Being a local tourist

[bmccasland]

My good friend is coming over in August for 2 weeks vacation - and she's not very athletic. In the past I've gotten her to go on short hikes, as she does walk a lot, but bike touring isn't for her.

Anyway, since I'm also new to the PNW area, are there any "must sees" or day trips? I do have us booked to go to Victoria, BC for a couple of days.

I was thinking about the Duckboat tour, and the Underground Tour. As tours cost $$, am looking for ideas that would be less expensive, maybe only costing the gas to get there and back.

Outdoor stuff, museums, food, wine...

[ultraviolet]

one of my favorite ways to spend a leisurely day with out-of-towners is to take a morning to ferry to bainbridge, then walk from the ferry dock to cafe nola on winslow way for brunch. wander back to the ferry dock and return to seattle. once off of the ferry in seattle, wander north along the touristy waterfront/pier area and visit the olympic sculpture garden. from there, you're close enough to walk to seattle center (where the science center, space needle and emp are located). or, just turn south and wander through belltown to pike place market. making sure to stop for random coffee and snacks as things catch your eye.

other than whatever you choose to spend on food, this is a fairly inexpensive way to spend a fun day. you only pay for the ferry one way, and the sculpture park is free...as is window shopping, people mocking and picture taking.

[NbyNW]

August is a great time to visit the Ballard Locks. With any luck, you'll see some fish, it's fun to see boats move through the locks, and it's free.

Any of the farmers markets can be fun, too -- Ballard and Fremont both have Sunday Street markets.

If your friend is in town for the first weekend of August there will still be some Seafair events, including fleet week and the Blue Angels.

[KnottedYet]

Rent a tandem kayak from Northwest Outdoor Center on south Lake Union and putter around the houseboats. The duckboat tour will take you past the houseboats, but a kayak will let you get right in there.
http://www.nwoc.com/

[Scrappy]

Go to Tacoma and see the Glass Art Museum. You can watch the artists live at work most days. Spectacular, right on the waterfront.

[smittykitty]

Pike Place Market, Monterail and Space Needle.

As you are also new to our area, I recommend day trips Ocean Shores or Long Beach (anywhere on the Pacific Ocean) or Mt. Rainier. Seriously, if you haven't been up to the Mtn. yet, you really need to go. Its incredible.

Enjoy.

[AppleTree]

We are so fortunate here, in the variety of things to choose from... sometimes it takes an out of town guest to spur us on to explore our local community and all the fun things there are to do right in our own backyard!

One of the more fun and off-beat things to do in Seattle is the Underground Tour, in Pioneer Square. (www.undergroundtour.com). Not very expensive and a real hoot, they use a lot of comedy in their tours. Also Blake Island, this is an Argosy Tour, a bit more pricey, but fun too. Anything on a ferry boat is good. Friday Harbor is the best on a beautiful day, but you are going to Victoria, so that is similar. I sure wish the dinner train was still running to Woodinville, that was great. But you can still drive to Woodinville for wine tastings at the Columbia and Saint Michelle Winery. (www.ste-michelle.com)

Ride the Ducks was a lot of fun, cheesy, but fun and a good overview of the city!

If you feel like a drive north, LaConner is a terrific place to spend the day wandering around cute shops and having lunch. It's a beautiful drive up there too. Then drive north on the Chuckanut trail to Bellingham and then back south on I-5 to make a day of it.

Woodland Park Zoo. Pike Place Market (of course, MUST do this, required for tourists!) Freemont Saturday Market. The Freemont Troll. The list is endless!

[bmccasland]

thanks for the ideas, some I had no clue of.

I've been to Pike Place a few times - started when I was in the hotel.

Keep the ideas coming, I have another month to plot and scheme.

[lauraelmore1033]

The public Library down town is an interesting place to check out. it is choc full of contemporary art and the building is a work of art well worth exploring.

Also worth checking out is the Frye Art Museum on Capital hill. Can't beat the price: Free! I think parking is also free, but I'm not sure about that.

Whidbey Island is also a nice place to take tourists. there are three state parks and the drive up or down the length of the Island is quite scenic. Coupeville, round about the middle of the island is a cute little touristy town and Deception Pass is quite something to see as well. We like to get on the Island on the north end, crossing Deception pass and make a day of exploring and driving south and cap it all off with the ferry ride from the south end of the island to Mukilteo.

[shootingstar]

I was really impressed by the Glass Art/Museum in Tacoma. Stunning. And walking along that bridge with the handblown glass displays embedded in..

As someone who has visited Seattle several times, we invariably include:

part/all of the Burke-Gilman bike trail
a visit to the independent bookstore downtown (some books are not imported into Canada)
eat at the French bakery in the Pike Market area (but shop is located along the street outside)
have a salmon-based chowder in bread bowl in another place in a building across from the main Pike Market building, bike along the waterfront which includes the outdoor art sculptures (I'm a sucker for interesting large outdoor art installations.)

Are you going straight into downtown Victoria?? Or...passing through one of the San Juan Islands to get to Victoria.

Or are you taking the Washington ferry to eventually Saanich harbour which is about 25 kms. north of downtown Victoria? That is the peninsula area that is nice for wandering. We actually will be staying for 1 evening next wk. And taking a 10 min. British Columbia ferry to another part of Vancouver Island so that we get off and bike to a winery....

One take the Amtrak train from Seattle which will get you directly into downtown Vancouver. The Skytrain station will get you further in within 5 min. or walk it..lots to see and do downtown Vancouver with its waterfront. It's quite different than Seattle's waterfront: there's no freeway/highway to block the sightline.

[NbyNW]

Oh, I missed the part where you are going to Victoria! I highly recommend Butchart Gardens -- great place to spend a few hours -- and Mattick's Farm for coffee or lunch. Mattick's has a bakery and deli on one side and produce market on the other. Both are an easy drive from Victoria.