Although I was exhausted, I took advantage of the King Street Railroad Station only being a block away from the offices of Sound Transit to pick up an ORCA card, which is $8.00 per day ($4.00 per day if you are a senior (65 or older), or disabled, which I highly recommend.  The ORCA card is good for the bus, ferry, streetcar, light rail, and heavy rail.  Bought eight days, and it is loaded onto one card, and I can not recommend it enough.  Much better than paying cash, and you save a lot of money to boot!  Their contact information is:

Sound Transit

Union Station

401 S. Jackson St.

Seattle WA 98104

Tel:  1-888-889-6368

And the ORCA customer service, at the same location but different telephone number, which is 888-988-6722

Please call them and ask for them to send you information in advance.  If you are a senior, be prepared to show them your Medicare card, if disabled, ask them to send you their application to prove your status as a disabled person, which is a short, easy to fill out, form.  In my case, instead of mailing it back to them, for fear of it getting lost, I brought the filled out form with me.  They are the warmest, nicest and most knowledgeable people.  Their customer service, over the telephone and face to face, is outstanding!

Took the Seattle light rail to the Angle Lake Station (you can't miss it - it is the last station at the end of the line!)  to my hotel.  When you exit the train, you need to walk back (towards where all the hotels you saw on your way over).  Just a heads up - it is a 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk, even though the hotel's advertising told me it was a tenth of a mile, but it is well maintained sidewalk all the way. Make sure you have a Google map of the hotel as you will be approaching the back of the hotel.  Looked at fifteen hotels through Trip Advisor, and because the gentleman at their Visitors Center recommended that I might not want to stay in Seattle itself, where the hotel prices are very expensive, he recommended I stay in a nearby city only five miles away, called Sea Tac.  The hotel, Quality Inn SEA TAC AIRPORT, gives a generous discount for those with an AARP membership (I just told them I am an AARP member over the telephone).  They didn't ask for my AARP number over the telephone or ask to see my AARP card at the hotel.  They had an even more generous discount if you are over 65.  Found they were the best budget hotel for the money of the fifteen I looked at.  The room and bathroom were immaculate and comfortable.  Slept like a baby on the bed.  The linens were immaculate and soft.  The room was newly renovated.  They offered a free good breakfast every morning.  The hotel has an immaculate van to pick you up at the airport or the Angle Lake Seattle Light Rail Station (please tip about $5.00).  Their customer service over the telephone and at the front desk is excellent.  Their contact information is:

Quality Inn SEA TAC AIRPORT

2900 S. 192nd St.

Sea Tac WA 98188

Tel:  1-855-850-4666

When I arrived at the hotel, as exhausted as I was, I told the hotel manager I was starving, and if he had any recommendations nearby.  He recommended a casino that was kitty corner to the hotel.  Told him I don't gamble, and he reassured me that a lot of non-gamblers ate at their restaurant.  The food was outstanding, the service warm and attentive, and the portions huge!  Their name and address is:

The Silver Star Casino

19222 International Blvd.

Sea Tac WA 

Tel:  (206) 824-2304

Website:  www.seataccasino.com

Although this was a fact-finding trip, I really enjoyed the trip.  Riding the AMTRAK train was a vacation in of itself, and I made sure I enjoyed Seattle (and their seafood)!