While I'm at it, don't underestimate some of the natural beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer. If you're into outdoorsy stuff, there aren't a lot of places on Earth that is more majestic than going up to Snoqualmie Falls, or Stevens Pass even. The Cascade mountains are gorgeous and should be experienced by anyone of a spiritual nature. I know most people go to Seattle for the city, and there is plenty to do there, but there is so much more in that area than just that town.

Anyone who is on my Facebook page should check out my pictures I took of my hike through the Ape Caves in Mt. Saint Helens. 1800 year old, underground lava tunnels. Pure awesome.

Next time we get together, I'll tell you an hilarious story about Dick's.

I have a few of my own, but you probably don't want to hear mine. LMAO

Well why didn't you just read that thread to begin with? :cuss:

It's weird... I wouldn't say I'm a huge aquarium person, but I lived in Omaha for a year and had to go, Atlanta for a few months and it was like a 10 minute walk from my hotel, and I've been to Chicago and Chattanooga for other reasons by while I was there..... but, I might check it out.

Thanks for the info.

Thanks, Flopnuts... unlike most of my trips, I actually have a few weeks to figure out what I want to do, and it sounds like I'll be busy.


I wanted my own thread. :harumph:

Yeah, well be careful. It's Seattle. The "needle area" might not mean what you think.

Looks like the CityPASS covers the Needle, Aquarium, Pacific Science Center, and EMS/SFM... along with a harbor cruise, museum of flight, and the zoo...... for $60.

:clap:

I checked out the lineup. Some pretty good bands on there. Some of the choices are obvious. Also, definitely go see Edward Sharp.

Also check out Visqueen if you get a chance. Cool little power punk trio who are from Seattle.

Also, Baroness is pretty awesome if you like metal, and I've heard they put on a great show.

I did Bumbershoot in '97 while I was stationed up there in Bremerton. Had a lot of fun, there was/is just too many shows to hit all of them though.

Got to see Dick Dale live at a distance of about 8 feet. Quite awesome.

We used to go to the Hurricane Cafe, which is just a few blocks from the Needle, after an evening of carousing. The place wasn't anything special but it was always a guarantee of dealers and hookers if that was what you were looking for. Probably not during Bumbershoot though.

I was in Seattle for a couple days last summer while on a road trip.

A few tips:
- Do the Space Needle & eat lunch there. Our group loved the food and, although the food is pricey (I think it was $25 minimum per person), included in the price is an elevator ticket which is $18 on its own.
- Pike's Place is Awesome. Stop by the original Starbucks on your way there. Lowell's had good breakfast.
- Take a trip out to Redhook Brewery (located in Woodinville). Their tour is Awesome and you get lots of samples.
- If you make it out to Redhook, some good wineries are right in that area (some directly across the street). After the lunch and the brewery tour we went to Chateau Ste. Michelle and Januik. Columbia is located right there too.
- The Ducks of Seattle tour was cool, but corny and a little too lengthy.
- Cafe Bengodi was an Awesome Italian restaurant. We got there as they were closing and convinced the owner/chef (who is Luigi's son - Luigi owns Denunzio's, Al Boccalino, Pastiamo, and Cafe Bengodi) to stay open for us. He did, and drank/joked/cooked for us and the food was outstanding. We stayed at Hotel Max and were able to walk everywhere.

There is a wall...people put gum on it.

About an hour's drive north on I-5 will get you into the Skagit Valley, and some pretty cool places. Deception Pass and Whidbey Island are worth checking out, if you're into that kinda thing.

I was just there last month. Had one of the best meals of my life there at a little Thai place called Mae Phim (on Pike, there are two of them): http://www.maephimpike.com/. Pineapple crispy chicken. Ohmygodwow. It was amazing. I would consider moving to Seattle just so I could have it more often.

I also went to Olympic National Park (very cool) and Rainier National Park (cool, but probably less so than Olympic, though the mountain is amazing). Visited the Glass Museum in Tacoma, which was meh and the Pike Market. The Pike market is fine, and you can get good cherries there, but it's just a big market. I don't quite see the appeal of it or the gum wall that's directly beneath one of the entrances. I did a harbor tour, which was fine.

My family did the NW/Seattle trip before my senior year of high school. We did all the touristy stuff, but my most memorable times were on the Olympic Peninsula... especially the Ho rain forest. We also stayed in a really cool rustic hotel on Lake Crescent. Absolutely the clearest lake I've ever seen. It was actually eerie to be able to see 60' down in a lake. I'd at least make a day trip out of the peninsula. It's worth every minute.