Seattle Tourist Must-Sees?

Question

We are traveling to Seattle during Christmas with my two boys who are 10 and 7. This will be their first time in a cold climate as we are south Floridians, so I am excited to show them a new terrain and let them experience the cold climate. I understand there is not much snow there and I will have to travel a bit to let them have a true white world experience. Any suggestions as to which way to head to see true snow and how long the drive is? Also, need some ideas for siteseeing in Seattle. Any fun activities for kids? How about the monorail and the space needle? Just looking for some ways to spend our week, any input would be greatly appreciated! The tourism sites are helpful, but I figured the locals would know the best! P.S. Is it true the first Starbucks is in Seattle?

Guess I should have added, we didn't pick Seattle for snow seeing, it picked us, boyfriends family lives there, but there not much for outings/sightseeing, so we're kind of on our own.

Answer 1

1. Pike Place Market is worth the trip, and a great place to pick up some souvenirs that are locally made. Around the corner from Rachel the pig is a place that makes mini doughnuts that the kids always love. And check out Beechers cheese shop when you wander - you might be able to see them making the cheese right there!

The first Starbucks in the Pike Place Market area - it's a very unobtrusive storefront, with virtually no seating inside and a long line. Ask just about anyone and they can point you in the right direction once you are at Pike Place Market

2. The Space Needle is expensive, but as a tourist it's worth the trip to the top on a fairly clear day. Don't bother if it's raining or foggy - you'll pay lots of money to look at the clouds!

3. The easiest snow will be at Snoqualmie pass about a 45 min-1 hour drive east on Interstate 90. Yes, Rainier also has snow and it's beautiful, but it's harder to get there, and won't necessarily be a "better" experience for your kids.

4. Other things to consider with your kids - The Children's Museum might be OK for 10 and 7 year olds, but it might be a bit young for them. I'd start at the Pacific Science Center. There's enough there to occupy you for hours.

Be aware that the underground tour in the Pioneer Square
district has a few references to the "working girls" of early Seattle, so make sure you are OK with your kids hearing that if you do that tour.

The EMP is cool if your kids are into popular American music. Overall I don't find it very kid friendly, and would probably pass on it if my kids aren't into music much.

The Gold Rush National Historic Park (I think it's considered a park) in Pioneer square is a neat little (free) museum about the Alaska Gold Rush and Seattle's role as gateway to Alaska during that time. I like it.

The Odyssey Maritime Discovery Museum on the waterfront is a hand's on look at Seattle's relationship with the water. Stand in a shipping container and see the view as it travels the country in transit to it's destination, try your hand a loading containers into the huge ships in a computer simulation, try on a survival suit used by fishermen, take a virtual kayak tour of Eliott Bay etc.

The Aquarium is just a couple of docks down from the Maritime museum, and is OK - not great, but good enough, especially with kids.

The zoo is also a good one, and there are indoor areas to get out of the wet and cold. One of my best visits to the zoo was on a bitter cold day - the animal caretakers were all out near the exhibits helping their animals weather the cold, the crowds were down and we had a chance to ask lots of questions.

The Museum of Flight down at Boeing Field is cool if your kids are into airplanes at all - lots and lots of airplanes to look at, walk through an old Air Force 1 and a Concorde.

Plan to take a ferry ride - the trip to Bainbridge Island isn't too long, and you can walk into town from the ferry terminal before taking the next ferry back to Seattle.

The Ducks tour is hokey, but lots of people enjoy it - you drive around the city, and then they drive the vehicles into the water for a tour of the water side of Seattle.

For Christmas, there will be a carousel in Westlake Park downtown (donation requested), A gingerbread "house" display and competition (chefs pair up with Seattle Architecture firms to design and build the creations) (also donation requested), and the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. The Fairmont will also have the Pike Place Market recreated in Gingerbread on display in the lobby - so visit after you go to Pike Place Market.

Answer 2

You have many good answers to your questions, so I hesitated to even respond. However, there seemed to me that there were some things that impress me about Seattle that were left out.
I grew up in Washington State and have lived in the Seattle area for the last 27 years. As far as snow is concerned; my opinion is that Mt. Rainier is too far. Snoqualmie Pass makes much more sense as it is closer. If you have a car you might want to travel to Leavenworth. It's about 1 - 2 hours and is very festive at Christmas time. Yes, the Pike Place Market and the Seattle Center is worth the time. Also, westlake mall. All of these areas have festivities going on. Another thing that your family might enjoy is a ferry ride across Puget Sound. In Tacoma (about 30 miles south) at the Pt. Defiance Zoo they have "Zoo Lights" going on right now, which I hear is a big deal. The monorail goes back and forth from the Seattle Center to Westlake Mall. I live about 4 blocks from it and still enjoy riding it downtown. Hope this helped. And yes, it does get cold; sometimes the temp. itself may be in the 40-50 range but if the wind blows off the sound, it is really cold. You actually will need a warm jacket, gloves, etc. even if you don't go to the snow.

Answer 3

The Space Needle and Pikes Place are over rated. Take a picture next to the Needle if you happen to be there and that's all you need for that. In the general area try seeing The Seattle Children's Museum (it's made for kids 0-10, expect that to last a full day) and Seattle Science Center. Since it all in the same area take a look at Fun Forest before they take it down. It's the rides and odd attractions right by the museum, space needle, and science center. Mostly go to the museum. If you are into animals the Woodland Park Zoo is really nice.

If you want to venture out of Seattle for a little snow and scenery Paradise at Mt Raineer is a sure bet for snow. Be sure to have snow chains and/or a 4 wheel drive. Or head to Snoqualmie Falls. The falls should have snow about now. It's is probably flooded. Just about everything is at the moment.

Yes, Seattle has the first Starbucks. One of the first thing you might notice if you are a fan is they have 2 on every block. One in the grocery store, a drive through outside of the grocery store and a few scattered on every street. We are called the "coffee capital" for that reason.

If you need links to any of this feel free to e-mail me.
Beth

Answer 4

To get to some snow, you will need to go into the mountains. Snoqualmie Pass is about 45 minutes East of Seattle on I-90. There is a ski area there, and you can get out, and play in the snow. They have skiing and inner tubing, if you are going to make a day out of it.

For sightseeing, the big three are the Seattle Center, Downtown, and the Waterfront. At the Seattle Center is the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, and the EMP (really cool). In Downtown there are the typical shopping, museums, and getting a feel for the city. On the waterfront is Pike's Place Market, Seattle Aquarium and a variety of sights. Also, make sure you go to the Ye Old Curiosity Shop on the Waterfront.

All three areas are really close, and the monorail goes from the Seattle Center to Downtown.

Yes, the first Starbucks was in Seattle. It is located at Pike's Place.

Answer 5

Seattle gets snow, but not much... and it's not a "cold climate". The Pacific Northwest is a mild, temperate climate, not cold. If you want cold, try Minnesota or Wisconsin or the Dakotas. That might also be a better bet for snow; but if you want snow in close proximity to Seattle, we do have two mountain ranges east and west of the city with plenty of it, especially in winter. Eastern Washington, which is drier and more "desert-like" than Western Washington, gets quite a bit more snow than we do in the western half of the state, typically.

Yes, the first Starbucks really is in Seattle. It's located at Pike Place Market and usually has quite a few tourists crowding around to take pictures of themselves (it's not a big store). There are blends of coffee and merchandise that you can only find at that location, though.

Some folks will try to turn you off from seeing Pike Place, Seattle Center, the Space Needle, the monorail, etc.; but by all means, see them. I was born and raised here and I still enjoy going and seeing all those things myself (although a ride up to the O Deck, or observation deck, in the Space Needle is NOT cheap... great view though). You and your kids might like the Experience Music Project and the Sci-Fi Museum, both located in the same bizarre building at Seattle Center (the monorail goes through it, too). The International District is interesting, the Seattle Waterfront and Piers are interesting, Alki Point and Discovery Park are interesting... any good tourism site can point out more specific points of interest. There are Argosy cruises that putter around Lake Union and point out sights on the way to Lake Washington, such as the little houseboat used in "Sleepless in Seattle", Gasworks Park, the old Kalakala ferry, and Bill Gates' house in Medina. Don't forget, there are plenty of other things to see and do in the area, not just Seattle. There are lots of interesting state parks all over the state, plus a couple of national parks and monuments (Olympic National Park, Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. St. Helens National Monument, for starters. The Pacific coast is always fun; places like Ocean Shores, Westport, and Long Beach, for example. Take a ferry from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands. Drive up to Vancouver, B.C. (try not to use the I-5 border crossing, though; it's always the worst and longest one). Drive south to Portland, OR. See the Columbia River Gorge. Drive east to eastern Washington--Yakima, Wenatchee, Spokane, the Tri-Cities. The list really is endless, depending on what you and the kids are interested in seeing and doing. Washington's got enough that most residents never come close to seeing it all.

Answer 6

Cold climate? Seattle? you need to start your research over and pick a new destination if you want cold and snow. Sure, there's a minute chance that Seattle will have cold and snow on any given day during the winter. It usually snows once a year. And it already snowed this past weekend, so we've thankfully had our quota for the year.

If you want snow in Washington, don't come to Seattle. Stay at a ski resort instead and pray along with the resort operators that there is good snow up there this year.

Right now, it's 55 degrees, and we're having a monsoon. It doesn't look good for skiing this year.

Answer 7

You can go to Snoqualmie Pass and play in the snow. There are ski areas there. It is probably less than an hour drive. Go to Pike Place Market for a good time. Take the Underground Tour which starts near the ball parks. You will love it.

Answer 8

The top 3 Must See movies from the 50's would definately be: 1. The Ten Commandments (1956) 2. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) 3. Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Answer 9

wanna see snow? try Mt Rainer,also they say that there has been sitings of Big Foot THERE..I hiked Mt Rainer..it's beautiful,and was full of snow,but that was in Feb..
also go to Pike's Place,and to The Fern Grotto along the coast,also there is a Fort along that same area...Space Needle,is good..The Music Hall of Fame is there as well.Jimmy Hendrix came from Seattle..and Yes!! Starbucks!! did originate from Seattle....also watch the movie Sleepless in Seattle..it will also give you hint's of were you also might like to go..don't forget to try and catch a fairy on the Pugent Sound...

HAVE A SAFE TRIP..

P.S. IT'S A VERY WET,COLD,AND DAMP CLIMATE..SO BE PREPARED,HATS GLOVES.RAIN COATS,HIKING BOOTS.WARM,WARM,WARM IS WHAT YOU'LL BE THINKING THE WHOLE TIME YOUR THERE..DON'T FOR GET COLD MEDICINE..TOO!


...http://www.hillfamily.net/seattle

Answer 10

space needle the waterfront Ballard locks monorail pike place market. For a real nice holiday come up to canada for a couple of days. only 3 hours away ...See hellobc tourismvancouver tourismvictoria