6 1/2 hrs stopover in Seattle?

Any suggestions for entertainment on a monday morning in May?

Does it make sense going downtown or on the tower / Space Needle?

Thank you
Peter

Is this a stop on a cruise? Do you know which pier you're using?

No, it's a stopover at the airport and I was thinking if it's worth going downtown in Seattle?

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[quote name='Kruizefan']No, it's a stopover at the airport and I was thinking if it's worth going downtown in Seattle?

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When we were there in 2014, it cost $2.50 to ride the rail to downtown from the airport, (if I remember correctly a half hour ride) and within the downtown area the busses were free. We really enjoyed the undercity tour, explaining how Seattle was built, it took a couple of hours.

You can decide.

If you're clearing US border controls at SEA, you'll need to estimate an hour to get through immigration and customs, and re-checking any bags. Then from the customs exit to the light rail station is around a 10 min. walk.

If you're deplaning and don't have luggage issues (i.e. it's checked through) then from the arriving gate to the light rail station is probably half an hour.

Assuming a 15 min. wait for the next train, and a 40 min. ride to the Westlake stop (the farthest) I'd give it an hour of travel time from exiting the airport.

Returning, the same in reverse, except you probably should allow 90 min. to get through security and to your flight, so call it 2 1/2 hours end-to-end.

Add it all up, and of your 6 1/2 hours you're spending around 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 in travel mode.

So with 2 to 3 hours in downtown Seattle, what could you do?

It's around a 5-10 min. walk from Westlake to the Pike Place Market, one of Seattle's two most popular visitor attractions. You could walk there, have a meal, stroll around a little, then back to the station and back to the airport.

From Westlake you can go up to the monorail station (same building, different floor) and take the monorail to Seattle Center. It goes more or less to the base of the Space Needle, the other big attraction. The monorail trip itself is quick, but you might have to wait for the next train, so a visit to the Space Needle might be time-constrained. The Space Needle is also quite expensive to visit.

So it's your decision - a busy but short time in central Seattle, with much of your time spent in transit, or a relaxed but airport-based layover. One thing to note is that Seattle's airport has an excellent terminal waiting area, with branches of a number of first-rate local restaurants, free wi-fi, and comfortable seating. You could do far worse with a long layover.

Here's a link to the Light Rail / scehdule:
[url]http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Central-Link-light-rail[/url]

A taxi from downtown to Seatac is currently a fixed fare of $42. If you're running late during your visit, catch a cab back to the airport. That will save you 30 minutes.

Another idea is to visit the Museum of Flight, located in south Seattle, nearer to the airport than downtown. It is possible to store bags there while touring the expansive museum, also possible to have a meal in the museum café. You'd use up less of your allowed time with transportation and navigation, and a taxi fare would be less than into the city. Although it doesn't get the same tourist press as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, the Museum of Flight is one of our prime Seattle attractions.

[quote name='PNW Traveler']Another idea is to visit the Museum of Flight, located in south Seattle, nearer to the airport than downtown. It is possible to store bags there while touring the expansive museum, also possible to have a meal in the museum café. You'd use up less of your allowed time with transportation and navigation, and a taxi fare would be less than into the city. Although it doesn't get the same tourist press as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, the Museum of Flight is one of our prime Seattle attractions.[/QUOTE]Interesting idea, thanx. But nothing to attract DW.



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Another possibility is to get off the light rail at the International District Station and walk 2 blocks to Uwajimaya, a fabulous pan-Asian supermarket and department store. They have a nice little Asian food court, great souvenir shopping, buy weird Japanese snacks for your trip, play "name the vegetable" in the produce section, and get a feel for Seattle's Pacific Rim location. Very enjoyable.

[url]http://www.uwajimaya.com/stores/seattle[/url]
[url]http://www.yelp.com/biz/uwajimaya-seattle[/url]

since you have 6.5 hours jump on the LRV and go downtown. As it has been said it takes 45+ minutes but is an interesting ride . At westlake , it doesnt take long to check out pike place market.

It beats hanging out at the airport for many hours.

[quote name='Kruizefan']Interesting idea, thanx. But nothing to attract DW.



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Perhaps your wife would like this idea:

There is a beautiful pacific northwest lodge very near the airport. [url]http://cedarbrooklodge.com[/url]
Its restaurant features locally sourced items and is known to many locals as a fine restaurant. It would be easy to take a taxi to the lodge. They also have a spa and lovely grounds with natural landscaping and walkways. You would have a break from the busy airport scene.

[quote name='Kruizefan']Interesting idea, thanx. But nothing to attract DW.
[/QUOTE]

Then I guess the question is, "What does attract your wife (and yourself)?"

Regional cuisine?
Scenery?
Unique local flavor?
Jewelry?
Butterflies?
History?
Cocktails?
Music?
Culture?
Shopping?

A random Monday in May is likely to be overcast, making the Space Needle or Columbia Tower less attractive. Besides, as has been pointed out, your 6-1/2 hours is really more like 2-1/2 hours of actual touring. I'm not sure that taking an elevator to the top of a building just to see the view would justify all that energy, time and expense.

Just to ask - Do you have a specific date? May 25 is a national holiday in the USA; Memorial Day. The Seattle Center hosts an annual "traditional crafts/music" sort of festival that weekend called The Folklife Festival.

If it's some other random Monday, well, it sort of comes down to what you find interesting that justifies spending more time in transit than in sight-seeing.