Will be visiting Seattle for the first time

[Le Taz Hot]

for a week on biness and leaving today. I've never even been to Washington and am SO excited! I love new places. I won't have a lot of time but does anyone have any "must see" suggestions? Obviously, the Space Needle and the Farmer's Market (the one with people throwing fish) but are there any other MUST SEE's?

Thanks!
LTH

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I've always had a soft spot for Pioneer Square

Even though I don't care much for the stores selling all manner of fancy frou frou, I still like to walk around and admire the architecture.

[Cleita]

2. Take a ferry ride across Puget Sound. It's very scenic and pleasant even when it's raining.

Also, be sure to take your rain gear as it probably will rain. I always try to fit a ferry ride into my schedule when visiting Seattle.

[Le Taz Hot]

4. Oh, now, see?

That sounds PERFECT! I also see that Seattle is only a 2-1/2 hour drive to Vancouver (also never been to Canada) but I doubt I'll get the time. The ferry ride sounds great! I'll be scoping out some local restaurants as well. The more out-of-the-way hole-in-the-wall place the better.

[Cleita]

7. If you go to Vancouver, you have to go to Victoria. They have some

great import shops there of British and European goods like China and crystal. I bought a great Aran knit sweater imported from Ireland. Bring money. Also, when I went there I had to have a passport. It was something new then because of 9/11. I don't know if they are still demanding this.

[Le Taz Hot]

8. I'll tell you what's really weird.

I JUST got my passport in the mail last Saturday. Hand to dog. The Espoused One and I sent in all that stuff weeks ago. This travel was completely unexpected and here I am within touching distance to Canada. The more I think about it the more convinced I am I'm going to find SOME way to get up there.

[BanzaiBonnie]

3. If you enjoy architecture...

There are two that my husband and I have explored in Seattle. One is the Fairmont Olympic Hotel:

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?displaypage=output.cfm&file_id=2028

and the other is Smith Tower:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seattle_-_Smith_Tower_-_evening_02.jpg


You have a wonderful view of CenturyLink Field as well as everything else, from the Smith Tower.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. I recently saw a feature about the woman who lives atop the Smith Tower

in what is perhaps the very coolest apartment I have ever seen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/garden/21who.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Coffee. Pike Place Market. Japanese gardens.

Coffee.

Watch a Mariners game. Boat tour of the waterfront.

Coffee.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Oh, Yeah!

Loves me some good coffee. You're talkin' to a person who spent $75.00 for a pound of Blue Mountain coffee in Jamaica, mon.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. If you have some time...

Mt. Ranier an Mt. St. Helens are awesome in very different ways. The first is beautiful, the latter awesome in its devastation.

[Wounded Bear]

10. There's always the Underground....

Not as vast as was portrayed in Night Stalker, but still kind of interesting.

EMP, of course, if you're into modern music and such. The Needle looks down on it, actually.

If you go to Pike Place, a couple of blocks to the east on Jackson St there's a small museum covering the Alaska Gold Rush days, which brought a lot to the Seattle area as a destination/embarkation point. I think it's affiliated with the National Park system.

Weather Channel is calling for showers the next couple of days, but some breaks this weekend. Have fun.

[The empressof all]

12. It's Hokey...But ride the Ducks

It's a fun way to get a tour of downtown and being on Lake Union is gorgeous on a sunny day....

[eridani]

13. If you are going to be around on the 30th, don't miss the LGBT pride parade

It end up at Seattle Center, so you could see the science museum and EMP and the Space Needle. (Dave Barry said it was connected to a giant Space Catheter, but he's wrong!)

[yewberry]

14. Are you seeing great stuff?

I concur on the ferry ride, Pike Place Market, the Duck tour, Pioneer Square/ Mariners game... also consider Fremont (who doesn't love the Troll!?) & the waterfront (giant ferris wheel, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop). So much to see & do...