Honeymooning in Seattle - Help needed from some locals!

forgetme12 · December 2010

Hello there. I'm a NH bride planning my honeymoon for Sept 2011. We're flying into Seattle, cruising to Alaska for a week, then spending a few days in Seattle before flying back to Boston.

We're trying to find reasonable hotels or B&B's to stay at while we're out there, but we have never been out west. Also, any ideas on things to do / see while we're there would be helpful! Thanks so much in advance!!!

fancynewbecca · December 2010

A couple of questions... How far outside of Seattle do you want to stay? How much are you looking to spend? Hotel/B&B costs can vary.

Seattle is really lovely in September. I would definitely reccommend the usual sightseeing/tourist things:

Seattle Center/Space Needle
Waterfront or you could do a Duck Tour
Seattle Art Museum/Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle Aquarium
Pike Place Market
Pioneer Square
Woodland Park Zoo
Underground Tour
Alki Beach

You might be able to cath a Mariner's Game, Seahawks Game, or Sounders Game. They're all going on then.

For a FABULOUS city skyline photograph, I would recommend Hamilton Viewpoint Park. FI and I had pics taken there and they turned out great!

Have fun

)

kinmir30 · December 2010

Kerry Park is another great skyline view point.

fancynewbecca covered pretty much everything else I can think of.

KatiScarlet · December 2010

Will you have a car? There are lots of interesting places within a reasonable driving distance. There's Snoqualmie Falls to the east (go to the Salish Lodge for brunch!), the Museum of Flight in south Seattle, ferry rides to the peninsula to the west, and even Vancouver, BC to the north. It's only about 2.5 hours by car or there are ferries and trains to get there too.

Feel free to PM me if you want reviews on anything you pick to do. I was born here.

Kati

KatiScarlet · December 2010

Oh! And don't miss the wine tasting! There are literally hundreds of wineries around the Seattle area. You may want to get a B&B in Woodinville for a night so you can spend the day touring then crash there without having to drive. I here there are also formal winery and winery&chocolate tours around town, too.

forgetme12 · December 2010

Thanks ladies! Didn't post and run, been working and stalking your posts, this was the first time I had a chance to actually post back!!!

We're going to be in Seattle for 2 days, without a car. We're looking to stay in town for about 150 - 175 dollars a night (which now we're focusing mostly on B&B's.)

All your ideas sound WONDERFUL! I'm so very excited to head out that way... New England is boring :-P

Kati, we're actually stopping in Victoria on the last stop of our cruise, so we'll be seeing that before we even get back to Seattle!

Also, Kati... are you on the Sept 2011 board? I'm over there ALL the time :-)

If any of you ladies ever need ideas for coastal NH / Boston... I'm your gal!!! Thanks again.

KatiScarlet · December 2010

Why yes, yes I am on that board. I'm 9/10/11 like everyone and her sister apparently.

I just found out today that there is a destination wine tasing venue in south Seattle called Urban Enoteca. It looks like they have 7 wineries under 1 roof. No car needed!

As for areas to stay in while in town, try downtown or Queen Anne, they are likely your best bet for a B&B. Let me know where you finally decide to go. I am always interested in a little staycation.

Good luck!

Ballars2 · December 2010

I second staying in Woodinville, WA! Its so beautiful at Salish lodge, and is right next to the Herb Garden which is rated one of the best resteraunts in the US! Also, one of my favorite things to do in Seattle is Teatro ZIn Zanni, it is a interactive dinner theatre that is definatley one of the best shows I have ever seen and the food is amazing. You are cruising to Alaska in September? My fiancee and I own and operate a sportfishing sightseeing charter boat www.aquatic-edge.com in Alaska and would be happy to suggest excursions for your cruise if you want some insight!

ravenavery · December 2010

I second the suggestion of downtown or Queen Anne! Especially after time spent in amazingly charming, but smallish, Victoria, I'd opt for a real city experience in Seattle rather than staying outside the city (like a Salish Lodge).

You can bus around downtown easily, or walk if you prefer. The downtown area of Seattle isn't huge. If I was spending a day downtown, I'd have brunch at Portage Bay in South Lake Union, then walk or take the streetcar to Westlake Center and maybe shop (not sure if your spouse is into that). Then I'd walk to Pike Place Market to buy souvineers, cheese, Market Spice Tea, and visit the original Starbucks (maybe cheesy, but I do seriously love Starbucks). Then I would do one/some of these:

check out the Seattle Art Museum, and/or the Seattle Public Library (the architecture is kinda crazy).
go to a Mariners game or Sounders game if you like sports.
go to a play at the Seattle Rep, Intiman, or ACT theaters -- all excellent, you can get tix for around $25
Go to improv downtown.
grab a drink at Bathtub Gin, a very hidden speakeasy downtown, or Zig Zag cafe, where the bartender was just named best in the U.S.
Eat at one of Tom Douglas' restaurants -- he's the best-known seattle chef. I'd rec Palace Kitchen.
Go to a movie at the Cinerama, and grab a donut from Top Pot
See a concert at The Triple Door -- good drinks, excellent venue with cushy seating
See something at the Pacific Northwest Ballet (all seats are good at the venue, so you can go cheaply)
Go up in the Space Needle, since ... you know, you're toursits. How can you not?

About places outside Seattle: I've lived here without a car for almost 10 years, but I wouldn't normally recommend staying outside the city without a car -- unless you wanted a B&B in another town, where you can walk to everything. (That's not seeing Seattle, IMO, although it would be very lovely -- it seems similar to the experience you'd get in Victoria.

For example, Salish Lodge is amazing. The Herb Farm (if you wanna spend $400+ on dinner) is also amazing, and there's another great, more reasonably-priced restaurant at the lodge (Barking Frog). I'm sure they can arrange transportation to Teatro Zinzani for you, but it would be a 45 minute drive from the lodge to downtown Seattle -- and an hour and a half spent on a shuttle seems like a lot for my honeymoon.

Other towns even further from the city might have more within walking distance. A lot of people here take day trips to Bainbridge Island, Vashon, or Whidbey Island. But, I love the city, so my first rec would be to check out Queen Anne or downtown, even if that means staying in a hotel instead of a B&B.

forgetme12 · December 2010

We've made reservations at the Bacon Mansion B&B for the two days we will be staying. All of your ideas for attractions sound WONDERFUL! I'm so excited that you all have been so helpful! Thanks so much!

Ball - I'd love some insight on excursions... they all sound very wonderful on paper looking through our itenarary but picking and choosing is very intimidating!

Honeymooning in Seattle - Help needed from some locals!

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