Explore
Must-Do (Tier 1)
Pike Place Market
Iconic market. Fish tossing, flowers, the original Starbucks, the Gum Wall. Go early (by 9am) on a weekday. Park in the Market garage ($13 before 9am).
85 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101 • Map
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Stunning glass art by Dale Chihuly. Even Nathalie will be wowed. Indoor and accessible — perfect for Mei-Ye. Combo with Space Needle saves ~$15.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 • Map
Boeing Factory Tour
World's largest building by volume. Watch 747s, 777s, 787s being assembled. Min height 4ft. No electronics on factory floor. Entirely indoors.
8415 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA 98275 • Map
Mt. Rainier National Park
Paradise area, Skyline Trail. Stunning wildflower meadows in July. Mei-Ye stays with family. Check webcams day before. Cashless entry.
Space Needle
Iconic 605-ft observation tower. Rotating glass floor. Buy combo with Chihuly to save ~$15. Book online for time slot.
400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109 • Map
MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture)
Music, sci-fi, video games, horror, fashion. Nathalie's museum. 3-4 hours easily. Next to Space Needle & Chihuly.
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 • Map
Day Trips
Vancouver BC Day Trip
Stanley Park, Granville Island, Richmond for incredible Chinese/Taiwanese food. Mei-Ye will feel at home. Everyone needs valid passport. Nathalie's Belgian passport is visa-exempt.
Snoqualmie Falls
268-foot waterfall, taller than Niagara. Short walk to viewpoint, accessible for Mei-Ye. Combine with Boeing Tour (Day 6 plan).
Leavenworth
Bavarian-themed village in the Cascades. Cute shops, German food, mountain scenery. Best if combined with a day when less is planned.
Whidbey Island
Scenic island with Deception Pass State Park, lavender farms, charming Langley and Coupeville.
Activities by Audience
All Three Nathalie + Mei-Ye + Katy
- Pike Place Market — adjustable pace, places to sit
- Chihuly Garden and Glass — indoor, accessible, stunning
- Seattle Waterfront Park — flat, benches, beautiful
- Edmonds-Kingston ferry — sit and enjoy Puget Sound views
- Snoqualmie Falls — short walk to viewpoint
- Boeing Factory Tour — fascinating for all ages
- International District food tour — Mei-Ye will love this
- Vancouver: Granville Island, Richmond for food
Active Katy + Nathalie
- Mt. Rainier day trip — Paradise area, Skyline Trail
- Hiking: Rattlesnake Ledge (4 mi), Twin Falls (easy), Mt. Si (strenuous)
- Kayaking on Lake Union ($20-30/hr)
- Vancouver: bike the Stanley Park seawall (10km, flat)
Teen Nathalie
- MoPOP — music, sci-fi, video games. HER museum.
- Pacific Science Center laser shows (Taylor Swift, SZA, Dua Lipa)
- Seattle Great Wheel — 175-ft Ferris wheel (~$18)
- Fremont Troll — weird/cool photo op
- Capitol Hill — trendy shops, street art, youth culture
Mei-Ye Mei-Ye-Friendly
- Edmonds boardwalk — flat, scenic, benches everywhere
- Ferry rides — sit and enjoy, no walking required
- International District — familiar food, Mandarin/Cantonese spoken
- Vancouver: Richmond — huge Chinese/Taiwanese community
- Family gatherings — what she values most
May tire by 2-3pm — plan active mornings, gentle afternoons. Carry a light blanket for evenings (into the 50s F).
Eat
Favorites (Edmonds Dining)
Salt & Iron
Fresh oysters, steaks. Upscale PNW cuisine. Edmonds waterfront.
320 Railroad Ave, Edmonds • Map
Rory's of Edmonds
Deck overlooking beach and ferry. Sunset views. Casual bar & grill.
102 Railroad Ave, Edmonds • Map
Taiwanese & Chinese
Dough Zone Dumpling House
Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Taiwanese pork buns. Familiar comfort food. Multiple locations.
504 5th Ave S, Seattle • Map
Din Tai Fung
World-famous soup dumplings. Mei-Ye will know the name. Can be a long wait — go off-peak.
University Village & Pacific Place
Facing East (Bellevue)
Authentic Taiwanese. Oyster pancake (蚵仔煎) and vermicelli (米粉) — call ahead to ask about ba wan (肉圓). Bellevue, 30 min from Edmonds.
Bellevue • Map
Japanese & International District
Jade Garden
Excellent dim sum. Mei-Ye will love this. International District.
424 7th Ave S, Seattle • Map
Seattle Classics
Pike Place Chowder
Award-winning clam chowder. Get a cup, not a bowl — it's rich!
1530 Post Alley, Pike Place Market • Map
Ellenos
Life-changing Greek yogurt. Get the passion fruit. Nathalie will love it.
1500 Pike Pl, Pike Place Market
Piroshky Piroshky
Savory and sweet Russian pastries. Cheap, filling, delicious.
1908 Pike Pl, Pike Place Market
Ivar's Fish Bar
Iconic Seattle fish & chips on the water. Feed the seagulls (carefully).
1001 Alaskan Way, Pier 54 • Map
Pike Place has cheap eats ($3-5 pastries). International District: $10-15/person. Dick's: under $8. Use hotel breakfast (Best Western includes it!) every day. Pack lunches for day trips.
Shop
Washington state has 10.55% sales tax (state 6.5% + local 4.05%). Clothing IS taxed. Save major shopping for Boston (MA has no clothing tax under $175/item).
Seattle Premium Outlets (Tulalip)
Seattle Premium Outlets
130+ outlets — Nike, North Face, Coach, Kate Spade, Under Armour, Arc'teryx. Up to 65% off. Good for rainy day or combine with family visit.
10600 Quil Ceda Blvd, Tulalip, WA 98271 • Map
Plan
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- JetBlue B6 397 arrives SEA 10:33am PT
- Pick up Avis rental car at 11am
- Drive to Edmonds (~40 min), check in at Best Western at 3pm
- Settle in, light dinner at Rory's or Chanterelle
- Family day with cousins in Edmonds. Flexible schedule.
- Edmonds waterfront walk, explore the neighborhood
Morning
- Pike Place Market (arrive by 9am for fewer crowds)
- Ellenos yogurt + Piroshky Piroshky + Pike Place Chowder
- Seattle Waterfront Park
Afternoon
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Space Needle (combo ticket)
- MoPOP
- Cousin's plan. Edmonds-Kingston Ferry. Explore Kingston waterfront.
- Car + driver ~$15, Adult passenger $9.75, Senior $4.90 (westbound only)
Evening (Optional)
- July 4th fireworks options: Gas Works Park (arrive 3-4pm) or Bellevue Family 4th (less crowded)
- Fireworks ~10:15pm. Pack blankets, picnic, layers.
- Cousin's plan. Bainbridge Island / Winslow. Charming downtown, waterfront, shops.
- Optional: Bloedel Reserve ($20 adult, $15 senior, $8 youth) — 150-acre garden, peaceful
Morning
- Boeing Factory Tour (Mukilteo, 20 min from Edmonds). 80-min tour.
Afternoon
- Snoqualmie Falls (40 min east). Quick viewpoint stop + late lunch.
- Leave early (6-7am). Cross border before 9am for shortest wait.
- Morning: Stanley Park (drive perimeter, seawall walk near totem poles)
- Midday: Granville Island (Aquabus $4 CAD, food market, artisan shops)
- Afternoon: Richmond / Aberdeen Centre — Mei-Ye will feel at home. Incredible Taiwanese food.
- Check border wait times before returning.
- Leave early (7am). 2.5 hr drive to Paradise.
- Skyline Trail loop (5.5 mi). Wildflower meadows in July.
- $30/vehicle, cashless. Check webcams day before.
- Check out Best Western at 11am. Bags in car.
- Full day with family at Kuo Residence or Edmonds area.
- Head to SEA-TAC around 8:30-9pm (35 min drive).
- Return Avis rental car. Delta DL 473 departs 11:15pm PT, arrives BOS 7:35am ET (+1 day).
Events (July 4th Fireworks)
Seafair 4th of July at Lake Union
Fireworks ~10:15pm over Lake Union. Best free viewing: Gas Works Park (arrive by 3-4pm). Alternative: Bellevue Family 4th (less crowded, family vibe, 30 min from Edmonds).
Practical
Weather
Seattle
Vancouver
Layers (warm days, cool evenings), light rain jacket (especially for Vancouver), comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen + sunglasses. For Mei-Ye: comfortable shoes, warm layer, hat. For Nathalie: photo-ready outfits for Chihuly, Fremont Troll, etc.
Driving Times from Edmonds
| Destination | Drive Time |
|---|---|
| Downtown Seattle / Pike Place | 25-35 min |
| Seattle Center (Space Needle) | 25 min |
| Boeing Factory (Mukilteo) | 20 min |
| Snoqualmie Falls | 40-50 min |
| Seattle Premium Outlets | 20-25 min |
| SEA-TAC Airport | 35-45 min |
| Mt. Rainier (Paradise) | 2.5 hrs |
| Vancouver BC (incl. border) | 2.5-4 hrs |
Budget Summary
| Category | Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Attractions | $200-400 | CityPASS helps. Many free. |
| Food | $500-800 | Restaurant + packed lunches |
| Gas | $100-150 | Incl. Vancouver |
| Parking | $50-100 | Downtown ~$13-20/day |
| Ferry rides | $30-50 | |
| Total (excl. hotel, flights, car) | $880-1,500 |
Logistics
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Flights
| Outbound: BOS to SEA | |
| Flight | JetBlue B6 397 |
| Date | Tuesday, July 1, 2026 |
| Depart | 7:10am ET (Boston Logan) |
| Arrive | 10:33am PT (Seattle-Tacoma) |
| Duration | 6h 23m |
| Confirmation | LXGBKJ |
| Return: SEA to BOS | |
| Flight | Delta DL 473 |
| Date | Wednesday, July 9, 2026 |
| Depart | 11:15pm PT (Seattle-Tacoma) |
| Arrive | 7:35am ET +1 day (Boston Logan) |
| Duration | 5h 20m |
| Confirmation | HJIYZC |
Hotel
| Hotel | Best Western Plus Edmonds Harbour Inn |
| Address | 130 W Dayton St, Edmonds, WA 98020 |
| Phone | (425) 771-7373 |
| Check-in | Tue, July 1 @ 3:00pm |
| Check-out | Wed, July 9 @ 11:00am |
| Room | 2 Queen Beds w/ Kitchenette |
| Confirmation | 7846181972 |
Car Rental
| Company | Avis |
| Location | SEA-TAC, 3150 S 160th St, 98188 |
| Phone | +1 (206) 433-5231 |
| Pick-up | Tue, July 1 @ 11:00am |
| Return | Wed, July 9 @ 11:30pm |
| Vehicle | Large, Group E (Camry or similar) |
| Confirmation | 1133-4103-CH-4 |
Family Address
| Name | Kuo Residence |
| Address | 8120 Talbot Road, Edmonds WA 98026 |
| Open in Maps |
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