Washington State otters; I need activities

[escos]

...preferably X-mas type activities.

I'm taking my Japanese wife to visit family in Seattle this December, and other than a whirlwind trip when we got married, this will be the first time she has spent any substantial time in the area.

Being that I grew up in the area, I never really did any of the touristy things, but she wants to do some sight seeing and activities. She is talking about a day trip to leavenworth to see the Christmas stuff, and I was thinking about seeing "The Nutcracker".

Anything else to recommend?

We will be staying in Everett/Seattle/Bainbridge Island for about two weeks. Driving a few hours is not a problem.

Said wife on the far right.

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[Glass Man]

A day trip to Leavenworth could be really tough depending on conditions on Stevens Pass...could be anywhere from 'bare and dry' top closed due to extreme avalanche conditions. Downtown Seattle will be nicely decorated for Christmas, so I'd plan on spending at least an evening shopping/sightseeing/eating/drinking - bring your GoreTex though as rain is almost guaranteed.

Oh, and cute wife!

[escos]

Thanks! I was planning on spending at least one evening dining/shopping in downtown, we can just walk over from the Island, I need to start looking into good restaurants, I'm sure nothing is the same since I last lived there.

Didn't think about Stevens pass, hopefully the conditions aren't bad

[odeezie]

Yeah I live in Downtown and it's AWESOME during Christmas season. Make sure you take her for a horse carraige ride, if she'd be into that sorta thing.

Maybe you could do a ferry ride around the islands and look at the Christmas lights that all the nice houses have on the water. The rides are super cheap, and I think free depending on where you go. (for pedestrian rides)

[Vostok 7]

Leavenworth = Teh awesome.

Roslyn is a fun small town in the winter, don't know if anything is planned but there's neat shops and ~THE~ best pizza in the northwest (Village). Make sure to wave as you drive through

Vostok 7

[subaragnarok]

I would definitely see Nutcracker Suite, always a good show. The botanical gardens in Bellevue are REALLY nice around xmas

[shawmacs]

Keep driving north to BC

[ANZAC_1915]

Snoqualmie Falls?
Pikes Place Market?
go up and see the sound (e.g. Port Townsend)?

My daughter is performing in the Nutcracker at McCaw Hall.
(this is the 4th year running I've been driving either of them to perform in it)

[ANZAC_1915]

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

Roslyn is a fun small town in the winter, don't know if anything is planned but there's neat shops and ~THE~ best pizza in the northwest (Village). Make sure to wave as you drive through

The pizza is great, and the Brick (pub) across the street is great too.

[rare]

Make her get a job so you can party with old buddies.

[Vostok 7]

Originally Posted by ANZAC_1915

The pizza is great, and the Brick (pub) across the street is great too.

Indeed!

Just make sure you don't crash on a back road on Snoqualmie Pass in a white WRX while you're there, OP...

<3 you Glenn!

Vostok 7

[escos]

Originally Posted by ANZAC_1915

Snoqualmie Falls?
Pikes Place Market?
go up and see the sound (e.g. Port Townsend)?

My daughter is performing in the Nutcracker at McCaw Hall.
(this is the 4th year running I've been driving either of them to perform in it)

Good suggestions.

We will be watching the PNB's nutcracker while we are there. When will they be performing?

Snoqualmie falls is a good idea, my aunt lives in North Bend, we can stop by and see her on the way

And we have to visit my grandma and St3fan in port Townsend

Keep 'em coming!

[escos]

Originally Posted by rare

Make her get a job so you can party with old buddies.

My buddies better pick me up with an 8ball and a blunt the size of michigan

[Keiji22]

Avoid Tacoma...














...I'm there.

[escos]

Originally Posted by Keiji22

Avoid Tacoma...

...I'm there.

I avoid it like the plague anyway, you being there is an added bonus.

[Keiji22]

Originally Posted by escos

I avoid it like the plague anyway, you being there is an added bonus.

My rokujutsu is enough to keep escos away.

Plus, the morning low-tide aroma will probably scare your girl away from America for good.

[LilBunnyFooFoo]

Hi escos! I'm happy you're returning to lovely Seattle for a little while.

The Nutcracker is playing at the PNB from Nov. 27th to Dec. 30th.
http://www.pnb.org/Season/09-10/Nutcracker/
I've been there before to watch a Director's Choice show, and it was amazing. You and your wife will thoroughly enjoy this place.

At Snoqualmie Falls there is a newish casino there called Sno Casino (http://snocasino.com). It would be worth swinging by, especially if you're up there anyways. There are lounges and bars with nice big glass windows that face out to the mountains, and the view is really breath-taking (and even more so in the winter, I imagine). You could even sit outside on the balcony, snuggle by the heat lamps, and drink some wine as you take in the scenery. Romantic, no?

The other big things (Pike Place, Space Needle, Leavenworth, downtown Seattle) are all great too. You should also come out to Sammamish/Issaquah and visit. Although... there isn't much to do here. There is a XXX burger joint though!

[escos]

Omg! A small woodland creature

[LilBunnyFooFoo]

If I think of anything else, I'll hop back in here. :P

[boxered]

Go out into the woods, look for Sasquatch. She'll never forget it.

[BraveUlysses]

Make sure your plans do not involve going to EMP.

[QuadCoreDueller]

Hmmm, all these are very general mainstream touristy stuff. No fun, over crowded, and paying a premium.

Check this out, it is about an hour north of Seattle.

Lights of Christmas

The good: over a million lights.
The bad: it is at a Christian camp. You can steer clear of the propoganda, it is all in one corner of the setup anyways.
The best: the donut holes, made on the spot, super cheap, the BEST.

[escos]

Alright, here are my plans so far.

Planning a drive up the Kitsap peninsula for sightseeing
Bought tickets for the Seahawks/49ers game 12/6
Bought tickets for the PNW ballet's Nutcracker 12/10
Booked an overnight in Leavenworth for 12/13-14

Now I need recommendations for good restaurants and shopping in downtown to impress the wife and make her want to move to Seattle

[srsly]

Originally Posted by escos

Now I need recommendations for good restaurants and shopping in downtown to impress the wife and make her want to move to Seattle

Etta's in the market. Great seafood, bit pricey.

Dahlia Lounge on 4th & Virginia. Also pricey, but dang good.

Wild Ginger on 3rd & Union. Thai fusion, pricey and awesome.

Pink Door in the market. Less pricey, good food, cozy atmosphere, too bad it's winter because they have the best patio downtown IMO. sometimes they have live entertainment, which is great. it ranges from burlesque/cabaret shows to your more traditional musical act.

Le Pichet on 1st & virginia. i haven't been there but i'm told it's the best french restaurant in town. i can only assume that means it's expensive

Boka on 1st & madison. again, pricey. but they do northwest cuisine and it's usually pretty daring. the whole idea of the restaurant is innovation in cooking so it's almost guaranteed to be good. though the portions were a bit small for my taste


these are all downtown, most within walking distance of the ferry terminal, and they are all mostly fancy dinner. if you want some more local-type places i'm sure we can find you some

[escos]

Originally Posted by srsly

Etta's in the market. Great seafood, bit pricey.

Dahlia Lounge on 4th & Virginia. Also pricey, but dang good.

Wild Ginger on 3rd & Union. Thai fusion, pricey and awesome.

Pink Door in the market. Less pricey, good food, cozy atmosphere, too bad it's winter because they have the best patio downtown IMO. sometimes they have live entertainment, which is great. it ranges from burlesque/cabaret shows to your more traditional musical act.

Le Pichet on 1st & virginia. i haven't been there but i'm told it's the best french restaurant in town. i can only assume that means it's expensive

Boka on 1st & madison. again, pricey. but they do northwest cuisine and it's usually pretty daring. the whole idea of the restaurant is innovation in cooking so it's almost guaranteed to be good. though the portions were a bit small for my taste


these are all downtown, most within walking distance of the ferry terminal, and they are all mostly fancy dinner. if you want some more local-type places i'm sure we can find you some

Nice! Thanks for the quick reply! It looks like we'll be staying mostly on Bainbridge Island with my mom, so we'll walk across on the Ferry and explore downtown quite a bit.

Are there any good brewpubs or taphouses I can hit? Maybe a place to grab a good sandwich?