From: cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa.gov
Subject: Seattle Tourist Sites (Summary)
Organization: NASA/JSC
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 15:13:06 GMT

 Thanks to all those who provided the following information on things to do in
Seattle. Heres a summary of what was sent to me:

If you work for nasa, I probably don't need to tell you this, but--
the Space Needle is always worth a visit.  The view, especially on
a clear evening, is wonderful.  I'd also suggest you visit the 
Fremont Troll.  (Ask once you get there, in bookstores perhaps?)
Pikes Place Market is interesting, and _real_, unlike, say Harbor
Place in Bal'mer or Fanueil Hall in Boston.  Ride the ferry accross
Puget sound, or to an Island.  (well, maybe not, if you're cruising
to Alaska.)  Walk--it's a good city for walking, unlike most 
West Coast Cities (except, of course, SF).
Seattle is not much of restaurant city.
My partner says wistfully, that I could suggest the tour at
the 747 factory between Sea-Tac and Seattle.  Then, of course,
if you have a car, there's the Tacoma Narrows bridge.  Not much 
to look at, (you've probably already seen the movie) but a novelty.

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It's been ages since I've "done" Seattle, but I grew up on Bainbridge Island
a ferry boat ride away, so I might be able to offer some suggestions.
 
The Pike Place Market (1st and Pike St.) is a fun place to explore (and to
eat!).
 
The downtown area is supposed to be much improved since I've been there.
You should take the Monorail from the downtown out to the Seattle Center.
There is the Science Center (like San Francisco's Exploratorium - very hands
on place for kids of all ages), and an amusement park (in the summer), as
well as the Space Needle.
 
Pioneer Square is a rebuilt part of the city with nice shops and eateries.
 
Having grown up on Bainbridge, I can't help but recommend a ferry boat ride
on the Winslow ferry.  If it's still there, you can easily walk off the
ferry to a diner style restaurant nearby, then catch the next boat or so
back to Seattle.
 
I've never been to the place below (which is why I saved the post), but
it sounds like a lot of fun.
 
Besides the obvious sights to see in Seattle, such as
Pike Street Market, Waterfront park, Old Town, or of course,
The Seattle Center (_do_ see Imax!),  my favorite spot to
visit is the 'organ pipe windmill park' (or whatever it's
called) at the National Oceanic and Atmostpheric Administration.
This is a bizarre little park sitting on the northwest side of
Lake Washington.  It consists of several small paths and
a bunch of windmills, each with a different length
organ pipe attached to it.  When the wind is blowing, the
effect is incredible.
It's also easy to locate:

 Traveling North on I-5, take the 45th street/U of W exit,
 travel east to Sand Point Way NE, which will eventually
 veer to the north.  NOAA will be located on the right
 just past a US Naval installation.
 The park is located to the southeast of the main buildings
 and just east of the South parking lot.

As for nice places to eat, wander around the
University neighborhood, just west of the U of W,
specifically: University way, south of 45 st.

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We're new Seattlites (1.5 years) and just love it here and STILL have
not seen everything, though we spend lots of time exploring. I don't
know what all you're interested in, but taking a cue that you have
a 2.5 year old, I have a couple of suggestions.

1. The absolute BEST view of Seattle is from a ferry on Puget Sound.
(actually, any boat on Elliott Bay of Puget Sound will do, but a 
no-car, passenger oly ferry ride is the cheapest). There's a 35 minute
ferry ride from Seattle (the downtown waterfront area - major tourist
area) to Bainbridge Island. Park your car (if you rent one) somewhere
and just go as passengers, stay on the ferry and come back. Besides
the great view of Seattle, you'll see huge freighters and glorious
sailboats, and beat up fishing boats, and tug boats, and, and ...
You may even see jellyfish (August will be great for seeing them -
look straight down into the water and you'll see bright yellow balls
about the size of tennis balls with whitish tendrils); you may even
see see lions, and if you're blessed, Dahl's porpoise. We've even
seen Orca whales, but they tend to avoid ferries. Your kid can run
around on deck, and most kids love boat rides. There's bathrooms and
food concessions on board too.

2. Especially for your kid, I recommend going to the Seattle Center
and the Pacific Science Center. They're on the same grounds and are
located just north of downtown. The Space Needle is there too.
Anyway, there's a huge fountain, kiddy rides, and other stuff to do
depending on the Center's activities. The arts festival Bumbershoot
is held there over Labor Day, but there's always stuff going on during
the summer. The Pacific Science Center will cost maximum of 5$ each
chepaer for kids, etc.) and is a hands-on learning science center.
Your kid can play in water, pet starfish, bunnies, and guinea pigs,
look at a dinousaur exhibit, walk through a huge maze, watch shows
on snakes, volcanoes, and other science experiments, and do lots of
other wonderfully fun things. There's also a lazer music show and
an IMAX theater.

Seattle's great - lots to see and do. And August is typically blue
skies, no rain, and 70 -80 degrees.

*******************************************************************
Dear Co,

  I did my undergrad at UW and visit Seattle quite frequently.  Some
suggestions for things to do and places to eat follow:

  If it is a nice day:

	1. Take a Ferry ride across the Puget Sound. It takes about
	   45-60 minutes and cost approximately $4.  The ride into
	   Seattle provides for great picture material.

	2. Visit the docks in Ballard.

	3. Visit Shilshole Beach.

	4. Visit Green Lake and inquire if "Bite of Seattle" is going
	   on during that weekend.

  If it is a rainy day (rain in Seattle?)

	1. The newly opened Seattle Art Museum is quite good.

	2. Visit the Seattle Center home of the 1964 Expo.

	3. Visit the Boeing air museum (if this sort of thing
	   is your bag). It is located in South Seattle next
	   to Boeing Field.

  On any day.

	1. The waterfront, Pike Street Market, and Pioneer Square are
	   all interesting places.

	2. The Univ of Washington campus is very beautiful (I am biased)

	3. The University District for the more avant-garde part of Seattle.

  Resturants:

	1. Thirteen Coins, just North of the Center and next to the Seattle
	   Times Bldg. It has great fetticine and crab stuffed mushrooms.

	2. Ray's Boathouse on Shilshole, good seafood, ask for Missy if you
	   eat upstairs and tell her I sent you.

	3. The Spaghetti House on Lake City Way, good pasta here.

  For Kids:
	
	1. Science Center at Seattle Center.  It has a great kid activity
	   area (I have toddlers too) and usually a traveling exhibit.

	2. The aquirium on the waterfront.  It was a hit with my 2 yr old.


***********************************************************************
I am certain that you will get some good replies from people in the
Seattle area, but I will add some minor suggestions.

The Woodland park Zoo, near the University district, has improved
substantially in the last 5+ years, and is worth a trip.  From the zoo,
you can head through Ballard to the locks and watch boats travel between
lake Washington and the Puget Sound.  You may also get to see some seals
feeding on migrating salmon.

Along the water front in downtown Seattle you will find some 
interesting shops, a marine exhibit, and boat trips around Elliot
Bay.

Just up from the waterfront is the Pike Street Market.  It is a
'must see'.  When you tell people you went to Seattle, the two
places they ask if you saw are the Space Needle and the Pike Street
Market.  The space needle is a couple mile walk from the market.
You can walk up to the Westlake mall and take a monorail to
Seattle Center.  The center is OK.  They do have a science center
that is supposed to be good (I've never been there.)

Have a nice trip!
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