Seattle People - Question about Area

[Shiningstar1977]

We will be going on the cruise and none of us are familiar with Seattle it will be our first trip.

As a matter of fact we are going in a few days before the trip and staying a few days after the trip to experience the city.

So I have a few questions.

1 - Our last triip to Boston we used priceline with good results. When you log in for Seattle it gives 11 areas to choose from - since you don't pick the hotel you get to pick the general area. Which of these would be 1 - close to the port (if that's important) or 2 - Which would be a fun safe area?
a. Bellevue - Redmond
b. Bothell
c. Everett
d. Lake Union
e. Lynnwood - edmonds
f. North Everett
g. Renton / Kent
h. Seattle Airport
i. Seattle Center - Space Needle
j. Seattle Downtown - Pike Place
k Univ of Wash / Northgate

2. What are some must do's for the area - someone has also told us to drive down to portland - would you?

Thanks for any advice you have - We are soooooo looking forward to the cruise - I am already building our binder. - Btw there are 5 of us :)

Peace,
Laura

[Seattle-Lite]

So many choices, so many ideas!!
I am in LOVE with Washington!
I moved here in '03 from Orange County, California!
What type of "atmosphere" are you looking for?
Seattle is Wa.'s "Big City", (which is nothing like L.A. or S.F.)
Bellevue is middle to upper class.
Renton and Everett are on that show COPS a lot.
Edmonds, but only if you're on the water.
UW-Northgate is nice if you'd like to take tour of the "UW'b"
Lake Union is cute, I think Sleepless in Seattle filmed a bit of the movie there.

[jklangbehn]

We will be going on the cruise and none of us are familiar with Seattle it will be our first trip.

As a matter of fact we are going in a few days before the trip and staying a few days after the trip to experience the city.

So I have a few questions.

1 - Our last triip to Boston we used priceline with good results. When you log in for Seattle it gives 11 areas to choose from - since you don't pick the hotel you get to pick the general area. Which of these would be 1 - close to the port (if that's important) or 2 - Which would be a fun safe area?
a. Bellevue - Redmond
b. Bothell
c. Everett
d. Lake Union
e. Lynnwood - edmonds
f. North Everett
g. Renton / Kent
h. Seattle Airport
i. Seattle Center - Space Needle
j. Seattle Downtown - Pike Place
k Univ of Wash / Northgate

2. What are some must do's for the area - someone has also told us to drive down to portland - would you?

Thanks for any advice you have - We are soooooo looking forward to the cruise - I am already building our binder. - Btw there are 5 of us :)

Peace,
Laura

I live in Olympia so hopefully can help:
1.Seattle Downtown- Pike place, space needle second
2. must do's part at the space needle, clear day go up, then take the monorail for a few bucks to downtown and walk to pikes place.. the real seattle experience
3. don't be too neurotic. it's about having fun.. I overpacked on our first cruise.. don't do it .. it's a hassle. it's stress free, no dress code - honest no ONE cares what you look like.. except the single gay guys picking up on each other! then dress accordingly but if you are lesbian mommy worried about keeping kids rounded up.. don't be to terrified there is few place they can hide, kids club is great.
j

[Shiningstar1977]

Thank you so much. We are soooo excited.

We actually do not have any kids and there is 5 of us. Two couples and one of our friends will be travelling by herself - her partner can't get off of work.

For all of us this is our first cruise and our first trip to Washington. Each summer we go to Ptown but have wanted to go on the R Family Cruise so this seems like the perfect opportunity.

We have saved so much money using Priceline to book boston hotels - we got 300.00 night hotels for a little over 100 which is a small price to pay for not being exactly sure of the hotel - we just pick 3.5 or preferably 4 stars to make sure it's a nice place. - I think this is our longest vacation ever - well maybe not for my friends - they all have summers off as they work in schools :)

Thanks for the advice - I am sorta a crazy planner - you should see my binder I have printed the excursions - which is a whole other story and have sections for everything.... :)

thank you
Laura

[Em_and_parents]

My parents and I live in Seattle. My mom suggests staying at a hotel 3 stars or more in Lake Union, Seattle Center - Space Needle, or Seattle Downtown - Pike Place.

I suggest visiting Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame and Experience Music Project. I also really like Bill Speidel's Underground Tour.

I have been to Portland several times and enjoy it but, I do not know enough about it to make a lot of suggestions of what to do there. I also recommend visiting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. If you go to Vancouver I suggest visiting Vancouver Art Gallery, Granville Island Market, Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium.

-Emily

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Thank you so much. We are soooo excited.

We actually do not have any kids and there is 5 of us. Two couples and one of our friends will be travelling by herself - her partner can't get off of work.

For all of us this is our first cruise and our first trip to Washington. Each summer we go to Ptown but have wanted to go on the R Family Cruise so this seems like the perfect opportunity.

We have saved so much money using Priceline to book boston hotels - we got 300.00 night hotels for a little over 100 which is a small price to pay for not being exactly sure of the hotel - we just pick 3.5 or preferably 4 stars to make sure it's a nice place. - I think this is our longest vacation ever - well maybe not for my friends - they all have summers off as they work in schools :)

Thanks for the advice - I am sorta a crazy planner - you should see my binder I have printed the excursions - which is a whole other story and have sections for everything.... :)

thank you
Laura
Oh I like that.I am a List person.A List for what I need for the Cruise.A List for what I need to pack.A List for who is covering what.A List of what lists i need to create!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lists
Welcome to the Boards and R family.
CCC

[RainbowAngel]

I am not from Seattle, but thinking back when we were there for the last Alaska cruise, there is one place my grandson totally loved when we were there. The Experience Music Project, or EMP. It is located right near the Space Needle. He was 14 at the time. He is really interested in music, has been in bands, plays several instruments, etc. This is a museum type with all kinds of exhibits of all kinds of music. There are also rooms where you can play and make music. There were things for younger children too, but I think it would be especially of interest to teens and preteens (and the adults of course) We are not going this summer and he said if we went he wanted to go back there. Just a thought for some of you.