Must see/things to do in Seattle?

[intunegp]

My wife will be attending a conference in Seattle towards the end of August and wants me to tag along. We'll be staying at the hotel where the conference is located so we will probably just rely on Uber to get to the hotel and anywhere else we need to go, but basically from just after breakfast to just before dinner each day I'll be on my own to do as I please, so I'm looking for recommendations for someone who has never been. Staying at The Westin so looking for mostly walking distance recommendations but I'll fire up the Uber machine if necessary. Budget isn't unlimited but I'm willing to lay down some cash for a worthwhile experience in a city I may never return to. We're there 8/23-8/29.

My wife's conference ends at noon on the last day so I was planning on going to the aquarium and riding the Great Wheel with her when she's free but those are the only big things I think she's really interested in. We'll probably also visit the Space Needle together one evening for the photo op if nothing else. It is a 10 minute walk to Pike Place Market so I'll definitely be checking that out. I'd considered catching a baseball game at T-Mobile just to fill a day, there's a day game against the Padres that would fit the schedule pretty well and the stadium is only a mile and a half walk. Museum of History and Industry/Center for Wooden Boats is a mile away and seems like it might be worth a visit. Same for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. I'd consider an Uber to the Museum of Flight if it is a must see or those others don't fill much time.

Can anyone recommend any fishing charters that I could do like a half-day on a shared boat nearby? I found a couple that offer 6 hour trips on a shared boat (2-6 people) for around $300. One of those is Cut Plug Charters which the internet seems to approve of. Will fishing be decent in late August? Are there any ferry rides or destinations that are a must-see?

 

[ODB]

Museum of flight is one of the very best in the country. When my kid was small we went there twice a month and we were never bored. Truly great.

At Pikes Place try out Matt’s in the Market for some food. Right across the corner from the fish throwers. The owners are old friends. And funny enough the owner used to throw fish.

If you like music, EMP (or wherever they call it now) is great.

 

[intunegp]

Museum of flight is one of the very best in the country. When my kid was small we went there twice a month and we were never bored. Truly great.

At Pikes Place try out Matt’s in the Market for some food. Right across the corner from the fish throwers. The owners are old friends. And funny enough the owner used to throw fish.

If you like music, EMP (or wherever they call it now) is great.

I kind of glanced over Museum of Flight because it isn't in the immediate vicinity but the more I think about it the more I think I'll probably spend a day there. It's one of those places that every time I see media about it I think "wow, I'd love to check that out" so I'm not going to skip it just to avoid a 7.5 mile Uber. I'll tell the guys at Matt's ODB sent me

 

[Blacktocomm]

For a fun walking tour from the Westin I would walk up Westlake to Denny to get to the Space Needle (which is right by MoPop/the music museum that I enjoyed). After spending time at the area near the space needle I'd walk down Broad to the Olympic Sculpture Park and you can walk up and down the bay there on the sound.

Another day I would walk up to Kerry Park because that is a very famous overlook and the neighborhood in that region is great. Do it after your wife's conference and stop at Toulus Petite for dinner on the walk. Or Sal y Limon is also a pretty good Mexican food joint right there. This would be a longer walk but probably worth it.

The "Mohai" is right on Lake Union which is fun to walk around and maybe 1 mile further north of Mohai is Tom Hanks house from Sleepless in Seattle. I am also a fan of Dukes Seafood Chowder on Lake Union, but the service is sometimes not the best.

Otherwise a good Uber from your area is Discovery Park which has lots of nice walking trails, or you could go to Alki in the uber and that is also a great beach area to walk around.

If you are hopping on a ferry (which is fun in and of itself) I really like going to Bainbridge and walking the tiny downtown bainbridge area. I like Cafe Hitchcock for a sandwich on Bainbridge.

 

[longtail]

Pike place Market, mariners game, eat Steamers at Ivars down on the waterfront, ferry ride, EMP, Space Needle. Have vacationed a lot to Seattle. Use to go out every other year on Labor Day weekend for Bumbershoot. Haven't been in many years now, my dad says the homeless/drug problem has really gotten bad and due it being so liberal its hard to do anything about it. I wouldn't let that deter your time there though.

 

[LCguy]

Seattle also has an amazing China Town. I'm from the desert, so I always made sure to eat as much seafood and Asian food as I could stomach when I'd go visit for work.

 

[Legend]

Gum wall....nastiest place you have ever seen....yet somehow intriguing.

Oh and watch out for the junkies. Mid day needle in arm characters are not hard to find nowadays.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Yes, definitely see the gum wall at Pike Place. You will be thoroughly disgusted, I guarantee. The pink and coho salmon fishing should be phenomenal at that time. Everything that has been posted is worthwhile. If you can, have dinner at Palisade up near Magnolia or Salty's in West Seattle. The Brooklyn is great too, their oyster bar is second to none. Most definitely eat some fresh salmon and Dungeness crab.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Re; druggies, it's better than it used to be. Lived in Pioneer Square and worked downtown for a few years around Covid. Avoid 3rd street in general, but especially 3rd and Pike. Otherwise you may encounter a random one here or there. Ignoring them works best.

Lime bikes and scooters are pretty prevalent. They're a solid way to get around (and avoid contact with the zombies). Ubers are more expensive than in other places in the country due to local regulations.

Going up in the space needle is cool, but the Columbia tower has a fantastic view as well. And a bar at the top.

The closer charter trips are going to be out of Shilshole marina, Coho is usually open but I'm not super up to speed with fishing the Sound. Hear good things about All Star Charters. Short run to Jeff Head or the Oil Docks.

Float plane tour out of Lake Union could be worth looking into. There are also boat rentals, head east to Montlake cut into Lake Washington for a bit of rowing history. (re: The Boys and the Boat).

Ferry over to Bainbridge for lunch/dinner would be neat.

 

[ODB]

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Seattle also has an amazing China Town. I'm from the desert, so I always made sure to eat as much seafood and Asian food as I could stomach when I'd go visit for work.

Good call. I have eaten my weight in Dim Sum down there.

But don’t use the restrooms or peek in the kitchen. Just head down and eat…


Oh, if the OP is into guitars, emerald city guitars has some ridiculously expensive vintage guitars. Good stuff.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

If you're at Pike Place and just want to sit down for lunch and a beer, Old Stove Brewing is pretty good. And the views of the sound are great.

And don't bother with the underground tour. That was dumb and boring.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Lime bikes and scooters are pretty prevalent. They're a solid way to get around (and avoid contact with the zombies). Ubers are more expensive than in other places in the country due to local regulations.

But then you miss out on some great exercise that can be had hiking those streets east-west.

 

[Thinkingman]

Seattle also has an amazing China Town. I'm from the desert, so I always made sure to eat as much seafood and Asian food as I could stomach when I'd go visit for work.

Yes, definitely see the gum wall at Pike Place. You will be thoroughly disgusted, I guarantee. The pink and coho salmon fishing should be phenomenal at that time. Everything that has been posted is worthwhile. If you can, have dinner at Palisade up near Magnolia or Salty's in West Seattle. The Brooklyn is great too, their oyster bar is second to none. Most definitely eat some fresh salmon and Dungeness crab.

China Town is now in the news virtually daily for violent crime. I worked a block away for a couple of years.
The Brooklyn WAS a fantastic oyster bar but it's been gone for a few years.
I would minimize my foot traffic in DT Seattle due to the fact it's completely crime-ridden.
I moved away 18 months ago and cringe when I have to go back for business.

 

[IdahoBeav]

emerald city guitars has some ridiculously expensive vintage guitars. Good stuff.

I went there and was very disappointed. Their store is not nearly as spacious as made out to be on their YT channel. Most of the flagship guitars must be stored in a vault in the back? I was really hoping to be able to get a visual on an original burst LP, but there wasn't one to be seen in the showroom.

 

[chizelhead]

• Ballard Locks (probably just me, but one of my favorite places in Seattle)
• Fremont
• Green Lake
• Golden Gardens Park
• Discovery Park
• Ferry to Bainbridge or other

Food

• Dahlia Bakery (by the Westin)
• Virginia Inn (by the Westin -- classic place that's good for a sandwich)
• Canlis
• Pink Door
• Matts in the Market
• The Walrus and the Carpenter
• Palace Kitchen (It's been awhile since I've been so it may not be what I remembered)

 

[ODB]

I went there and was very disappointed. Their store is not nearly as spacious as made out to be on their YT channel. Most of the flagship guitars must be stored in a vault in the back? I was really hoping to be able to get a visual on an original burst LP, but there wasn't one to be seen in the showroom.

Interesting. Last time I was in(admittedly it’s been a while - maybe 8 years?) there was gobs of good stuff all over the floor. Didn’t see the 59 from under the bed, but plenty of early strats and other stuff including later LPs.

Diablo guitars in Renton shows some interesting stuff, but more modern type stuff.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Interesting. Last time I was in(admittedly it’s been a while - maybe 8 years?) there was gobs of good stuff all over the floor. Didn’t see the 59 from under the bed, but plenty of early strats and other stuff including later LPs.

I went last year. When you went, were they screening people at the door for entry? I had never been there before. The front of the store at the street looked like a locked up abandoned building. I then heard a click sound and noticed that a security door had popped open. I see a little camera at the corner of the door frame. Due to the homeless problems, they keep the front door locked and only allow entry after a visual inspection through a live camera. The Orvis store downtown operated similarly. The front door is locked. They have a man inside at the front door that lets customers in and out.

 

[ODB]

I went last year. When you went, were they screening people at the door for entry? I had never been there before. The front of the store at the street looked like a locked up abandoned building. I then heard a click sound and noticed that a security door had popped open. I see a little camera at the corner of the door frame. Due to the homeless problems, they keep the front door locked and only allow entry after a visual inspection through a live camera. The Orvis store downtown operated similarly. The front door is locked. They have a man inside at the front door that lets customers in and out.

No, no screening at all. That is insanity. I mean I was walking around grabbing 10-15K guitars and playing them.

Times sure have changed.

 

[displacedtexan]

I really enjoyed the base of the Space Needle, a lot of info about the construction, spent a bit of time looking. Not just the trip and view from the top.

The 5 Point Cafe is a few blocks away, pretty cool 24 hour dive bar with some pretty good food. Since 1929.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Another cool thing is the Chihuly glass museum. You can bundle the museum and space needle to save a bit when you buy tickets.