When John mentioned that he was going to a conference in Seattle in March, I immediately started looking at plane tickets and daydreaming about sleeping in in a quiet, dark hotel room and roaming through a new city. Vacation, whoooo hooooo!
We flew out together on a Friday morning, headed straight to the spa for a massage after a massive day of cross country travel, and spent Saturday and Sunday exploring Seattle (we walked over 15 miles in two days). Then, I flew home on Monday, and John spent the rest of the week working on the west coast. Helen Grace stayed with her grandparents while we were gone and did beautifully (THANK YOU, GOD). I was so relieved that she slept and ate well and had less toddler moments than you could count on one hand. She definitely showed out for her grandparents!
We LOVED Seattle but soon learned that the city sleeps late. Nothing opened before 10 a.m. The weather was perfect, and we only felt raindrops for the briefest of moments one morning (although it was pouring as we drove to the airport). It was very windy, but the sun came out each afternoon and warmed us up. The people were polite and laidback, and the city was clean and green (both in color and spirit). The water views from all over the city and the mountain tops in the distance provided a beautiful backdrop for a fun weekend getaway.
On the way there, we connected through Atlanta for an almost 5 1/2 hour flight….UGH.
Seattle built this monorail for the 1962 World’s Fair. It takes you right from the heart of Downtown to the Space Needle area, so we rode it a lot.
And this is what we saw when we got off the monorail- welcome to Seattle!
Space Needle and the Experience Music Project Museum, made to look like a smashed guitar of Jimi Hendrix (a Seattle native)
The front of the EMP Museum- notice the monorail tracks. It goes through the side of the museum. Very neat.
Seattle is full of these vintage signs.
We loved the Ride the Duck land/water tour, but when the time came to actually go in the water, I have to admit I was a little nervous!
Out on Lake Union
Seattle skyline
We watched several sea planes land on the water. 
Sleepless in Seattle boat house (blue with green trim to the right of the sailboats_
Cool squares with fountains and sculptures are everywhere you turn.
Pike Place Market
Rachel the Pig 
They would throw fish like they’re famous for, but not before they gave all the tourists a guilt trip about not buying anything.
More shopping at Pike Place Market
First Starbucks in the US. I really wanted to get a drink there, but the line was all the way down the street.
Loved this park at the end of Pike Place Market, overlooking the Sound
Snowy mountains off in the distance.
Finally got my Starbucks!
Our hotel, Fairmont Olympic
Blurry but a pretty shot of the lobby…very much like the Peabody
A wonderful sunset dinner at the top of the Space Needle
Lake Union. The buildings that look like two v’s are the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation.
After dinner, we had to go upstairs to the observation deck to snap a pic. When we opened the door to the outside, we were almost blown off the side by the CRAZY wind. John is gripping his camera with superhuman strength.
Ranier Tower
Seattle Art Museum’s Hammering Man, He only gets a break on Labor Day.
The Great Seattle Fire of 1889 destroyed the entire Downtown business district and was started on this corner by a cabinet maker apprentice.
Pioneer Square
Seattle Aquarium
Petting the starfish
This was wild- a circle of jellyfish!
Check out this adorable otter with a baby on her belly!
Woodland Park Zoo…very naturalistic and wooded with small paths and ‘realistic’ habitats. It was a beautiful zoo but made it hard to see the animals at times.
On the way home, I had to connect in LA, which required a trip in a bus around the tarmac to get to the Delta terminal. I cannot believe that this is still allowed post-9/11!!
Needless to say, Baby Girl and the kitties were happy to have Mama home on Monday night. I have pretty much slept like this every night for the past week. 
John had to stay out on the west coast for work all through Friday, and the bed got even more crowded last night when he finally got home!
1 comment:
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