Seattle Area - Sun, Snow, Salmon,and Suds

An April 2001 trip to Seattle by Tombrew

Pike PubMore Photos

With the end of the Delta Escape Plan upon me, I used it one last time and spent a long weekend in Seattle.

  • 8 reviews
  • 13 photos
So much to do here! Pike Place Market, Space Needle, music venues, many parks, and hiking. If you can't find something to do here, yopu won't anywhere.

Quick Tips:

Do not drive on the freeway if a ballgame is going to start or end soon.

Best Way To Get Around:

Downtown buses are free, downtown monorail, and a generally pedestrian and bike-friendly town.
This was actually a nice place for an airport hotel. I stayed here on the special weekend rate of $79, as the downtown hotel did not have any rooms available at this rate. But it quickly became $100 since parking was $14 per day - ouch! The room was very nice, and offered a special keyboard for web access at $10 per 24 hours. As a Gold member, a very good breakfast was free. This hotel is actually very convenient if you are going to travel south, as I did on Sunday. Nearby are convenience stores, and of course the airport is only a 5 minute drive.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center
17620 PACIFIC HWY SO Seattle, Washington 98188
206 244-4800

Pike Pub & BreweryBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Pike Pub and Brewery"

Pike Pub
I love brewpubs. My name is actually not Tom Brew, but is a nickname since I am a brewer of fine beers at home. Anyway, I went to this nice pub on Sunday after a long day of hiking and grave visitation. There were many on-premesis beers on tap, averaging about $3 a pints. I started with an India Pale Ale, which is a variety of British ale that is very heavily hopped. This one was delicious, with a pleasant bitterness on the front end followed by the nice sweet hoppy character. The bartender recommended a Pale Ale that was on sale for $1.50, so I tried one. It was also very good, lower key but still hoppy. I ordered a salmon platter for dinner - $12.95 - and it was really fresh and delicious. It was accompanied by so-so fries, but the salmon was absolutely mouth-watering. Yum...
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

Pike Pub & Brewery
1415 First Ave Seattle, Washington 98101
+1 206 622 6044

Kerry Park & ViewpointBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Kerry Park"

Seattle
This is a small park in a gorgeous neighborhood that is a great place to view the city and take pics. It is in the Queen Anne section just north of downtown. To get to it, take Queen Anne St. north from the area near the Space Needle, go up a steep hill for a few blocks to Highland. Go left for two blocks and park. You are there.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

Kerry Park & Viewpoint
211 W Highland Dr Seattle, Washington
(206) 684-4075

Pike Place MarketBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Pike Place
The world famous Pike Place Market is a must see for the Seattle visitor. This is where the guys toss the fish. You've seen this. It is a real experience for all of your senses. I went there on a beautiful sunny Saturday, and it was hopping. There were a lot of locals about (you can tell by the Mariners shirts)as well as tourists. There is a melting pot of people here - many Asians and native Americans. You can buy wonderful seafood for shipment anywhere, or you can order it and eat it here. I ended up getting some seafood and carrying it to the nearby park to eat with the masses. There are five levels of shops and stores in the marketplace, selling pretty much anything. The street musicians are very entertaining, particularly some gospel singers who were great!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

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

Space NeedleBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Another Shot
What can you say about this thing? Built in 1962 for the Seattle Worlds Fair, this is what a lot of people think of when they hear "Seattle." The observation deck is 520 feet up, so the view is outstanding. And of course, you can buy Starbuck's coffee up there! There is a gift shop at the base selling anything you can imagine. I bought some baby stuff with the Space needle logo for my sister who is due to deliver any minute now. At the top, a guide will help you understand what you are looking at - I recommend following her, if only for a short while.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

Space Needle
400 Broad Street Seattle, Washington 98109
(206) 905-2111

Rainier
Well, this redneck Atlantan went unprepared - I hate taking bunches of stuff when I travel. The forecast said near 60 degrees for Seattle, so I did not bring my hiking boots or cold weather gear. I reached the park entrance, and drove up and up. After 15 miles or so, there was a sign that said that 410 was closed. The reason was that there was what appeared to be about two feet of snow on the ground, and a lot on Highway 410.

I parked the car at the intersection of 410 and another road, and decided to hike the closed highway, since I lacked my boots. This was a good decision. The scenery is beautiful up here, even on a gray and snowy day (not to mention, COLD). There is total and complete silence here - no cars, no cell phones, nothing. I hiked about three miles and the snow was deeper and deeper on the road. Some guy on a bicycle rode past me on the way back down. There were comforting signs indicating avalanche warnings.

The hike up and back took about three hours. There are many trails in this beautiful park, and I plan on going back to hike them properly. It is difficult to see the big mountain itself, due to the fog, but I did see it, in its 14,000 foot glory.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

Mount Rainier National Park
Tahoma Woods, Star Route Seattle, Washington 98304
(360) 569-2211

Jimi Hendrix GraveBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Are You Experienced?
I had to visit the grave of the greatest guitarist who ever played. This passionate, brilliant, and sensitive man foolishly ended his life, but he left us with his music. The grave is in the Greenwood Cemetery in the town of Renton. Take 405 to Renton, go on 167 north into town, and right into the Highlands area. I was lost, and found the place by simply following intuition, so can't give real good directions. When you get to the cemetary, go inside, and the wonderful and helpful employees will give you a map to the site.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Tombrew on April 29, 2001

Jimi Hendrix Grave
Greenwood Memorial Park - 350 Monroe Avenue Northeast Renton 98056
(425) 255-1511

About the Writer

Tombrew
Tombrew
Marina del Rey, California

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