brandysmommy
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2005
Just back and wanted to share what we did as these boards gave a lot of insight for me. It is fragmented and brief but I wanted to get something out there while it was still fresh.
Seattle
Space Needle - check out the restaurant - yes prices are high but when you back off what tickets are just to go up (which is included with your meal) it is actually a reasonable meal.
Aquarium - check out their special programs. We got do to a 1 hour lab examining water samples we collected off the pier - very cool.
Wheel - buy tickets in advance and cut half of the line waiting time.
Mount St. Helens - very cool - go all the way to the end - worth it.
Mount Rainier - all trails at Paradise were still snow covered and it was very foggy - check weather conditions before heading out - we were disappointed
Victoria - did a long day trip. Get your boarding pass early for preferred seating on ship. We rented a car and drove along the coast, did the gardens and Fidgard Lighthouse.
Cruise
Port - we got there at 10 and were on the ship around 11:30 - were the only ones in the pool for the first hour - the water was very warm - air cold though. During the sail away shutters takes some great family photos off of the back of the ship with Seattle in the background.
Tracy Arm Day - claim a lounge chair on deck 10 by 10am. Try for one between the two funnels that way you can also see the other side without. They grill out in the seating area of Beach Blanket for lunch but don't overly advertise - very good food - access through Beach Blanket. Wear sunscreen - it was 55-60 and sunny - those without sunscreen were burned.
Skagway - we rented a car from Avis - right in town, grabbed water from the grocery store and headed to the Yukon. We purchased Murray's Guide http://www.murraysguide.com/ for $5 - great investment. Did the Yukon Suspension bridge as well as Caribou Crossing. Drove to Emerald Lake and returned. Ate at Spirit Lake Lodge - ok food - terribly expensive $17 for a burger. Not many other options - might consider taking picnic food.
Juneau - we did the Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sled. Phenomenal experience. After, the bus driver dropped us into town. We did the Mount Roberts Tramway and hiked a bit at the top.
Ketchikan - we hired http://www.ketchikantaxicabtours.com/ Dave took us around - we saw everything (but couldn't find any bears) - eagles (so many), water falls, totem poles, totem carving, native village, forged for native berries which were so good, drove wooden streets and learned so much about the area. He dropped us off at the end at the Lumberjack show. We had purchased tickets on-line in advance and they were waiting for us. After the show, we headed back to the ship.
Victoria - we stayed on the ship - if your kids want to do the ship game in the lab - this is the time to do it - no one was there - my kids did it for hours.
The weather was great - only rained after we left Juneau - never needed more than a sweatshirt other than on the glacier - then added a 2nd sweatshirt, hat and gloves. I think we were lucky in the weather department though. Animators Palate was always freezing - as they have the doors that open to the deck and lifeboats. Other interior areas very comfortable with summerish clothes.
Any questions feel free to ask - need to get some unpacking and laundry done!
Seattle
Space Needle - check out the restaurant - yes prices are high but when you back off what tickets are just to go up (which is included with your meal) it is actually a reasonable meal.
Aquarium - check out their special programs. We got do to a 1 hour lab examining water samples we collected off the pier - very cool.
Wheel - buy tickets in advance and cut half of the line waiting time.
Mount St. Helens - very cool - go all the way to the end - worth it.
Mount Rainier - all trails at Paradise were still snow covered and it was very foggy - check weather conditions before heading out - we were disappointed
Victoria - did a long day trip. Get your boarding pass early for preferred seating on ship. We rented a car and drove along the coast, did the gardens and Fidgard Lighthouse.
Cruise
Port - we got there at 10 and were on the ship around 11:30 - were the only ones in the pool for the first hour - the water was very warm - air cold though. During the sail away shutters takes some great family photos off of the back of the ship with Seattle in the background.
Tracy Arm Day - claim a lounge chair on deck 10 by 10am. Try for one between the two funnels that way you can also see the other side without. They grill out in the seating area of Beach Blanket for lunch but don't overly advertise - very good food - access through Beach Blanket. Wear sunscreen - it was 55-60 and sunny - those without sunscreen were burned.
Skagway - we rented a car from Avis - right in town, grabbed water from the grocery store and headed to the Yukon. We purchased Murray's Guide http://www.murraysguide.com/ for $5 - great investment. Did the Yukon Suspension bridge as well as Caribou Crossing. Drove to Emerald Lake and returned. Ate at Spirit Lake Lodge - ok food - terribly expensive $17 for a burger. Not many other options - might consider taking picnic food.
Juneau - we did the Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sled. Phenomenal experience. After, the bus driver dropped us into town. We did the Mount Roberts Tramway and hiked a bit at the top.
Ketchikan - we hired http://www.ketchikantaxicabtours.com/ Dave took us around - we saw everything (but couldn't find any bears) - eagles (so many), water falls, totem poles, totem carving, native village, forged for native berries which were so good, drove wooden streets and learned so much about the area. He dropped us off at the end at the Lumberjack show. We had purchased tickets on-line in advance and they were waiting for us. After the show, we headed back to the ship.
Victoria - we stayed on the ship - if your kids want to do the ship game in the lab - this is the time to do it - no one was there - my kids did it for hours.
The weather was great - only rained after we left Juneau - never needed more than a sweatshirt other than on the glacier - then added a 2nd sweatshirt, hat and gloves. I think we were lucky in the weather department though. Animators Palate was always freezing - as they have the doors that open to the deck and lifeboats. Other interior areas very comfortable with summerish clothes.
Any questions feel free to ask - need to get some unpacking and laundry done!
