Seattle and Victoria BC…..???

[glewis80SC]

Taking the family to Seattle and Victoria next week…we have never been any do's and don'ts would be appreciated. Thanks

[emcon5]

High tea at the Empress.

[LakeCleElum]

Seattle - Cheap meal right on the waterfront: Red Robin. Then walk onto the Bainbridge ferry next door and ride it each way (1/2 hr) to get a view of the city and mountains from the water. You have to do the Space Needle and drive the beach at Alki in West Seattle. Pioneer Square, but for a don't - It's not always safe after dark.
Flight Museum at Boeing field south of downtown.

Victoria: A block from the Empress is the Parliament Building. One of the best kept secrets is that you can eat in the Legislative Dining Room:

Legislative Dining Room, Victoria - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

Take a drive from the harbor heading along the water to the East. See all the big money homes on the water. In the evening, go for a walk and hit a few of the Pubs that will make you think you are in the old country. If driving, take the ferryboat thru the San Juan Islands to Anacortes. Lovely.

[Ayles]

There is a LOT of great food in Seattle and I would discourage eating at a chain.

Don't forget about the Ballard Locks and Discovery park. Not downtown but much better than the standard tourist traps.

[Josh D]

Best Clam Chowder I have EVER had, and this includes San Francisco, was in Seattle. But damn if I can remember the place!

[glewis80SC]

Great info thanks…..keep em coming.

[kanadary]

Seattle- spud fish and chips in alki beach
Woodland park zoo
Seattle aquarium
Pacific science center and if you have v small kids the children's museum

Victoria - the bc museum is good. Walking around downtown

[island911]

Good advice above..

Tho' Personally I think Victoria is boring after a couple hours there. Very touristy, and small. If going into Canada is your thing, I'll suggest (alternatively, Vancouver and up to whistler. The Canadian gulf islands are fun, or stay in the states and stick to the San Juan islands. The boat ride there is scenic and whales are passing thru now. Alternately hopping on seaplane is an awesome way to get up there quickly.(Kenmore Air is who I use). Fly to Friday harbor if you want to rent a car/mopeds/bikes; or Roach Harbor where you can rent a small boat to put around in.

In Seattle, I'll second the Ballard locks... cool fish ladder. (free) On the northside there's little Fish & Chips place called the Totem House. They recently got bought by Red Mill (Burgers) --it's all great, casual food.

Stay off of Capitol Hill. Else you will get conspicuous scorn by the indigenous (gays) for being both hetero, and breeders. Driving thru (safari style) can be fun - if your thing is being shocked by human... 'creativeness' - yeah, that's what we'll call it.

Stop by John Walkers workshop, of course.

hmmm.. what kind of stuff were you thinking about? ...so much to choose from.

[RANDY P]

Dick's Drive in!

Or Beth's for an omelette.

[island911]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Dick's Drive in!

Or Beth's for an omelette.

LOL!

Beth's ...ah, the 4am all-nighter memories

Too bad the Twin TeePees are gone, eh?

[RANDY P]

7311 aurora ave N- no big parking lot, no fancy looking building, you have to kind of spot it. Oh, and don't bother with fancy clothes, trust me on this one.

WHile you're up there go to Butch's Guns and check that out.

[RANDY P]

Oh and THIS place, way, way down the street..

Greek food. My vote foe best in Seattle..Belly dancing on Saturdays- the owner plays in HIS band

Takis' Mad Greek : Authentic Mediterranean Cuisine : Seattle, Washington

[island911]

for a heads up ... http://www.bethscafe.com/ "Omlettes as big as yer freaking head" LOL

With wife and kids in tow, I might suggest maybe Portage Bay Café would be better. ..for breakfast.

[James Brown]

red mill for the best burgers, and if you just have to have prime rib at 3am, 13 coins downtown. catch a small Cessna out of Anacortes for a tour around the islands, from San Juan Airlines, stop in friday harbor for a beer or two.

[afterburn 549]

If you like wood boats go to port Townsend !

[glewis80SC]

Great info…its me the wife and two of my three kids….19 and 14. We were doing Vancouver first but the wife liked Victoria more…..happy wife happy life. Staying at the Swans Suite Hotel supposed to have cool restaurant/brewery on site…lets hope. Is a day trip to Vancouver doable?
Silver Cloud Inn in Seattle…looks nice, view of Lake Union good reviews time will tell. Like some of the touristy things but off the beaten path is way up our alley too. Thanks again.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by glewis80SC

Great info…its me the wife and two of my three kids….19 and 14. We were doing Vancouver first but the wife liked Victoria more…..happy wife happy life. Staying at the Swans Suite Hotel supposed to have cool restaurant/brewery on site…lets hope. Is a day trip to Vancouver doable?
Silver Cloud Inn in Seattle…looks nice, view of Lake Union good reviews time will tell. Like some of the touristy things but off the beaten path is way up our alley too. Thanks again.

that part of seattle is a disaster for traffic. Trollies, traffic it's a spaghetti bowl. There's an indian buffet a block away (I forgot name) that is absolutely killer for lunch, cheap too.

Go to Daniel's Broiler across the street- happy hour have the popcorn shrimp, dinner get steak.. Killer steakhouse. Them and the Metropolitan in seattle are where to go....

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by glewis80SC

Is a day trip to Vancouver doable?

Doable if you have a car. The ferry doesn't leave from downtown in either Victoria or Vancouver. Check the website for "BC Ferries".

[RANDY P]

You could do a day trip to BC, leave at 6AM beat traffic through Everett, and the traffic at the border.

Come home later- cross the border at 6ish, be home by 10 and avoid Everett traffic.

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

You could do a day trip to BC, leave at 6AM beat traffic through Everett, and the traffic at the border.

Come home later- cross the border at 6ish, be home by 10 and avoid Everett traffic.

This sounds good.