Trip to Seattle/Vancouver

[alexwolf1216]

We had this fabulous trip planned for next June to fly into Seattle, train up to Vancouver and take a Disney cruise to Alaska. However, lucky us found out that we are expecting baby #2 smack in the middle of the expected cruise date. So, we had to shift around a little bit leaving us with some Air Alaska tickets and an Amtrak evoucher that we need to use.

March seems to be the only month with availability, spsecifically around the last weekend. Our thought is to fly in on a Wed or Thursday night, stay in Seattle a couple days, train up to Vancouver and spend the night there, then train back to Seattle and fly back Monday afternoon.

Since we have never been to this part of the country, and I see a lot of us here are from there, can anyone give me some recommendations about what is a must see/must visit? I think I can probably convince her to let me stop at least one place Delorean related :nana2:

[spedlot]

While I can't tell you what to see in Vancouver or how young your one hold is if they are under 10 in Vancouver I recommend the science world. It was recommended to me in August when we were there to go on the Disney cruise. We spent 4 days there prior to the cruise and had a great time. Grosse mountain is another must see. I will leave it up too the vangouvernites to recommend other places to go but they were extremely helpful. And something about poutin. Gotta have it!!

[alexwolf1216]

While I can't tell you what to see in Vancouver or how young your one hold is if they are under 10 in Vancouver I recommend the science world. It was recommended to me in August when we were there to go on the Disney cruise. We spent 4 days there prior to the cruise and had a great time. Grosse mountain is another must see. I will leave it up too the vangouvernites to recommend other places to go but they were extremely helpful. And something about poutin. Gotta have it!!

He is 3.5. I really wanted to take him sledding, since we live in no snow land, but the places I found say hes gotta be 6 or 48" :(

[Citizen]

I don't live there (yet), but have visited. Wife & I will eventually retire near there (probably Portland proper), so we've been there a number of times. Anyway, one thing you should not miss is Butchart Gardens (http://www.butchartgardens.com). It's actually not in the city of Vancouver, but it is on Vancouver Island outside of Victoria.

Spectacular any time of year (yes, even in winter), but will probably be extra nice come spring time when you are there. Don't miss it. Ur' wife will love you forever.

Thomas

...

[sdg3205]

I'm in Vancouver. Let me know when you're in town.

[mluder]

I don't live there (yet), but have visited. Wife & I will eventually retire near there (probably Portland proper), so we've been there a number of times. Anyway, one thing you should not miss is Butchart Gardens (http://www.butchartgardens.com). It's actually not in the city of Vancouver, but it is on Vancouver Island outside of Victoria.

Spectacular any time of year (yes, even in winter), but will probably be extra nice come spring time when you are there. Don't miss it. Ur' wife will love you forever.

Thomas

...

Hey!!!! I'm in a sub of Portland... Glad you like it here.

Anyway - To the Original Poster - While in Seattle pay a visit to Toby and John at DMC NW. Nice chaps. Also EMP and The Science Fiction Museum if that's your thing and a visit to Pikes Market is always interesting.

[Dangermouse]

Our kids enjoyed the aquarium in Stanley Park when we were there. There are some great sights at Grouse Mtn, like the rope bridge, but at 3 he is probably too young.

[beernpizzalover]

...Since we have never been to this part of the country, and I see a lot of us here are from there, can anyone give me some recommendations about what is a must see/must visit? I think I can probably convince her to let me stop at least one place Delorean related :nana2:

Well, here's a couple of the more popular tourist attractions around Seattle:
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/
http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/
But of course, you wouldn't want to miss this one either!
http://delorean.com/locations/#4

[Jonathan]

I thought this was closer to Seattle than it is Portland, but it's actually south of Portland so a little out of the way for you on your trip.

http://historicbrownsville.com/what-to-do/attractions/stand-by-me/

In any event, definitely something I'll try to check out myself next time through that part of the country. I figured I would still mention it here on the odd chance that there are any fans of 80s movies on this forum.

[vps3922]

I'm in Vancouver. Let me know when you're in town.

Me, too. Just ping Dave or me when you know the dates. We can provide more current info closer to the time of arrival. And can meet up. :headbang:

[alexwolf1216]

Me, too. Just ping Dave or me when you know the dates. We can provide more current info closer to the time of arrival. And can meet up. :headbang:

See thats why this group is so awesome! Should be finalizing the trip this week.:wave2:

[outatym2001]

To alexwolf1216, five nights in two different cities does not seem like enough time to see very much at all around Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
You are going to need US Passports for everyone going to Canada. I'm sure you already knew that.
Popular places in and around Seattle, Washington.

Space Needle – Landmark modern spire with city vistas
400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
There is a restaurant (500 feet above ground) way up there inside the Space Needle but it is a little spendy for lunch and dinner and they require reservations. The restaurant rotates once every hour. Yes! It rotates!
Or you can pay to ride the elevator up to the observation deck with a 360-degree view.
www.spaceneedle.com

Pacific Science Center – Museum with immersive rotating exhibits
200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
www.pacificsciencecenter.org

Boeing & PACCAR IMAX Theatres – at the Pacific Science Center
200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
www.pacificsciencecenter.org

Ride the Ducks of Seattle – Tour Seattle by land and water
516 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com

Experience Music Project Museum
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
www.empmuseum.org

These two below are museums of vintage World War II aircraft that have been refurbished and actually are flown in the summer time.
Historic Flight Foundation
10719 Bernie Webber Dr, Mukilteo, WA 98275
www.historicflight.org

Flying Heritage Collection
Paine Field Airport (PAE)
3407 109th St SW, Everett, WA 98204
www.flyingheritage.com

This museum below is south of downtown Seattle and has the first ever Boeing 747, a Concorde Jet, a Boeing 787 and a Boeing 707 all on display and you can go inside them also. Those jets are so big they’re parked outdoors. The museum is really big and has old facts regarding the start of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The Museum of Flight
9404 East Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
www.museumofflight.org

Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
www.zoo.org

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407
www.pdza.org

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
608 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
www.undergroundtour.com

Seattle Art Museum
1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
www.seattleartmuseum.org

Alki Beach Park – Lengthy beach with a paved path
The northern point is called Duwamish Head and from there you will see downtown Seattle just across Elliot Bay. There are many restaurants at Alki.
1702 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445

The Center for Wooden Boats
Museum preserves & exhibits historic wooden boats, which can be rented & taken out on Lake Union.
1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109
www.cwb.org

Kenmore Air
Fly on a floatplane from Lake Union to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
950 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
http://www.kenmoreair.com

Shopping downtown Seattle.
Indoor mall with a movie theater that has many screens.
Pacific Place
600 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.pacificplaceseattle.com

Take the above ground walkway from Pacific Place to Nordstrom across the street.
Nordstrom
500 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-downtown-seattle?cm_ven=yext&cm_cat=store&cm_pla=fls&cm_ite=1

Then follow underground (yes underground) from Nordstrom to the indoor mall at Westlake Center.
400 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.westlakecenter.com

Then take the escalator to the top floor of Westake Center and
then take the “Monorail” to the “Seattle Center” where the Space Needle is located.
The entire length the “Monorail” travels is one mile in just two minutes. Yeah, not very far.
http://www.seattlemonorail.com

[alexwolf1216]

To alexwolf1216, five nights in two different cities does not seem like enough time to see very much at all around Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
You are going to need US Passports for everyone going to Canada. I'm sure you already knew that.
Popular places in and around Seattle, Washington.

Space Needle – Landmark modern spire with city vistas
400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
There is a restaurant (500 feet above ground) way up there inside the Space Needle but it is a little spendy for lunch and dinner and they require reservations. The restaurant rotates once every hour. Yes! It rotates!
Or you can pay to ride the elevator up to the observation deck with a 360-degree view.
www.spaceneedle.com

Pacific Science Center – Museum with immersive rotating exhibits
200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
www.pacificsciencecenter.org

Boeing & PACCAR IMAX Theatres – at the Pacific Science Center
200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
www.pacificsciencecenter.org

Ride the Ducks of Seattle – Tour Seattle by land and water
516 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com

Experience Music Project Museum
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
www.empmuseum.org

These two below are museums of vintage World War II aircraft that have been refurbished and actually are flown in the summer time.
Historic Flight Foundation
10719 Bernie Webber Dr, Mukilteo, WA 98275
www.historicflight.org

Flying Heritage Collection
Paine Field Airport (PAE)
3407 109th St SW, Everett, WA 98204
www.flyingheritage.com

This museum below is south of downtown Seattle and has the first ever Boeing 747, a Concorde Jet, a Boeing 787 and a Boeing 707 all on display and you can go inside them also. Those jets are so big they’re parked outdoors. The museum is really big and has old facts regarding the start of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The Museum of Flight
9404 East Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
www.museumofflight.org

Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
www.zoo.org

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407
www.pdza.org

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
608 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
www.undergroundtour.com

Seattle Art Museum
1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
www.seattleartmuseum.org

Alki Beach Park – Lengthy beach with a paved path
The northern point is called Duwamish Head and from there you will see downtown Seattle just across Elliot Bay. There are many restaurants at Alki.
1702 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445

The Center for Wooden Boats
Museum preserves & exhibits historic wooden boats, which can be rented & taken out on Lake Union.
1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109
www.cwb.org

Kenmore Air
Fly on a floatplane from Lake Union to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
950 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
http://www.kenmoreair.com

Shopping downtown Seattle.
Indoor mall with a movie theater that has many screens.
Pacific Place
600 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.pacificplaceseattle.com

Take the above ground walkway from Pacific Place to Nordstrom across the street.
Nordstrom
500 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-downtown-seattle?cm_ven=yext&cm_cat=store&cm_pla=fls&cm_ite=1

Then follow underground (yes underground) from Nordstrom to the indoor mall at Westlake Center.
400 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.westlakecenter.com

Then take the escalator to the top floor of Westake Center and
then take the “Monorail” to the “Seattle Center” where the Space Needle is located.
The entire length the “Monorail” travels is one mile in just two minutes. Yeah, not very far.
http://www.seattlemonorail.com

Thanks Mark! I know its not a lot of time, but with my wifes pregnancy and the last minute change of plans, we dont have a lot of choice. I think the plan is to fly in Wednesday evening, spend Thursday, Friday in Seattle, train up to Vancouver Saturday then train back Sunday. The only reason we are going to Vancouver is because we want our kiddo to ride the train, and the tickets werent refundable.

[outatym2001]

To alexwolf1216 and all.
A friend of mine recently reminded me of a fact that if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony from even a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) then you are not allowed entry into Canada. Just letting everyone know in case it may have slipped your memory.
Although there is a possibility of getting a Temporary Resident Permit way ahead of a trip into Canada and maybe then you will be allowed.

[spedlot]

What!! Even a dui. That seems a little ridiculous.

[SS Spoiler]

It's my understanding first DWI you lose your license for life in Canada? Probably why we see so many Canadians in Kalispell.

[StainlessSteelDream]

It's my understanding first DWI you lose your license for life in Canada? Probably why we see so many Canadians in Kalispell.

Sorry, but that's not the case. Generally a year for a first offence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impaired_driving_in_Canada#Found_guilty_of_an_offe nce

[SS Spoiler]

I stand corrected......thanks