Shopping in Seattle

[Sam.Seattle]

REI is a camping and gear store. The have some seasonal items too. Their Seattle store is next to the freeway with large glass windows and an indoor climbing wall.

 

I have to agree with the "layers" concept. I have been to Alaska many times on crise ships, small pleasure boats and once by Ferry. Layers are always sufficent as long as your keep your feet dry.

 

Invest in good shoes, not canvas tennis shoes, but water resisitent or proof walking shoes and a hooded parka.

 

A word of caution... if you bring or carry an umbrella, we will know you are a tourist! :rolleyes:

Edited January 31, 2015 by Sam.Seattle

[VibeGuy]

Point one: a lightweight rain jacket is almost always enough for any port call in Alaska. Add a sweatshirt or fleece underneath and you're prepared for anything.

 

Point two: Seattle gets less rain across the entire MLB regular season than any other MLB city outside California. Including Dallas.

 

I'm local. My DH and I were in Glacier Bay a couple of years ago on-deck in shorts and a t-shirt and were *amazed* to see a couple wearing matching expedition-grade down gear, Sorel boots, earmuffs, the works. They were easily into those getups $1500. They ended up in the background of soooooo many pictures.

[Colo Cruiser]

Another option, so you can just enjoy Seattle and not worry about shopping, is to take advantage of clearance sales on line. Right now, merchants like REI, Eddie Bauer, Columbia and Back Country are having good sales on fleece garments, rain gear and even lightweight packable down. You'll probably have a wide selection if you shop several sites and plenty of time to exchange/return if needed.

 

OP says they don't want to pack jackets. ;)

[Colo Cruiser]

Point one: a lightweight rain jacket is almost always enough for any port call in Alaska. Add a sweatshirt or fleece underneath and you're prepared for anything.

 

Point two: Seattle gets less rain across the entire MLB regular season than any other MLB city outside California. Including Dallas.

 

I'm local. My DH and I were in Glacier Bay a couple of years ago on-deck in shorts and a t-shirt and were *amazed* to see a couple wearing matching expedition-grade down gear, Sorel boots, earmuffs, the works. They were easily into those getups $1500. They ended up in the background of soooooo many pictures.

 

They were probably amazed that you were wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

To each his own.

[dmwnc1959]

As has been mentioned, about four blocks north of your hotel on Pine Street, between 4th and 7th Streets, are several 'small malls' (from there it's also an easy four block walk down to the Pike Place Markets), and one of those 'small malls' (Westlake Center) also has the boarding station for the monorail to the Space Needle and the giant park complex that holds the Experience Music Project museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, Pacific Science Center and IMAX, as well as the Seattle Children's Museum.

 

http://www.pacificplaceseattle.com/directory

 

http://www.westlakecenter.com/directory

 

http://www.seattlemonorail.com/

 

http://www.spaceneedle.com/home/

 

http://www.empmuseum.org

 

http://chihulygardenandglass.com/

 

http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/

 

 

:D

[Sam.Seattle]

They were probably amazed that you were wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

To each his own.

We (folks from seattle) do march to our own drum sometimes....

 

Watch closely and you will find folks up here with wool socks and sandals to compliment the shorts and tee shirts in the summer. The wool socks and sandals can actually be spotted year round with jeans and sweats too.

 

Hey OP - There is a lot adivise going on here, but just march to your own drum and HAVE A GREAT CRUISE!

[Colo Cruiser]

Watch closely and you will find folks up here with wool socks and sandals to compliment the shorts and tee shirts in the summer. The wool socks and sandals can actually be spotted year round with jeans and sweats too.

 

 

Like NORO they are everywhere.

[rpcv77]

We are going on the Alaskan cruise in July. We will be flying out of Dallas and to save room in our suitcases and not have to lag heavy coats around, my question is if we can buy coats in Seattle the night before our departure? We have already waited too late to really find anything we like here anyway but I didn't know if coats were a year round commodity or not there.

 

Yes, op doesn't want to lug heavy coats, but hopefully she has reevaluated the need for a coat so heavy that one would have to "lug" it. Fleece, even a packable down sweater and a waterproof hooded shell should do the trick. Additionally, they would still be useful for cooler days during mild Texas winters

[VibeGuy]

If you feel the need to wear 550-fill-power down on an 82F day with full sun and a UV index of 6 or 7, others may think that it's not just a different drummer, but an entirely different band.

 

To the OP: July is usually glorious in SE Alaska. Sunny and mild after morning fog. I worry more about sunscreen than rain.

[I_r_a]

Hey Luv,

 

> If you layer your clothes you will be fine.

 

Ditto

 

Ira

[Colo Cruiser]

If you feel the need to wear 550-fill-power down on an 82F day with full sun and a UV index of 6 or 7, others may think that it's not just a different drummer, but an entirely different band.

 

To the OP: July is usually glorious in SE Alaska. Sunny and mild after morning fog. I worry more about sunscreen than rain.

 

We had probably the coldest cruise that we have ever had in Alaska at the end of July (been on many). Snow sleet rain wind. I would never assume that it was going to be glorious at any time in Alaska. Just as I don't assume the same here in Colorado. :)

[LuvtheBeach10]

As has been mentioned, about four blocks north of your hotel on Pine Street, between 4th and 7th Streets, are several 'small malls' (from there it's also an easy four block walk down to the Pike Place Markets), and one of those 'small malls' (Westlake Center) also has the boarding station for the monorail to the Space Needle and the giant park complex that holds the Experience Music Project museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, Pacific Science Center and IMAX, as well as the Seattle Children's Museum.

 

http://www.pacificplaceseattle.com/directory

 

http://www.westlakecenter.com/directory

 

http://www.seattlemonorail.com/

 

http://www.spaceneedle.com/home/

 

http://www.empmuseum.org

 

http://chihulygardenandglass.com/

 

http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/

 

 

:D

 

Thank you for the links for stuff to do in Seattle! We definitely want to do the space needle and pike place market and play the rest by ear depending on American Airlines getting us to Seattle on time!

[LuvtheBeach10]

Which glacier tour are you doing exactly? If it is not A helicopter tour of the glacier and just the Mendenhall visitor center sightseeing one, you won't need a heavy coat. There is a Carhartt store very near Pike Place Market and we were there this summer and they had all the winter stuff on clearance. We racked up! There is also a Ross Dress for Less and a target right downtown.

 

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In Juneau, we are going on the helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier to the dog mushing camp. We are also going to Glacier Bay and have an aft suite so we plan to be on our balcony enjoying the view as much as possible. For those 2 reasons I though a heavy all weather coat might be a good idea and layers for all the other ports with a light weight rain jacket. I've looked online at a few places and did the purchase and return a couple of times already so I'm quickly becoming "postage broke." My dad and son both have their coats but I guess I'm too picky. I may just wing it and see what the ship or the port has to offer.

[bhopal21]

In Juneau, we are going on the helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier to the dog mushing camp. We are also going to Glacier Bay and have an aft suite so we plan to be on our balcony enjoying the view as much as possible. For those 2 reasons I though a heavy all weather coat might be a good idea and layers for all the other ports with a light weight rain jacket. I've looked online at a few places and did the purchase and return a couple of times already so I'm quickly becoming "postage broke." My dad and son both have their coats but I guess I'm too picky. I may just wing it and see what the ship or the port has to offer.

 

Very good plan and your Dad and Son will both wish they had waited.

 

They had great coats at a bargain on the ship and EVERY store you walk in in Alaska will have a huge selection of coats at very reasonable prices.

 

With that being said, the four times we have been to Alaska in August I have worn shorts and short sleeved shirts everyday except one.

 

Mike:)

[Arwen]

Or, if you want a more outdoorsy type coat the REI that is in the downtown area is great. Huge store with a huge selection. You won't find winter coats in July but a much larger selection than Dallas. You will find a lot of rain gear.

 

 

Great suggestion (from a fellow Seattlelite)...REI is a good place.

 

Also, we Seattlelites like to layer. I often wear a lightweight hoodie or cardigan sweater and then a windbreaker or rain jacket over.

[Potstech]

Color me stupid , but what is REI?

 

REI is an outdoor recreation store. It is geared towards many things to do with camping, cycling, hiking, kayaking and general outdoors. It is a little pricy but good quality stuff mostly. Also if I remember correctly there is A Columbia store just up from the pikes Market place that also should have what you can use. Enjoy your cruise.

[MilliesMom]

On our Glacier Bay cruise to Alaska May 2013 we were able to purchase some GREAT jackets on board the ship. Cost was $45 each and they were perfect. Yes, we had jackets with us, but we truly were cold out on deck (not in the ports - light weight jacket there only were needed). We spend a lot of time walking the decks, standing on the balcony and HOURS on deck in Glacier Bay. So glad we were able to get the jackets from Princess store for such a great price.

 

This was taken in Glacier Bay.

 

Jacket had a hidden hood that was vinyl (?) lined. The jacket has like a fleece lining inside.

 

If shopping in Seattle, REI is a great store to deal with also.

Edited February 5, 2015 by MilliesMom