Seattle CityPass, 5 sights, worth doing?

masraum · 08-27-2018, 05:00 PM

We're going to be in Seattle soon.

The missus really wants to see the Dale Chihuly thing. I figure while we are right there, we may as well do the Space Needle.

Are there any other things on the list that you'd recommend?

https://www.citypass.com/seattle

Quote:

CityPASS Admission Includes

1 Space Needle
2 Seattle Aquarium
3 Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
4 Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) or Woodland Park Zoo
5 Chihuly Garden and Glass or Pacific Science Center

We can also get a pass to just the Space Needle and Dale Chihuly at a slight discount too.

We're considering extending our stay at Casa de CleElum by one day instead of coming back to Seattle. Or, we could come back to Seattle and see some more stuff in town.

MRM · 08-27-2018, 05:52 PM

I received excellent advice in this thread and its predecessor. https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1004186-vacation-seattle-area.html

I love the Space Needle as a tourist and I’m
Bummed that the restaurant isn’t open. A boat cruise is essential, but why don’t you look at the ferry to Bainbridge Island instead? A two fer one shot. Pike Market, obviously. I have never been interested but the glass gardens seem like an hour or two diversion, not a half day excursion.

LakeCleElum · 08-27-2018, 06:13 PM

Steve:

Best view in Seattle (photo) is from Kerry Park, just a few minutes north of the Space Needle. North on Queen Anne Ave and west 2 block on W. Highland Dr. I take many friends from out of the country there.

The cabin is open and long as you want it.

I think the Space Needle restaurant just re-opened after a remodel. Not cheap, consider lunch instead of dinner and take your time w/o worrying about it getting dark.

Boat ride: Walk on WA State Ferry. Go to Bremerton instead of Bainbridge....Not much to see/do on Bainbbridge when you walk off. Downtown Bremerton better for lunch with water view and the ride is twice as long. Ride just a few bux each way.

Budget waterfront food in Seattle: Red Robin.

Just a start, I email more......Enjoy you vacation...

08-27-2018, 06:25 PM

I'll add that it kind of depends if you are a city person or a wilderness person. A day spent taking the San Juan ferry out of Anacortes and around the islands is a day well spent.

MRM · 08-27-2018, 06:43 PM

The Victoria Clipper https://www.clippervacations.com is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It’s been on and off line because of engine trouble, but if it’s running, take it to wherever you want to go and multiply your vacation. Victoria and Vancouver and San Juan Island Friday Harbor are all unparalleled. Do an overnight at one of the other or both. Spend as much time on a ferry as possible.

masraum · 07:34 PM

Thanks, everyone. MRM, yeah, I've been through both of your threads. The Victoria Clipper and heading someplace else sounds great, but we won't have time to fit that in easily this time.

MC, I think we're probably more wilderness folks, but not by much, maybe 60/40 or 70/30. That's why we are considering missing a day in Seattle to stay in the cabin another day.

I will tell everyone, when I was in Seattle in 2000, I went to Shiro's (sushi restaurant). I've been wanting to take the missus there since that trip. It appears that Shiro sold his restaurant, but he has a new one near Pike Place Market called Sushi Kashiba, and we will absolutely be going. I almost guaranty that it'll be an early dinner and I'll be ordering Omakase.

Bob, thanks, I'll check out Kerry Park and your other suggestions.

LakeCleElum · 09:18 PM

Belvedere park View Point off Admiral Way in West Seattle. Make the loop and hit Alki Beach for great city views.

Be aware: Seattle is being over-run with trashy homeless encampments. Not the same beautiful, clean city it used to be. Don't leave valuables in your rental car. Sad for sure.

Ayles · 08-27-2018, 09:49 PM

The new bar/restaurant at the top of the Smith Tower is pretty neat now that they there is a walkway around the outside. Very cool views.

Ballard Locks are worth checking out, this time of year there is a lot of boat traffic and the gardens are in excellent shape.

There is a TON of good food in this city and I would be hesitant to recommend a national chain like Red Robbin to a visitor. If you visit the Locks you can grab a great lunch or dinner at Rays Boat House or a burger/fish and chips at the Totem House. You would also be a mile from Ballard. Which has a dozen or so breweries and probably 30 solidly above average and higher restaurants. I actually live in the city so feel free to reach out.

MBAtarga · 08-28-2018, 05:55 AM

Underground Seattle tour is very neat if you're not familiar with the history of the town. It literally takes you underground of downtown Seattle.

MikeSid · 08-28-2018, 03:36 PM

Depends where you are staying and if you enjoy walking. I'm going to assume you're staying downtown and will uber or taxi to most destinations.

I'd echo the recommendation for Kerry Park and elaborate a bit. (I live a couple blocks from the park). A nice day for me would be the following (which you can virtually walk via Google street view if you want to get an idea of it).

Start at Kerry Park and take in the view(2nd West and West Highland Drive). Then walk west 4 blocks to Betty Bowen viewpoint. It's very small park but will give you a view of the west side of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The slope of Queen Anne hill is retained by a large concrete retaining wall (the Wilcox Wall) and there is a boulevard that has some good views if you continue to the northwest.

Across West Highland Drive (from Betty Bowen) to the northeast there is a small garden park - Parson's Gardens. It was the former garden of the Reginald Parson Mansion which is next door. The Garden is now a public park. The Parson mansion is privately owned but is nice to look at from the street. There are a number of beautiful old houses here that you might find interesting. The Kerry houses are on the south side between Kerry Park and Betty Bowen. You'll know them when you see them.

If you head east from Kerry Park around the Queen Anne Historic Boulevard, you'll reach Bhy Kracke park (Comstock and Bigelow). Great views of downtown Seattle (a lesser known alternate to Kerry park) and good views of Lake Union. My grandmothers house was condemned by the City to provide access to the land that Kracke donated to create the park.

From back at Kerry Park you can make your way down the south slope of Queen Anne Hill via numerous staircases. Do a little online research on the "Queen Anne Stairs". There are about 120 different concrete staircases that lead up various parts of Queen Anne Hill - my favorite being the Comstock stairs at Comstock Street and Queen Anne Avenue. A straight line between Kerry Park and the Space Needle will land you right at Taylor Shellfish. 124 Republican street. A good spot to stop for a few oyster for lunch.

After lunch, head to Space Needle for views. MoPop or Chihuly if you're into that. From there, take the monorail downtown (if that is in fact where you are staying).

I'd skip the Aquarium and go to the Ballard Locks instead (as suggested previously).

I'm obviously partial to Queen Anne, I grew up playing at Kerry park, and still live a couple blocks away. So take my suggestions with that in mind. There are plenty of other neighborhoods and sites to see in other parts of the city. But if you're going to Kerry park anyway, you might find some of the other parts of Queen Anne worth a look as well.

masraum · 08-28-2018, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

Underground Seattle tour is very neat if you're not familiar with the history of the town. It literally takes you underground of downtown Seattle.

I think I've seen some show many years ago on the History channel or something, Cities Underground or something like that where they did a little in the Seattle Underground. THat sounds pretty cool.

masraum · 08-28-2018, 07:35 PM

Kerry Park and taking the ferry to someplace (Bremerton) sounds cool. The missus says that she wants to get out on the water, so I think we'll do that.

masraum · 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeSid

Depends where you are staying and if you enjoy walking. I'm going to assume you're staying downtown and will uber or taxi to most destinations.

I'd echo the recommendation for Kerry Park and elaborate a bit. (I live a couple blocks from the park). A nice day for me would be the following (which you can virtually walk via Google street view if you want to get an idea of it).

Start at Kerry Park and take in the view(2nd West and West Highland Drive). Then walk west 4 blocks to Betty Bowen viewpoint. It's very small park but will give you a view of the west side of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The slope of Queen Anne hill is retained by a large concrete retaining wall (the Wilcox Wall) and there is a boulevard that has some good views if you continue to the northwest.

Across West Highland Drive (from Betty Bowen) to the northeast there is a small garden park - Parson's Gardens. It was the former garden of the Reginald Parson Mansion which is next door. The Garden is now a public park. The Parson mansion is privately owned but is nice to look at from the street. There are a number of beautiful old houses here that you might find interesting. The Kerry houses are on the south side between Kerry Park and Betty Bowen. You'll know them when you see them.

If you head east from Kerry Park around the Queen Anne Historic Boulevard, you'll reach Bhy Kracke park (Comstock and Bigelow). Great views of downtown Seattle (a lesser known alternate to Kerry park) and good views of Lake Union. My grandmothers house was condemned by the City to provide access to the land that Kracke donated to create the park.

From back at Kerry Park you can make your way down the south slope of Queen Anne Hill via numerous staircases. Do a little online research on the "Queen Anne Stairs". There are about 120 different concrete staircases that lead up various parts of Queen Anne Hill - my favorite being the Comstock stairs at Comstock Street and Queen Anne Avenue. A straight line between Kerry Park and the Space Needle will land you right at Taylor Shellfish. 124 Republican street. A good spot to stop for a few oyster for lunch.

After lunch, head to Space Needle for views. MoPop or Chihuly if you're into that. From there, take the monorail downtown (if that is in fact where you are staying).

I'd skip the Aquarium and go to the Ballard Locks instead (as suggested previously).

I'm obviously partial to Queen Anne, I grew up playing at Kerry park, and still live a couple blocks away. So take my suggestions with that in mind. There are plenty of other neighborhoods and sites to see in other parts of the city. But if you're going to Kerry park anyway, you might find some of the other parts of Queen Anne worth a look as well.

This sounds like good stuff, thanks Mike, especially the part about the Oysters. I'm not a huge fan, but the missus loves them and wants to get some while we're there.