What are the top 5 "must dos" for first-time visitors to Seattle - assuming you only have a day?
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M$8 Answers
Pikes place market is a true Seattle landmark and tons of fun. Watch out for the flying fish.
Spend your time enjoy fresh bakery items and even better coffee to start your day and visit all of the vendors there. It is great fun.
From there you can go along the waterfront and visit the aquarium, have lunch at Ivars and continue on down to Pioneer Square. Elliot Bay books is a great bookstore and there are bunches of other fun shops and bars and restaurants here. If you are lucky you can catch a show featuring keith lowe while you're in town. If not there are some really amazing local performers that can be heard all around that part of town.
It is hard to see it all in a day. But that would be my recommendation.
Great seafood, scenic waterfront, historic Seattle, great coffee, microbrews, great music. It's a perfect day.
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M$
Bin there done that
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M$
2 of my suggestions are guided and 2 are not. It's important to get the help of a local pro or two but also have the opportunity to explore for yourself. The pro guide will show you the highlights while your own exploration will lead to the richest experiences.
Number 1)
Downtown Seattle Food and Cultural Tour
http://www.savorseattletours.com/seattletour.php
You want to see downtown and you'll be hungry between 2 and 5. Guided by a local pro, you will experience the best food, wine and beer that the city has to offer. You will be downtown and walk on a guided tour of it. All-in-all this is an exceptional value and a great experience.
Number 2)
Pike Place Market
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/
You can't say you've been to Seattle without spending some time at Pike Place. Right now, there is some heavy machinery in the area as they prepare for some renovations, but you'll still have a great time. You can explore one of the largest and best markets in the world. There are plenty of shops, streets, walkways and alleys to explore.
Specifically, spend some time at the Corner Market.
Number 3)
The Space Needle
http://www.spaceneedle.com/
I enjoy watching television and movies that feature places I've been. Seattle is home to many of these and the Space Needle is the attraction that identifies it. You'll get a birds eye view of the city and experience it from above.
Number 4)
Ride the Ducks
http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/
To compliment your birds eye view of the city, taking a tour in one of the infamous city ducks is a great way to experience the city. Driving on both land and in water, these "boat cars" and entertaining tour guides will take you on a unique tour of the city that really is unmatched.
This really is a great thing to do after visiting the space needle because you can contrast the two views and know geographically where you are.
Number 5)
This last one was tough. There really is a lot to do in Seattle.
Experience a Local Rock Show
http://www.seattleweekly.com/music//
Seattle is the birthplace of modern rock and fosters an incredible music scene. Even if you're not that "into" music, having the opportunity to see a show in the same venues where Hendrix, Nirvana, Perl Jam, Soundgarden, Allice in chains, etc have played is something to be experienced.
I would recommend the following order: Space Needle, Ride the Ducks, Food Tour, Rock Show.
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M$2. Seattle Aquarium - See, touch and explore our amazing underwater world. Also enjoy a stroll on the Seattle Waterfront.
3. Museum of Flight
The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world.
4. Pike Place Market - The Pike Place Market is the soul of Seattle. The Market's traditions, products, and people create a unique shopping destination and a thriving community.
5. Skagit Tours
Visit the breathtaking scenic splendor of the North Cascades and the historic Seattle company town of Newhalem.
Hopefully you will have time to see those, hehe.
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M$Seattle Aquarium and Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (a MUST see)
Seattle Center - (Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Seattle Science Center)
Underground Seattle Tour
Tillicum Village - do end of day
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We were in Seattle for about a week. We visited the Space Needle several times. It's especially cool at sundown. If you're into SF at all, the Science Fiction Museum is right there. Gort will be waiting for you at the door. I'm not so sure about the trip to the Tillicum Village. It struck us as a bit touristy, and the food wasn't up to our expectations, but maybe that was just a temporary thing.
Maybe it is just nostalgia, but I used to live in the area and every once in a while my family would go and we loved it. Of course, I was much younger then.
1. Space Needle. Spend for everything; it's outstanding.
2. Go to Alki Beach and walk all over. It's amazing and De-Stressing.
3. Go to Columbia Tower and hit the Obso Deck. Truly Beautiful.
4. Go to the Public Market and browse every store. Have Lunch.
5. Go to the Seattle Art Museum. One of the better museums in the country.
6. If you have time, take the Ferry from West Seattle to Vashon Island.
None. This is from my personal experience in Seattle. Absolutely beautiful city.
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2. Pioneer Square - If you like window shopping, wonder through locally owned stores, such as , Elliot Bay Bookstore Company, etc.
3. If the weather's good, head to the West side of town to Alki Beach; you could take a stroll along the waterfront, and people watch.
4. For cheap eats, for all hours of the day, eat at Seattle Staples, like Dick's Drive-in, an old school burger joint with five locations around the city.
OR gobble up some Oprah's Favorite fried chicken. OR Seafood and burger at Ballard Brother's.
5. Pike's Place Market: the Heart of downtown, and the one of the original farmer's Markets; you'll find nifty Street Performers, crafts, a maze of fresh produce, the original Starbucks, and of course, the flying fish.
"The Free Press," Mankato, MN - (old article I saved)
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My must eats when I am in town are Dick's Drive In, and Taco Time crispy beef burritos. If you have a car, check out the University of Washington campus. Take the 520 exit off the 5 north and drive across the Montlake cut to see Husky Stadium. If you don't have a lot of time, you can just drive up 45th, enter thru the main entrance, and do a drive thru campus. You can park for free at the University Bookstore with validation and buy souvenirs there. Then take 45th across I-5 and hit the University Dicks (the best one IMO) before heading back to downtown. Another favorite of mine is to get dimsum in Chinatown. House of Hong is our family favorite.
Best time of year to go is late-July, August, and early-Sept. It's still cold there right now, and 'Spring' is pretty gray and drizzly. But late summer it warms up and is beautiful. Also, once the sun comes up, everyone's disposition changes and it's pretty much a party. If you do happen to go in August, Seafair, Bumbershoot and Bite of Seattle are big summer events that are worth looking into. Enjoy my hometown!
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