Amenities Columns

$$ | Miles | Fit | Kit | I'net

$$

This column indicates the typical price range of this hotel. We use the following codes: E=Economy (under $50), M=Midrange ($50 to $100), U=Upscale ($100 to $150), L=Luxury (over $150). Please note that room rates fluctuate (seasonal popularity, special events in the area, etc.).

Miles

The approximate distance in miles from the exit to the hotel. These are calculations using GPS data. Distances along city streets will be somewhat different but this should give you a good idea of the distances to Discount Hotels near the cited Interstate exit.

Fit

Discount Hotels near I-90 in Seattle offering  'fitness' or exercise facilities are indicated with an F in this column. If the hotel also has a spa, it is so indicated by an S in this column. Most hotels define a 'spa' as a large hot tub with built in water jets. In a few cases, fitness facilities and spas may be off-premises (entry by pass issued by the hotel) in which case dressing rooms are also present for your convenience.

Kit

Discount Hotels near I-90 in Seattle offering a full kitchen or 'kitchenette' are indicated with an 'K' in this column. An 'M' in this column indicates microwave available. If the room also has a refrigerator, it is so indicated by an 'R' in this column. Many hotels have some rooms furnished with microwaves and small refrigerators but you have to request them. We list them only if there is not an additional charge (or so they have informed us).

I'net

Discount Hotels near I-90 in Seattle offering Internet access are indicated (with an M for dial-up and W for wideband) in the I'net column. Please note that 'wideband' facilities vary. In addition to a network port (usually installed in the docking station), we suggest you bring along cables and your Windows distribution CD (in case you are required to load a special network driver). For 'dial up dataports', you would only need a modem and an RJ-11 patch cord (which you should always have with you, anyway).

To check rates, amenities or make hotel reservations, just click on the hotel name.

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SEATTLE AREA ATTRACTIONS
(more on the Seattle Map page)

• Carl English Botanical Garden
• Center for Wooden Boats
• Discovery Park
• Hiram Chittenden Locks
• Museum of Flight
• Northwest Seaport
• Seattle Aquarium
• Space Needle

Carl English Botanical Garden
  Just up 54th Street from the Locks visitors' center is a very nice, water-front botanical garden. Containing mostly plants indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, it does have some 500 different species of plants, some very rare, from around the world. Open during daylight hours.
  You have the choice of taking a self-guided tour whenever convenient or taking one of several guided tours each day. For more information and schedules you may phone 1-206-783-7059. The U.S.Army Corps of Engineers (who maintain and operate the lock) have a very interesting page on their web site about the garden (created by one of their employees). View it at: Carl English Garden.
  From I-5 take exit 167 to Mercer Street. Head west on Mercer to Aurora Ave (WA-99) and turn right. Head north on Aurora to Dexter Ave and turn left. Follow Dexter (it changes its name to Nickerson Street) along the ship canal to its end at 15th Avenue West. Turn right and follow 15th Avenue over the bridge (you are crossing the ship canal). Continue northbound on 15th to Market Street (which is one block after NW 54th Street). Turn left and follow Market westbound to NW 54th Street (this is another 54th Street) which is a half-left (45º) turn. The Garden is just beyond the Chittenden Locks Visitors' Center.

Center for Wooden Boats
  You could call this a museum featuring wooden boats - some over a century old. All kinds of boats from Native American to ocean-going vessels. Located at 1010 Valley Street at the south end of Lake Union. From I-5 take exit 167 and follow Mercer Street to Boren Avenue (about 1 block from the end of the off ramp), turn right and go to the end (1 more block). And there you are.
  From May to Labor Day weekend the hours are 11a-7p daily. FREE! There is much more to this place (including boat rentals - Lake Union is a very sedate lake and fun for sailing or paddling as long as you stay from the ship canal at the north end). Check out their web site at Wooden Boats.

Discovery Park
  What was Ft Lawton is now a beautiful park encompassing almost a square mile of land. Northwest of down town - where the ship canal enters Puget Sound - this park contains everything from deep ravines to small forests to meadows to a nice beach on the Sound. If you enjoy taking walks, there are some 7 miles of trails. The park is open 6a-11p daily.
  From I-5 take exit 167 to Mercer Street. Head west on Mercer to Aurora Ave (WA-99) and turn right. Head north on Aurora to Dexter Ave and turn left. Follow Dexter (it changes its name to Nickerson Street) along the ship canal to its end at 15th Avenue West. Hear you need to turn left, go one block and turn right. The intersection is very involved so follow the signs. You are going to Emerson Street but you have to be in the right lane to get there. Continue west on Emerson. (You will pass 16th Avenue and then 18th Avenue which, both, would take you the one block to the fish market and a couple restaurants.) Emerson makes a couple quick jogs, crosses some tracks and ends at Gilman Avenue. Turn right and follow Gilman - which becomes Government Way - to 31st Avenue. Here Government Way makes a half-left (45º) turn, goes a couple blocks, makes a couple more half turns but winds up at the park entrance.

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Hiram Chittenden Locks and
Lake Washington Ship Canal
  These are not only working canal locks but are reputed to be the busiest in the U.S. There is a visitors' center here with several displays plus a video.
  The Chittenden Locks Visitors' Center is open daily 10a-6p from mid May to mid September. The rest of the year it is open from 11a-4p and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They are closed on major holidays. FREE! For more information, you can phone 1-206-783-7059 or visit their web site at: Chittenden Locks.
  From I-5 take exit 167 to Mercer Street. Head west on Mercer to Aurora Ave (WA-99) and turn right. Head north on Aurora to Dexter Ave and turn left. Follow Dexter (it changes its name to Nickerson Street) along the ship canal to its end at 15th Avenue West. Turn right and follow 15th Avenue over the bridge (you are crossing the ship canal). Continue northbound on 15th to Market Street (which is one block after NW 54th Street). Turn left and follow Market westbound to NW 54th Street (this is another 54th Street) which is a half-left (45º) turn. The visitors' center is just ahead.

Museum of Flight
  Down in the south end of town is Boeing's old red barn where the company first started manufacturing their planes in the 30s. This combination hands-on education center (and not just for kids) also includes an array of aircraft (including a B-29 and a 'gull-winged' Corsair from WW-2) one of the early Presidential jets (board it and take the tour) and an Apollo command module. You can actually sit in the cockpit of a genuine SR-71 Blackbird.
  The place is interesting enough to allow you to feel that the $9.50 admission is worth while ($5 for ages 5-17). For more information and schedules, phone 1-206-764-5720. View their interesting web site: Museum of Flight.

Northwest Seaport
  Next door to the Center for Wooden Boats are the 1897 vintage, three-masted schooner Wawona and the old, 1889 vintage tug, Arthur Foss. Tours are available. There are regular scheduled activities held there - such as the monthly 'sea chantey' sing-alongs (hey, it's fun!).
  The second Friday evening of each month, from 8-10p,  there's a big party aboard the schooner and a small professional group leads the attendees in some simple but musical - and fun to sing - sea chanteys. And of course there are sea stories. For more information, phone 1-206-447-9800.

Seattle Aquarium
  On Seattle's busy waterfront is the world famous Seattle Aquarium. This is the one with the giant underwater dome. They have enough to keep the family occupied for several hours and the kids love the place. Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) hours are 9:30a-7p; Winter hours are 10a-5p.
  Admission for age 13 and up (adults, too) is $11. Ages 6-12 $7 and 3-5 is $5. There are extra charges for admission to the Dome and the IMAX Theatre. Get the details on their web site at Seattle Aquarium.
  If northbound on I-5, take exit 165 and Seneca Street all the way to the end (Alaskan Way). Turn right and the aquarium is a few blocks (on your left). Really, you can't miss the place.
  If southbound on I-5, take exit 165-B and follow Union Street to the end. Turn left, drive 2 blocks to Seneca Street, turn right, go to the end (it's just one block) and turn right again. The aquarium is a few blocks (on your left).

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