.

 

[blamb425]

Umi Sake House is definitely a good place to have sushi. Both this and the Met (for steak) have been mentioned already, so I just thought I'd second these options.

Check out Elliott's Oyster House on the waterfront during happy hour for VERY fresh and tasty oysters on the half-shell. I wouldn't recommend going there for much else, but the oysters are so fresh and well worth it for the happy hour price.

EDIT: Also forgot Serious Pie for pizza, as xSkyDrAx mentioned. Probably the best pizza I have ever had. I love being a Seattle native.

 

[PowerEngineer]

If you are into airplanes...

http://flyingheritage.com/TemplateHome.aspx?contentId=1

http://www.museumofflight.org/

 

[Ricemarine]

Morton's is a great place for steak. Japonessa is a great place for sushi. If you're looking for conveyor belt sushi, go to Sushiland.

FYI, we're slated for rain all week. Also, don't go across the 520 if you want to visit Bellevue.

 

[weirdichi]

Visit Bruce Lee's grave. I always liked Sushiland for sushi. It was inexpensive and relatively good for the price. And then you gotta go late night and have some Dicks. It's the very poor man's In 'n Out. I found a hair in my french fries once.

 

[Sid59]

I ate sushi at Shiro's and Nishino. Shiro's is your typical sushi joint but it was really good. Nishino is more high-end sushi.

We walked to the Space Needle and around it but we didn't pay to go up. Instead, we opted for the view at Columbia Center. It was 5 bucks a person but it doesn't do a 360 view of Seattle.

Belltown was probably my favorite area. Lots of nightlife, dive bars, nicer bars, and restaurants.

The touristy things I liked: Duck Tour and Underground Tour.
Items I visited but would skip or suggest to skip: Chinatown, visiting Bruce Lee's headstone, looking for good looking chicks near the University.

 

[skyking]

There are plenty of things to do, it really depends on you and your dad.
Take a look at a map and think about Port Townsend, things like that. It does not require a trip to the city. Olympic mountains are cool, Hood Canal. I find cities in general over rated anyway.
If you have a car shoot me a PM. I am near Tacoma.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Visit Bruce Lee's grave. I always liked Sushiland for sushi. It was inexpensive and relatively good for the price. And then you gotta go late night and have some Dicks. It's the very poor man's In 'n Out. I found a hair in my french fries once.

....D: