Seattle vacation suggestions

[kimberlyjean]

I've been a quiet part of the CLBB community for awhile, enjoying all of the wonderful recipes and chatter. Thank you all!

My husband and I are going to Seattle for a week in November, without our 2 kids. Any suggestions on where to stay (not TOO expensive), and what to do? We plan to visit Pike Place Market, and the original Starbucks. A friend of mine suggested a visit to Leavenworth. That's about it so far. Restaurant ideas would be welcome too! And are there areas with hotels outside of downtown, which might be a bit cheaper, with easy access to downtown? We currently have a reservation at a B&B called Hill House which is "located on historic Capitol Hill" but it's a little pricey. Is this a decent location?

Any ideas/advice would be much appreciated! Thanks.

[leightx]

No suggestions (although I hear that a trip up to Victoria, B.C. is a must!), but I just wanted to say "Welcome!" :)

[kimberlyjean]

thanks!

[erin elizabeth]

Welcome--

Here is my Jan 04 thread on our trip to Seattle. It sounds like our hotel might be perfect for your family. There is a shuttle and it is close to the monorail, too. Plus, our suite was two rooms.

Anyway, here is the link

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53781&highlight=Seattle

I know that if you search Seatle in titles and narrow it to the Everything Else--Other Stuff threads you'll find lots more help.

Have fun--Seattle is a great city!

[kimberlyjean]

Thanks erin elizabeth! I just read your review, and printed out all of your restaurant suggestions. It's so much nicer to know the good places instead of being disappointed.

[badunnin]

If you are feeling like taking a trip out of the city, Boeing offers an awesome tour.

[kimberlyjean]

The Boeing tour sounds like fun. I was a manufacturing engineer prior to becoming a full-time mommy. How long of a drive is this from downtown?

[badunnin]

Originally posted by kimberlyjean
The Boeing tour sounds like fun. I was a manufacturing engineer prior to becoming a full-time mommy. How long of a drive is this from downtown?

Oooh, I'm guessing an hour? Let me check... found the tour facility site here (http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/tours/index.html). I'm remembering it being under an hour drive.

[badunnin]

Yep - 28.3 miles between Seattle and Everett. So probably about 45 minutes.

[Valerie226]

I'd take a ferry ride especially if you get a nice weather day. You could ride over & back or stop for lunch somewhere on the olympic peninsula. You can walk on or take your car. From downtown
Winslow (Bainbridge island) would be best. A longer trip would be the san juan Islands. ferry leaves from anacortes, so there is more driving involved. In nice weather it's beautiful. In bad weather you won't see much of anything. LaConner( about 2 1/2 hours north) is a small artsy craftsy town.
Bring rain gear, november can be pretty damp. A jacket with a hood is a good thing. The downtown REI store is a fascinating visit if you are outdoor people at all. (You can buy a jacket there if you forget) The outside design of the store is fascinating.I've never gotten the thrill with the space needle, but it's OK. Pike Place market for sure. You can work you way all the down to the waterfront from there.
Leavenworth might be good but it's a long drive if it's snowing. check the weather & Stevens pass report before you decide. It would be a long day to drive there, look around & drive back. I'd recommend an overnight stay if you go. Plenty of accomodations but on a weekend I'd have a reservation.

[Jessica]

I second the Boeing tour. DH and I thought it was fascinating.

We ate at a good restaurant called the Ikon Grill but I don't remember if it was kid-friendly.

Welcome to the BB :).

[KValley]

Hello KimberlyJean-

MAHOMET!! ohmigosh. I used to work at U of I Urbana-Champaign and have only fond memories of Central Illinois (except for the humid summers :o ). DH taught in Danville, spent summers working on a friend's corn and soybean farm in Pesotum. We long for bicycle rides on country roads past cornfields and tall grass prairie, sparkling winter days of crystal blue skies and bone-chilling cold, glorious fall colors to rival the best of New England. Please say hello to the cardinals and fireflies and thunderclouds for us. We miss them all.

But we are both Northwest natives and returned home a few years ago :) Here are a few old threads with Seattle/Puget Sound recommendations Seattle To-Dos (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9049&highlight=seattle)

This thread has some restaurant recommendations (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11550&highlight=seattle)

A few random tidbits (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21103&highlight=seattle)

Lots of restaurant chatter (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20286&highlight=seattle)

I just spent the weekend in one of my favorite places on earth- Victoria BC (and was blessed to see one of my favoritest people in the universe- darling Kima-) and echo that this is well worth a day trip or longer, if you have the time. Plenty for kids to do, too.

Enjoy your time in our neck of the woods. Beware of volcanoes ;)

[greatcook]

Oh- I love the Seatlle area- I go every year-- So beautiful.

[JanetJ]

You will love Seattle! You've gotten some great suggestions here, but I just wanted to let you know that the monorail downtown between Seattle Center and Westlake is not operating right now, in case that influences your hotel decision.

[buffygirl]

DH and I go to Seattle every year too. You may enjoy the Woodinville area, several wineries to tour, very beautiful.

[kima]

Gosh Julie- you know how to make a grown woman cry!!!:o (and its not even TOM):)
My favourite bookstore in the world is in Seattle The Elliott Bay bookstore...I could live there!:) :)

Here is the website.
http://www.elliottbaybook.com/

[kimberlyjean]

Wow ... thanks for all the great advice. I can hardly keep up! I keep cutting and pasting your responses into a MSWord document, so I can just print it and take it along with me.

We will easily fill our week there, and probably gain a few pounds while we're at it. And we are going without our kids, so it will be a relaxing time away.

I'll try to post an update after we return mid-November.