Visiting Seattle

Dec 5, 2011

Anneka F.

I'm going to Seattle on Wednesday for a week to visit a friend and just generally be a tourist.
Whilst my friend is at work, I'll be hitting the city by myself, I've been looking up things to do and see and how to get around.

But if any of you live there or have been there, do you have any suggestions of things I just can't miss out on? Things to do, places to see, places to eat at?

Dec 5, 2011

Yasmin K.

Hit Uwajimaya the largest Asian grocery store in the Seattle area. KINOKUNIYA book store is there. That's in Chinatown near the baseball stadium (Safeco Field). LOTS to see in Chinatown just don't carry a purse, best to have a sling type of purse. http://www.cidbia.org/folder.2008-10-02.5424088258

Break out your walking shoes and hit up Pikes Place Market. Lots and LOTS to do there. While there cross the street to Le Panier (my favorite French bakery) on the corner of Pike's Place & Stewart St. There's an African bar on 1st off off Pike's. I miss Seattle so much. There's a Chinese dress shop in one of the buildings near the market. Just don't limit yourself to the actual Pike's Market but go across the street. There are so many tiny shops in between Pike's St and 1st and between 1st and 2nd. There's a $10 design your t-shirt place. Lots of eateries. Lots of street art and performances.

Avoid downtown City Hall since it's being occupied right now... unless you want to be part of history. :D

At the Seattle Center you have the Space Needle, EMP, Pacific Science Center, Children's Museum (which is actually fun for adults too). Down at the waterfront is the Aquarium (boring, waste of money, don't bother).

If you go to the UW district you can get your nails done at a Julep Parlor.

If you like clubs there's Showbox at the Market. 

Dec 5, 2011

Andrea B.

Pike Place Market is a MUST. The Seattle Art Museum has some great stuff too.
The EMP is great if you love music.
Sometimes Seattle Center has some cool events going on so check their website out.
Walking around downtown, like 5th ave and stuff is fun. Westlake Center & Pacific Place are fun. Also, downtown's Nordstroms is the headquarters.
If you do happen to go to Pike Place, the first Starbucks is there. Also the first Red Robin is on the waterfront.
Unless you have kids or are really into animals, the zoo and aquarium aren't like must sees, so I agree with Yasmin. However I do, so lol I love them.
Agua Verde is a restaurant and kayak rental place if you're into that, very good food and good price for kayak rentals.
Woodland Park Zoo does have a really pretty Rose Garden next to it.

Dec 5, 2011

Anneka F.

Thank you so much :D yah I'm deffs visiting Pike Place, keen to go to the first starbucks haha!
With eating places, I do need to be a little careful and research that as I'm vegan. But that's no problem, there's a whole website for vegans in Seattle haha.
The kids museum sounds cool and that music thing too!

Will definitely take note of all the suggestions, thank youuuu, both of you! :D 

Dec 6, 2011

Andrea B.

Oh I'm vegetarian and Seattle has a lot of options.
I think AFA...Action for Animals has a big list of restaurants for vegetarians and vegans

Dec 6, 2011

Soma S.

Uwajimaya is an ok Asian market, but I find it still pales in comparison to many in Cali., worth it if you've never been to one for beauty goods though. Make sure you cab it. I walked it from my downtown hotel, and it's a semi-seedy area if you're on your own.

If you're looking for an interesting souvenir shop, visit Ye Old Shoppe of Curiosities near the aquarium near Pike place market. It's one of the coolest ones I've visited. I'd skip the aquarium if you're expecting more variety in sea life... (I still love Monterey Bay, but that's in NorCal) aside from the outdoor exhibits with the seals, it's like visiting a Petco fish section.

Shopping downtown is def. decent, and can take up a good chunk of your day. For photo ops, check out the troll, space needle, or the cemetary...

...yes, the cemetary. Haha, Seattle has some heavy hitters buried there, and I had a good time wandering around asking everyone where Bruce Lee was buried... (next to his son Brandon Lee) *swoon*

Dec 6, 2011

Yasmin K.

Of course it's going to pale in comparison with the ones in California. lol The whole Chinatown of Seattle is dinky compared to San Fran's! lol

OMG THE TROLL! Here's the address to it: N 36th St., Seattle, WA
Directions: Under the Aurora Ave. Bridge -- sometimes called the George Washington Bridge -- at N. 36th Street.

Oh visit Archie McPhee! That place is so weird but fun!
http://www.archiemcpheeseattle.com/

Dec 6, 2011

Anneka F.

Oh yeah I saw something online about the troll - so random! I'm keen to check that out. And yeah I saw that you can visit Jimi Hendrix' grave. When I told mum Bruce Lee was buried there too, both of us were, 'wait... He's dead?' hah.
Clearly I've never been into him. hah. 

Dec 6, 2011

Yasmin K.

Bruce Lee AND his son are dead. Both at such young ages. Jimi Hendrix grave was actually moved several years ago. I can't recall where but it's not longer in Seattle.

Dec 6, 2011

Anneka F.

Oh weird, the Seattle website should probably update that hahaha.
Was Bruce Lee's son famous also? I don't even know him. I'm so behind. hah.

Dec 6, 2011

Yasmin K.

Have you seen the movie The Crow? He played the lead character. That was Brandon's last movie as he was killed on set.

Dec 7, 2011

Soma S.

Brandon Lee... *swoons again*

His son ws a hottie back in my day! So weird to see such famous faces with humble headstones! I swear it took us an hour to find it, and I felt like a jackass asking people where they were buried... Hoping they were also tourists and not mourners, so they wouldn't think I was playing some sick joke on them. =P