Magical Mystery Tour West 2017: SCHEDULE POSTED

punzie · August 2017

2017 Magical Mystery Tour of Seattle!
Twitter: @PAX_MMT

Who: You! And me. And other PAX peeps. AKA your future friends.
What: Visit interesting places in and around Seattle.
Where: Schedule posted below.
When: The two days before PAX: Wed 8/30 and Thurs 8/31. Traditionally runs from 9am to 5pm but you don't have to do the whole thing. (Follow the twitter feed for live updates of where we are.)
Why: See something of Seattle other than the convention center and your hotel. And do it with cool people!
How: Seattle's public transit.

Schedule
Wednesday:
No Punzie-led tour this day. You can join @acaraba2 on a trip to Mt Rainer and/or the True Crime free walking tour at 7pm.

Thursday:
9-9:45 pike place market
9:45 meet at gold pig in front of fish throwers
10-12 Seattle 101 free walking tour (reserve your ticket in advance)
12-2 lunchbox labs
2-?? Seattle center (space needle, emp, chiluly glass)

Potential stops:
Hidden until next year.

Here is the current list of places we may visit. Read them over, visit the websites, form an opinion, discuss their merits in this thread. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUGGEST NEW DESTINATIONS!
-Add-a-Ball

What: Vintage arcade. From the website: "We have the largest collection of vintage coin operated arcade machines in the city, along with a stunning line up of pinball machines."
Price: free to enter, pay to drink/play
Hours: 4pm - 1am
Website: http://add-a-ball.com/
Additional Notes: 21+

-Alki Beach

What: A long beach strip that runs from Alki Point to Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay. There are picnic tables, a bathhouse housing an art studio, and a restroom at the south (Alki Point) end of the beach, and there you'll find the monument to the arrival of the first white settlers on November 13, 1851.
Price: Free!
Hours: 4am - 11:30pm
Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445

-Archie McPhee's

What: A toy shop for the weird and unusual.
Price: Free to enter
Hours: 10am - 8pm
Website: http://www.archiemcpheeseattle.com/

-Ballard Locks

What: Locks between Puget Sound and the freshwater canals. Do you like boats? Or watching fish climb ladders?
Price: Free!
Hours: anytime
Website: http://www.seattle.gov/TOUR/locks.htm

-Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

What: Learn about some innovative philanthropy.
Price: free!
Hours: 10am - 6pm
Website: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Visitor-Center

-Boehms Candies

What: 45 minute tour of a chocolate factory sampling opportunities.
Price: $5
Hours: 10:30am, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm
Website: http://www.boehmscandies.com
Additional Notes: Tours by reservation only. People with disabilities may have trouble (stairs, gravel walkways, etc), but they will do factory-only tours for those with mobility concerns.

-Boeing factory tour

What: A tour of an airplane factory. See how planes are built.
Price: $18 ($20 at the door)
Hours: 8:30am - 5:30pm, tours on the hour (last one at 3pm)
Additional Notes: 25 miles north of Seattle. No one under 4ft tall. Handicapped people require advance notice so they can make proper accommodations.
Website: http://www.futureofflight.org/

-Bullitt Center

What: 1 hour tour of the greenest commercial building in the world.
Price: $5 (+$1.17 service fee)
Hours: private tours by appointment
Website: http://bullittcenter.org/

-Chocolate Indulgence Tour

What: 2 hour guided walking tour of several local chocolatiers with tastings.
Price: $50 (+$0.99 ticketing fee)
Hours: 11am and 11:30am
Website: http://www.savorseattletours.com/tours/chocolate/
Additional Notes: Pricey and walking-intense. Max of 16 people per tour.

-Duck Tour

What: Tour Seattle by land and water on a WWII amphibious landing craft! (90 minute tour)
Price: $29 plus tax
Hours: 9:20am - 7pm from Seattle Center, 9:30am - 6pm from Westlake Center
Additional Notes: Boats are NOT wheelchair accessible: must be able to walk up 8 steps (with handrails on both sides) onto boat.
Now Strip Search approved.
Website: http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/

-EMP/Sci-Fi Museum

What: Museum for music, pop culture, and science fiction. Current exhibits include Star Wars and the Power of Costume, What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones, and Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction.
Price: $25 ($22 online)
Hours: 10am - 7pm
Website: http://www.empmuseum.org
Additional Notes: The Star Wars exhibit costs $8 extra.

-Fremont

What: The most artsy part of Seattle. Visit the Fremont Troll, Statue of Lenin, the Rocket, universal signpost or just do some shopping.
Price: Free!
Hours: anytime
Website: http://www.fremont.com/

-Full Tilt Ice Cream

What: An ice cream parlor with pinball machines.
Price: Free to enter, pay to eat/play.
Hours: 12pm - 11pm
Website: http://fulltilticecream.com

-Gas Works Park

What: public park on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant, located on the north shore of Lake Union.
Price: Free!
Hours: 6am - 10pm
Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=293

-Greenlake

What: Park with tennis court, basketball court, bike/jogging paths, and a view of the lake.
Price: Free!
Hours: anytime
Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=307

-Ice Cream Cruise

What: 45 minute narrated tour of Lake Union.
Price: ~$30
Hours: call to schedule
Website: http://www.seattleferryservice.com/
Additional Notes: They changed this to be on Sundays, so we'd have to charter a special tour, hence the price. Ice cream, coffee, and soft drinks are $2-$4 each.

-Japanese Garden

What: 3 1/2 acre formal garden designed and constructed under the supervision of world-renowned Japanese garden designer Juki Iida. Tours available.
Price: $6.00
Hours: 10am - 7pm
Website: http://www.theseattlejapanesegarden.com/
Additional Notes: Group tours available with advance notice and guide reservation fee.

-Lakeview Cemetery

What: The resting place of Bruce and Brandon Lee.
Price: Free!
Hours: anytime (?)
Website: http://www.lakeviewcemeteryassociation.com/

-Monorail

What: The nation's first full-scale commercial monorail system, it runs between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center.
Price: $2.25
Hours: 7:30am - 11pm
Website: http://www.seattlemonorail.com/

-Mount Rainier

What: Visit the scenic outdoors. Would take a whole day, but the views and nature are amazing.
Price: $15 per vehicle or $200 flat rate for the group if we rent a bus
Hours: Anytime. Museums and visitor centers have varying hours.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm
Additional Notes: 1.75 hour drive from downtown Seattle. Not accessible with public transit.

-Museum of Flight

What: One of the largest air and space museums in the world.
Price: $20
Hours: 10am -5 pm
Website: http://www.museumofflight.org/

-Museum of History and Industry

What: Largest private heritage organization in the State of Washington. MOHAI collects, preserves, and presents the rich history of the Pacific Northwest.
Price: $17
Hours: Wed 10am - 5pm, Thu 10am - 8pm
Website: http://www.seattlehistory.org/

-Old Ballard Liquor Co

What: Tastings at a distillery owned by a fellow PAX forumer.
Price: free!
Hours: 4pm - 8pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/OldBallardLiquorCo

-Olympic Sculpture Park

What: Outdoor sculpture Park on the Waterfront.
Price: Free!
Hours: sunrise - sunset
Website: http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/olympic-sculpture-park

-Pacific Science Center

What: Science! Geared a bit to the younger crowd.
Price: $19.75 IMAX and planetarium cost more.
Hours: 10am - 6pm
Website: http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/.

-Pier 57 Ferris Wheel

What: Big Ferris wheel on the edge of Puget Sound.
Price: $13 plus tax
Hours: 10am-11pm
Website: http://seattlegreatwheel.com/

-Pike Place Market

What: A Market. Wander around, do some shopping, watch the fish throwers, marvel at the gum wall. This is always our meetup place, so you're practically guaranteed time to walk around.
Price: Free to visit.
Hours: 6am - 1:30am
Website: http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=true

-Pioneer Square/Historical District

What: Seattle's original downtown.
Price: Free to wander.
Hours: anytime, but not suggested after dark
Website: http://www.seattle.gov/tour/pioneer.htm

-Public Library

What: A library. With some cool architecture.
Price: Free!
Hours: 10am - 8pm
Website: http://www.spl.org/

-Qwest Field (now CenturyLink Field)

What: 90 minute tour of this football and soccer stadium.
Price: $12
Hours: 10:30, 12:30pm & 2:30pm
Website: http://www.centurylinkfield.com/tour-centurylink-field/
Additional Notes: Arrive ~30 minutes early. Groups need advance warning. Tour can be wheelchair accessible.

-Safeco Field

What: 1 hour tour of Mariners home stadium.
Price: $10
Hours: 10:30, 12:30, 2:30
Website: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ballpark/safeco_field_tours.jsp
Additional Notes: Group tours/rates (20+ people) available with advance notice.

-Seattle Aquarium

What: An aquarium. Otters, octopi, fish, anemone, etc.
Price: $22.95
Hours: 9:30am - 5pm
Website: http://www.seattleaquarium.org/
Additional Notes: Group rates (20+ people) available if purchased in advance.

-Seattle Art Museum (downtown location)

What: Culture! Look at the art!
Price: $19.50
Hours: Wed 10am - 5pm, Thu 10am - 9pm
Website: http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/
Additional Notes: Group rate (10+ people) with advance purchase.

-Seattle Asian Art Museum

What: Culture! Look at the art, Asian-style!
Price: $9
Hours: Wed 10am - 5pm, Thu 10am - 9pm
Website: http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/asian-art-museum
Additional Notes: Group rate (10+ people) with advance purchase.

-Seattle Center

What: In addition to the big things already on this list (EMP, Pacific Science Center, Monorail, Space Needle), there are a number of smaller museums, gardens, and shops. (Like the Chihuly Garden and Glass.)
Price: Free to wander, some spots (like the museums) have their own admission prices.
Hours: Outside is always open. Shops and museums will have their own individual hours.
Website: http://www.seattlecenter.com/

-Seattle Harbor Tour (Argosy Cruises)

What: 1 hour narrated tour of the harbor.
Price: $23
Hours: 11am - 6:30pm, departing every 75min
Website: http://www.argosycruises.com/publiccruises/harbor.cfm

-Shorty's Pinball Bar

What: Full service bar with pinball and arcade machines.
Price: Free to enter, pay to eat/drink/play.
Hours: 12pm - 2am
Website: http://www.shortydog.com/
Additional Notes: 21+

-Smith Tower Closed This Year

What: Once the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, you can now visit the observation deck for 360 degree views. And you get to ride an old-fashioned manually operated elevator. (Less famous than the Space Needle, but also significantly cheaper.)
Price: $7.50
Hours: 10am - 7pm
Website: http://smithtower.com/observe/observation-deck-info-calendar/

-Space Needle

What: Icon of Seattle. Go up and look down on all the little people-ants.
Price: $24
Hours: 8am – 12am
Website: http://www.spaceneedle.com/

Additional Notes: Group rates (15+ people) available.

-Theo Chocolate

What: 1 hour tour of a chocolate factory with samples.
Price: $10
Hours: 10:30am - 4:30pm, departing every 30 minutes (except 1:30)
Website: http://www.theochocolate.com/
Additional Notes: Max group size for private tour is 25. No one can wear any perfume or cologne, must wear closed-toe shoes. Not recommended for children under 7.

-Underground Tour

What: 90 minute tour of Seattle's old city streets, now under the current ones.
Price: $19
Hours: 9am - 7pm
Website: http://www.undergroundtour.com/
Additional Notes: There is also the debauchery-filled adult version of the tour at 8 or 9pm. 21+, $25, 1 cocktail include with admission.

-University of Washington

What: A college. Tour the campus, or take in one of the museums and exhibits. Arts UW, Burke Museum, Henry Art Gallery, The Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Meany Hall for the Performing Arts, UW Botanic Gardens, UW Libraries Exhibits, Gallager Law Library, UW Fish Collection
Price: Free to wander, but some exhibits may have a fee.
Hours: Varies depending on what you want to see.
Website: http://www.washington.edu/discover/visit

-Walking Tours

What: walking tours of various Seattle areas.
Price: free! (pay what you want)
Hours: Pike Market 9:30am & 2pm, Seattle101 11am
Website: http://seattlefreewalkingtours.org/

-Wing Luke Asian Art Museum

What: Nation’s only museum devoted to the Asian Pacific American experience
Price: $14.95
Hours: 10am - 5pm
Website: http://www.wingluke.org/home.htm
Additional Notes: Includes all-day pass to gallery exhibitions & guided tour of the 1910 Historic Hotel and Yick Fung Company.

-Woodland Park Zoo

What: A zoo. Makes faces at the animals.
Price: $19.95
Hours: 9:30am - 6pm
Website: http://www.zoo.org/

acaraba2 · August 2017

I wouldn't mind fronting or covering the entire cost of the bus for this, if people want to do it. Because I do.

-Mount Rainier

What: Visit the scenic outdoors. Would take a whole day, but the views and nature are amazing.
Price: $15 per vehicle or $200 flat rate for the group if we rent a bus
Hours: Anytime. Museums and visitor centers have varying hours.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm
Additional Notes: 1.75 hour drive from downtown Seattle. Not accessible with public transit.

punzie · August 2017

I would love to do that, but figured it would never happen. I was even gonna delete it from the list.
If you want to front this, I'd be glad to give it a go. I think we'd have to do Thursday to have enough people to make it worth it. Let me look at logistics.

chaosisorder · August 2017

Would that $200 be the cost for only the park entry fee for everyone on the bus or the entry fee and bus rental cost?

acaraba2 · August 2017

I assuming that price is the entry for the park, but that wouldn't be accurate because we aren't a commercial group.

I done some looking into this myself. But don't think it would be possible to have a confirm headcount (well in advanced) on those interested to make renting the bus worthwhile (cost-wise).

A bus rental will cost closer between $600 to $1000 depending on size. Even though Thursday has the most active group, I don't think it been as work it cost wise. Because with travel time, that leaves us maybe 4 hours tops in the area, I just realize , its a more a headache time wise with people choosing to do the other community run events (Bar crawl, Board Game Night) or Xbox Indie Night.

A 12-15 passenger rental van runs about $300 for a single day in Seattle, without a driver. Where one us drives.

Either way both options would need a exact headcount. To many people, take the van option out, and to few people make a bus pointless.

Regardless, I might skip Wednesday MMT, and do this anyway. I reserved a 12 passenger van, if anyone is interested in joining otherwise I will just downsize to SUV for the day. I already talk to National Car Rental about it, so I am not to worry about it, either way.

This was one of the areas on bucket list while visiting Washington, that I haven't done the pass 2 years.

punzie · August 2017

Ok so I'll have a friend in tow who has never been to Seattle. This means:
1. We'll be doing all the typical touristy stuff that you've probably already done if you've been on an mmt before.
2. I'll only do a half day on Wednesday, starting around 1pm.

If everyone wants to join @acaraba2, I fully endorse that. It sounds great and hope people will go and enjoy themselves.

punzie · August 2017

Ok it turns out I'm totally out on Wednesday due to reasons. working on Thursday schedule now. I'm thinking:
9-10 pike place market
10-12 Seattle 101 free walking tour
12-2 lunchbox labs
2-?? Seattle center (space needle, emp, chiluly glass)

punzie · August 2017

Ok I'm locking in the walking tour. Go and reserve your ticket for Thursday the 31st at 10am: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-101-tickets-26038104672?ref=ebtn
Tour is free, tips appreciated.

Malgaras · August 2017

No vacation to spare this year

Hopefully I can catch up with you folks sometime on Thursday, but if not, have fun without me!

firemaple · August 2017

If anyone is looking for something to do on Wednesday evening, I signed up for the True Crime walking tour starting at 7pm. It would be fun if other PAXers were there! Tour Info, Registration Link.

Solelron · August 2017

firemaple wrote: »

If anyone is looking for something to do on Wednesday evening, I signed up for the True Crime walking tour starting at 7pm. It would be fun if other PAXers were there! Tour Info, Registration Link.

hrm..thats tempting. but don't think I'll be back. However I am doing 2 escape rooms in Redmond that have space if anyone wants to bus up with us for Wednesday afternoon (will require bus ride there and back)

punzie · August 2017

I might also join on the true crime thingy. I'll have to figure out other things first.

TheHermit · August 2017

I'm arriving in Seattle on Tuesday and unfortunately flying solo after a friend backed out. Will probably join you on Thursday

medellei · August 2017

I will definitely be joining you on Thursday. Had a blast at South and East this year so I'm sure this will be no different. :biggrin:

CKing · August 2017

The true crime tour looks good, but hubby and I will have to go on Thursday. We don't get in until late Wednesday. But thank you so much for suggesting it! Something that will actually get hubby out of the hotel before PAX starts.

punzie · August 2017

medellei wrote: »

I will definitely be joining you on Thursday. Had a blast at South and East this year so I'm sure this will be no different. :biggrin:

Alright! Someone I didn't scare off or lose

Remember all, this is in just a couple days! If you plan to join us on the walking tour Thursday morning, reserve your ticket now. It is free (with tips appreciated), but spots are limited.

divisionten · August 2017

I think I'll join that walking tour!

acaraba2 · August 2017

Bit late posting, But if there is anyone else interested in Mt. Rainier, I have 2 so far.

I am picking the rental tonight (around 1 am when I get to Seattle) , so if you have interest let me know, because right now it looks like I am changing it to an minivan (7 people total) or SUV (6 people total)

I will be leaving around noon on Wednesday which probably means we wouldn't get back to City till around 9 or 10 pm.

Contact Me
Skype: acaraba2@Hotmail.com (probably best)
PM on Forum
Twitter @acaraba2 (slowest response - I don't have notifications setup, but do check periodically)

divisionten · August 2017

Got walking tour tickets. No way in going to poke place that early- I get in at like midginghr on Wednesday...

punzie · August 2017

Tomorrow morning, we'll meet at the market at 9:45. Walk to end of Pike St, head under the market sign and hang out by the golden pig in front of the fish throwers there. If you want to explore the market, do that before 9:45. The 9:45 meetup is when we'll be gathering ourselves to head to the walking tour.

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