This makes me wish I knew the art of slipping bills. I have no idea how that works.

I agree with most of your recommendations, save one. I've lived in Seattle for almost 30 years now, and I've brought lots of visiting friends and relatives to the Space Needle, and they've all loved it. I've been on the Underground tour so often I've almost memorized their schtick. I love the old elevator in the Smith tower, the Troll, the Market.

But... Ride the Ducks? Not so much. That is one tourist trap too far. They're completely obnoxious. The idiot drivers regularly come close to sending me into a murderous rage from a block away. I would love to sink their stupid amphibious craft to the bottom of Lake Union for good. Die, ducks, die.

I held out for nearly ten years, but then did the Ducks for my 50th birthday. I have no regrets.

I despise the ducks. They are truly obnoxious -- loud and polluting and traffic-congesting. I think it would be great if everyone on the streets of Seattle would give them the finger every time they pass by.

the space needle is a must do on a nice sunny day. the view is amazing, and it's fun to see if you can count all the construction cranes. i think i counted over 30 last summer.

Fuck the ducks. Gah! Awful awful.

This is amazing, essential Seattle literature. Love the last paragraph.

Never, ever ride The Ducks. Everybody you see on the street during the tour thinks you are acting like a loud, obnoxious, egotistical clown. They're right. Tidal churn does not erode the city's pioneer identity (and some of us were born in the region, so calling us tourists in our city is simply mindlessly negating those of us who did not arrive here, but sprang from the wombs of those born here as well), defending mindless consumerism like The Ducks does.

At first I thought that the "giant pile of garbage you charge $18 for" was the EMP

Why is "captain" in quotes in this article? Let me guess, you have no idea what kind of licenses required to do that job, do you? Call them tacky,call them overpriced, and call them obnoxious. Just don't call them "captains" because the certifications required by law to do that job are numerous, and yes, one of them is a Coast Guard captain's license. -signed,someone who drove the duck in two different cities