I had a friend come visit me in Seattle for two weeks and so I got to play tourist for the longest time ever in my home town.
Here were my highlights:
--Taking a seaplane to Victoria and back with Kenmore Air. Victoria is only worth a day, maybe one night, IMO... but you could go off and see more of Vancouver Island. The seaplane ride was fabulous. The seaplanes leave from Lake Union.
--Going to a Seattle Sounders FC match at Qwest Field. Our new MLS team is great and the atmosphere was so much fun. I'm now contemplating the second half of the season pack of season tix. :-)
--Argosy Harbor Cruise through the Locks. I had never done one and we actually always kind of laughed at the Argosy cruises (my family), but this was a great way to see much of the city, particularly the Locks, the Ship Canal and Lake Union. You get a a good idea of how the waterways are connected and some fabulous views. I think I have a major conflict of interest, though, as I live in the neighborhood that is really the focal point of the cruise... The guide was great, too. I recommend this over the Ride the DUCKS tour (unless you have kids, maybe).
I'll add anything else I can remember. I really need to update the Seattle stuff I worte some 5 years ago!
"Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space has ceased." (John Steinbeck)
Posts: 391 | Location: Back in Seattle! | Registered: 07 February 2004
Terry, I should really take a good look at those and make updates. :-)
One thing I should add is the if you go to Victoria, there are two things to do/see that I don't recommend:
--The Wax Museum (sorry, wasn't impressed, especially not for the entry fee they charge!)
--The Underwater Adventures thing right outside the Wax Museum. Do you ever get that feeling like you are almost embarrassed for doing something or being somewhere? That 'aquarium' was so dated and anti-climatic that I just wished we had never set foot on it. Oh, and it stinks, literally. It's like a boys locker room. I think it's because the interior and the facility are some 20-30 years old, probably from the heyday of coach tours. They need to let those marine animals go and retire that whole boat!!
One of the highlights of Victoria, BC is Butchart Gardens. If it is truly the off-season, I've heard it can be pretty bare. I would suggest planning a trip to Victoria when things will be in bloom...
"Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space has ceased." (John Steinbeck)
Posts: 391 | Location: Back in Seattle! | Registered: 07 February 2004
One of the highlights of Victoria, BC is Butchart Gardens. If it is truly the off-season, I've heard it can be pretty bare. I would suggest planning a trip to Victoria when things will be in bloom...
Great tips,Sarah. We liked Victoria very much when we visited couple years back, and I do remember seeing both of the activities you mentioned above, but we did not take part in them, I take it that was a good choice,
We loved visiting Butchart Gardens, even though it was November,and it was not in bloom, I thought it was still magnificent. Not of course, I can't wait to go back and see it in full bloom.
We go to Victoria, without a car, lots and never have any problem filling up 3-4 days. But because we go often, we have a list of places to go and shopping we want to do.
