SEATTLE Anyone?

I don't know how far away Butchart Gardens in British Columbia is, but if it's possible, you should make it a day trip. I went as a kid and it blew my mind it was so gorgeous.

Outside of Seattle:

- For cute mountain stuff... You're looking for "the Cascade Loop" http://www.cascadeloop.com/index.php OR Leavenworth http://www.leavenworth.org/modules/pages/index.php?pageid=1

- San Juan Islands. San Juan itself is the most accessible and has the most touristy stuff set up, as the ferry docks there. If you have $ for it... you can also take a Sea Plane straight into the Rosario Resort. Having done both, they're both fun. :) :) :) The real upside on the ferry is that you get to have your car to drive around wiith. http://www.sanjuanisland.org/

Seattle Itself:

- Speaking of seaplane rides: http://www.kenmoreair.com/

- IMAX at Seattle Science Center (if you haven't been to a full "dome" theatre before, this is great fun. I keep meaning to go see something 3d with my kiddo here but it gets overtaken by events)

- Seattle Science Center @ The Seattle Center (a must with kids... right now they have a "science of the circus" thing going on, complete with being able to walk on a tightrope. The Fountian is also a great place to run through on a hot day. Seattle Children's Theatre is also right there at the Center in addition to the Science Center and IMAX Dome and Fountain and Space Needle (locals trick... make a reservation for DESSERT at the rotating restaurant and avoid having to pay money to go up the elevator.)

- Elliot Bay Oysters on Pier 56 (for outside seating esp) or the Pink Door
http://www.elliottsoysterhouse.com/
http://www.thepinkdoor.net/

- Teatro Zinzanni
http://dreams.zinzanni.org/

- Pike Place Market

- (Pike or Pine?) Locals' inside joke. The 2 streets are a pain in the keister, and it's almost impossible to remember what is on what street, in part because they run paralell to each other, and in part because the street signs in Seattle are a joke. So you see the Pi on the (bent, damaged, and non reflective) sign (in the rain, with some idiot deciding to be their own traffic light) and just don't know if it's PiKE or PiNE. The whole partial one way thing makes it even worse... so you end up circling Pike & Pine all the time, looking for what you can't remember is on which street.

- For a girls weekend... make sure to check out Toys In Babeland (it's on pike or pine, can't remember) NEAR broadway. There is also a fabulous crepe restaurant at 600 something (no sign, just the windows and door) right near Babes on the other Pi street, as well as several good bars. Chapel being the one to go to for Martinis. http://www.babeland.com/about/seattle-store

- Broadway (St? Ave? Lord, no idea... it's just "broadway") on Capitol Hill. Our own 1 mile strip of SF. Again, bars, restaurants, shopping, and the Asian Art Museum is nearby.

- Downtown REI with their climbing wall for adults and treehouse for kids or Stone Gardens (climbing gym) at the ballard locks.

- Ballard Locks (The locks are the elevator that get boats from the lake into the sound... also a "fish ladder")

- Freemont Troll (iconic, but rather random)

- Greenlake. Has a 3mi walking/biking path that goes around it and a public park, and boathouse, and the Bathhouse Theatre (plays), in addition to being completely ringed by shops and cafes.

- UW (U-Dub). Good for a stroll. Then there's also University Way, which is a college street anywhere: pubs, odd shops, etc., plus University Village down 45th for semi-open air shopping. On weekends the University Farmer's market is one of the largest in the city. (The other being Freemont).

The aquarium in Seattle is wonderful, though perhaps more geared to kids (we took our two and they loved it--we did too--but it will probably be full of families, which may or may not be what you're looking for). The San Juans and Whidbey are both great--I'm not familiar with the SanJuans as much as Whidbey, but Whidbey is a Naval base but also this super-cute quaint community. If you're looking for outdoor adventures--and Seattle is DRY this time of year--head to Rainier, Mt St Helen's, east into the Cascades or west to the Olympic Peninsula. We lived in the OlyPen for 6 years and there are tons of great things to do out there, but they're a little bit of a drive--but you said "Seattle area" so I'm not sure how much you want to get out. Leavenworth is wonderful, esp if you're heading there after Thanksgiving--they do a great Christmas thing (we honeymooned there). My kids, and we, loved doing saltwater stuff--if you're into that--we loved looking at the different creatures, finding tidepools and looking at all the stuff WA has that MN doesn't! I don't know where there are good tidepools Seattle side, because we went up to the Strait or onto the Hood Canal, but I'm sure you could just ask. It's great to hike around the water and just try to find new things. Eat at Ivar's...get their chowder...ride a ferry...go crabbing or digging for clams...people already said the Space Needle...my sister liked the EMP (Experience Music Project), partially because her husband's an architect. Um...I think that's what I can come up with for now!

Mount Ranier is a must see. Also, Green Lake, which is a lake directly in the middle of the city of Seattle. Whidbey Island is worthy of a visit. And , be sure you go up in the Space Needle at night. The view of the city is spectacular.
I hope you enjoy your trip. Seattle is a beautiful city.

Locals call it pike place market :) the San Juan islands are beautiful. If you're twilight fans it's a 3.5-4 hour drive after taking a ferry to get to forks. The space needle is good, also the waterfront not far from the market. Alki beach in west Seattle is nice, and if you want a nice hike go to tiger mountain about 40 minutes east of Seattle. Leavenworth is a few hours away but a really cute town. There's not much to do on any of the islands but it's relaxing. I'd go to orcas island of all of them, there's some plane tours and boating activities. You'll have fun here! And a friend just reminded me that if you like seafood, the Crab Pot on the waterfront is a must! Make sure you get the big bucket they dump out onto the table...yum!!

I lived on the West coast, Washington area, for a good part of my life and visit frequently given I have friends and family there. I would suggest Mt St Helens. It is a bit of a drive from Seattle but well worth the trip. Pile Street Market is fantastic as well as the local farmers markets in the area. The aquarium on the pier is excellent. I would suggest checking the visitor or area website to see things to do. There are nice ferry rides in the Puget Sound that are worth while as well. Even with living there, some of the tourist type attractions are nice. The Seattle Center is nice as well given the Space Needle is there and the monorail is nice to take as well. If you go South of Seattle, Olympia is a nice place to visit as well and has a great market. This is the capitol of Washington so there are things to check out. The are wineries around the state as well so something else you may want to look into. Message me if you would like more info. Oh and the Point Defiance Zoo and park in Tacoma. Excellent even as an adult!!

Chinatown is a blast- so is the Space Needle (with a restaurant on top if you choose to dine), and if you're bringing kids there is an amusement park right near it.
Have fun, it's a beautiful city! :)

I suggest that you go to Seattle's web site which will have a lot of suggestions. Google Washington state, too. Look at a map and then google any of the places that look interesting.

I've visited Seattle often. I've been to one of the islands on a separate trip. I don't remember which one. I had friends living on Bainbridge Is. and so have been there several times. It's very populated. Once you get past the beach it seems like any other city. Some of the other islands are more rural and more touristy. You can easily spend the whole week in Seattle area and still not see everything.

I love Pike's Market and the water front. I also enjoyed visiting Chinatown and the Pioneer Square area. I've driven to outer neighborhoods and enjoyed those trips. There is an ethnic neighborhood with ethnic stores that I enjoyed but I can't remember which neighborhood it was. Visit the Aquarium on the water front. It's fantastic! Take a ferry ride.

We just did a 3 day girls' trip. It included:
-an overnight on San Juan Island (at the Lakedell Resort)--awesome! We took the ferry there from Ana Cortes.
-downtown, did Pikes Place, etc.
-Watermark spa and resort in Kirkland (close, but not right in downtown).
-brunch at Barking Frog restaurant (the crab cakes Benedict was DIVINE!!)

Of course, the company was what made the trip memorable. But I feel like we got a really good sampling of the area. Have fun!