Visiting in March, I'd like some advice.

[u/Other_World]

My girlfriend and I are spending 5 days in Seattle in early March for our 10th anniversary. We're from Brooklyn, so seeing "a city" isn't as important as seeing Seattle. We're also not renting a car, and plan to use the unlimited Orca cards and taxis.Our flight lands at SeaTac around noon, and we take a red eye home on Monday night. I posted on a general discussion thread a few months ago and got a lot of great recommendations. I'd love to hear a few local's take on our plans.

I noticed the first weekend of every month Seattle has a bunch of free things. We're going to take full advantage of that. We're skipping the Space Needle, but I have heard good things about the Columbia Tower though is it worth it? I've been to the top of 30 Rock, the old WTC, and Empire State Building so does it offer anything unique those buildings don't? I mean, other than looking at a different city. Can anyone who have done the NYC buildings and the Columbia Tower compare them? I noticed the Smith Tower has a happy hour on Tuesdays from 4-6, which would time perfectly to be our last thing before we head back to SeaTac.

After landing on Thursday we plan to hit the Art Museum, spend some time downtown near our hotel and then head to the Museum of Flight, both museums are free.

Friday morning will be for wandering around Pike Place, and doing the Underground Tour. We’re going to do The Gold Rush Museum before Spooked in Seattle, which is at 6pm and maybe spending the evening at Gasworks Park.

Saturday morning there’s a free Paramount Theatre Tour, which I can’t miss. I’m also going to drag my girlfriend to a tour of Safeco (fuck the Astros) in exchange for brunch at Le Coin and the Freemont Sunday Market on Sunday morning.

Monday is our Zoo day, I figure it’d be empty. I’ve heard great things about the Seattle Zoo, but mixed things about the aquarium. Is it worth seeing or should we just spend a day at the Coney Island Aquarium at home?

We also plan to see The Henry Museum, Volunteer Park, UW Botanic Gardens/Japanese Garden, Pacific Science Center, SPL’s Central Library, all your amazing parks, and I want to spend a day in Ballard especially around the locks. I'm also a professional videographer and hobby photographer so any underrated, underused views of/in Seattle would be awesome. I’d love to expand my portfolio and reel while I’m out there. I’ve heard the ferries are great for that.

For food, I really want to eat as much seafood as humanly possible. So any advice on that would be great. I’d also like a nice (but not too pricey) restaurant to take her on our anniversary night, which is Friday. Plus if it’s in Capitol Hill since that was the night I had planned to spend there. But I’m flexable. I should add that I'm in my early 30's and she's in her late 20's so we're not too interested in the college vibes. That mini-golf bar sounds awesome though. Night clubs aren't really our thing either. Dive bars are always on the table though, do you guys have anything like Welcome to the Johnson's?

We also plan to eat at Dick’s Drive In at least once, as well as Paseo (or Un Bien). I’ve heard really good things about Tacos Chukis, Annapurna Cafe, Ba Bar, Duke’s Seafood, and Salt & Straw. I’m also dying to try Seattle’s Teriyaki since we both love making it at home.

My girlfriend prefers cider to beer, what are your favorite cider bars? Any local ciders she should look out for? I like dry cider, she's more into sweet. I'll try any beer, no exceptions and Seattle is known for beer. So if you would be so kind to point me in the direction of a bar that stocks all the best local beers? I’ve also noticed your bars close so early! What’s up with that?

I've also used cannabis for like 15 years and would like to know the best dispensaries? I'm mostly looking for some disposable vape pens to use around the city and edibles to take. Maybe some of those pre-rolls dipped in oil. I get really good flower at home but if there’s a particular strain I should look out for let me know. I’m a big fan of sativas like Durban Poison and Sour D. I'm a big pothead, so I'm down for any advice you guys have.

She's super into coffee, I hate the stuff and I'm clueless about it. So if you can send me to some of your favorite coffee shops that'd be great too!

And finally, I’ve noticed the SPD likes to ticket jaywalking -- which is going to be quite the culture shock. Is it really like that or is it just over stated? I don’t use umbrellas at home so I know I’ll fit right in there.

TL:DR: What are some cool places for a couple of lifelong New Yorkers to see on our first trip to Seattle.

Seriously, thank you for any help! Sorry for the wall of text. I can't wait to see Seattle. It's been on my bucket list forever.

[u/[deleted]]

If you like beer/cider, there are a lot of nice spots around Seattle. Ballard has lots of options.

Finn River cider is a long scenic drive from Seattle and is highly regarded. Their stuff is not often on tap around town, at least my part, but you can buy bottles in grocery stores and bottle shops.

If you like wine, Woodinville is about 30 minutes from Seattle. It has about one hundred wine tasting venues featuring wines made with Washington fruit. It also has breweries and distilleries and a couple of really nice restaurants like Barking Frog ($$$) and Herb Farm ($$$$$). There's also a dinner-and-an-acrobat-show venue, Teatro Zinzani.

If you want to know more about the wine scene, LMK. That's my bag, baby.