Seattle and Vancouver

[Delster]

My BF and I are making a trip to the States and Canada next month, yippee

After four days with some friends (and their new baby!) in Wisconsin, we''ll be spending two days in Seattle and four in Vancouver. BF has to work while we''re in Vancouver so I''ll be entertaining myself for those few days!

I''d love to hear some recommendations for Seattle and Vancouver! Please tell me about fun things you guys know about to do there

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/21/2007 6:17:42 AM
Author:Delster
My BF and I are making a trip to the States and Canada next month, yippee

After four days with some friends (and their new baby!) in Wisconsin, we'll be spending two days in Seattle and four in Vancouver. BF has to work while we're in Vancouver so I'll be entertaining myself for those few days!

I'd love to hear some recommendations for Seattle and Vancouver! Please tell me about fun things you guys know about to do there

Hi Delster,

What kind of activities are you looking for? Outdoor or shopping, museums, etc.?

I live just north of Seattle and my husband and I travel to Vancouver every few months, so I can probably come up with some great ideas if you can give a bit more info. Usually when we go, we do things like the capilano suspension bridge in Vancouver and the Aquarium. There is also an Aquarium in Seattle, along with the Seattle Art Museum, and the Space Needle all around the downtown area. Another idea is seeing a Mariner's game if they're having a home game while you guys are in town! That would be really fun and give you a chance to experience the local flavor of the people

lol

Here is a quick link to a few activities. . .

http://www.seattleattractions.com/allattractions.html

One note, I found that China Town is recommended as a great site in Vancouver. DO NOT go there! It was scary as, well, you know, and had one of those streets I found myself locking my car door as we drove down!

For great shopping Vancouver has Robson Street. All kinds of fun shops there. In Seattle is Westlake Center or you can drive East to Bellevue Square (in Bellevue).

Have fun!

Hopefully some others can chime in with ideas. I'll try and think of more stuff.

(oh, if you love plants, the seattle arboretum is GREAT. . . http://depts.washington.edu/wpa/ . I think you can even rent Kayaks around there. My husband and I recently did that up in Vancouver and had a GREAT time! It was really fun and a great workout! )

 

[firebirdgold]

I really love the markets in both places. Pike Place market in Seattle with the flying fish, and Granville Island public market. Sheer heaven. I''d go to Vancouver just for the Market! The shopping in general is fun in Vancouver since you can get clothes and other things that are just not available in America. It''s always struck me as being so much more cosmopolitan that the american cities I''ve lived in. I also seem to remember some very scenic and large parks with views across the water.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, yeah, I forgot. This year is Pike Place''s 100th b-day. I am hoping to take my kids down there this summer!

 

[zdrastvootya]

On Vancouver,

The big park is Stanley park. If you''re an active type and ok riding in traffic, renting a bike and riding around is great. (You can bike or rollerblade around the park.) You can hike up one of the nearby mountains: Cypress, Grouse (has a cable car, as well), but you might need to drive to get there. Granville I. is cool (thanks to the other poster for reminding me of the name). If you''re not afraid of heights, you can walk across the Capilano suspension bridge - I biked across the Lionsgate bridge (which was scary) and rode up to the park (all uphill). Robson St. is definitely cool.

As someone mentioned, Chinatown unfortunately is very close to the drug/homeless area. My friend says you can actually see people shooting up in the alleys in the middle of the day. Not good.

Z.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 6/21/2007 6:17:42 AM
Author:Delster
My BF and I are making a trip to the States and Canada next month, yippee

After four days with some friends (and their new baby!) in Wisconsin, we''ll be spending two days in Seattle and four in Vancouver. BF has to work while we''re in Vancouver so I''ll be entertaining myself for those few days!


I''d love to hear some recommendations for Seattle and Vancouver! Please tell me about fun things you guys know about to do there

Where in Wisconsin will you be? That''s where I live!

 

[Delster]

Oh wow thank you so much for all the suggestions! Please do keep ''em coming!

MC I am definitely going to try and swing a baseball game! I''ve been before but BF hasn''t and that would be so much fun. Unfortunately the weekend we''re spending in Seattle the Mariners are playing in Oakland but maybe we would be able to go to the game the following Thursday as we''re staying in the airport that night before our flight home... it would be so nice to be able to surprise him with that! Aquarium and arboretum are great suggestions. And did you mention kayaks? BF''s big into kayaks

IndieJones I love markets too! I can''t wait to see those legendary flying fish

Do you guys know will there be celebrations on at a particular time for the 100th anniversary of the market? It would be very cool to catch those if we could...

zdrastvootya BF is an outdoorsy active climb a mountain on a whim for the sheer heck of it kind of a person... I need a bit more coaxing! I don''t think we''ll be renting - BF will be at his conference all day and would be a bit stressful and not much fun going driving on my own. Biking and rollerblading in the park sounds fantastic though, will definitely mention that to him.

It''s a shame to hear Chinatown in a bit dodgy - I loved just walking around Chinatown in SF when I was there - you''d never see anything quite like that over here.

Neatfreak We''ll be in Eau Claire - kind of closer to Minnesota than to most of Wisconsin!

 

[Delster]

Date: 6/21/2007 11:34:58 AM
Author: MC

What kind of activities are you looking for? Outdoor or shopping, museums, etc.?

Any and all suggestions are very welcome! Maybe not so much shopping - unfortunately I''m already equipped with some kind of sixth sense superpower that means I have an uncanny ability to find all those shops I shouldn''t be going anywhere near!

 

[Sundial]

I''d suggest taking the ferry (or float plane) over to Vancouver Island to visit the magificent Butchart Gardens and perhaps browse around charming Victoria.

 

[Delster]

So really I''m not this incredible jet-setter person but this week I''m at a conference in Italy (I know, I lead a hard life!

) and every second person I meet here seems to be Canadian

And they are all recommending hiring a car and driving up the mountains. So that is something we might reconsider doing for one day maybe. Everyone just raves about Vancouver

One person suggested going to some thermal hot springs near Seattle but didn''t know much about how to get there. Anyone have any advice on that?

Sundial what''s a float plane? BF is an aeronautical engineer so this sounds like it could score me serious brownie points!!!!

 

[rainwood]

Suggestions from a Seattle native -

Seattle

SAM Olympic scuplture garden - free and right on the waterfront in the north downtown area (close to Pike Place Market) and then take a nice long waterfront stroll ain Myrtle Edwards park.

Pike Place Market - lots of fun things to see and eat and near a lot of other attractions. Parking is hard to find sometimes in the summer so if you''re within walking distance, that would be even better. Free (unless you decide to buy something)

Ballard Locks (officially the Hiram D. Chittenden Locks) - this is a bit hard to find and probably 5-7 miles north of downtown in Ballard, but great on a Friday or Saturday afternoon to watch the boats go in and out. There''s also a fish ladder which may or may not have fish depending on when you come and what if anything is spawning at that time. Also free. Stop and get fish & chips at the Totem House to dine al fresco.

Kayaking on Lake Union - urban lake with houseboats, restaurants, etc. to paddle by or stop at. Very cool if you like to kayak. Go to the Northwest Outdoor Center to rent.

Salmon dinner oin Blake Island - if you want the Northwest Native American experience (touristy but has a boat ride, good food, and learning about the Northwest Native culture)

Seattle Downtown library - if you like modern architecture, go see this Rem Koolhaas design. Also free.

Kerry Park - on Queen Anne Hill north of downtown. Great view of Space Needle, downtown, Mt. Rainier. Again free.

If you only have 2 days, don''t try to do the thermal springs. Stick with what''s in Seattle. There''s lots to do.

Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge (you''d need to drive there) but fun if you don''t mind heights.

Stanley Park is nice, but be aware they had a lot of storm damage during our recordbreakingly wet winter last year so not as pretty as usual, but still good.

Go out to English Bay if you''re there on a weekend, they may be having the fireworks competition on Saturday night. Very cool.

Queen Elizabeth Gardens if you''re into flowers. It''s an old quarry and closer than a trip to Vancouver Island and Butchart Gardens.

The musuem at UBC which has a lot of First Nation/aboriginal art and culture

Hope this helps.

 

[Sundial]

Date: 6/25/2007 4:56:01 PM
Author: Delster
So really I'm not this incredible jet-setter person but this week I'm at a conference in Italy (I know, I lead a hard life!

) and every second person I meet here seems to be Canadian

And they are all recommending hiring a car and driving up the mountains. So that is something we might reconsider doing for one day maybe. Everyone just raves about Vancouver

One person suggested going to some thermal hot springs near Seattle but didn't know much about how to get there. Anyone have any advice on that?

Sundial what's a float plane? BF is an aeronautical engineer so this sounds like it could score me serious brownie points!!!!

A float plane has those pontoons on the bottom so it can land on the water! We flew over from Vancouver to Victoria and back in one and it was great fun. We also enjoyed the drive up to Whistler from Vancouver if you have the time.

 

[surfgirl]

Delster, you''ve gotten some great suggestions thus far...If your guy is an outdoors guy, I also suggest the following:

1. Visit the REI "mothership" store in Seattle. Even if you''ve been to an REI, you have NOT been to an REI like this one!

2. Take the ferry over to Bainbridge Island one day for breakfast/brunch at the local cafe there. When you get off the ferry on Bainbridge, you just walk into town and keep an eye out on the left side of main street and you''ll see a groovy old cafe that serves up the most excellent breakfasts!

3. Kayaking somewhere! Union Lake...

4. Kenmore Air floatplane ride over the San Juan Islands (You can do something similar in Vancouver too).

5. Half day trip to Snoqualamie Falls, about an hour east of Seattle. Gorgeous waterfalls. Lovely hotel/inn right at the top of the falls is a lovely place for a drink or a meal.

 

[Delster]

You guys are great, thank you so much. We''ll never fit it all in - we''ll have to visit twice!

Surfgirl forgive me, but what on earth is an REI?

 

[Lord Summerisle]

and if he gets bored... after trawling round the shops and stalls of Pike Place, call in at the Pike Place Brewery (nr the fish stall) for a livener from their own brews (or some rather nice imported Yorkshire brews from (flooded) Great Britain)

Theres always a trip upto the 72nd floor of the World Bank... a trip on a tram (from Sydney, Austrailia origonally) over to Pilgrims Square.

oh and theres an IMax over at the aquarium

 

[Delster]

Date: 6/26/2007 6:02:38 AM
Author: Lord Summerisle
and if he gets bored... after trawling round the shops and stalls of Pike Place, call in at the Pike Place Brewery (nr the fish stall) for a livener from their own brews (or some rather nice imported Yorkshire brews from (flooded) Great Britain)


Theres always a trip upto the 72nd floor of the World Bank... a trip on a tram (from Sydney, Austrailia origonally) over to Pilgrims Square.


oh and theres an IMax over at the aquarium

Oh dear, don''t suggest that an Irish man drink English beer - it''s an insult to Guinness, hee hee!

Are you a Yorkshire Lord then?

I have family in Cumbria.

BF actually hardly ever drinks, but on holiday he might be persuaded to sample a little beer

Is the view beautiful from the top of the World Bank? I like the sound of the tram ride - brings back memories of San Francisco!

 

[Delster]

Date: 6/25/2007 10:23:46 PM
Author: Sundial

A float plane has those pontoons on the bottom so it can land on the water! We flew over from Vancouver to Victoria and back in one and it was great fun. We also enjoyed the drive up to Whistler from Vancouver if you have the time.

Oooh Sundial that sounds amazing! But I checked the websites that MC posted earlier and - ouch - pricey.

Tell me it''s worth it?

 

[Sundial]

Date: 6/26/2007 3:02:00 PM
Author: Delster

Date: 6/25/2007 10:23:46 PM
Author: Sundial

A float plane has those pontoons on the bottom so it can land on the water! We flew over from Vancouver to Victoria and back in one and it was great fun. We also enjoyed the drive up to Whistler from Vancouver if you have the time.

Oooh Sundial that sounds amazing! But I checked the websites that MC posted earlier and - ouch - pricey.

Tell me it''s worth it?

Well I didn''t have to pay for my float plane trip because it was on an incentive trip from one of our suppliers so I''m not sure how pricey it is. However it was a really special experience and visiting Vancouver Island is certainly worth the trip but you can also take the ferry which is probably cheaper.

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Date: 6/26/2007 2:54:28 PM
Author: Delster

Date: 6/26/2007 6:02:38 AM

Author: Lord Summerisle

and if he gets bored... after trawling round the shops and stalls of Pike Place, call in at the Pike Place Brewery (nr the fish stall) for a livener from their own brews (or some rather nice imported Yorkshire brews from (flooded) Great Britain)



Theres always a trip upto the 72nd floor of the World Bank... a trip on a tram (from Sydney, Austrailia origonally) over to Pilgrims Square.



oh and theres an IMax over at the aquarium

Oh dear, don''t suggest that an Irish man drink English beer - it''s an insult to Guinness, hee hee!

Are you a Yorkshire Lord then?

I have family in Cumbria.


BF actually hardly ever drinks, but on holiday he might be persuaded to sample a little beer

Is the view beautiful from the top of the World Bank? I like the sound of the tram ride - brings back memories of San Francisco!

no, not from Yorkshire... T''other side of the pennines - Lancashire.

& Pike Place does some nice Stout

 

[scarleta]

In Vancouver just take the sightseeing bus that takes you all over the place including Granville Island, Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountains etc.They have the British style buses open top.Sit upstairs if its not raining.That way you will see it all and don''t have to do the driving.You may also consider going to Whistler nice day trip.The buses are very popular just google it out and book the one that suits you.That is what I would do..

 

[zdrastvootya]

Speaking of beer, I believe the Granville Island Hotel (Vancouver) has a lot of microbrews in a very nice setting.

Also want to recommend "The Stock Market" on Granville Island. I met the owner/proprieter and wife on vacation at Club Med in the Dominican Republic. (I''m from Toronto.) They make in-house prepared foods - reviews say they''re very good.

Z.

 

[Delster]

We''re back! And completely exhausted...

We flew home on Friday 13th and got the full brunt of it... the plane had ''technical difficulties'' and then ran out of fuel so we ended up stranded in Newfoundland for hours. By the time we got home (and they left us in Shannon and wanted to put us on a bus to Dublin - eh, no!) there was no way I could get to my conferring ceremony that was on later that day. I''ve been sleeping pretty much ever since! Jetlag is no fun and it always seems to feel worse coming this way for some reason...

Anyway the highlights of the trip were:
- our friends'' new baby (of course!);
- watching fireworks lying on the field after a baseball game on July 4;
- my first ever barbeque (!);
- the beautiful beautiful scenery and the food in Vancouver. I want to live there. It is so gorgeous.

I wish we''d had more time in Seattle and Vancouver. The way things worked out we only got one full day in Seattle so we wandered around Pike Market and did a boat trip out on Puget Sound. In Vancouver BF had to work on his paper and attend conference sessions and there was a bit of work-related socialising involved so that ate into our time. Oh to have had time to go out to the islands or to rent a car and drive up into the mountains! But we did do lots of walking around the city and around Stanley Park, and we went to Granville Island and checked out that micro-brewery, and BF took endless videos on his camera of the floatplanes taking off and landing

Thank you everyone for all your advice and recommendations! You all helped make our trip so wonderful!

 

[Sundial]

I''m so glad that you had a good time! It is such a beautiful area. You''ll just have to go back so you can take him on a float plane!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Delster your trip sounds wonderful!!! Do you have pics you wouldn''t mind sharing?

 

[Delster]

Date: 7/17/2007 10:28:10 AM
Author: Skippy123
Delster your trip sounds wonderful!!! Do you have pics you wouldn''t mind sharing?

Of course! I have about 200 pictures! But I won''t be so cruel as to inflict that number on you

Sadly I''m having technical difficulties as for some reason the "upload" button on the window doesn''t seem to do anything on this laptop?

I''ll try again tomorrow on another computer...

 

[Skippy123]

Delster,
I can''t wait to see them. Just a little info that may help is that the pics need to be under 100kb and named something unique. Like 420394329483Seattle or something no one else would have named their photos.

 

[Delster]

Thanks Skippy! I think I had all those bases covered but course you never know. I was probably doing something really silly! It was so strange, the upload button might as well have not been there, my cursor simply -would--not--click-

Anyway here goes, trying again!

Pike Place Market sign in Seattle

 

[Delster]

Mount Rainier

 

[Delster]

Seattle skyline

 

[Delster]

Fireboat (for some reason I really love this picture!)