Advice please re short vacation in Seattle with my son

[musiclawyer]

I would prefer not to rent a car.
Are there airport shuttles to the downtown hotels?

Is public transit easy? Only thing we really want to do is go see a Mariners game and take the Ferry to San Juans.

Anything else you recommend a teenage boy get to see there? We have never been.

[Arugula Latte]

1. I might get flack for this, but I say "Ride the Ducks!"

You get a tour of the city via street and then *splash* you're waterborne. It's fun! My kids loved it.

[whistler162]

9. You're quackers!

To the OP take the monorail and go up to the top of the needle. Take a walk through Pike's Place.

[Arugula Latte]

11. Don't bring me "down"

Get it? ... Down? ... Like feathers ...

[siligut]

2. You can take the light rail to downtown

Check with your hotel to see if they have a shuttle to and from the airport. Public transit is quite good in the downtown area. I have walked from downtown to Safeco Field, but there are buses available too.

[dana_b]

6. yes! the lightrail is so easy, direct

and inexpensive.

[taterguy]

3. The Experience Music Project is worth seeing

Museum of Flight is quite nice if your son is into airplanes at all. (I don't remember how convenient it is if you don't have a car)

[dr.strangelove]

4. The airport is a big trip, but there are shuttles

Its been a few years, but I have used a shuttle service that was at the airport, never made a reservation. It was $20 each way last time I used it, to a downtown hotel. SeaTac is 15 miles from Seattle and about a 15-20 minute drive non-rush hour. In the morning or early evening, it can take well over 30 - 45 minutes when "the 5" slows up.

Mass transit was designed for commuters, but the City is not huge. You can get away without a rental car. the few taxis you would need will be cheaper than rental and parking fees.

The EMP is AMAZING. If he is into Sci Fi at all, its a MUST. The music side is great too. Any teenage boy would be amazed by the Seattle Underground tour about the fire and old Seattle. Its a little creepy to see a portion of a city that sank and is underfoot everyday.

Have fun. I miss my time in Seattle. I have to get back soon with my own kids.

[musiclawyer]

5. Thank you all

[Yavin4]

7. I Went To Seattle This Time Last Year

If you're staying downtown, you can walk to the stadium. It's a nice walk.

I Music Experience site, and it was great. I learned a lot about Kurt Cobain. I also took a tour of the seedy parts of downtown Seattle, the original skid row. It was delightful, and I learned a lot.

[pokerfan]

8. Seattle...

Sound Transit's Rail connects Sea-Tac Airport directly to downtown Seattle so you're good there. Getting around without a car isn't too bad. Metro Transit is pretty good.

Things a teen-aged boy might like....

The Space Needle: probably a little cliche, but for a first time visitor, why not?

The Pacific Science Center: lots of cool exhibits for the science minded

The Jimi Hendrix exhibit at the Experience Music Project

The Museum of Flight in Georgetown

Pike Place Market: flying fish, the original Starbucks and other shops. There's a deli there that serves a ciapino that's to die for and might set your hair on fire.

Underground Seattle tour. Many years ago they decide to raise the streets and sidewalks so the sewers would drain better. (You see, the high tide used to cause toilets to erupt with human waste and this tended to upset people.)

Gasworks Park is very cool. Kinda like an industrial Stonehenge. The hill at the center has a sundial on top and provides great views of downtown across the bay.

Speaking of views, Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill is probably the single most photographed view of Seattle:



You're already taking a ferry trip to the San Juans. Hat tip to you, I love the islands, especially Friday Harbor.

Ride the Duck: take a 90-min ride on an amphibious World War II vehicle.

[Aristus]

12. That's the 'Frasier' view.

My brother, back when he was driving limos instead of managing the whole company, used to take out-of-town visitors up to the lookout for the 'Frasier' view. Instead of the 20-storey "Elliott Bay Towers", there is a low 4-storey brick apartment building there.

2nd rec for the Underground Tour. It's a lot of fun and very interesting.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

10. If you don't want to rent a car, you may be challenged

on getting the Ferry that goes to the San Juans. I don't think any depart from Seattle, though I could be wrong. You may have to go north about an hour or so to Anacortes to catch the ferry.
There are shuttles going from the airport to downtown. Public transit in the immediate downtown Seattle area is FREE! Be sure to visit Pike Place Market. The way the Mariner's are playing, getting tickets should be easy

[grasswire]

13. but he could take other ferries

....and perhaps that is what he means......

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

15. I understand

but to get to the San Juans he needs to be in Anacortes if I'm reading this right
http://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/Default.aspx

[Major Nikon]

14. You can take a beaver or an otter

[salparadise1000]

16. have you been yet?

I have more suggestions,
If you have already been here, tell us how you liked it.

[musiclawyer]

17. Leaving monday

Thanks again