Seattle / Vancouver - what to do?

[ska///235i]

I'm going on an Alaska cruise with my gf and will be departing @ Seattle port. I'm planning to stay in Seattle for 3 days

What are some must see tourist attractions in Seattle?

also planning to drive up to Vancouver for 1 day.....Where's the good HK style Dim Sum ?

any tips will be greatly appreciated

[Nikki]

I've been to both places but I just walked around. It was fun
In Seattle, the center with the EMP is pretty neat, definitely take the monorail thing!

[Driv3r]

hmm when i went to seattle, for the same reason, i really didnt do anything too fun, not much to do in there as far as I know...go to the wharf and eat...maybe check the local aquarium..lol i have no idea, go to their baseball stadium!!

[normtrum]

Obviously your going to Techfest, which I can hardly wait for! There's tons of things to do here. The top choice for most is a trip to Pikes Place Market, which is what they always show on Monday night football. While you're there, you can cruise around the downtown area on foot. Most of the good stuff (shops, places to eat, bars, ect) is within a few block of Nordstroms. Follow the Space Needle and you'll find more things to do, like rides, Pacific Science Center, ect. There's a great "Seattle Underground" tour in Pioneer Square you might also like. If you want to take a ferry ride (day trip), take the Winslow Ferry over to Bainbridge Island and check another set of shops, gallerys, ect. You can ski 1 hour to the east, or go to the ocean 3 hours to the west. It's all here (except the Mariners, who will still be at spring training). Hope that helps.

[ska///235i]

great ideas....I'll write this down

Thx

[ehhhwik]

In vancouver, if you are in downtown, go to the hyatt hotel (theres only one), theres a Chinese resturant called Victoria Seafood Chinese Restrurant, pretty high end Chinese food and great dim sim, owned by big restrurant chain back in HK, as authentic as it gets! I go there every sunday with my family.

If you want to be surrounded by TENS OF THOUSANDS of Chinese people (mostly from HK), go to Richmond, it is about 15-20 mins north away from the border crossing and you will find basically everything you will find in HK (restrurants, malls, shops) and tons of nice cars (bmw, merc, porsche, etc) driven by mostly again HK people...you can spend days, even months without speaking a word of English in Richmond

[edgarj]

SEA- Catch a show at the Showbox or Crocodile Cafe, depending on the acts/date, if you like the rawk action. Lots of great record stores in the central downtown area.. Singles Going Steady is my haunt when in sea town. Aside from music, the Pike Place Market is a easy (but touristy) diversion... food and regional merch... men fondling fish... hobos. I love the Center for Wooden Boats ("maritime heratige mueseum"), witch is very central across the street from the illustrious Hutch. The Experienc Music Project is a must for the building alone (Frank Gehry). The public libarary (Rem Koolhaas) is an architectural gem too. So many cool things to do in Seattle, dig around on the web for your specific interests and you'll have a blast.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by ehhhwik

go to Richmond, it is about 15-20 mins north away from the border crossing and you will find basically everything you will find in HK (restrurants, malls, shops)

I'm driving to Vancouver from Seattle for just 1 day..so prbly just want to stay in one area.
Richmond sounds like the place I want to visit, me & my gf is dying for some good (HK style) food. I'm so sick of the shitty food here in Boston chinatown

Originally Posted by edgarj

SEA- Catch a show at the Showbox or Crocodile Cafe, depending on the acts/date, if you like the rawk action. Lots of great record stores in the central downtown area.. Singles Going Steady is my haunt when in sea town. Aside from music, the Pike Place Market is a easy (but touristy) diversion... food and regional merch... men fondling fish... hobos. I love the Center for Wooden Boats ("maritime heratige mueseum"), witch is very central across the street from the illustrious Hutch. The Experienc Music Project is a must for the building alone (Frank Gehry). The public libarary (Rem Koolhaas) is an architectural gem too. So many cool things to do in Seattle, dig around on the web for your specific interests and you'll have a blast.

I'll check that out...thanks

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by ska

I'm driving to Vancouver from Seattle for just 1 day..so prbly just want to stay in one area.
Richmond sounds like the place I want to visit, me & my girlfriend is dying for some good (HK style) food. I'm so sick of the shitty food here in Boston chinatown

oh. in that case, you will be so happy to spend all day in Richmond, being surrounded by thousands amongst thousands of Chinese people. For all the Chinatowns i've been to in America, i only found San Francisco to be very "Hong Kong" style

[borsalino]

Is there is difference between hong kong chinese and regular chinese people? I'm just curious.

[jadeddjay]

i heard there was a pretty cool gocart track around there

[Shamu]

Good HK style dim sum in Richmond (in no particular order):

1. Kirin
2. Sun Sui Wah
3. Fisherman's Terrace (in Aberdeen mall)
4. Shiang Garden

...to just name a few!

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by borsalino

Is there is difference between hong kong chinese and regular chinese people? I'm just curious.

most of the resturants in Vancouver are whats considered to be Cantonese cuisine, which Hong Kong is considered to be, but there are other types of Chinese food too, theres like Shanghai, Northern (Beijing), Xichuan (spicy food), Haka, Chiu Chao (mostly seafood), but Hong Kong or Cantonese food is more popular because there is basically more of us and all the other types of Chinese foods' flavours can be quite strong and for a Westerner's taste buds, might be too extreme

just my $0.02

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by borsalino

Is there is difference between hong kong chinese and regular chinese people? I'm just curious.

chinese have many diff chinese.....Hong Kong ppl speak Cantonese and I think HK is one of the only place in China that speaks Cantonese. China is a huge continent and like other countries..its got diff sections/states or whatever is call.

like Europe has diff European

I guess thats a way to discribe it

[ska///235i]

Looks like we'll stay in Westin Surrey BC for 1 night....I think is a 20 minute drive to Richmond

Can you tell me what street these are on??
1. Kirin
2. Sun Sui Wah
3. Fisherman's Terrace (in Aberdeen mall)
4. Shiang Garden

[scottwww]

In Seattle, see the Woodland Park Zoo in the University District.

I usually do go to Pike Place Market when I go to Seattle, but it really isn't that great. It is too crowded, the restrooms are few and filthy, the stuff you can buy in the shops isn't that great. There are some unusual finds, but nothing worth making it a destination. I would much rather go to the Bellevue Square Mall just across Lake Washington.

I have never seen it, but the Seattle Underground has always been popular.

The Pacific Science Center is good if you are entertaining children.

The LeMay Car Museum in Tacoma, Wa (about 30 miles south of Seattle on I-5) will be a great attraction. I will certainly see this next time I am in Western Washington.

The Museum of Glass. I haven't seen it yet, but I intend to.

At other times of the year:

Seafair Hydroplane Races and air show (I've been there three times for this event).

Bumbershoot Festival at the Seattle Center. There is lots of live music and strange people to see.

Mount Rainier National Park (especially Paradise on the south side of the mountain).

Orcas Island (and other islands) for a quiet getaway with some sight seeing, shopping, and whale watching.

Olympic National Park. See Hurricane Ridge, Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, the Hoh Rainforest, and more.

I haven't been there in many years, but the drag races at Seattle Internation Raceway (maybe the name has changed?) in Kent, WA. See the NHRA events.

Rent a boat (cabin cruiser or something) and take it out on the Puget Sound. The sound goes on and on and on. Lots to see. But, you could get lost easily enough. It's better to go with somebody local who knows their way around.

I am sure that I am forgetting a lot of great things to do and to see.

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by ska

Looks like we'll stay in Westin Surrey BC for 1 night....I think is a 20 minute drive to Richmond

Can you tell me what street these are on??
1. Kirin
2. Sun Sui Wah
3. Fisherman's Terrace (in Aberdeen mall)
4. Shiang Garden

Surrey?? damn...I'd try to score a place in Richmond...Surrey isn't a very good representation of Vancouver...

1. Kirin -- 200-7900 Westminster Highway, Richmond
2. Sun Sui Wah -- 102, 4940 No. 3 Road, Richmond
3. Fisherman's Terrace (in Aberdeen mall)
4. Shiang Garden -- 4540 No. 3 Road in the Empire Centre between Park Plaza and the Aberdeen Centre

Hope this helps!

PS -- too bad y'all only up for a day...there's tons to do/see in Vancouver!

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by ska

Looks like we'll stay in Westin Surrey BC for 1 night....I think is a 20 minute drive to Richmond

Can you tell me what street these are on??
1. Kirin
2. Sun Sui Wah
3. Fisherman's Terrace (in Aberdeen mall)
4. Shiang Garden

All 4 of these resturants are on No. 3 Road, its basically the biggest and busiest street in Richmond, there is a big Acura dealer and a huge green coloured grocery place called Superstore on the same road, if you see these two big buildings, you are on the correct street

[borsalino]

ehhhwik thanks for outlining the differences. I have never been to an authentic chinese restaurant, unless you call Mr.Ho in Burnaby one. I think I will try one of the hong kong style restaurants you mentioned in the near future.

[ska///235i]

Wow....so many things to do in Seattle...thanks for all the great tips

I'm staying in Surrey BC cuz we get a discount for Westin/Sheraton Hotels, the Richmond one is all booked..Dawmmit

Well...I dont mind driving 20 minutes

[borsalino]

Originally Posted by ska

Wow....so many things to do in Seattle...thanks for all the great tips

I'm staying in Surrey BC cuz we get a corporate discount for Westin/Sheraton Hotels, the Richmond one is all booked..Dawmmit

Well...I dont mind driving 20 minutes

Richmond isn't very far from surrey about 20 min drive like you said when there is no traffic. But just don't drive across the alex fraser bridge tommorrow morning, it can get quite backed up. Also on weekdays coming back from richmond to surrey during 4-5:30pm there is alot of trafffic on 99 hwy. Just avoid those times and you'll be fine. Just giving you the heads up because I absolutely hate being in traffic. Enjoy your trip.

[astra]

when i was in seattle i went to places like the space needle and the science museum thing, and just walked around and took it all in

when i was in vancouver i went up to wistler ehich was very nice, and went to downtown vancouver and had a wander around and did some shopping