But what to do before-hand...

Stealth

Hi All.

Yes, I'm new to the forums (but that's beside the point).


This is going to be my first year for attending PAX and I'll be driving to Seattle (12 hour drive each way). I've got my hotels booked for the actual days PAX takes place, but I'm debating going down early. I've actually got the entire week leading up to it off from work, and I've never been to Seattle before. Anyone else in a similar boat and want to do some sight seeing, or show a foreigner (Yep... Canadian) around the city before the big event? Thought about taking in a Mariners game, but they don't have any home games that week that I could attend *sob*, so I need ideas. *Four* days worth of ideas.


Thanks guys!
-Stealth

Moe Fwacky

If you're driving in from Canada, you need to check out the Canadian Supertrip
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=14734
this is right up your alley

edit: what i gather from your post is that you are currently planning on arriving in seattle several days before pax and leaving immediately thereafter. I strongly recommend you reverse that and drive down with the CST and spend your remaining vacationing time after PAX taking in the sights and sounds of Seattle.

Stealth

That is a good idea, but that week was the only week I could get holidays. I was actually reading about the Canadian super-trip and it does sound like a lot of fun, but ideally if I can squeeze an extra few days of Seattle in I think that'd be a blast. But who knows, maybe I will end up going down as part of the great Canadian convoy!

KaitouAyashi

First, where are you staying? Since we're staying at the Paramount, pretty much all you have to do is walk out the door and wander. All of downtown Seattle is at your fingertips, including Pike Place Market. From downtown you can monorail to near the Space Needle and Pacific Science Center. That sentence above can kill at least two days, depending on what you're interested in. We're driving in on Thursday afternoon/evening and might hit the Needle (bf has never been) and GameWorks.

Stealth

I'm going to be at 8th Ave Inn, I guess it's pretty much right around the corner, and only about $100/night... but yeah, I was thinking about doing the Space Needle, and seeing if there's any sort of Nirvana museum (I know there's a Jimmy Hendrix museum there...)

KaitouAyashi

*slaps forehead* DUR. You could kill most of a day wandering around the Experience Music Project, which is near the Needle and Pacific Science Center - and will likely have stuff on Nirvana in addition to Jimi Hendrix. http://www.emplive.org

Alright I have GOT to go to bed.

Stealth

Hey, good idea.

Thanks for the info!

HotSake

Definitely check out the sci-fi museum. It's right next to the EMP. In fact, you can get a package deal to see both.

Tonkka

Stealth wrote: »

Hi All.

Yes, I'm new to the forums (but that's beside the point).


This is going to be my first year for attending PAX and I'll be driving to Seattle (12 hour drive each way). I've got my hotels booked for the actual days PAX takes place, but I'm debating going down early. I've actually got the entire week leading up to it off from work, and I've never been to Seattle before. Anyone else in a similar boat and want to do some sight seeing, or show a foreigner (Yep... Canadian) around the city before the big event? Thought about taking in a Mariners game, but they don't have any home games that week that I could attend *sob*, so I need ideas. *Four* days worth of ideas.


Thanks guys!
-Stealth

Yes, sadly the Mariners will be in Texas that weekend... a game at Safeco field is great. You'll have to visit for another gane some other time!

babelfish

I was talking to a coworker tonight -- we both agree that Safeco is the nicest stadium we've ever seen a ballgame in.

ElectricTurtle

Normally I would volunteer to show somebody around, but I'm afraid my newborn makes that rather impossible. I'm lucky enough to have family to watch her during PAX.

Definitely find some time to explore the International District and the Fremont neighborhood. You might also stop in Everett at the Future of Flight Center on the way down for the Boeing factory tour. I worked in the Everett factory for a year or so nonconsecutive, and I was always in awe of the place. It's really one of the most underappreciated world wonders, in fact the largest single enclosed volume in the world, capable of fitting 13 iterations of the Empire State Building inside. Don't forget the Museum of Flight in Seattle either, their new Personal Courage addition is awesome.

ThePimpImp

Me and my buddy started a lan that could end up lasting 2 weeks, lol

TrainwreckX

KaitouAyashi wrote: »

*slaps forehead* DUR. You could kill most of a day wandering around the Experience Music Project, which is near the Needle and Pacific Science Center - and will likely have stuff on Nirvana in addition to Jimi Hendrix. http://www.emplive.org

Alright I have GOT to go to bed.

Yeah, they have a "Northwest Music" area that covers all the big ones, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. At least that was the case last time I went.

You do also know, from Hot Sake's post, that there is a Science Fiction Museum in the same building that is equal or greater to the music museum (depending on your tastes). Giant full-sized Queen Alien anyone? The sci-fi museum covers the best of Sci-Fi movies, books, and TV. Great stuff, and I think you can get a single pass that let's you see both museums for one price.

If you have never been to seattle, these two museums, and the Pacific Science Center (just on the OTHER side of the Space Needle, and easy walking distance from the museums).

The exhibit at the Pacific Science Center is still the dinosaur exhibit. Check it out here: http://pacificsciencecenter.org/

Edit:

ElectricTurtle wrote: »

You might also stop in Everett at the Future of Flight Center on the way down for the Boeing factory tour. I worked in the Everett factory for a year or so nonconsecutive, and I was always in awe of the place. It's really one of the most underappreciated world wonders, in fact the largest single enclosed volume in the world, capable of fitting 13 iterations of the Empire State Building inside. Don't forget the Museum of Flight in Seattle either, their new Personal Courage addition is awesome.

Yes! If you can stop in Everett on your way down (it's 40 miles north of Seattle right on I-5) then do this! I live about 5 minutes from this plant, and I always have. It still never ceases to amaze me to this day. This is the plant where they actually assemble most of the large-body commercial airplanes including the 767, 757, 747, 777, and the upcoming 787 Dreamliner.

Stealth

Hey, thanks so much for all the great ideas guys. I appreciate them. But yeah, sucks the Mariners will be in Texas Unless I can make it there by 1:30pm Sunday the 19th, or if I catch a came at 7pm on the Monday i was going to leave doubt I'll get to see the field

Raiden333

Last year I tried to check out the EMP on Monday. The thing is I was up all night at a party on Sunday night and I ended up falling asleep in the theatre.

ctishman

Actually, the way it works is that it's a dual ticket to the EMP/SFM. Admission to one museum gets you into the other free. I think admission is something like 15 bucks.

TrainwreckX

ctishman wrote: »

Actually, the way it works is that it's a dual ticket to the EMP/SFM. Admission to one museum gets you into the other free. I think admission is something like 15 bucks.

There you go, that's the one I was talking about.

Are you a Mariners fan Stealth? I haven't seen a game this season either, when I usually have seen at least 3 by this point. Work makes busy people

atray

EMP is $19.95

Tonkka

TrainwreckX wrote: »

ctishman wrote: »

Actually, the way it works is that it's a dual ticket to the EMP/SFM. Admission to one museum gets you into the other free. I think admission is something like 15 bucks.

There you go, that's the one I was talking about.

Are you a Mariners fan Stealth? I haven't seen a game this season either, when I usually have seen at least 3 by this point. Work makes busy people

I've only been to 3 games so far this season, which is unfortunate since I get tickets offered left and right but I too am too busy with work stuff... but opening day is always a must (and usually a day off of work too).

There's plenty to do in my old Seattle otherwise though...

TrainwreckX

Oh yeah, and if you don't live near a good zoo, you will definitely want to check out the Woodland Park Zoo in north Seattle. It's no San Diego, but it's still pretty big, and I still think it's a ton of fun! I try to go every year (I think I'll try and go this weekend).