Seattle Vacation?

So my sister just moved to Seattle & I'm taking a week vacation (leaving this saturday!) to visit!

I'm going to kayak with some orcas & want to do the Lake Serene/bridal veil hike (found this by googling hikes)...but would love to hear of any other recommendations...or better hikes.

Any must-do's? City-wise...or nature wise? I dont want to drive anywhere far. My sister has 2 kids (4 & 1 yr olds), so kid friendly tourism is welcomed too...I'm ditching them for the hiking & kayaking though.

thanks!!

How far is too far?

Do you like going on huge long hikes? The must-do list depends on what you're into, since there's a lot of stuff for everybody.

If you like aquariums, don't bother with the Seattle Aquarium as it's about $20 per person and the Point Defiance Zoo has a waaay better aquarium. That one is half an hour south of Seattle in Tacoma. They have a massive tank with multiple levels you can walk around it on, that has nothing but native Puget Sound sea life in it.

Ivars, down by the ferry dock has happy hour every night...pretty reasonable and tasty food.

Kells: Irish pub...Irish music (live and lively) lol. It's a pretty fun place for night life. http://www.kellsirish.com/seattle/index.php

Cactus: Mexican (but so not typical) restaurant on Alki beach (west Seattle)...Very, very, very, very good food and service that makes you feel like a queen. Lots of fun. Reasonable for how gourmet almost it is. It's not like your every day Mexican food. The chicken fried chicken is to die for.

Volunteer park is a pretty place with a beautiful conservatory....(green houses and really fabulous) Free.

There are several great museums, if you're into that. The Woodland Park zoo is really nice....nice, natural-like habitats for most all the animals. The aquarium. I didn't know what Romy knows about that, so you might take her up on her advice. I've always loved the aquarium in Seattle, though it has gotten kind of pricey.

There's also the Science Center (up by the space needle) that is really fun and interesting.

If you have time (and lots of money) you could go on a ferry ride to some of the San Juan islands. You'd have to check online for schedules and where they go.

Whale watching tours: http://www.watchwhales.com/?gclid=CL3DgZP-prECFSc0QgodO2kAUw

Here are some photos to get you excited...really a pretty place: seattle ferry to san juan islands

If I think of something else, I'll let you know. Have fun. I hope the weather is good for you. It's lovely today.

2-3 hrs?

I do like huge long hikes, but i do need something reasonable to get there & back in a day.

thanks for the tip on the aquarium...that was somethign we were thinking about with the kiddies (and something im not dying to do anyways)...ill let her know!!


and thanks doberluv!!!! i'll see if we can check any of those places out!

Go to the San Juans. The ferry ride alone is worth it, and it's amazingly gorgeous there.