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Posted
On 10/15/2024 at 7:20 PM, yoladu said:

anybody have Port Angeles recs for a place to stay? looks pretty grim.

trying to squeeze in a long day at Olympic NP and would rather not use a part of that day driving to and from Seattle.

Take a look at Sequim- just a quick drive from Port Angeles, and is in the "rain shadow" (driest part of the state). Incredible lavender in the summer because of the microclimate.

We've had great experiences with several VRBOs in the area.

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Posted
21 hours ago, NWBuck said:

Take a look at Sequim- just a quick drive from Port Angeles, and is in the "rain shadow" (driest part of the state). Incredible lavender in the summer because of the microclimate.

We've had great experiences with several VRBOs in the area.

Sequim is the driest part of Western Washington.   The dry side, Eastern Washington, is drier.

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Posted
On 4/20/2024 at 8:53 PM, Pato del Muerto said:

Hey PNW people, I have an insect question.  This nest is on our front porch and I’ve not seen this type before.  ID please?  Maybe hornet?  It’s small, around 2” diameter right now, and I never see anything around it or insects flying around the front yard. 

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Yellowjacket 

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Posted
2 hours ago, Sundodger said:

Sequim is the driest part of Western Washington.   The dry side, Eastern Washington, is drier.

Yup... Meant "driest area in that part of the state" 

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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Forward-looking question:  I'm thinking about a Spring Break trip to Seattle.  I've been to Seattle several times, but only once during the mid-March Spring Break period, and we got spoiled with weather--sunny blue skies except for the last day which was just a big overcast.  Are the odds generally good of that kind of weather in mid-March, or did I get lucky?  

Posted

You got lucky. Blue skies usually show up July 5.

Leavenworth is fun in the snow, but yes, be prepared for crowds and wait times everywhere. Maybe go during the week if you can, instead of a weekend. 

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Posted
9 hours ago, workswithseed said:

Alright, Leavenworth. I always hear it's pretty, but see that foot traffic ruins it during this time of the year. Is it worth it? What time of the year is it worth it?

What are you hoping to see there?  Didn’t do much for me. The novelty of the Bavarian themed town doesn’t diminish the touristness of the place. 

Posted
2 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

What are you hoping to see there?  Didn’t do much for me. The novelty of the Bavarian themed town doesn’t diminish the touristness of the place. 

Just a visit, but mig probably answered it the best.

  • 3 months later...
Posted

Headed to Seattle in the middle of March to visit my son, who moved there a few months ago. I've been to Seattle many times but have done very little touristy stuff. We are staying at the Mayflower Park hotel and won't have a car. I read through the thread to get a feel for restaurants and activities. Appreciate people posting their recommendations and experiences.  We will probably be visiting the area often and will do the national parks, Victoria, San Juan islands, etc on future trips. This one is pretty much focused on just Seattle. We are there for about 3-4 days.

Posted

Underground Tour and Pioneer Square
Breakfast at Lowell's at Pike Place
Cloudburst Brewing right in that area
Passenger Only Ferry from Pier 50
Sounders game if dates work out

My favorite works trips in Seattle had nocar and just taking the rail up and down to where I needed to go. 

Posted
1 hour ago, shnsajax said:

Underground Tour and Pioneer Square
Breakfast at Lowell's at Pike Place
Cloudburst Brewing right in that area
Passenger Only Ferry from Pier 50
Sounders game if dates work out

My favorite works trips in Seattle had nocar and just taking the rail up and down to where I needed to go. 

The lightrail is basically free - no turnstiles or ticketing. I think technically you are supposed to by a pass online.

light rail from SeaTac to the Mayflower is super easy.. Westlake Center Stop.

Couple good breakfast places near the Mayflower Biscuit Bitch, Ludi's

if you are into college campuses, UW is a pretty one, the cherry blossoms might be beginning to bloom there in March

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  • 1 month later...
Posted

Looking to book a few days in Seattle the first week of June. Will stay somewhere in Queen Anne. We’d like a morning hike within an hour of town. I’ve done Rattlesnake Ledge twice. Something like Little Si looks similar and about our speed. Any recs?

  • 1 month later...
Posted
On 3/29/2025 at 2:00 PM, South Austin said:

Looking to book a few days in Seattle the first week of June. Will stay somewhere in Queen Anne. We’d like a morning hike within an hour of town. I’ve done Rattlesnake Ledge twice. Something like Little Si looks similar and about our speed. Any recs?

Sorry for the late reply... this is the best resource I've found for hikes in the Seattle area. You can dial in the distance and elevation and "sights"...

If you've got the ability to get out of town, I'd suggest driving north- it's a bit further from Queen Anne, but the hikes off of the Mountain Loop highway are really tremendous. Wallace Falls has a lot of options for different loops/experiences, the Bridal Veil trail (you can keep going to Lake Serene if you want to see snow) is nice (but go early- parking lot fills up), and Heybrook Lookout is a good two mile-ish round trip to an old fire tower.

Out towards North Bend (with Little Si/Rattlesnake) you could also do Franklin Falls (really easy hike), Snoqualmie Middle Fork (awesome bridge), the John Wayne Trail Tunnel (bring a flashlight), or Snow Lake.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Sitting in SeaTac about to head back to Texas. We stayed on Fidalgo Island and hit some state parks. Host of AirBnB provided park pass! Went on an Orca watch. Saw Orcas and a Minky Whale of note. Cool sites on the boat ride too. Stayed on the Olympic Peninsula in “Squim” and drove around the Park for a couple of days. Hurricane Ridge is a must. Weather was great this week. If interested in details about excursions or suggestions about accommodations let me know.

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Posted

Quick check in for last min recs for Seattle. Headed there later this week and have done a ton of research (including from here) but always looking for new ones.

Basic food plans are to hit up rock creek seafood, San fermo, walrus and carpenter, Taylor shellfish plus other misc spots. Couple of speakeasies.

Usual tourist spots: Bainbridge, Market, Columbia Sky View, Chihuly gardens. Got a concert to go to as well.

Have an opening for a half day to do something else and open to ideas in the city, no hiking this time...

Posted
49 minutes ago, NoName said:

Quick check in for last min recs for Seattle. Headed there later this week and have done a ton of research (including from here) but always looking for new ones.

Basic food plans are to hit up rock creek seafood, San fermo, walrus and carpenter, Taylor shellfish plus other misc spots. Couple of speakeasies.

Usual tourist spots: Bainbridge, Market, Columbia Sky View, Chihuly gardens. Got a concert to go to as well.

Have an opening for a half day to do something else and open to ideas in the city, no hiking this time...

I'm also there this week, Wednesday through Sunday.  The weather looks like it'll be outstanding -- lots of sun and highs in the upper 70s.  Of your list, we're going to Rock Creek, Chihuly Gardens, and Pike Place (our apartment is about five blocks north in the Belltown area).

Book a tour at Seattle Underground.  I took my kids several years ago and it was pretty cool.  http://www.undergroundtour.com/

Or, stroll around Fremont.  The lower Fremont area (if that's what they call the south side closer to the water) has some great lunch spots and breweries.  Local Tide is supposed to be the hot new seafood place.

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Posted

If you feel inclined, I would suggest going to Woodinville and hitting a winery or two.  Chateau Ste. Michelle was where we went toward the end of the day.  Impressive selection and grounds.

Posted (edited)

There’s a distillery with restaurant in the Hollywood area of woodinville as well, not far from chateau st Michelle.  But that’s suburbville on the other side of the lake. 

Edited by Pato del Muerto
Posted
1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

There’s a distillery with restaurant in the Hollywood area of woodinville as well, not far from chateau st Michelle.  But that’s suburbville on the other side of the lake. 

True, regarding Woodinville.  We were with my brother and sister-in-law (no pics) and decided to hit Woodinville to pay homage to our late father by drinking a couple of Rainier Beers at a place called 'The Cook Room' which was formerly known as the Horseshoe Saloon.  My father was the Horseshoe's equivalent of Norm Peterson.  We hit up CSM after leaving the bar.

Posted
3 hours ago, NoName said:

Quick check in for last min recs for Seattle. Headed there later this week and have done a ton of research (including from here) but always looking for new ones.

Basic food plans are to hit up rock creek seafood, San fermo, walrus and carpenter, Taylor shellfish plus other misc spots. Couple of speakeasies.

Usual tourist spots: Bainbridge, Market, Columbia Sky View, Chihuly gardens. Got a concert to go to as well.

Have an opening for a half day to do something else and open to ideas in the city, no hiking this time...

Skip the Sky View and do the Space Needle instead.   It's an icon for a reason.

Go to Serious Pie for some pizzaif your in the Ballard neighborhood and Half Shell for some seafood (right down the street from Pike Place).   Those are both Tom Doublas restaurants. and both great 

 

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Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Macanudo said:

Skip the Sky View and do the Space Needle instead.   It's an icon for a reason.

The Space Needle is indeed cool.  But it's like a lot of similar places in New York and Chicago, in that if you don't go early or midweek, you could get stuck in a very long line to spend 15-20 minutes at the top.  Even with timed-entry tickets, it can take a while to get to the top of the Space Needle.  I've been up there twice and don't feel the need to go back.

Edited by South Austin
Posted
3 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Any recs for a casual lunch spot in Capitol Hill after we get back from a morning hike?

Not South Austin's mom's house.

Posted

Space Needle just opened a new elevator.... two story, all glass that was part of the original design but didn't get built due to cost. A private party sponsored the build, it has reduced the wait times significantly.

Posted (edited)
15 hours ago, South Austin said:

Any recs for a casual lunch spot in Capitol Hill after we get back from a morning hike?

More breakfast but…

Mt Bagel, has an 8.8 on beli and comes reviewed highly from everyone

Volunteer Park Cafe for BEC..kenji favorite in the city plus can go walk the park after.

 

Someone with too much time scraped kenjis insta and geomapped it if you care:

https://www.rajahamid.com/journal/kenji-lopez-alt-seattle-recommendation-map

 

Edited by NoName
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Posted
On 6/2/2025 at 8:47 AM, South Austin said:

I'm also there this week, Wednesday through Sunday.  The weather looks like it'll be outstanding -- lots of sun and highs in the upper 70s.  Of your list, we're going to Rock Creek, Chihuly Gardens, and Pike Place (our apartment is about five blocks north in the Belltown area).

Book a tour at Seattle Underground.  I took my kids several years ago and it was pretty cool.  http://www.undergroundtour.com/

Or, stroll around Fremont.  The lower Fremont area (if that's what they call the south side closer to the water) has some great lunch spots and breweries.  Local Tide is supposed to be the hot new seafood place.

Thx. On the list. Any other spots you recommend?

On 6/2/2025 at 8:55 AM, BonzoMontreaux said:

If you feel inclined, I would suggest going to Woodinville and hitting a winery or two.  Chateau Ste. Michelle was where we went toward the end of the day.  Impressive selection and grounds.

 

On 6/2/2025 at 9:04 AM, Pato del Muerto said:

There’s a distillery with restaurant in the Hollywood area of woodinville as well, not far from chateau st Michelle.  But that’s suburbville on the other side of the lake. 

Staying in Seattle proper this time. Thanks though!

On 6/2/2025 at 9:06 AM, miguelito said:

If you like baseball, go see a Mariners game. They play Baltimore Tues,Wed,Thurs.

Day game Thursday. 

Timing issues stop it from happening sadly 

23 hours ago, BonzoMontreaux said:

True, regarding Woodinville.  We were with my brother and sister-in-law (no pics) and decided to hit Woodinville to pay homage to our late father by drinking a couple of Rainier Beers at a place called 'The Cook Room' which was formerly known as the Horseshoe Saloon.  My father was the Horseshoe's equivalent of Norm Peterson.  We hit up CSM after leaving the bar.

 

23 hours ago, Macanudo said:

Skip the Sky View and do the Space Needle instead.   It's an icon for a reason.

Go to Serious Pie for some pizzaif your in the Ballard neighborhood and Half Shell for some seafood (right down the street from Pike Place).   Those are both Tom Doublas restaurants. and both great 

 

 

38 minutes ago, otisdog said:

Space Needle just opened a new elevator.... two story, all glass that was part of the original design but didn't get built due to cost. A private party sponsored the build, it has reduced the wait times significantly.

Yeah this is what ended up stopping me. Rather have the ease of sky view, and not the issue with timing. Plus wife said she's rather have the photo w space needle vs be in it haha 

Posted
1 hour ago, NoName said:

Thx. On the list. Any other spots you recommend?

The Museum of Popular Culture is some good nostalgia if you've never been.  My kids loved it, but it's great for adults as well.  If you're going to the Chihuly museum, it's right there in Seattle Center.  MoPop

Pier 57 is kinda touristy.  But the Seattle Great Wheel is nice on a pretty day.  And I thought the Wings Over Washington Flying Theater was really cool.

 

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Posted (edited)
On 6/2/2025 at 5:51 AM, NoName said:

Quick check in for last min recs for Seattle. Have an opening for a half day to do something else and open to ideas in the city, no hiking this time...

Over by UW, you can rent a kayak and explore Lake Union or head through the Montlake Cut out to Lake Washington. Pretty good Mexican restaurant right upstairs when you're finished (or, instead of going in the first place). It's going to be a great week of weather... 

On 6/2/2025 at 6:55 AM, BonzoMontreaux said:

If you feel inclined, I would suggest going to Woodinville and hitting a winery or two.  Chateau Ste. Michelle was where we went toward the end of the day.  Impressive selection and grounds.

If you have time and want to head out to Woodinville next time you're out, send me a DM- I have a friend who runs one of the tasting rooms out that way and does a good job helping people find new wines (or drink lots of ones they're already familiar with)

Edited by NWBuck
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Posted

Beautiful week here. Yesterday included a hike on the Little Si trail, a visit to the Space Needle (the line wasn’t bad and the wife has never been), a walk through the Chihuly Garden, and one of the best sushi experiences of my life at Shiro.

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Posted

Glad you're having a great trip....weather has been beautiful. It's a redemption for our wintervgreyness. Last winter was unseasonably cold....eight days below 30 degrees, at the beach. A lot of us lost our oysters due to the freeze.

Posted

For anyone interested in contemporary art, the Seattle Art Museum is currently featuring the largest exhibit of Ai Weiwei to be held in the States. It's running through Sep 7th. I plan to get up in August at some point.

Posted
3 hours ago, South Austin said:

Perfect weather on this trip that makes the return to the Texas heat suck even harder.

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I'm glad you made it to Kerry Park.  I recommend it to every visitor there.  It's not far out of the way, and you pretty much have to experience that view.

Did you make it to the far west end of Highland Ave to check out the view of the marinas below, and the Olympics beyond?

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Posted
On 6/3/2025 at 10:22 AM, otisdog said:

Space Needle just opened a new elevator.... two story, all glass that was part of the original design but didn't get built due to cost. A private party sponsored the build, it has reduced the wait times significantly.

Username checks out 

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Posted
13 hours ago, South Austin said:

Perfect weather on this trip that makes the return to the Texas heat suck even harder.

IMG_0818.jpeg

Nice that you got the mountain out too. I’ve been to that spot at least 4 times and I think the mountain has only been out once.  

Posted
On 6/8/2025 at 9:36 AM, South Austin said:

Perfect weather on this trip that makes the return to the Texas heat suck even harder.

IMG_0818.jpeg

First few days there we got to experience temps in the 40s and 50s.  I remember a couple of times just letting myself feel the cold breezes(on Salish Sea\Puget sound, Hurricane Ridge and Dungeness Bay\Straits of Juan De Fuca) and telling myself 'appreciate this'.  The days we spent in Seattle were mild and probably close to perfect with regard to overall weather.

Posted (edited)

What a great trip. Not just because of the weather...Great great trip. Long trip review.

Dinner at Walrus and Carpenter was underwhelming, but oysters were incredible - as was the crudo. 

Needle and Thread was a 10/10 experience. Can't recommend it highly enough. Make the rez, go talk to them and enjoy it. Excellent hour of time there and wish we had more. No menu, just a talk with folks and they make something for you.

Rockcreek was incredible. I did the sea bass that was probably the best fish dish I've had in years, although it comically came with two giant fistfulls of basil/parsley and another giant one of dill. Wife got a trout dish she loved. Probably the creamiest grits I've had in years also. Great dessert too.

Edit: right now they have a spend 150 get 50 off thing if you use the inkind app, basically attach your card to the app and pay with that (it's connected via their POS system Toast) which works perfectly. Then delete account right after lol

San Fermo was one of my favorite meals ever. Perfect weather. Sat on side patio, perfect caesar salad. We split the king salmon and the bolognese. Maybe the best playlist I've had at a restaurant, wish it wasnt private. Tiramsu hit the spot per usual.

Taylor Shellfish Oyster Co was the best (hand cut) French fries I've had in a decade. Oysters were great too, po boys were decent.

Tolouse Petit wasn't my choice but the apps were great (bread, fries, something else I'm forgetting), drinks were strange, everyone else's entrees were good (mussels, tuna tartare, scallops, crab) BUT it was the single worst steak I've been served at a restaurant. Bad cut of meat but cooked well. Best service of the trip, but shitty owner and chef whose an absolute insane person (google it.) again it's not my choice. Avoid at all costs otherwise lol 

Hit up Lowells for brunch when we got there and had a great seat by window. Wifes crab melt was 9/10. Mine was mediocre but you don't go there for the food.

My favorite coffee drink ever from a shoo was from url coffee - the walk to work. Idk how they make it even better with simple ingredients but it's spot on. Awesome locstion. Worth your time to go.

Tried a bunch of different cortados. Monorail was the best, followed by Anchorhead. Rest were decent (Vivace, Moonrise, Victrola) - Ghost Alley in Pike Place was terrible. Avoid at all costs. Wife liked the iced latte from Anchorhead the most.

Hellenika Cultured Creamery in Pike Place was excellent and the best frozen yogurt I've ever had. Can't recommend it enough. Salt and Straw lives up to the comically high bar they have set.

Also did Bainbridge and saw some orcas. Worth your time to go.

Columbia Sky View is the move over Space Needle. Pioneer Square was a cool walk but can be super super super iffy any time that isn't basically noon lol. We did a food tour of Pike Place that wife loved, I've done one before and this was way better than that one. Fremont Troll was cool. Walking around Ballard was cool. Discovery Park is well worth your time. Chihuly was cool but not long enough for 90 bucks.

Places we didn't go but wish we had: Local Tide for all seafood, Bar del Corso or Cornelly for Italian/pizza, Canon / Doctors Office / Foreign National for cocktails, Post Alley Pizza for best pizza by the slice in town, Volunteer Park Cafe for a BEC and to explore the park, Seattle Jazz Fellowship, Mopop, Kerry Park, Cafe Lago, Salumi or Un Bien for sandwiches.

Found Lyft almost universally cheaper outside of ride to airport - we rode the monorail in and that's the pro move. Like 3 bucks per person vs like 60 for Uber.

Edited by NoName
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Posted

You did Seattle very well, sir.

12 hours ago, NoName said:

Rockcreek was incredible. I did the sea bass that was probably the best fish dish I've had in years, although it comically came with two giant fistfulls of basil/parsley and another giant one of dill. Wife got a trout dish she loved. Probably the creamiest grits I've had in years also. Great dessert too.

Probably my favorite meal.  Wife got the sea bass and I got the rockfish.  Would definitely go back.

12 hours ago, NoName said:

Taylor Shellfish Oyster Co was the best (hand cut) French fries I've had in a decade. Oysters were great too, po boys were decent.

Fifth time in Seattle, and I've walked past this a dozen times before but never went because it seemed a bit chainy.  But it was good enough for Anthony Bourdain, so why not?  It turned out to be the perfect lunch on a long hike from Pike Place all the way to Upper Queen Anne.  Had a fantastic Bloody Mary and the smoked oyster dip to start. My main was what might sound like a boring Louie salad, but I added dungeness crab and it was awesome.

I don't drink as much beer as I did 10 years or so ago.  But when I'm in Seattle, I consume a lot of the local stuff, which is so, so good.

We left a lot on the table with only 3.5 days in town.  The wife definitely wants to go back and take the ferry to Bainbridge, and we'll spend more time in Freemont, and try to make it to Ballard and Capitol Hill.  And we'll probably stay somewhere north of Belltown.  The location was excellent, and our apartment and block were fine, but venturing out south to walk to Pike Place or the coffee shops in the morning, there were a lot of homeless, more so than I've seen in any other trip.  We felt safe for the most part and they are usually quiet and leave others alone.  But we literally saw a couple shooting up in a parking lot right off a busy sidewalk.

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