When Gio first hinted to me that RoseCon Seattle might be a thing, I excitedly did some research into stuff we might do there.  Honestly, the best part of RoseCon is usually hanging out at the hotel, but the activities in between hanging out are pretty special too.    I'm definitely in favor of choosing our activities selectively -- but we have got a lot of options!

Downtown and International District
- Pike Place Market.  It's a famous-ass farmers' market of things that are yummy and amazing.  I've been there, and we'll certainly want to go, maybe more than once!  Even apart from its vast size and uniqueness, it sure makes an economical meal!
- Underground Tour.  Seattle has an extensive sunken city, ravaged by fire and the tides.  Absolutely a must-hit.  There's an all-ages version, and an "Underworld Tour" version that focuses on stories about sex and drugs.  I vote for the latter. 
- Columbia Center.  It's just a big ol' skyscraper with a viewing deck, but it's a much cheaper alternative to the Space Needle, and by some accounts has a better view.
- Seattle Aquarium.  From what I can glean, it's a little pricey and not very impressive by Florida standards, but might be worth a look.
- Seattle Art Museum.  Mostly modern art, I think, but there's a free sculpture garden by the waterfront called Olympic Sculpture Park that might be fun to hang around.  There should be a touring exhibit of Australian aboriginal art while we're there.  Attached to the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which is what it sounds like.
- Seattle Central Library.  Bizarre architecture makes this by reputation a worthy tourist attraction; maybe we can cosplay Mawaru Penguindrum characters while we're there.
- Venus Karaoke.  Private rooms!

South Lake Union
This area's just northwest of downtown.  Transportation between downtown and South Lake is pretty easy; you take the South Lake Union Streetcar, which is notorious for its (possibly apocryphal) working name, "South Lake Union Transit."  It was changed because of the acronym, but to this day Seattleites joke about riding the SLUT.
- The Space Needle.  The natives seem to think it's pretty chintzy and silly, but everyone goes to the Space Needle, I guess.  Called "the most expensive elevator ride in America."  Has a rotating restaurant at the top.
- Pacific Science Center.  The best science museum in Seattle, left over from the 1962 World's Fair and designed by the architect who did the World Trade Center.  Hands-on exhibits, double IMAX, a butterfly house, a planetarium, and (in August) a traveling exhibit on Tutenkhamun and other Egyptian pharaohs.
- The Science Fiction Museum and Experience Music Project.  Two linked museums with shared admission.  No idea whether they're any good, but apparently this is the seat of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, whatever that is.
- Seattle Lake Cruises.  IRG on a boat.  Might be some nice sightseeing, but on the pricey side.

Fremont
Fremont is up north of downtown, across Lake Union; you can bus over.  Apparently this is where you find Seattle counterculture, though in some ways the Central District is weirder.
- Woodland Park Zoo.  By all accounts, this is a very good zoo, with diverse and unusual exhibits -- lowland gorillas in an immersive habitat, breeding Sumatran tigers, Humboldt penguins, you name it.
- The Fremont Troll.  Fremont is an interesting place to stroll around because of all the public art; the troll is a big ol' statue under the Aurora Bridge.
- Gas Works Park.  Steampunk nirvana, but no tours as far as I can tell.
- Theo Chocolate Factory.  $5 tours with free samples!  I really wanted to do this when I was in Seattle, but the timing didn't work out.
- The shopping befits a counterculture area; there are some neat little places on the main streets.

Elsewhere
- The Museum of Flight in Georgetown, south of downtown.  They've got a Concorde in the parking lot, apparently.
- The Museum of the Mysteries in the Central District, east of downtown.  Occult, cryptozoology, and so on.
- Hothouse Spa & Sauna, also in the Central District.  Women only.  ;)  There's a gay bathhouse in the area too.
- Various places to rent kayaks and canoes and so on.  Seattle is built on an isthmus and there is water everywhere.
- Mount Rainier.  It's a drive -- 54 miles outside Seattle -- and you really do need a car.  But by reputation it's gorgeous, assuming you like hiking, as I do.

Might be worth noting that there's something called a Seattle CityPASS, for $59, that is good for admission to the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium, a boat tour, the Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, and either the Museum of Flight or the music/SF museum.  I don't think I would want to hit all those places, but if we're feeling adventurous it's a pretty good selection!

I'm sure there's plenty of stuff I'm overlooking, but this should be a start.  Add on, add on!!

Last edited by satyreyes (11-17-2011 09:15:58 PM)

Whoa, awesome!

Don't think I can go due to being a wee child, but it sounds like so much fun I definitely wanna go when I get older and can do stuff !

Giovanna wrote:

I just checked your birthday, which is MY BIRTHDAY. Um...minus ten years.

You would not be the youngest to go to RoseCon! We try to make sure most of what we do is friendly to everyone present. Our first RoseCon even had one member come with their mother! So don't worry on our account about your age. And do know that I will be perfectly happy to speak with parents to establish identity and make them more comfortable if that's what it takes to get people able to attend.

Birthday buddy... ;w;

Parents very protective is all. I'll be 18 by then, so we'll seeeeee~
I wanna goooo

WHOA!!! I AM SO THERE!!!

At least, I hope so. Must start saving!!!

I think it goes without saying, but I'll be there. As will Yasha.

I wore a purple tie at the first RoseCon, and added a red shirt with the second. I don't know what the next step is but I think I might have to lull one of you into a false sense of security and then take advantage of my position and molest you.

Giovanna wrote:

I wore a purple tie at the first RoseCon, and added a red shirt with the second. I don't know what the next step is but I think I might have to lull one of you into a false sense of security and then take advantage of my position and molest you.

Dear Dognog's parents,

Gio is only kidding.  She is well behaved and will only molest RoseCon attendees if they ask her nicely.  There was one time in New Orleans when she molested a wine bottle, but the wine bottle was totally asking for it, and she learned her lesson afterwards.

Love,

satyreyes

Seattle is in wine country, you know. More bottles may have to suffer.

Aine - Awesome, we'll keep in mind to try and avoid that date, then. And absolutely yes, SO's are invited. Basically bring whoever you want so long as they know what they're getting into and don't mind being in a room full of SKU fans screaming at the TV screen because someone is getting slapped/seduced/hit in the face with a baseball.

Hey. It looks to me like we already have a RoseCon.

Pardon my ignorance, but... what are these "SO"s you refer to?

I know that some of you have issue with the creators, but what about being in town for PAX Prime? It'll be Labour Day Weekend (Aug 31 - Sept 2).

Ooh, West Coast fun times! That makes it a little more likely that I'll be able to attend. Y'know, what with living in the middle of the Pacific and all. That's what kept me from going to the NOLA RoseCon (also grad school).

I'll put a tentative hand up -- I honestly can't be sure what I'm doing until Christmas. If I get into my MA course at Victoria I won't be able to come, because the university semesters in New Zealand are up the wop compared to the ones in the northern hemisphere and I'll be poor as hell anyway, but if I don't get into the MA programme I'll be working as per usual and will most likely turn up.

dirufacade wrote:

Giovanna wrote:

I think it goes without saying, but I'll be there. As will Yasha.

I wore a purple tie at the first RoseCon, and added a red shirt with the second. I don't know what the next step is but I think I might have to lull one of you into a false sense of security and then take advantage of my position and molest you.

Once upon a time, someone warned me that you Internet people were all deviant freaks.

Well they weren't necessarily WRONG were they? XD

Ahhh you silly Amurricans with your weird school schedules...

But I'm so exciiiitedl, I cannot waiiiit (my ass is still chapped about missing RoseCon 2010, so August is already booked off for me, bahahaha!)