Mount Rainier at sunrise. view from Seatac light rail platform

Walking
Seattle is very pedestrian-friendly. It’s pretty easy to get around downtown on foot and see different sights. Most of Seattle’s neighborhoods are pretty walkable, too. Some areas are quite hilly, so wear good walking shoes.

Bus
From downtown, Seattle’s bus system can pretty much get you anywhere in the city. Third Street is the main bus corridor, both on the street level and in the underground tunnel, which is shared by buses and the light rail. All buses around downtown are free within the Ride Free Area between 6 am and 7 pm.

Route 99 is a free bus route that connects the downtown Seattle waterfront with the International District, Pioneer Square, the downtown retail area, Pike Place Market and Belltown (and goes pretty close to Seattle Center, where the Space Needle is located).

Google Maps gives reliable transit directions, and the One Bus Away smartphone app gives you real-time bus arrival info by stop.

Trains
The light rail is the best mode of transit from the airport to downtown. You can also take it to locations just south of downtown, like Pioneer Square and the stadiums where the Mariners and Sounders play.

There is a trolley that runs from downtown to South Lake Union, and it’s the best way to get from downtown to our welcome cruise, which leaves from Lake Union Park. You can also take the trolley to stops in the South Lake Union area (where Amazon is headquartered).

Monorail! What’s it called?! Monorail! Once again! Monorail! Yes, you are required to sing that song from the Simpson’s if you ride the monorail. The monorail takes you from Westlake Center (a mall/transit hub) to Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle, EMP, etc. It’s a short ride and worth it if you don’t feel like walking.

Cabs
It’s fairly easy to catch a cab in busy parts of downtown (like near Westlake Center) and at night in nightlife areas of Fremont and Ballard. Of course, you can always call and schedule a cab too. The Sheraton staff can also help hail you a cab at the hotel.

Uber
If you’re feeling fancy, Uber just might be for you. It’s an on-demand towncar service. You set up an account online and download their smartphone app. Using the app, you set your location and request a driver. The app provides real-time information about the driver’s ETA and shows you the driver’s picture when he arrives. Your credit card is charged at the end of the ride and your emailed a receipt. No dealing with cash or tips.

We worked with Uber and secured a promo code for our guests. New users get a free ride. Existing users get 50% off on July 19 or 21. Here are the details:

FREE UBER TOWNCAR RIDES FOR NEW UBERERS:
Uber is your key to a sleek ride anywhere in Seattle at any time with the tap of an app. From the quick pick up with a lovely driver to the fact that your fare is automatically charged to your card (tip included!), you’ll love Seattle’s most tech savvy and seamless towncar service. Download the Uber app to your phone and enter the promo code “SEAAA” to get your first ride FREE!
You can also sign up here: http://uber.com/invite/SEAAA

50% OFF UBER TOWNCAR RIDES TO AND FROM THE CRUISE FOR EXISTING UBERERS:

To sweeten the deal, Uber is offering existing Uberers 50% off your ride to and from the cruise! Just enter the promo code “SEAAA50″ before riding!