Where to stay and what to do this week in Seattle?

by philg

I’m helping a friend get to Boeing Field on Wednesday, departing for a return trip to Boston on Friday morning. He’ll be enduring some meetings in the exurbs, which puts me in Seattle for two nights and 1.5 days with very little to do. I would appreciate suggestions for where to stay (neighborhood or specific hotel) and what to do (museums, concerts (anything from Bach to Stravinsky), etc.).

Also, please email if you’re interested in meeting up. I’m thinking that a coffee shop on Thursday late afternoon would be good.

Update: I’m staying at the Mayflower Park Hotel (the FBO has a good rate with them) and it is just for one night. That means the meeting-up time needs to be breakfast/coffee on Thursday morning. I was thinking 8-10 am so that people who need to be at work by 9 can show up and also people who like to sleep in can show up at 9 or 9:30. Suggested places? A quick search of Google Maps and Yelp reveals… librarybistro.com, eatatlowells.com, andaluca.com (in my hotel), cherryst.com (which location has the best seating and quietest acoustics?).

23 thoughts on “Where to stay and what to do this week in Seattle?”

  1. You may want to try the Museum of Flight, always a hit. The Seattle Art Museum or the Henry Art Gallery at UW. I’d recommend the Ace Hotel in Seattle.

  2. I’d suggest checking out the central branch of the Seattle Public Library. It’s right downtown, so is within an easy walk of other downtown attractions (e.g. Pike Place Market, etc.). Also suggested- take a ferry somewhere. If the weather’s decent, it’s an incredibly pretty way to spend an afternoon.

  4. Shame you aren’t going to be here on a Tuesday — that’s the only day the “Museum of Communications” is regularly open, although they say it’s also open by appointment, so maybe you can call.

    I generally hate museums, but I adore this place; I’ve only been twice.

    It’s tons of old telephone equipment, including a couple of corridors of switching stuff, full of relays; the guys who run the place were able to explain how it worked _almost_ well enough for me to remember …

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/offby1/2942877681/in/set-72157608045846163/

    I would enjoy meeting on Thursday, as long as it’s downtown (ideally close to Pioneer Square, where I work; no shortage of coffee shops around there.) Dunno your email address, though.

  7. Philip, I used to live in the Seattle area and was born in Seattle. My first choice would be to drive to Paradise at Mt. Rainier–although it will pretty much take all day to get there and back. It would be a great place to take pictures, if you are so inclined. There is a almost brand new visitors center there, as well as the historic Paradise Inn–both of which are certainly worth seeing.

    If you don’t want to go so far, my second choice of things to do would be a ferry boat ride, Seattle to Bremerton and back. This will also take some time, but not as long as Mt. Rainier.

    IN Seattle, there is a Museum of Flight at Boeing Field: see: http://www.museumofflight.org/ I have never been to it, but I am certain it is worth seeing.

    Sorry I can’t help with knowing a good place to stay; I have lived there but not stayed there as a guest. In the surrounding Seattle area, I would go for something in Issaquah if possible; it is most likely the nicest and safest area within the immediate vicinity of Seattle. I would not personally consider staying in the downtown metro area of Seattle itself.

    I hope you have a good time.

  8. If you’re staying downtown, or just happen to be in the area, have breakfast at Lowell’s in Pike Place. There’s nothing like having breakfast and looking out over the sound. But don’t order too much. After breakfast, go buy one of the freshest Pink Lady apples you’ll ever have from the fruit stand across the street and stroll Pike Place.

    I toured Boeing’s Everett plant (747 and 787), but I was with someone who had connections at Boeing so our tour was “special”. If you know someone at Boeing, it’s worth the cab ride up there. You’d probably be less awestruck than I was (standing two feet from 747 landing gear was surreal), but I think you’d like it.

  9. There is a Jet Preview show going on at Clay Lacy on Thursday. You can take a look at all the fun airplane toys (probably only need an hour or two there). I will second the Museum of Flight suggestion. Also, the Ferry to Bainbridge island is a nice ride and there are many lunch places on the island.

  10. The Boeing factory tour (Everett WA) is really very cool (you get to see the 747-8 assembly line as well as the new 787 line) as is the Museum of Flight in South Seattle (main attractions including an SR-71 type Blackbird, a Concorde, and JFK’s Air Force One). The Pacific Science Center is showing “Legends of Flight” on their Imax screen, and you can also walk around the museum and bemoan the state of American science education. The Space Needle and the Frank Gehry designed Experience Music Project are both nearby. The public library is a neat building to walk through, and the nearby Seattle Underground Tour is an amusing way to spend an hour-and-a-half and see a little known part of Seattle (the underground tunnels in the oldest part of town).

    As for restaurants, Glo’s is wonderful for breakfast, Harvest Vine is a truly creative tapas place, Canlis is an over-the-top splurge place with a commanding view, Molly Moon’s has incredibly creative ice cream flavors, and the Lunchbox Laboratory has some of the very best hamburger’s I’ve tasted. ZigZag is great for cocktails. You should probably stop at Pike’s Place Market to take in the atmosphere.

    Bring an umbrella, and if you want to go hiking, make sure you check the weather at your destination first. It can be clear in Seattle but totally fogged in at Mount St. Helens, for example.

  11. Thanks for the tips so far and please keep the coming. I’ve been to the Boeing factory twice and won’t have a car, so suggestions that are more walkable would be appreciated. I’ve also already been to the Experience Music Project.

  12. Phil,

    For Coffee, my wife and I like Vivace http://www.espressovivace.com/ (we go to the one across the street from REI) I’ve not been to the Capitol Hill location. Really great espresso, and a decent selection of bakery treats to go with it.

    If you are looking for coffee in the morning and want a tasty breakfast to, try Cherry Street Coffee for toasted bagels topped with eggs and other delicious stuff. I go to the one at this location http://www.yelp.com/biz/cherry-street-coffee-house-seattle-2 but there are several.

    Since I live in the Seattle area, I only do the touristy things when my easterly family arrives for visits, so I can’t help you much there. Would enjoy meeting up with you for coffee Thursday late afternoon if it works out.

    Scott

  14. Phil,

    I second Vivace for espresso. Zoka is also very good, but I don’t know if you’ll be within walking distance of one.

    Molly Moon’s is good for ice cream — try the maple walnut flavor.

    Taking the Bainbridge Island or Bremerton ferry out and back is a nice way to see the city from the water.

    I’d enjoy meeting up on Thursday afternoon as well.

  15. Hi Philip —

    If the timing works I’d be up for meeting with you on Thursday.

    -Dragos

  16. I was just there. We had an excellent lunch (and beautiful view) at Ray’s Boathouse by the locks.

  17. Phil,

    I’d enjoy meeting up on Thursday late afternoon if the timing works.

    –Joe

  18. Snoqualmie Falls is wonderful. To a man that is what everyone who visits me mentions. Ignore the dire warning signs and climb over the boardwalk railing to the riverbank. I’m still alive.

    The Fremont Troll is an important and under-appreciated bit of Seattleania. The rest of Fremont is cool too. Can you handle it? Adobe is there. Yay.

    Showcase your game by taking a picture at Bruce Lee’s grave. This is vital if you have young nephews. Volunteer Park next door is a great place to stretch your legs. It has a very cool Victorian greenhouse and the Asian Art Museum which is laid back and fun. The enormous black granite doughnut makes for nice photos.

    As others mentioned, the Museum of Flight is way better than I expected.

    Pike Place Market is not so much different from the big outdoor market near Haymarket in Boston. It’s loud, dirty, and smelly and there’s nothing you’d want to buy there, except maybe a whole salmon. I don’t know why people go there.

    The Space Needle is okay, if bland.

    Espresso Vivace will show you how the cow eats the cabbage. Go to the quintessential 321 Broadway Ave location and cower among the burly biker chicks like I do. I suggest the double macchiato (nothing like the Starbucks one).

    The Underground Seattle Tour in Pioneer Square is way cool. This is your best chance to learn about Seattle if you are so inclined. It’s surprisingly entertaining. In a nutshell, Pioneer Square burned, then was rebuilt, then was buried and built upwards. The steep hill to the east of Pioneer Square used to be a cliff, and Pioneer Square used to be a bog. Lots of colorful characters, scandal, and feces.

    Alki Beach and West Seattle make for a hedonistic afternoon. Elliot Bay Grill and Bakery Nouveau across the street form a gustatory powerhouse. I recommend the chicken fajita salad, or fish tacos, or the subtle and amazing garbanzo/quinoa salad followed by anything at Bakery Nouveau (except the pizza! Danger Will Robinson!). Plan for a siesta.

    Those with toady inclinations might like to sail by Gates’ house in Medina on Lake Washington.

    The Ice Cream Cruise on Lake Union is a lark. See where Mr. Boeing got started, and, yes, the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat (that’s what foreigners ask me about). If, like me, you lust for huge flywheels, visit nearby Gasworks Park. It has a spectacular hill for kites.

    Enjoy!

  19. Vivace for coffee, definitely. Zig Zag for cocktails, but they’re likely not your thing 🙂
    Glo’s on Cap Hill does good breakfast, and while you’re up there there’s Volunteer Park, the Asian Art museum, water tower, Black Sun, and the conservatory all in one.
    Bruce Lee is buried nearby, too…

    (skip Milly Moon’s ice cream; Tosci’s is better. ditch the umbrella, too)

    maybe i should just send you mail?

  20. Phil,
    I second the Hotel Alexis recommendation – the Bookstore Bar near its entrance has a nice and relaxed feeling as well.

    Across the street is Hotel 1000, a super modern and also great boutique hotel… and all in a pretty central part of town.

    I may be biased, I live a few blocks away. Have a great time with whatever you do – some good suggestions here.

    If you do some local research, feel free to stop in at the library up the street and read up… Washington state gov’t headcount skyrocketed since 2005, great benefits and pensions, crazy construction processes like replacing aging bridges and tunneling and spending money that isn’t there.

    Also, the sales tax you will find is now 10 – 10.5% on food and drink, and 9.5% on other purchases. Residents enjoy no income tax but very steep property taxes and tough b&o taxes, sending companies elsewhere often, with the exception of the Borg.

  21. Glo’s on Cap Hill does good breakfast, and while you’re up there there’s Volunteer Park, the Asian Art museum, water tower, Black Sun, and the conservatory all in one.
    Bruce Lee is buried nearby, too…

    (skip Milly Moon’s ice cream; Tosci’s is better. ditch the umbrella, too)
    http://www.wxkndr.com electrical heater
    maybe i should just send you mail?

  22. I love walking around Greenlake and there are also many restaurants and coffee places …

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