TT'ers in Seattle ?

“I'm headed to Seattle in a couple of weeks for business. Any locals have some suggestions or what to see and do while I'm there? I'll have a couple of evenings free and a 1/2 day too.”

“go see REI's flagship store!”

“Some of my favorite urban activities:

-Site seeing/people watching at the Pike Place Market.
-Walking down the water front to Myrtle Edwards Park
-Taking in the city view at Gas Works park
-Watching the boats and visiting the salmon ladder at the Ballard locks
-Walking throughout downtown (window shopping, etc.)
-Eating dinner downtown (name your preference!)
-Walking onto a ferry and catching the views
-Green lake
-Woodland Park Zoo (one of the top zoos in the US!)

Suburban activities (considering your time constraints):
-Tiger mountain
-Twin Falls
-Snoqualmie falls
-Deception pass

....Oh god, the list goes on and on.

Email me if you like and I can help you focus on whatever your intentions are, otherwise, we can just use this forum.”

“Rollerblade at Alki

Help unemployed Boeing workers who now panhandle

Dine at the Space Needle and enjoy the view of the Olympic and Cascade mountains

Protest”

“Thanks. I've heard about Pike Peak Market and I'd like to see that. Also want to hit the REI store. How about nice place (or not so nice)for seafood and people watching?(and maybe a cold adult beverage or 2) I don't think that I'll have time for any hiking.
We're supposed to visit the Everett Naval Station and tour the USS Abraham Lincoln.”

“Spikehiker,

A couple evenings and 1/2 a day is not much free time, there's lots to see and do in town. The suggestions you have been offered already are good ones.

Pike's Place Market is a must, for many reasons including the people watching. Altho, if you ask for directions to Pike's Peak Market someone will likely point you to SEATAC and tell you to get a ticket to Coloroado Springs (grin).

Along the waterfront, which is very close to the Market, is another great place to experience the masses. You'll run across several good seafood eateries as you stroll along the waterfront. Ivars is consistently good, and is a Seattle landmark.

For barhopping, try the Pioneer Square area - the J&M Cafe is my personal favorite but there are lots of options. Pioneer Square is just North (towards downtown) of the Mariners and Seahawks stadiums. Another great barhopping venue is Broadway, up on top of Capitol Hill.

There's a trolly system that runs the length of the waterfront, and also serves the North side of the Pioneer Square area. Very handy for getting around quickly if you're pressed for time, and reasonably priced as well.

If the M's are in town and you're a fan, it's a ballpark worth seeing.

For a great water view of the city, walk on to the Bainbridge ferry (ferry dock is right in the middle of downtown waterfront and you can't miss the big white & green boats). Ride the ferry across the Sound, and catch the same boat back again. It'll take about 1.5 hours round trip and cost around six bucks. If you can, time the ride to catch sunset. You could do the ferry ride after eating dinner at Ivars (which is right next to the ferry dock) and the timimg would be about right. You'll get views of the city framed by the surrounding mountains, and pulling back into the city as the buildings are lighting up is very pretty. The ferry is as good as the harbor tour, and lots cheaper.

I'd recommend passing on dinner at the Space Needle, very overpriced for what they serve in my opinion. If you decide to go up the needle, just do the observation deck.

My fav eatery in town is called The 13 Coins. The downtown site is on Terry street, just North of Denny street, and the other is out at SEATAC, right across Highway 99 from the airport. Can't go wrong with the coins, great food.

REI. Of course.”

“My friends took me to the REI store there several years ago, before I could truly appreciate what it was. I was so naive. :)

But, they did take me to Snoqualmie falls, which were way cool.

Hike up to Lake 22, wherever that is. Any idea, strider?

http://community.webshots.com/album/70636376qgwAYo”

“smiley,

Lake 22 is off of the Mt. Loop Highway, North Central Cascades near Verlot. I've not hiked it so I can't offer any intel, but since spike indicated he wouldn't have any trail time....”

“I recommend passing on the ferry:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/946574.asp?vts=073120031910

Look at that picture of the Seattle ferry and imagine it going down......


WASHINGTON, July 31 — The FBI is warning of increased al-Qaida interest in targeting U.S. ferry operations based on several reports of suspicious activity around ferry terminals. The weekly advisory says no specific threats have surfaced but that increased security awareness is “prudent” because ferry operations have minimal security measures in place.
TERRORISTS GROUPS LIKE al-Qaida have long shown interest in maritime targets, the FBI advisory says, citing the successful bombing of the U.S.S. Cole. Terrorists might considering broadening their interest to less secure targets, like ferries, which are often located near high-traffic tourist attractions or industrial areas, such as oil facilities.
The FBI emphasizes that it has received no specific threat against a ferry operation. However, ferries make a tempting target, the FBI warns, because they “have the potential to yield a high casualty count.”
Capable of hauling hundreds of people and scores of cars on each trip, ferries on the Seattle-Bremerton route in Washington state alone carried 2.2 million passengers and vehicles last year.
But passengers on such highly traveled routes like Seattle-Bremerton encounter little if any personal security measures before boarding. The ferry industry has no formal security guidelines.
Ferry attacks ‘have the potential to yield a high casualty count.’
— FBI INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY
The lack of security measures in and around ferry operations hit the national stage three years ago on the eve of Y2K. On Dec. 27, 1999, a U.S. Customs inspector, during routine questioning of a passenger traveling on a vehicle ferry from Victoria, B.C., to Port Angeles, Wash., discovered an Algerian named Ahmed Ressam had a mini-bomb factory with enough power to bring down an office building stuffed into the truck of his rented Chrysler.”

“Do dinner at the Space Needle around sunset on a clear day, it's a glorious view and romantic.... and worth the price for the experience.”

“well ... since I'm flying from PA to WA and not taking the ferry, I guess I wont worry about the terrorist thing. Romance at the Space Needle sounds nice except, I'm traveling alone (unless u have suggestions about that too).
S.G. great pics. If I had more free time that looks like a nice hike, how long is the trail to the falls ?”

“spike, i don't remember how long the hike was. 4-5 hours, i guess. the drive seemed like it was a few hours from town as well. i live in MI, and that was about 3 years ago i did that hike.”

“About 2 hrs from Seattle. If you're a regular hiker 4-5 hrs sounds right. So when are you here ? (In Seattle I mean.) A friend of mine has an occasional happy hour after work easy hike - burgers will be grilled and BYO beverage..... if the timing works out.....?

And if you get the chance do the Underground tour - starts in Pioneer Square - lots of fun and you'll learn some interesting history of Seattle.”

“Aussie,
next week. I get there 8/12 & leave 8/16.”

“Bad timing - Wed 8/13 is one of our after-work conditioner hikes (the 'pain series') - about 2800 ft of gain 7miles r/t. We leave the trailhead at 5:30pm - about an hours drive from downtown Seattle.

Unfortunately I'm busy every night next week otherwise I would meet up with you - we have a dragon-boating competition on the weekend in Victoria, Vancouver Is Canada so I need to attend practices on Tues and Thurs, and Fri I'm on my way 'overseas'.”

“By Jose Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

As of today, Seahawks Stadium is now known as Qwest Field.
All that remains is approval from the Washington State Public Stadium Authority, a few changes in signage and a new paint job for the roof of the stadium, on which is painted "Seahawks Stadium" in giant blue letters.

Tod Leiweke, the Seahawks chief executive officer, announced the name change today at a media conference on the field at the stadium.”

“Well that sucks! Commercialism at it's worst.”

“I'm surprised they even got it built before that happened. I haven't been inside yet. I should try to get down for a Hawk's game this fall”

“Can't you just hear the marketing:

Seahawks on "qwest" for Super Bowl ring.”

“What did everyone expect? That it wouldn't get named? They pretty much all do these days!”

“I'll be in Seattle for Thanksgiving - finally! What to do what to do???”

“Sarbar is probably doing something. I've quit backpacking/hiking for football season, so I'm not much help.

But I'll be in town around Seattle if you want to do city stuff!”

“Which team ya playing on, pixie? Seahawks?”

“LOL! Yeah, I'm such a big strapping girl of 120 pounds. I'm a linebacker ya know.

I'm really involved with my college team. I plan the football viewing parties for my alumni club.”

“Darn, I was hoping for a pic of you in pads, with black grease stripes under your eyes. lol......”

“Ha Ha!”

“Any dayhikes available on or near Rainier? How far is Rainier from the city?

Any slammin' spots in the city to visit?”

“in other words Twinky wants to know where the hot guys are”

“LOL! Eye candy is always welcome.


Errrr...let's just keep the carzy ones away.”

“Well, I'm moving to LA for a reason. The men here suck. They not only are lacking in hotness, they are unfriendly and don't want to talk to me. But regardless, if you want a night on the town, I'm in.

Rainier is a couple of hours from Seattle. Not too far. There are lots of hikes just outside of the city on on I-90 that are an hour or less away.”

“Pixie, why is it guys don't want to talk to you. Do you frighten them or something. Is there something about you we don't know about. Care to tell us why guys are turned off by you.”

“Twinkles, I have a cabin on the beach, if you're interested in some stress relief.”

“Ewk, it's seriously Seattle. I hit the jackpot down in LA this last week. Came home with a couple of phone numbers even!
Here's the difference I notice:
Seattle. I go around town I get eye contact with nice looking guys and they just ignore me. I never get asked out. I never go on dates. Etc.
LA. I make eye contact and I get a big smile and a hello. Guys approach me. They are friendly and seem interested.

I can't explain it. It's just how it is. There is a woman in my alumni club who is as discouraged as me. She also was down in LA for Homecoming and noticed a difference. She told me yesterday she is contemplating moving too. And guys, she's a total babe.

Woo Hoo! I just found out my condo sold! Hooray! I'm halfway out of here!”

“Seattle to LA? Have you completely lost your mind? Isn't LA full of superficial obnoxious genral pains-in-the-arses?

Confused.”

“Pixie, please send me a picture.

Let's get together for some mulled wine and a fire before you go.”

“Not at all. There are lots of great guys in LA. It's just the socio-culture thing makes it easier to meet them. They are just ten times friendlier in LA.”

“Not like trail talk where women ignore me.”

“Sorry, but I don't know you... You could be like Bearmagnet and full of trouble for all I know.”

“Pixie, good luck with your move. If you ever want to come to Tenn I will be glad to take you out =)”

“Thanks Ewk!”

“LOL! You tell 'em Pix! cue the music: Here comes the sun...da da da da...

I got lucky and found a good one, but that was just a fluke. :) The men here DO suck!

Twinkletoes, Drop me a line if you'd like to meet up while you are here. I'm going to Sarbar's for thanksgiving (with hikernks and rainrunner)... Maybe I can get you an invite? ;) Otherwise I'm up for some time out on the town.”

“Yup, happened last night at Duke's. Guy sitting at the end of the bar. Kept looking at me. Every time he got eye contact he'd look away. Wimp! Then later my friend and I were talking to these two guys and they took off without saying a thing. In LA, even if they weren't interested in us, they would have said goodbye, nice to meet ya or something. Guys just aren't friendly here. So sad.”

“pix, you might have better luck if you stopped wearing your "Seattle Men Suck" tshirt....



j/k....lol”

“LOL!”

“bit, maybe she would get more guys if she wore a shirt that said "I suck"”

“EWKER!! Shame on you.”

“One more day to go before I'll be in Seattle. Guess I should pack at some point huh?

Woohoo - Seattle here I come!”

“You could always just post a thread when you get there with the title "Help! I'm in Seattle and I forgot to pack!"”

“nekid in seattle”