Pike Place Public Market was a fascinating place. I couldn't get over all the beautiful flowers and produce and seafood. I kept wishing there were some way to bring a little of everything home with me!
One day, we ate lunch at The Athenian. The food wasn't great (the view was!), but we were starving and this restaurant was in the market. Two scenes from Sleepless in Seattle were filmed there. One scene is Rob Reiner and Tom Hanks sitting at the bar talking, and the other is right outside the restaurant under the sign. I know this because curiosity got the better of me and I pulled out my dvd this afternoon and watched it with Sarah.
Gorgeous cherry trees were blooming everywhere. Everything is still brown in Colorado so I was very happy to see some color!
John and I walked down to the Space Needle and decided to go up. I'm very afraid of heights, but this didn't feel scary to me. There were some cool interactive things at the top that explained different areas of the city and the history of the needle. It was fun, but I think this would have been more fun to do with a local friend who could explain things to us.
One day, we ate lunch at The Athenian. The food wasn't great (the view was!), but we were starving and this restaurant was in the market. Two scenes from Sleepless in Seattle were filmed there. One scene is Rob Reiner and Tom Hanks sitting at the bar talking, and the other is right outside the restaurant under the sign. I know this because curiosity got the better of me and I pulled out my dvd this afternoon and watched it with Sarah.
Gorgeous cherry trees were blooming everywhere. Everything is still brown in Colorado so I was very happy to see some color!
John and I walked down to the Space Needle and decided to go up. I'm very afraid of heights, but this didn't feel scary to me. There were some cool interactive things at the top that explained different areas of the city and the history of the needle. It was fun, but I think this would have been more fun to do with a local friend who could explain things to us. It was very cloudy when we were up there and we couldn't see Mount Rainier. I was a little sad about that.
We stayed at The Arctic Club Hotel downtown and it was amazing and historic as well. I loved the walrus theme throughout.
I'm pretty sure you all know how much I adore Trader Joe's. I spent a whopping $9 there, but I was happy to browse, and my dog is happy again because he has some peanut butter treats. I would have bought more stuff if I'd had room to bring it all home with me!
I got to meet Gretchen!!!She was every bit as funny and real and sweet as I imagined she would be, and we laughed a LOT. Gretchen, it was lurvely and you are the best driver I know (smile).
That's Lake Washington behind us. Pretty isn't it?
We made a quick stop at Mars Hill because so many of our counselor friends did their grad work there. We made a new friend and we had a fun little adventure while touring the building, but I'm goint to let John tell that story.
If you're wondering, I did NOT have a Starbucks while there, but I did enjoy coffee at Seattle's Best, Cherry Street Coffee House, and Tully's. My favorite (by far) was at the Cherry Street Coffee House.
I did however find the orginial Starbucks store after a LOT of searching. I think we missed it three different times, and I felt better about that after some of the locals told me it's hard to find! It's very non-descript and the original logo is brown instead of green.
Trip highlights:- Laughing...a LOT...with the person I love most.
- Literally feeling my stress roll away.
- I saw a BALD EAGLE! We were driving across the 520 bridge and I just happened to see one perched on top of a beam. It all happened too quickly to snap a pic, but I was so excited. I'd told God that morning that I'd love to see one and I just know He was grinning when I spotted it. I made sure to tell Him thank you!
- It only rained one day!
- Seeing my cousins, especially my newest baby cousin, Niall.
- Sleeping in.
- Coffee.
- Seafood.
- Color...flowers, trees, grass. Things were green and blooming.
- GRETCHEN.
- We missed the Colorado blizzard that dumped 14 inches of snow at our house.
- The humidity was actually nice for my dry skin!
- And I breathe really well at sea level. I wasn't huffing and puffing walking all those hilly neighborhoods.
Trip lowlights:
- It was cold!
- And cloudy.
- Did I mention it was cold?
- No Dr. Pepper. I tried to order one at 4 different places. Can you believe that? Needless to say I didn't have a soda the entire trip. (Consolation? Coffee!!!)
- The tip of the car adapter for our GPS got stuck in the outlet of our rental car and we were GPSless (and confused a few times) while driving around. It was the craziest thing. We told the guy when we turned in our car but he took a look and didn't think it was still in there. (He's wrong. Very wrong. The burning smell is a dead giveaway.)
A HUGE thank you to John's parents who came and stayed with our children. They endured the blizzard and even got to enjoy an extra day with us on Saturday since all the roads south and east of us were still closed due to the weather! We love you guys. THANK YOU!
28 comments:
how fun! we got to spend a little time in seattle on our way back from alaska. we did the market and i was pregnant and all the fish smell was so bad. but it was so neat all the fresh peonies! the day we were there was actually sunny.
Sounds like an amazing trip!! When we flew into Seattle last summer we only had time to drive through on our way to Port Angeles. Next time we'll have to plan more time!
WOW . . . what a great trip! I'm so glad you had so much fun. Laughing with the one you love the most is one of the best things to do on this earth. I'm glad it didn't rain on you guys. I'm also glad y'all avoided the snow back home. Your pictures are great! What fun to get to meet a bloggy friend. Your story about the bald eagle made my heart smile.
Your trip sounds like great fun!! Love the wall just below the picture of "Arctic Club". Very nice (:
First...I love your title!
Second...I spent two years of my life (while in High School) in Seattle and it is a magical city. Your pictures are great and really captured the magic. Thank you for sharing them. I'd love to go back now, as an adult, and really explore what I remember from that time without all the hang-ups of highschool that I had when I lived there. We were just in Denver for a volleyball tournament and it really reminded me of Seattle with its awesome downtown and big old buildings. A thriving downtown is such a gift to a community. Here in Wichita, we are a community of suburbs. Ugh.
Jeanie
writinginks.blogspot.com
I called to tell my mom we were having two babies instead of one when she was smack dab in the middle of a street in Seattle, so I think that city will always have special memories for her.
I'm so glad you and Gretchen had so much fun. And then CPQ & Kellie met on that same day! May 2009 be the year of IRL!
Hello, Diane. Take a look at my swatches.
Love that scene from Sleepless.
Another reason I'd love to go to Seattle...Frasier takes place there.
Glad you had a nice getaway with hubby.
P.S. - Did you see them throw fish at the market?
So glad you guys had a wonderful trip! Enjoyed the photos.
How nice for you to miss out on the snow storm. We got 14 inches of snow at our house too!
Have a great day returning to the routine.
Deena
I am so excited that y'all got to do this!!
A bald eagle, Gretchen, coffee, The Space Needle, the Market AND alone time w/ Hubby??? That's what I call WONDERFUL!!
I loved all your pics!
Sounds like fun! Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
No Dr. Pepper? I may have to rethink my designs on a trip there. Or else bring my own. I've been known to import when need be.
Glad you're back!
I can assure you that Dr. Pepper is available in most supermarkets (except for TJs), and should you decide to return, I would happily invest in multiple cans for your consumption. :)
I now have to buy Sleepless in Seattle. Just so I can more properly tour the folks who may visit.
I'm so glad you got to visit, but even more glad for you that you got some time away, just you and John. The other stuff is just Dr. Pepper frosting on the cake.
Loved your title! Welcome home!
There is nothing like taking a trip with the special men in our lives without children! I was glad to hear that you literally felt the stress melting away!
I'd say that trip agreed with you. You are positively glowing in the picture outside Starbucks, girl!
Seattle is one of my favorite cities to visit. My sister went to college there and I have many memories of visiting her. My husband and I took a trip there last fall and it was fun to see it with him...if was his first visit. You definitely captured the beauty and fun of the city. I didn't find the "original" Starbucks and it was on my list. Oh well...just another excuse to return:) So thankful for your wonderful trip and the sighting of the Bald eagle.
Sounds like you had a great time! My dad used to work 6 months a year out in Seattle before he retired. My mom said that the largest lobsters were in Seattle! I've never been but can't wait to go out West. One day......... thanks for letting me share in your trip! It's beautiful!
Fun!
Makes me want to visit again.
I already had my tantrum over at CarpoolQueen's blog about not getting to meet any of MY blogging friends yet. Humpf.
and no Dr. Pepper???!!! that would be SO annoying!
...and I find it exceptionally humurous that you thought of my chicken...:)
What a perfect trip! I love Seattle, it was one of our favorite cites that we've visited. I remember being so enthralled with all of the fresh flowers in the Market - those tulips are just lovely!
You showed some major constraint at TJ's! $9! I'm impressed. :)
You took some fantastic pictures -- the cherry tree and the upward view of the Space Needle are my favorite.
Sounds like it was a great trip -- it's always nice to get away for a little bit. :)
Meredith,
Sounds like a GREAT trip! I have always wanted to go there.
We have several friends that went to Colorado for the break, and had to race home to try to beat the storm!
I think I am back in the blog world...I hope anyway! This is what motivated me to try to make time for it...
http://joyfuljohnsons.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-book.html
I love to read her blog, and when she showed how you could print your blog into a cute book, I decided that I would aim to do just that each year.
I am hopelessly behind with scrapbooking, and have been for years and years, so maybe this will be easier to keep up with...and more detailed too!
Glad that you had a nice break!
How fun to go to Seattle. I'd love to make it up there someday.
When I heard of the 18" of snow my MIL got in eastern CO I was happy we weren't there yet.
Glad you missed it too. Are you getting it again today?
Funny how the Lord loves to answers those little prayers, like the bald eagle just to show us how much He cares for us!
How Much Fun!!! I know that the trip away with John was exactly what you needed :)!
What a fun trip! So glad y'all had some time together. You know, you were in our old stompin' grounds from when we lived in Idaho! Good memories.
Sounds like a great trip!! Of course, I think any trip away from routine is great! And when it is just with the husband...even better!
And no Dr. Pepper? *Gasp*
Wow...that looks like such a great trip!! I love all your pictures. I feel like I was right there with you! There is nothing better than a fun trip away with your husband to bring your stress level down. Every couple needs to do that from time to time!! Glad you had fun! :)
Loved this recap! Your trip sounds like it was fantastic. The pictures of you with John and Gretchen are beautiful. You look awesome in green.
It sounds like you were able to pack in a lot of visiting and touring while you were there. And i am VERY grateful that you missed the blizzard!
You know, it also very colorful here in NC....and warm. I'm just sayin'.
Never been to Seattle, but I enjoyed it vicariously through your photos and description. I agree with Rich that you were glowing in the photos! I'm so glad that you were able to make this trip with John.
Great photos Mer. How wonderful that you and Gretchen got to meet each other. You both look great in the photos her and over at her place. And how smart of you to be gone when the blizzard hit. :-)
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