Seattle Favorite Tips by joiwatani Top 5 Page for this destination

Greyhound Bus Station to Chinatown

Favorite thing: Take bus number 510 or 513 and stop by the China Town.

If you have an Iphone, download the Onebusaway Application and this is very useful. It's a free application. You can seach the number of the bus, location, or Stop number and will tell you exactly which bus to take and what time the bus is coming. This application is only good for Seattle and other cities of King County and Snohomish County.

Photography in Seattle

Favorite thing: If you are looking for a place to take a great picture of the City of Seattle, you have to go to the Alki Point during the summer time.

Seattle's weather is great during the months of July, August and September and this is the best time to come to Seattle and to take great photography. You can go to the Lavender Farm, to the lakes and anywhere. There are so many places to take your best shots of Seattle.

The best time to visit Seattle

Favorite thing: The best time to visit Seattle is during the months of July, August and September when there is not a lot of rain.

August is the busiest month of Seattle because there are so many festivals downtown. Seattle also has the popular Torchlight Parade, Blue Angels' Airshow, Chinese Festival, Filipino Festival, Bon Odori Festival, Bite of Seattle, etc. Every week, there are so many events to see.

Also, it is best to just take the bus if you intend to go downtown because of the parking problems. There are parking available but they are expensive.

Visit the Seattle Center Seattle Center Review

Favorite thing: %Once you are at the Space Needle, you might as well go to the Seattle Center, Music Museum Project, and the Pacific Science Center, and the water fountain. These are all in one location.

Fondest memory: I bring my visitors here because of the famous Space Needle and because there are so much to see. There is the fountain nearby where the children can go down and play with the water. Also, parents can just sit on the grass while their children are having fun down the water fountain.

There is also a playground where children can play. Local residents come here to just hang out under the trees and just sit on the grasses during the summer time.

Pike Place Market Parking Pike Place Market Review

Favorite thing: If you are heading to the Pike Place Market by a car, make sure to go early to get the Early Bird Special on parking fees. It cost only $6.00 per day. Otherwise, the parking fee is astronomical!

The parking that has early bird special in Pike Place Market is located at the junction of Pike Place and Alaskan Way.

Fondest memory: I love Seattle because it is very close to the ocean, close to the mountains, close to everything. Also, I love it's cultural and multi-ethnic diversity.

Seattle has the best school system, great police forces for security and safety reasons, great restaurants, great neighborhood and many more to mention. It is not that big of a city. It is just about right.

Take the skybridge and/or elevator Pike Place Market Review

Favorite thing: This is what I discovered just recently and I have to share with you travelling to Seattle. Since driving here is crazy and the parking is super expensive, you might as well park to a place where it is close to everything and you don't have to do a lot of walking! (Especially those who have children who are in strollers or those who have disability).

Park on Western Avenue close to the World Spice Market. Then take the elevator down to go to the Waterfront or the sky bridge. You can, again, take the elevator to go up to the Pike Place Market. The Waterfront includes the Seattle Aquarium, Argossy Cruises, Waterfront Park, Pier 57 and Pier 59, the ferry terminals to Bainbridge Island, the Fisherman's Wharf, the Carousel, the Crab Pot, Pirates' Plunder, etc.

Fondest memory: I just love walking around the waterfront and look at the Puget Sound. The ferries come and go.

Getting in and out at the Sea-Tac Airport

Favorite thing: The Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport was just recently renovated. It is one of the largest and busiest airport in the Northwest United States.

When getting out from your plane, you still have to ride to a subway train going to the baggage claim. The subway train is fast so, you might like to seat down and grab some handles as the train is really fast. There is a voice translation of the train in English, and Japanese. (Japanese is the second largest tourist group coming to Seattle).

After embarking the subway train, you follow sign to the baggage claim. If you have a lot of luggages, there are pushcarts that you have to pay for 25 cents (you get them back if you return the pushcart. If you don't return the pushcart, then you lose the 25 cents!).

If your plane is coming from a different country, you still take the subway. Then you take the escalator that leads you to the main entrance of the Immigration Department. There are many booths in there separated from US citizens and Non-U.S citizens. The Immigration officers are usually polite, very formal but friendly. You must show your passport and sign a form of declaration - how much money you are bringing to the United States, How long you are visiting, Your address while in the United States and if you are bringing taxable items.

If you already have a visa prior to coming to the United States, then you proceed to the baggage claim. There are security personnel with sniffing dogs. These dogs sniff bags containing contravand goods. Make sure that you don't bring this to the country!

After that, then you can freely get out from the airport. There are no scammers at the airport. You are safe and your luggages are safe.

The airport taxi, shuttle and bus are located close to the airport. Taxis are usually charging $25.00 minimum going to downtown Seattle. The bus is $2.00 with a transfer ticket.

Fondest memory: The airport has been renovated and there are now nice artworks on display at every corner of the airport. There is also a kiosk put it with nice lightings.

Some vintage airplanes are also on display hanging at the ceiling at the exit of the domestic terminal. It is very pleasant to see. They also put in some nice areas to relax with nice black leather couches.

Buy a City Pass

Favorite thing: If you are planning to visit Seattle, make sure to buy a City Pass. With the City Pass, you can visit 5 famous Seattle attractions for one low price. You can visit the Museum of Flight, Argosy Harbor Tours Cruise, Woodland Park Zoo, Pacific Science Center and Seattle Aquarium. You actually save about $53.25 if you buy the City Pass which only cost $39.50. The City Pass is good for nine days fromt the first use./

Call this number: 707-256-0490

The website is www.citypass.com

Here's the price of the City Pass:

Adults $49.50 (a savings of $54.35)
Youth: 3-12 years old: $24.00 (a savings of $24.00)

Fondest memory: There is nothing like going to the Space Needle and visiting the Pike Place Market.