Originally Posted By TP2000 So... Cars Land is cool. But there's a big, amazing, enriching world out there beyond Disney theme parks. I apologize in advance for the radical Off Topic nature of the following post... Constance, that City Pass thing sounds like a fantastic bargain! You should jump on that just for the tickets to the Needle, the aquarium, the harbor boat tour, and the Pacific Science Center. The Pacific Science Center is there at Seattle Center in the shadow of the Needle. It was originally the United States host pavilion at the 1962 World's Fair, when the US State Department dedicated the entire pavilion to science during the post-Sputnik fears that the Soviets were beating us in science and the race to outer space. It's remained a science museum since the Fair ended, and it's now one of the better family science museums in the country. Kids love it. It's a gorgeous campus of various pavilions around a reflecting pond, and it was built by the same Japanese-American architect who designed the World Trade Center ten years later in the early 1970's. You can see similarities to the World Trade Center in the white arches and paneling of the Pacific Science Center, and it's a bit haunting for adults in light of 9/11 yet impressive at the same time. The Museum of Flight is excellent, but is different from the Boeing Tour and Future of Flight museum they have there as part of the tour. The Museum of Flight is at Boeing Field 15 minutes south of downtown Seattle, and while it's heavily funded by Boeing it covers the entire airplane industry from 1912 to today. It has a real Concorde you can walk through, as well as a 707 that served as Air Force One for the LBJ and Nixon administrations. 30 minutes north of Seattle is the Boeing Factory Tour and Future of Flight museum. The Factory Tour is about a two hour long thing, starting with a movie and then loading on to buses that take you out across the tarmac to the GIANT buildings where they literally build 747's, 777's, and the new 787. The big Future of Flight museum is attached to the reception building where tours start, and focuses on the Jet Age and modern Boeing airplanes. <a href="http://www.boeing.com/commercial/tours/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.boeing.com/commerci...dex.html</a> The catch is that children must be 48 inches to go on the Boeing tour, as you are up in the catwalks 100 feet above the factory floor for much of the tour. If your kids aren't 48 inches, or your not the factory tour or aviation enthusiast type group, then the Boeing Factory Tour is off the itinerary. Another fun thing to do is the Tillicum Village boat trip and salmon bake. The Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest are some of the most elegant and fascinating to experience, in my opinion. Tillicum Village is a fun thing to do, where you take a boat from downtown Seattle out across the Sound to a Salish Indian community where they host a traditional salmon bake in a longhouse. They have dancing entertainment, and handmade crafts for sale, and the traditional Salish Indian salmon dinner is delicious. It's educational and fun and a uniquely Pacific Northwest experience. <a href="http://www.tillicumvillage.com/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.tillicumvillage.com/index.php</a> Or, just buying a relatively cheap ticket on the Washington State Ferry system can make for a fun afternoon. Check out their website for tickets and itineraries from the main Seattle ferry port. Fun Seattle restaurants are 13 Coins in the Lake Union neighborhood near downtown; a jazzy, 1960's hep cat diner kind of place that Frank Sinatra or Elvis would have enjoyed. The deep fried ice cream is to die for, the Monte Cristo rivals the Blue Bayou, the Dungeness crab omelette is a delicacy, and they are open 24 hours. They have these really cool 1960's mod high backed booths, or a long counter with mod leather astronaut chairs that look like something from 2001 A Space Odyssey. 13 Coins is like a swanky Denny's for the Rat Pack. <a href="http://www.13coins.com/" target="_blank">http://www.13coins.com/</a> Or, Burgermaster is the ultimate Seattle drive-in. They have fabulous burgers, homemade milkshakes, and their Dungeness crab melt makes me want to jump on a plane to Seattle right now. It's another 1960's throwback where you park your car and order via speaker and then a carhop brings your order on a tray clipped to your car window. But the food is fabulous, and kids probably would get a kick out of the carhop scene. <a href="http://www.burgermaster.biz/" target="_blank">http://www.burgermaster.biz/</a> And if you are driving around, make sure you drive over Lake Washington on one of the floating bridges. There are two freeways that traverse the lake over to Seattle's eastern suburbs, and they rest on floating bridges laying right on the water. Kids get a kick out of that gimmick too, and there's a Burgermaster in Bellevue right on the eastern end of the 520 Freeway floating bridge. Who needs Disneyland?
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "CC...I thought you lived up that way. anyway...I have been to the zoo, aquarium and the needle.....can say they are all great. There is also a fun amusement park/water park on I5 in Federal Way....I think it is called Wild Waves...and it is alot of fun and then right down the street in SouthCenter Mall....you can eat at the Rainforest Cafe.." You just made my day, we will definitely hit those locations! We are down in Oregon, and haven't been anywhere but the airport.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "Oh yeah, and the ward is where the aquarium is anyways, so you can just walk along there before or after. It isn't something you have to do separately. I second TP...you should walk along there, hit Ivars for lunch (and yes, it is very different from the crappy mall Ivars that are around), and then check out Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. Your kids will love it!" Sounds so fun! So the ward is where Pike Place is? Is that separate from the Wharf?
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Holy cow, TP. Thanks! I'm coping and pasting all this. I've got a 40 inch little buddy, so sounds like Boeing is off for us.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 Pikes Place is just up from the Warf and the the aquarium is basically on it. Pike Place and the aquarium might be a lot for your kids to do in one day though. TP mentioned the floating bridges...take the I-90 bridge because the 520 bridge is now a toll bridge and will cost you anywhere from $2 to $4.50 each way depending on what day and time you use it. Your kids will like the Museum of Flight better than the Future of FLight- at least my kids do. There is a lot of cool stuff in the MoF. The Zoo is pretty awesome though too, so that could be a tough decision for you Also, TP is right on in recommending 13 Coins...it is really awesome. I would also recommend Ipanema Brazilian Grill on 1 Ave, and if you like seafood both Salty's on Alki and Seastar are wonderful. Union Square Grill is also a great place for lunch.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I'm getting more excited for our trip the more I hear!! Thanks so much for all the info!
Originally Posted By ballesbl I'll be leaving my gorgeous island north of Seattle and heading to DL in Nov., so if you have any ques. about Seattle...ask me. As for CL, our plan is to get there first thing in the morning, preferably mid-week. I anticipate large crowds even in Nov. You can spot us with the ugly Teva sandals, tank tops, and shorts, even if it's raining.
Originally Posted By ksargen I used to live up that way. Seattle, is, indeed, a fabulous place to visit. Be sure to try out coffee other than Starbucks, and seafood other than Ivar's. I used to be a huge Ivar's fan, until the dreaded food poisoning incident... Tillicum Village is one of the things I didn't get to do when I lived up there, and I wish I had. Pike's Place is all sorts of fun, and there are some cool, funky shops along there, as well all the food stuff. If you are a foodie, or have foodie friends, this is the spot to shop! Wow. Maybe I need to go back up there and visit. I haven't been up there in over a decade...
Originally Posted By ballesbl Spud's Fish and Chips is my favorite on Alki, I should've mentioned that too.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Stopping at Mt St Helena or Rainier on the way to or from Seattle might be a nice way to break up the trip. Of course, there is also the Great Wolf Lodge near Centralia. Tacoma also has a nice zoo - I think it's called Pt Defiant.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Thanks everyone, I'm still paying attention and taking notes. This is all great info!
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh That was supposed to be Mt St Helens, not Helena. Stupid auto-correct.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I wont be doing Carsland until December over Christmas, Yikes!!! Im sorry you cant go to DL CC Seattle is great though! I go a few times every year over the summer. I will also suggest the Aqua Duck tour which does a fun tour all around Seattle. They play music and the drivers are usually a blast. You cant miss Pikes markert either they have the best chowders and probably the best mini cheesecakes ever. The Warf is great, the Pirates store and curio shop will be a big hit with the kids. How long are you going for? I should meet up with you to say hi!
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 ballesbl, I love Whidbey! I used to go camping there every summer when I was growing up. I have never done the Aqua Duck tour that Tasha mentioned, but I have seen them driving around, and they look like they would be fun. If you will be up here in the summer you should also check out what is going on at Gas Works park. They have a great kite flying hill there and they have a lot of fun kids activities during the summer. You should also try to get out on the water (either Lake Union, Lake Washington, or the Sound) if it is nice out.
Originally Posted By tashajilek ^^ Which lake would you reccomend would be the best for going swimming? we have always wanted to go somewhere for a swim.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I'll be going sometime over the summer, not sure when the dates are. It would be super fun to meet up though!
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I would recommend Lake Washington for swimming. Here is a list of the swimming areas. I like Madison Park Beach.
Originally Posted By tashajilek ^^ Thanks, i will check out lake Washington. Yes CC that would be great to meet with you.
