XP from ML: Seattle recs and car question

[Shreddingbetty]

We're going to Seattle this Friday and will be there 3 full days. DH has a conference so 6 y/o DD and I will be mostly on our own.
Looks Like there is lots of stuff to do there and I've been checking out things but also looking for recs since we won't be there that long. Probably will do children's museum and there is something on Sunday morning where you can tAke a little trip on a boat at the lake?. The troll also looks cool.
What restaurants do you recommend? We love pretty much anything and it doesn't have to be particularly kid friendly.
Lastly, we will be close to the conference center. Should I rent a car? I think there is some sort of a shuttle from the airport but what about in town? Sounds like there are mostly just buses and not sure how much walking DD will put up with (she will put up with 1-1.5 miles each direction, under probably a little protest. Looks like the weather will mostly be decent.
Thanks for your help!
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Last Edit: about an hour ago by sucredee


Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/535182/seattle-recs-car-question#ixzz4ArYFoOPH

[MrsPotatohead]

I think if you are going to be in the downtown area (Children's Museum, Pacific Science Center, Pike Place Market, Aquarium, Waterfront Park...) you'll be totally fine without a car. It's walkable and/or there are frequent enough buses with short trips to get to those places (if you got tired and/or it rains - we've had a hot streak so it might rain Thurs/Fri, but it's pretty unpredictable, lol). Uber/Lyft are also really easy if you get stuck.

If you want to visit some of the other fun neighborhoods, you're looking at more annoying bus rides (it depends on where you live if you think our public transportation is good lol) and on the weekends some of them don't run as often. To be fair, we have lots of water and hills everywhere so that's the trade off! Some things that are fun if you wanted to get a car*: the Troll (like you mentioned, it's fun! a funky neighborhood with shops, food and weird art like a statue of Lenin), Woodland Park Zoo, Greenlake (kiddie pool), Ballard Locks... I'm a north end-er so I'm more familiar with those things, but that's just a few other options.

As for food...

Cheap, classic Seattle: Dick's Drive-In, Paseo (near the Troll)

Seafood (medium price): Duke's, Ivars, Lowell's (in the market)

AMAZING brunch or happy hour: Toulouse Petit

Fancy (but low key, it's Seattle after all): Walrus and the Carpenter, Joule, Mistral Kitchen, Cafe Campagne

ETA: *you could also use Uber/Lyft if you like those and just pick one neighborhood for a day that you could walk around and then get back to where you're staying and not bother with renting a car for the whole time

[Deleted]

I agree with MrsP - I don't think you really need to rent a car. Seattle transport can vary on quality depending on the area. For instance, Ballard is a great neighborhood but transit seems to be a bit awkward with frequency especially in the evening.
'
The Convention center is decently walkable to the Pike Market area or you can easily hop a bus if that's a bit too much walking for LO (I think it's like 10 blocks). The market is busy on weekends but fun and colorful. Don't forget to check out the actual permanent shops on the additional floors. Lots of good food in and around the Market, my particular fav is Pink Door. It's an easy walk (elevator or stairs down then about 1-2 blocks) from the Market to the waterfront where you'll find the Aquarium, Ye Olde Curiousity Shop (I loved that sort of thing at her age), and the really big Ferris Wheel. Classic Seattle seafood on the waterfront is Ivar's.

About 4 blocks west from the Convention center is a shopping area where you can get on the monorail to Seattle Center. I've never been to the Children's museum but the Pacific Science Center is pretty darn awesome and I think has plenty for all ages.

IMO, best crepes in Seattle are this little kiosk set in the Convention center building (but is outside facing the sidewalk). Be sure to get the savory crepe batter for a savory crepe - they import the buckwheat from France and it's a totally different taste than American buckwheat (and authentic and delicious).

If you go to Fremont (Troll area), there is Theo Chocolate factory in the area. The factory isn't operating on the weekend but it's still a fun and interesting tour with lots of samples. Right next to the Lenin Statue is a place called Grinder's that has really good gelato.

No idea about boat trips other than maybe a Ferry ride over to Bainbridge.

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 7, 2016 11:51:56 GMT -5 @ksta said:

I agree with MrsP - I don't think you really need to rent a car. Seattle transport can vary on quality depending on the area. For instance, Ballard is a great neighborhood but transit seems to be a bit awkward with frequency especially in the evening.
'
The Convention center is decently walkable to the Pike Market area or you can easily hop a bus if that's a bit too much walking for LO (I think it's like 10 blocks). The market is busy on weekends but fun and colorful. Don't forget to check out the actual permanent shops on the additional floors. Lots of good food in and around the Market, my particular fav is Pink Door. It's an easy walk (elevator or stairs down then about 1-2 blocks) from the Market to the waterfront where you'll find the Aquarium, Ye Olde Curiousity Shop (I loved that sort of thing at her age), and the really big Ferris Wheel. Classic Seattle seafood on the waterfront is Ivar's.

About 4 blocks west from the Convention center is a shopping area where you can get on the monorail to Seattle Center. I've never been to the Children's museum but the Pacific Science Center is pretty darn awesome and I think has plenty for all ages.

IMO, best crepes in Seattle are this little kiosk set in the Convention center building (but is outside facing the sidewalk). Be sure to get the savory crepe batter for a savory crepe - they import the buckwheat from France and it's a totally different taste than American buckwheat (and authentic and delicious).

If you go to Fremont (Troll area), there is Theo Chocolate factory in the area. The factory isn't operating on the weekend but it's still a fun and interesting tour with lots of samples. Right next to the Lenin Statue is a place called Grinder's that has really good gelato.

No idea about boat trips other than maybe a Ferry ride over to Bainbridge.

yes! this place is delicious
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[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2016 12:10:28 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

Jun 7, 2016 11:51:56 GMT -5 @ksta said:

IMO, best crepes in Seattle are this little kiosk set in the Convention center building (but is outside facing the sidewalk). Be sure to get the savory crepe batter for a savory crepe - they import the buckwheat from France and it's a totally different taste than American buckwheat (and authentic and delicious).

yes! this place is delicious
Save

Random related trivia. (I never remember the name of the place, so lame, but I suck with names.) In college, I lived a semester abroad in Nantes, France, which used to be the capital of Brittany. Brittany is kind of the birthplace of savory crepes, aka galettes. I rather dreamed of going back to live there for half a year and maybe get a job at a proper galetterie in the kitchen and learn all the perfect techniques for making them and then come and open my own shop (totally ignoring that owning a restaurant is too hard of work). I've done some extensive reading and the "buckwheat" (ble sarrasin or ble noir) that they use in France is a different variety than American (hard to find the actual botanical info detailing it as most just translate it as "buckwheat"), which is why it has a different flavor and actually behaves differently. (I tried following a French recipe once before I knew this and was using our buckwheat, and it just sat like sand in the water and made no batter.)

Anyway, I was talking to the workers once and the owner happened to be behind the counter and turns out he had lived in Brittany for awhile and is why he imports the flour and makes "proper' (my snobby terms) savory crepes.

Okay, sorry, super random. I had a double espresso this morning  :-#

[Beeps (WOT?*)]

A quick thought is to pick up a City Pass at the Science Center or somewhere similar. You have nine days to use them but for $79 for you and $49 for DD you get admission to places like the zoo, PSC, children's museum, EMP (all around Seattle Center), plus a cruise on the Argosy (pier 55 or somewhere along there), aquarium and Chihuly's glass museum. Some are pick one of two (such as glass museum OR zoo and PSC *or* EMP - or however they have them split), plus a ride to the top of the Space Needle twice (so once in the morning when you can see everything during daytime and once at night for the lights over Seattle, for example.) Also, there's a nice playground near the Armory (where there is a food court) if she needs a break from touristing and just wants to play.