G'day Seattle

[Tenchi]

On the weekend, I packed my bags, kissed my loved ones goodbye and boarded a plane in Perth, WA (West Australia). 30 hours of flying later, delays, customs, cursing baggage handlers for breaking my duffle bags (how the F*CK they did that I have no idea, those things are damn near bulletproof), etc. I touched down in Seattle, WA and picked up the rental car. Instructions were pretty simple, and there was a map, so I figured I would be ok to make my way through Seattle downtown from a friend's place.

How wrong I was. The maps they give you for Seattle downtown from Avis rent-a-car don't mark the one way streets. My mobile isn't tri-band so as soon as I left Australia it stopped working - no GPS, no cell phone, not even any quarters to phone a friend. Enough said really. At the time, apart from trying to adjust to driving on the other side of the road and getting hopelessly lost, I could see why people would not want to drive through downtown Seattle.

Now that I've driven around a bit more (most of today), chewed up more "gas" and had a look around, been rained on, walked everywhere within 25 blocks of my apartment (and worked out how the road system works here), I can honestly say I'm glad to be in Seattle, and the dream of owning a motorbike is still very real and most of my troubles were probably just teething problems that will go away and would happen anywhere in the world. Downtown is nice, but I don't think I'll rent here much longer and look forward to moving somewhere a little quieter and less manic.

PS: Link to map of roughly where I live. Apparently I live in a cool, very expensive area of downtown ("apparently" since I'm not paying for it). My apartment is bigger than my parents house was, or the rental I had in Perth. I'm only taking a guess here, but it's around 2000 sq ft., fully furnished and everything so it's gotta be pricey.

PPS: If you can suggest something to see before I have to start work next week, aka touristy things to do while I have some free time, feel free to either PM me or post it up here!

 

[McDee]

I used to live about 3 blocks from there and almost never took my car anywhere for the first year. You're right next to Pike Place Market (if you hadn't figured that out yet ). Being a food lover, I can spend all day (and most of a paycheck) down there. Kell's on Post alley is a decent joint to stop in for a pint.

You're an easy walk to Seattle Center if you want to check out touristy things such as the Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum, etc. I don't recommend paying to go up to the top of the Space Needle.

There's also the Seattle Art Museum right up the way from you.

Head south on First Ave about 12 blocks and you're in Pioneer square. The Seattle Underground tour was fun when I went on it many years ago. All kinds of overpriced shops and food to be had.

What did I leave out?

 

[Barabus]

I'm new here too. When you figure things out then let me know. LOL. I refuse to walk around until it stops raining.

 

[eg23232]

Experience Music Project is cool, if a bit spendy. But worth going through. Plan to spend half a day if you really like music.

Cool thing about Seattle is it's neighborhoods with their own character. For all things Scandinavian, head to Ballard. While some folks might shy away from Capitol Hill due to its alternative/gay/lesbian orientation, it's actually one of the most vibrant neighborhoods for food and entertainment (and in my opinion a much safer area than, say, Pioneer Square area). Seattle institutions like Dilletante Chocolates and Dick's Hamburgers can be found there. Some great clubs too, such as the Baltic Room and Chop Suey. Lakeview Cemetery is also in Capitol Hill and you can visit the graves of Bruce and Brandon Lee. (Jimi Hendrix isn't too far away, down in Renton).

If you're in to jazz, Dimitrou's Jazz Alley is legendary and hosts major jazz names.

In to planes? Check out the air museum at Boeing Field.

I recommend the Seattle Art Museum. If you're in to glass, make the short drive down to Tacoma to the Museum of Glass. There's a kiln there and you'll usually be able to see artists making their creations. Seattle Tacoma is the home of the famous Dale Chihuly, so there's lots of glass blowing studios around.

As a University of Washington alum, I'm pretty proud of the UW campus. And crew season at the Montlake Cut and Husky football in Husky stadium are experiences for sure.

To keep the street names memorized in the Pioneer Square area, folks came up with the phrase "Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest." So South to North the streets are James, Cherry, Columbia, Marion, Madison, Spring, Seneca, University, Union, Pike, and Pine.

If the weather ever gets nice, head to Alki beach.

Another 'touristy' thing is to head over to Tillicum Village on Blake Island for the salmon feast and Native American dance.

The new sculpture park is right by you on Western and you might even be able to see it from your window. Cool.

The waterfront/pier area is kitschy and while it's not someplace I'd suggest, I admit there are some decent seafood restaurants and the aquarium isn't bad. If you're a Led Zeppelin fan, a visit to Edgewater Hotel might be in order, although I wouldn't recommend bringing along a shark.

 

[Stephen]

Hey T-man,

Are you here working for a certain "Boeing" thing? h34r:

Anyway, welcome. We are having the shattiest weather! Don't stay out in the rain too long or you'll start to rust... Oh, and that's not escargot... them's slug! :dribble:

 

[Panman]

Tenchi, welcome from Stanwood Wa.

Call Mountain to Sound Motorcycle Adventures and rent one of their FJR's or ST1300 and go over SR 20 (it's the North Cascade loop) and come back over US 2, if you can get a good day weather wise it's a great ride.

Learn where all of the hills are, Queen Ann, Beacon, Capital and neighborhoods like Green Lake, West Seattle, Shoreline and the U-District and that helps you find your way around.

Seattle is getting crowed but still a pretty city.

I might even be willing to take on the Loop ride.

Enjoy your stay Kevin.

 

[Tenchi]

I'm having a lot of fun, but I think there's WAAAY too many Starbucks shops lying around. I have a friend who's massively addicted to the coffee here, and I swear he's quivering like a chihuahua sh*tting peach seeds most of the time (for lack of better words).

I wish I had my bicycle already more than anything else to be honest. I'm waiting on the relocation agent to get back to me with how long it's going to take to get here. If it's going to take too long I might just go out and buy another one like I originally planned to. Employee benefits for where I work include free public transport, so I'm probably not even going to bother getting a car for now and just pay my mate fuel money.

Lots of suggestions

*takes notes, lots of notes*

I have a couple of mates that live up near Capitol Hill, and Broadway I have to admit has some really, really amazing food/coffee joints. I don't really care about the general rep as long as it's safe to walk through there, so I don't mind going most places (walking down 2nd Ave between Pike and Broad at night is pushing it). It's hard to believe that Seattle is part of America with the liberal attitude here. I think I've seen one fat person in the entire time I've been here, and lost 5 lb just walking everywhere - hard to believe anyone could get fat on the lifestyle here.

I can actually see the Sculpture park from where I am. It's one of those things where because of the proximity of it to the apartment, I've been putting it off to have a look - I've visited all the places that I can far away, but neglected those close by. Pike Place Fish Market was awesome, people throwing fish around, etc... It's like Unhygenix from Asterix and Obelix.

Hey T-man,
Are you here working for a certain "Boeing" thing? h34r:

Anyway, welcome. We are having the shattiest weather! Don't stay out in the rain too long or you'll start to rust... Oh, and that's not escargot... them's slug! :dribble:

Nah, I'm working for a certain "evil" conglomorate. They specialise in blue screens (BSOD). You may have heard of our products before . I specialise in making mobile phones blue screen. Or supposedly preventing them from blue screening.

And what's with the weather? I thought it was supposed to be summer. When I think summer, I think warm. I think dry (dry'ish, given it's Seattle). I think at least a T-shirt if it warms up a little. This? This... this is Perth winter weather. Unless this IS summer in Seattle, and I'm going to need arctic survival gear for winter.

An excellent suggestion for where to ride

I'd like the ride, but I'll get my skills up to scratch first.

 

[Ignacio]

Touristy Things

The Underground Tour

a Bloody Mary at Lowell's in Pike Street (best in the state I think and link includes a bunch of other links)

The REI Flagship Store

University of Washington Campus tour

Living

As in general with most urban areas you have to go away from Ground Zero...and you're exactly there right now.....to get to more sprawling area. At present that's generally North Bend to the East, Marysville to the North, Puyallup to the South, or a ferry ride to Bremerton to the West.

 

[McDee]

Oh yeah, speaking of a ferry ride... Passenger ferry to Bremerton is under $7 round trip. Not much to do in Bremerton, but it's a pretty ride out there and back. Good way to kill an afternoon and see some of Puget Sound.

 

[eg23232]

I'm having a lot of fun, but I think there's WAAAY too many Starbucks shops lying around. I have a friend who's massively addicted to the coffee here, and I swear he's quivering like a chihuahua sh*tting peach seeds most of the time (for lack of better words).

Tully's is waaaay better!

University of Washington Campus tour

Ah, four great years spent there.....

If you do go to the campus, go to the Graduate Reading Room in Suzzallo Library. Magnificent space!

 

[rickysnickers]

Experience Music Project is cool, if a bit spendy. But worth going through. Plan to spend half a day if you really like music.
Cool thing about Seattle is it's neighborhoods with their own character. For all things Scandinavian, head to Ballard. While some folks might shy away from Capitol Hill due to its alternative/gay/lesbian orientation, it's actually one of the most vibrant neighborhoods for food and entertainment (and in my opinion a much safer area than, say, Pioneer Square area). Seattle institutions like Dilletante Chocolates and Dick's Hamburgers can be found there. Some great clubs too, such as the Baltic Room and Chop Suey. Lakeview Cemetery is also in Capitol Hill and you can visit the graves of Bruce and Brandon Lee. (Jimi Hendrix isn't too far away, down in Renton).

If you're in to jazz, Dimitrou's Jazz Alley is legendary and hosts major jazz names.

In to planes? Check out the air museum at Boeing Field.

I recommend the Seattle Art Museum. If you're in to glass, make the short drive down to Tacoma to the Museum of Glass. There's a kiln there and you'll usually be able to see artists making their creations. Seattle Tacoma is the home of the famous Dale Chihuly, so there's lots of glass blowing studios around.

As a University of Washington alum, I'm pretty proud of the UW campus. And crew season at the Montlake Cut and Husky football in Husky stadium are experiences for sure.

To keep the street names memorized in the Pioneer Square area, folks came up with the phrase "Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest." So South to North the streets are James, Cherry, Columbia, Marion, Madison, Spring, Seneca, University, Union, Pike, and Pine.

If the weather ever gets nice, head to Alki beach.

Another 'touristy' thing is to head over to Tillicum Village on Blake Island for the salmon feast and Native American dance.

The new sculpture park is right by you on Western and you might even be able to see it from your window. Cool.

The waterfront/pier area is kitschy and while it's not someplace I'd suggest, I admit there are some decent seafood restaurants and the aquarium isn't bad. If you're a Led Zeppelin fan, a visit to Edgewater Hotel might be in order, although I wouldn't recommend bringing along a shark.

My wife and I went to Seattle last year, on vacation. The Museum of Flight I think is much better. There were all kinds of cool planes there and I really liked the SR71 they had hanging in there. We also did the Tilicum Village. I liked it. Also if you like Sci-Fi, go the the Sci-Fi museum. I thought that would be kind of hokey but it wasn't.

Rick

 

[snowmonkey]

If you ride a bicycle you will want to check out the Solstice parade at the Fremont Festival next week Saturday June 21st. More than 200 nude bicyclist covered in body paint lead the parade down Leary Ave. A good viewing place is out in front of the George and Dragon pub. If you go, I'll be wearing a camo blaze orange hunting cap across the street from the pub. Check it out Solstice Parade

 

[DucatiSSsp]

Welcome to the 'hood, first off!

If you don't mind driving:

Mt St. Helens

Mt Rainier

San Juan Islands

Hurricane Ridge

North Cascade Loop

Local:

Seattle Ducati Shop

Woodland Park Zoo

Greenlake area, nice walk around the lake, lots of hotties!

UW-rent a canoe, pick up a hottie first though!

Safeco field-M's game or tour, Qwest tour also.

Lunch or Dinner at the Pyramid Ale House across the street from Safeco

Seattle Center-Lazerium(Lazer-Pink Floyd, etc.), EMP, Science Center, Seattle Fudge Co. I'd spend the bucks and do the space needle on a sunny evening 7-9pm

Sorry for the late reply, had the first two weeks of june off and got tired of the rain so I loaded up the truck and went to Moab, Utah! Spent a couple days at Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

Once you get settled in to work and life, I highly recommend Southern Utah: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Might as well hit the north rim of the Grand Canyon while your down there.

Hit the ride report section of the forum or visit the ride report forum on advrider dot com.

Once you get a bike, you'll have to ride down the Oregon and California coast on 101 and 1 to San Francisco.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[Tenchi]

If you ride a bicycle you will want to check out the Solstice parade at the Fremont Festival next week Saturday June 21st. More than 200 nude bicyclist covered in body paint lead the parade down Leary Ave. A good viewing place is out in front of the George and Dragon pub. If you go, I'll be wearing a camo blaze orange hunting cap across the street from the pub. Check it out Solstice Parade

Thanks for that. Ironically I will be riding down there, but I'll be one of the riders wearing clothes, not participating.

Bought myself a nice new bicycle... absolutely loving it. Seattle kicks arse for riding around, and that this one is about 1/2 the weight and 2x as fast as my other bike makes for some great riding...

If I get my act together enough, I'll be in a bright yellow fluoro shirt (dk blue at the bottom of the shirt) on a red Marin Fairfax '08. I'll suggest the George and Dragon to my friend as a possible viewing place. Will keep an eye out for you.

 

[Niehart]

Hey Tenchi, just got back to town. Welcome & PM sent.