Little Help From the Pacific Northwest.

[TB Roye]

I am flying to Boise Idaho in two weeks. I have a stop over in Seattle to change planes. LOML wants to travel that way next time we fly to Boise so she can have Dinner at the Space Neddle. As I like to fly straight to Boise from Sacramento but can't this time, I have come up with another plan.

Our 43 Wedding Aniversary is coming up the end of February. I am planning on a supprise present for her. I am making plane reservationg to fly fo Seattle for the weekend. We will leave either late Thursday afternoon or Friday morning and return on Sunday afternoon. I would like to stay downtown were all the activity is, and public transportation is available. Need some suggestions on where to stay and what to do. Saturday night will be dinner at the Space Neddle. It is a little pricey but how's is the food? Where are some good places to stay and other places to eat. When I was at Ft Lewis in the 60's use to go there all the time but LOML has never been. Would it be better to rent a car or use public tranportation. Does the Monorail still operate?

I am planing on giving her a card saying Dinner Reservation 6:30pm at the Space Needle on Saturday the 28th so pack your clothes and Umbrella. Haven't done something like this in years so it should be fun.

Any suggestion would be appriciated. I will be checking out the internet also but personal recomendations are always good.

Tom

[pacwind3]

Just going downtown to the waterfront is fun for a day. I highly recommend the crab pot down at the waterfront, one of my favorite restaurants. There is a Marriot springhill suites downtown that we stayed at 6 years ago, reasonable price. You'll probably get wet since it'll probably be raining, but I also like the harbor tours. I've done them three times, very fun afternoon activity.

Can't attest to the food at the needle. I've only heard, it's more about the experience.

[scmhogg]

Tom,

Last time LOML and I were in Seattle, we ate at a place in Kirkland that was terrific. It was called The Third Floor Fish Cafe. http://www.fishcafe.com/default.aspx

Our friends, who live locally, touted us away from the Needle. They said the food was mediocre, and way overpriced. [$17 for a shrimp cocktail, $49 for Salmon or $54 for an 8oz steak, and $6 to $9 if you want a potato] They said take a trip to the top of the Needle for a drink after you have dinner, elsewhere.

Don't miss Pike Place market. Very touristy, but great fun.

Steve

[steve-norrell]

Its been a while, but when I have traveled through Seattle I have stayed at the Olympic, Warwick, and Westin Hotels. A little pricey, but if its a special occasion for the LOYL, why not?

Also, I never passed through Seattle without at least one meal at Ivar's on the waterfront. Their "Acre of Clams", or maybe its their "Bucket of Clams" always satisfied, but they do have an extensive seafood menu. Of course, as noted in other posts, there are plenty of great restaurants in the downtown Seattle area.

Pioneer Square, Pike's Market, and the museums around the Space Needle should also provide hours of quality entertainment.

Congratulations on the 43rd. You both deserve the best. Regards, Steve

[dkerfoot]

Pike's Place Market is a lot like Fisherman's Wharf in SF, except nice. LOL

At least that was my impression back around 1989 or so. Very, very cool place to stroll around.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

I have heard Pikes Place is a great place to go. Too bad you didn't have more time because there is a place in Cle Elum which is about an hour or so drive from Seattle that is an Italian place called MaMa Vallone's ...very good meals and around that same area there are a couple of B and B's that I have heard are very nice.

I haven't been over to Seattle for a meal or just to shop around for a while. I do know that the Seattle area has some nice places to eat and shop.

[TB Roye]

Thanks for all the information. I think LOML has watched "Sleepless in Seattle" to many times. We will do dinner at the Needle just for her but will do the seafood thing the other nights. Looking forward to exploring a new city. We have a favorite Seafood Resturant in San Francisco been going there for 45 years but the rest of SF can fall into the bay, too d*** expensive and can't stand the mayor or the traffice getting there. If I rent a car I may zip up to BC for the day, or maybe go to Grizzly as my treat for being a nice guy. The weather will determine what we do also I have 6 week to get the plans done will get the airline tickets next week and hotel the first of the month.

Tom

[jackellis]

If you ever get up to the Seattle area in late summer, bring buckets (plural). Large ones.

Blackberries grow wild all over the place.

Last time we were there in 1990 or so, we stayed at a Marriott Hotel near the airport. While out for a morning run (when my knees could still tolerate it), LOML spied some funny-looking weeds and suddenly stopped to pick herself a morning snack. Later on we came back with large-mouth water bottles to pick some more!

[Hoover]

When in Seattle, you must stop @ Hardwick's http://www.ehardwicks.com/about/history.html

It's off 45th and Roosevelt, from I-5, straight across 45th over I-5 is Dick's drive inn, for some good old fashioned gut bombs. Further down 45th turn left @ Stone Way North and head down to 38th for Rockler's.

One thing to remember Grizzly is open Monday to Friday only. So no Saturday or Sunday drives to Bellingham.

Have fun.

[TB Roye]

Might have to add extra day onto trip. If Grizzly is only open M-F. Orignally the trip was to leave on Friday and now it's Thursday and come home on SundayMay have to leave for
Seattle on Wednesday. Better check the hotel money first. Who know she may like and we will come back in the summer.

Tom

[mschrank]

I ate at the Space Needle restaurant a few years back. I don't remember the food being especially bad, and you're really paying for the view and experience. Sounds like a very romantic idea and she'll appreciate your thoughtfulness!

there is a place in Cle Elum which is about an hour or so drive from Seattle that is an Italian place called MaMa Vallone's ...very good meals

When I was working as a timber cruiser about 8 years ago, I had a project that had me staying in Cle Elum for about a month. I remember MaMa Vallone's well!

[atgcpaul]

Might have to add extra day onto trip. If Grizzly is only open M-F. Orignally the trip was to leave on Friday and now it's Thursday and come home on SundayMay have to leave for
Seattle on Wednesday. Better check the hotel money first. Who know she may like and we will come back in the summer.

Tom

I went to Seattle for my first time last spring (felt like winter, though).
Despite that, Seattle is one of my all-time favorite cities. My wife had a
conference downtown so we stayed at the Hilton--for free. Street parking
during the day is next to impossible to find and garage parking is expensive.
Just be prepared for that.

You can catch the monorail from downtown to the needle. I think it's worth
the trip. Not much to see along the way but it takes you right there. I was
walking distance to Pike's Market and that will take some time (and patience)
to go through. Some buses are free during the day. You can take one (or
drive) down to Pioneer Square and there is this place:

http://www.nwfinewoodworking.com/

Some very high end furniture built by individual woodworkers. I actually walked
there from Pike's Market. It's a hike, though. Hopefully you can derive some
inspiration from the pieces. I'm a big Greene and Greene fan, so I was happy
to be in the presence of some work by Tom Stangeland whom I had read about.

My wife actually went to college in Bellingham. I was so jealous when I saw
it. The Grizzly store was not too far away. Grizzly was closed that Saturday
but cool nonetheless. If you make it up there, I can suggest the Colophon Cafe.
It's a little "hippyish" but good food and a lot of quaint shops in the
neighborhood.

Hope you have a good time!

Paul

[cwithboat]

Rather than recommend a specific hotel, I will give to a Google search so that you can evaluate several and pick one to suit. Search "hotel post alley seattle" This (IMO) is best area for out of towners to stay. Yes the monorail is still there.

[sscherin]

Look into the city pass..
http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html

$44 each gets you into EMP (next to the needle) The Aquarium on the pier.. an Argosy tour of the sound and some other stuff you won't have time for

Go to Ivars on the waterfront (the restaurant for dinner and the sidewalk fish bar for lunch)

Have a fun trip!

[ntmatter]

Having lived in and around Seattle for about 20 years, I'd advise you to eat at the Space Needle if you want a special dinner. You can eat at a nice restaurant anywhere, but there's only one Space Needle - make it memorable. I got engaged up there a few years ago, and the food was great, not prohibitively expensive (their menu is online), and the experience is something you won't forget.

The advice on staying in Seattle in this thread is all good, there are tons of places at the rail/bus/taxi system is excellent.