Things to do/ Where to eat in Seattle and Vancouver?
We're vacationing in the Pacific Northwest next week. WE have hotel reservations in Seattle for 4 nights and Vancouver for 3, but will have a car so we're excited to explore the area. Any recommendations for fun things to do/great places to eat? Thanks.
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A 70MM movie opens the screen out to it's full glory. (the early three print process is a bit distracting IMHO as there are three projectors and fuzzy bits to stich in the projections). But now, some movies are being made in 70MM, which have no seams. Some early movies like 2001 where filmed in 70MM for those screens. A superwide screen.
Ray's Boathouse never disappoints and the view is awesome. Ray's Cafe upstairs has some similar dishes on the menu but it can be a bit inconsistent. We still go there regularly though. An alternative is Salty's on Alki - good seafood and the views are of downtown and fabulous too.
Tom Douglas' restaurants are all good. Dahlia Lounge is probably my favorite, followed by Etta's.
Try Paseo for Cuban sandwiches and be prepared for some sauce to drip on your shirt. Red Mill for great burgers - near the Ballard Locks so you can brown bag it to the park there, or eat in. There are a bunch of good wine bars/small plates places that are good - lately I like In the Red on Greenwood b/c it's clearly a neighborhood hangout and it's not pricey.
Canlis is divine as mentioned above, but be prepared to pay for that divinity.
Sarah, Seattle has Daiso too - there is one in Westlake Center, Alderwood, International District and elsewhere.
Skip Seattle's International District if you are going to Vancouver. Their places are better.
There are several good exhibitions here currently - a quilting one at the Bellevue Arts Museum, King Tut at the Pac Sci Ctr, Indian art at the SAM. Ferry to Bainbridge is a great idea and there are quaint shops and restaurants there. I'd also walk the neighborhoods like Ballard, Wallingford, Fremont and hike in Carkeek Park down to the beach, or Discovery Park. Museum of Flight is good if you are into that and you can tour Boeing on Saturdays I think. You can rent kayaks, canoes or paddle boards on Lake Union. Kerry Park in Queen Anne is a great photo spot of the downtown view with Mt Rainier in the background - it's the view on many postcards.
Your 4 days will be packed full - there are a lot of options here and it is a lovely region to visit!
Speaking of cookbook stores, Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks in Vancouver is also well worth a visit. As far as Vancouver restaurants go, if you love Indian food, you must go to Vij's (http://www.vijsrestaurant.ca/index_in.htm). There are always long lines but it's worth it. Granville Island and Stanley Park are both wonderful places to stroll around while in Vancouver.
http://www.bookstocooks.com
Vij's - if you go, head there early (like 5 or 5:30). You'll have a bit of a wait regardless, but in their lounge they serve up little snacks. Have the jackfruit curry, you won't be disappointed!
I second the train option... Here in the UK, the old advert used to be "let the train take the strain" it holds true for Amtrak services- comfy, spacious seating, generally efficient services (depending on the line... Californian Zephyr ran very late for us) great views - some that you wouldn't see any other way, and pretty friendly staff too!
Our live music scene is very good, check out The Triple Door to see if there is anything you like. The Triple Door is downtown http://thetripledoor.net/
I often take the train because it is so much easier than waiting at the border to go through customs.
You probably know this, you will need your passport to go into Canada.
The Great Wheel just opened on the waterfront - gorgeous views http://seattlegreatwheel.com/
If you want a close up of our beautiful house boats on Lake Union, rent an electric boat http://www.theelectricboatco.com/
If you are into blown glass, http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/ Dale Chihuly has a wonderful museum right under the Space Needle.
For restaurants, Tom Douglas is great. Also a lot of other great places. The Wild Ginger http://www.wildginger.net/, Ray's Boathouse - eat outside on the deck looking out over Puget Sound to the Olympics http://www.rays.com/
We have quite a few award winning restaurants - http://thewalrusbar.com/ - The Walrus and the Carpenter for our amazing oysters, for example.
If you want to take a ferry over to Winslow or Bainbridge there are amazing gardens and great restaurants.
Send me a message if you want more information. Love to let you know more about the city!
http://www.daisocanada.com
Tons of extremely cheap Asian dinner ware - little bowls, spoons, lacquer, trays, etc (among other things).
There's also an electronic toilet store there for a small taste of Japanese technology!
Seattle: I really like Sitka & Spruce (http://www.sitkaandspruce.com/Home-menu.html) in the Melrose Market building. If the place you're staying in has a kitchen, this market has a great butcher, cheesemonger & wine shop too, and is next to Taylor Shellfish. Obviously Pike Market is great, and there's a large Spanish shop underneath the market called The Spanish Table (http://www.spanishtable.com). There's also a great spice merchant across from The Spanish Table called World Spice (http://www.worldspice.com). Lecosho (http://lecosho.com) is a nice place downtown to eat, not far from the Pike Market.
Vancouver: The most iconic things to eat in Vancouver is Chinese (especially dim sum) and Japanese (izakaya and/or ramen). Great Dim Sum is found at Kirin and Sun Sui Wah nearer the city, or you can go to Richmond to Fisherman Terrace or another giant shopping mall-based banquet hall style dim sum place. Izakayas, Japanese bar style eating, are everywhere but the Hapa or Guu chains are both great. Ramen can be found on Robson near Denman street, and the favourites are Santouka (go early or face a huge line) or Kintaro.
Surprisingly Western seafood is pretty poorly represented, but YEW is a solid option and I think still has 50% off the wine list on Sundays. (http://www.yewrestaurant.com/menus/dinner/). Favourite fine dining is Fraiche in West Van - great view - and The Pear Tree in Burnaby. Both are taxi rides away. L'Abbatoir in Gastown is also good.
Granville Island is less impressive than Pike Market as far as food markets go, but has an artsy bent to it and is worth a trip.
Best coffee: Revolver at Cambie & Hastings
Best beer: The Alibi Room at Alexander & Main (your hotel may warn you off going here but it's perfectly safe)
Best cocktails: L'Abbatoir or Diamond in Gastown. Refinery on Granville Street is also good.
A new restaurant has opened on Cambie & Hastings called Wildebeest. The interior is gorgeous but they're still working the kinks out as far as service goes.
Happy to provide more recommendations if you're looking for something specific! Enjoy the trip, I love the Pacific NW.