Visiting Seattle Without Going Up the Space Needle

Musical House on Harvard

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Hotel

Musical House bathroom Photo - Musical House on Harvard, Seattle, Washington

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Seattle can be pricey when it comes to finding good accommodations at a decent price. Most places in the city itself are well over $100. Of the fewer less expensive options is a new bed-and-breakfast type house five minutes away from downtown Seattle…and it is under $100 per night.Ron Holdridge, who is currently renovating the entire house, owns the place, Musical House on Harvard. The house itself is a historic 1909 Spanish Mission style home with over 3,800 square feet of living space. It is a house, but compared to my apartment it is a mansion. The main floor of the house has the kitchen, living room, dining room, and sitting room. Two friendly pets, a dog and a cat, reside on the...Read More

Seattle can be pricey when it comes to finding good accommodations at a decent price. Most places in the city itself are well over $100. Of the fewer less expensive options is a new bed-and-breakfast type house five minutes away from downtown Seattle…and it is under $100 per night.

Ron Holdridge, who is currently renovating the entire house, owns the place, Musical House on Harvard. The house itself is a historic 1909 Spanish Mission style home with over 3,800 square feet of living space. It is a house, but compared to my apartment it is a mansion. The main floor of the house has the kitchen, living room, dining room, and sitting room. Two friendly pets, a dog and a cat, reside on the main floor…one of the many aspects that make this place feel more like a house and not a hotel, motel, hostel, or anything else. The main floor still feels like it is being renovated, but it is still very comfortable.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, all recently renovated and spacious. Three of the rooms have a single large bed, and one room has two twin beds. The rooms themselves are large and spacious. Besides the bed, they come with a TV/VCR/DVD combo, and fan (no air-conditioning).

Because the rooms are still being worked on, they are not perfect. The closet in my room had no door on it, and the porch was not accessible (it was used to store things). Those were just minor things I noted, though.

None of the rooms have a private bath, so everyone must share a common bathroom in the hallway/landing area. The house was booked entirely that night, though I had no real inconveniences when trying to use the bathroom. There are clean towels in the bathroom, and a wide variety of soaps, shampoos, and medicines in case you need them.

The breakfast is filling and delicious. Ron makes you feel right at home, if you’re from New York City, by having a copy of the New York Times at the table. While you catch up on news, he brings you out a smorgasbord of food, including fruits (cherries, grapes, etc.), yogurt, toast, and a huge omelet on a croissant. Juice, and tea or coffee are also served with breakfast.

Many hotels close to downtown Seattle cost well over $100 per night. This place offers a great room in a safe neighborhood for under $100, plus you get a parking spot right in front of the house. If you don’t mind sharing a bathroom in a house with a bunch of other strangers, then I suggest you look into the Musical House on Harvard. Rates are around $95 per night, including breakfast. I found a special offer on the Seattle Craigslist to spend the night for $85, though.

More information: http://www.musicalhousebandb.com/
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Musical House on Harvard
2612 Harvard Ave. East
Seattle, Washington 98102
(206) 650-7622

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Islander Restaurant

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Restaurant | "The Islander"

The Islander Photo - Islander Restaurant, Seattle, Washington

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Being right near the Pacific Ocean, you can expect Seattle to have some mighty tasty seafood. There are plenty of seafood restaurants in town. But, if you are not the type who likes to spend $30 for a plate of food, your choices for good seafood become limited. However, there are some lower priced options that serve excellent food. Case in point: The Islander.The Islander is a Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim restaurant and tiki lounge. While it does have a full restaurant and bar/lounge inside, I found the real draw to be the outdoor patio seating with great views of the Puget Sound. On warm, busy nights, expect a wait for the patio. I waited approximately 10 minutes for a table....Read More

Being right near the Pacific Ocean, you can expect Seattle to have some mighty tasty seafood. There are plenty of seafood restaurants in town. But, if you are not the type who likes to spend $30 for a plate of food, your choices for good seafood become limited. However, there are some lower priced options that serve excellent food. Case in point: The Islander.

The Islander is a Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim restaurant and tiki lounge. While it does have a full restaurant and bar/lounge inside, I found the real draw to be the outdoor patio seating with great views of the Puget Sound. On warm, busy nights, expect a wait for the patio. I waited approximately 10 minutes for a table.

The décor inside is what you might expect for a Pan-Asian/Pacific Rim tiki lounge. But, outside on the patio the furniture was not very fancy. They seemed to be of the same type of furniture my parents have on their back patio…plastic chairs and cheap tables with a shower-door like glass top.

Most dishes range between $12 and $18. They have appetizers, desserts, chef’s specials, and then plates they call "family style." I ordered a "family style" plate expecting it to be big, but it seemed to be enough just for me…a person with a small stomach. The prawns I ordered were big and delicious. They came in a creamy honey walnut sauce.

On my visit, the patio was filled to capacity. Some tables have direct, unobstructed views of Puget Sound, while others are a table or two away. But, the sound is still viewable. I went just after sunset, before it was really dark out. So, I saw some nice colors on the water and in the sky, and the temperature was nice and cool, but not cold.

The Islander is also located steps (literally) from the hostel H.I. Seattle. So, if you’re a backpackers with a slightly bigger budget for seafood, I would recommend The Islander.

More information: http://www.theislanderseattle.com/
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Islander Restaurant
96 Union Street
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 344-8088

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Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour

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Attraction

A retro chair Photo - Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, Seattle, Washington

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With any city you visit, whether you realize it or not, there is a long history behind it. However, if you want to learn more about the history, you usually need to visit your local library or do some research online to learn anything about it. Seattle, though, offers a very interesting tour about Seattle’s past. What makes it more fascinating is that a big part of Seattle’s history happened (what is now) below ground. And, once you come back above ground, you will appreciate knowing a little bit about the city you’re walking through.The tour introduction, which lasts about 20 minutes before you actually go underground, basically discusses how dirty and disgusting Seattle was in the 180...Read More

With any city you visit, whether you realize it or not, there is a long history behind it. However, if you want to learn more about the history, you usually need to visit your local library or do some research online to learn anything about it. Seattle, though, offers a very interesting tour about Seattle’s past. What makes it more fascinating is that a big part of Seattle’s history happened (what is now) below ground. And, once you come back above ground, you will appreciate knowing a little bit about the city you’re walking through.

The tour introduction, which lasts about 20 minutes before you actually go underground, basically discusses how dirty and disgusting Seattle was in the 1800s, and how its founders were all corrupt. Oh, and be prepared for a graphic description of how toilets and plumbing worked in the city’s early years. I found it all quite humorous, but that’s me.

After the intro, the real underground tour begins. Large groups of 20+ people are guided below the sidewalks in the Pioneer Square area to see the former street level of Seattle. Not to give it away, but street level in the Pioneer Square area (and other parts of Seattle) is actually the former second floor of buildings. Due to many reasons, the first floors were covered over and the street level was raised to its current height.

The tour is not continuously underground. Be prepared to go up and down stairs three times as you visit three different sections of Pioneer Square. Once downstairs, though, be prepared for a glimpse into the past.

The Underground Tour is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Seattle, especially if you are in the Pioneer Square area. They put a humorous twist to it (with plenty of bad jokes), which makes it very enjoyable for history buffs and normal people alike. Unfortunately, there is no way to book a regular tour in advance, though private tours are available by calling at least 2 weeks in advance. You must book regular tours the day of the tour, and you must book it early in the day. The cost is $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and students, and $5 for children.

More information: http://www.undergroundtour.com/
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
608 First Ave.
Seattle, Washington 98104
206 682 4646

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Frye Art Museum

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Attraction

Frye Art Museum Photo - Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington

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This is a small museum on the east side of Seattle that is dedicated to representational art. I drove to the museum, though it might be possible to walk there from downtown and the other main attractions in Seattle. Based on my visit, this is not a main attraction of Seattle.The main permanent collection is "Spectatorship & Desire: Lust, Loss, and Love." The artwork examines relationships between consuming, collecting, memory, language, and interpretation of viewers, of art, and the art as an object. Never before had I seen so many paintings crammed into one gallery. They are displayed floor to ceiling with only a few inches between each painting.On my visit there was a...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Frye Art Museum
704 Terry Ave
Seattle, Washington 98104
(206) 622-9250

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Pike Place Market

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Attraction

Lobster tails Photo - Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

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A visit to Seattle is not complete without a visit to the Pike Place Market. Though it is a fully functioning market where locals buy their fruits and vegetables and seafood, that fact seems to be overlooking by the stores and gimmicks specifically set up for the thousands of tourists that visit the market daily.As you probably have seen on TV, there is fish market that has their workers throw big fish across the room while tourists snap pictures and watch in amazement. This is, of course, just for fun…and the men at the fish market don’t really need to throw the fish, nor repeatedly scream out the name of what they are throwing. But, of everything at the market, it is by far the most p...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Pike Place Market
85 Pike Street
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 682-7453

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Seattle Asian Art Museum

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Attraction

Seattle Asian Art Museum Photo - Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle, Washington

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Located in Volunteer Park, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is a small, yet interesting, museum with plenty of interesting art. Half of the museum is dedicated to Asian artists, and the other half is dedicated to...well, non-Asian artists.The museum appears to have lots of rotating artwork. On my visit was a very interesting short film called Tooba, by Shirin Neshat. This film was projected on two screens opposite one another, and displaying different things. Very clever. Another good display was the photography of Johsel Namkung. This Korean artist has many photos of the local landscape, but taken in such unique ways that you have to take a second look at each one to figure out what it ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Seattle Asian Art Museum
1400 East Prospect St
Seattle, Washington 98112
(206) 654-3100

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Volunteer Park

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Attraction

Mt. Rainier from Volunteer Park Photo - Volunteer Park, Seattle, Washington

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Off the beaten path from all the mainstream tourist areas in Seattle is Volunteer Park, a 48-acre park with trails, picnic areas, tennis courts, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park Conservatory, and a water tower (more on that later in this review). It’s a good place to eat lunch, relax, and feel like you live there.The park is north of downtown, a few blocks east of Interstate 5.Inside Volunteer Park is a water tower. If you climb the 100+ steps to the top, you will find amazing views of downtown Seattle and the surrounding areas. And, the best part is that it is totally free. Visible from the tower are the Space Needle, downtown Seattle, Puget Sound, Mount Rainie...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 11, 2006

Volunteer Park
1247 15th Ave East
Seattle, Washington 98102

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