Tag: Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle? Not quite, but on my recent trip I was so excited to be in this iconic city I almost didn’t want to waste any time sleeping! One of my goals as a writer and blogger is to create articles that you can relate to, stories that make you smile, think, or encourage you on your own journey . With that in mind, welcome to Seattle!

Pike Place Market

Though one of the most acclaimed tourist attractions, Pike Place Market is, and always has been, a real working market selling fresh local produce, breads, pastries, flowers, artwork, crafts, and yes, the fish fly. Hubby Ed bought shrimp and smoked salmon that he turned into delicious dinners back at the Airbnb. Fun fact: we learned that the fishmongers throw the same fish around all day for the tourists, then donate it to the local zoo for the bears. When we bought our shrimp, the fishmonger threw it to us! (after packaging it, not one shrimp at a time 🙂

Space Needle

You can’t visit Seattle without a trip to the Space Needle. Built in Seattle for the 1962 World’s fair, this architectural wonder draws approximately a million people each year. The day we were there, the top of the needle was enveloped in cloud cover and we didn’t get to see the panoramic view of the city and Puget Sound . That was fine with my three travel companions who are afraid of heights. As consolation for the views I missed, I coaxed Ed to stand next to me on the glass floor of the observation deck for a few seconds while a friend snapped this picture from above. He refused to look to down to the ground 520 feet below.

Chihuly Glass Museum

This museum, only steps from the Space Needle, took my breath away! Room after room of astonishing glass art will transport you to another world. Plan to visit the glass blowing demonstration in the courtyard to witness artists in action, and a stop at the theater room provides insights into Chihuly’s process, mission, and vision. In one of the films, Chihuly describes his creative process as “being driven by spontaneity.” He goes on to say that if he stops to think about it too much, the work loses something. I came away inspired to embrace this idea in my creative endeavors.

The Origin of Starbucks

Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks. Though the original site no longer exists, this shop in Pike Place market has the distinction of being the oldest Starbucks in the nation and is the historical mecca of Starbucks fanatics. Sadly, I didn’t get to go into the shop due to the long, long, line outside that snaked around like a popular attraction at Disney World. Fun fact: the original logo designed in 1971 (as shown on the window behind me) was brown and white and depicted a bare-breasted, two-tailed siren. (Huh…I always thought she was a mermaid.) This mythological creature known for her enchanting song represented the allure of coffee, drawing customers in. Today’s logo now features a modest siren, signature green color, and is so iconic, no words are needed.

Mt. Rainier

A few hours from Seattle, and not to be missed on your itinerary, is Mt. Rainier, the Pacific Northwest at its finest. At over 14,000 feet the mountain is the tallest volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range and the most glaciated peak in the United states. We booked a day trip from Seattle and were soon transported away from the city and into this beautiful wilderness. At the park we hiked through conifer forests, felt the spray of magnificent waterfalls, and witnessed glacier flows down the mountain. At the Paradise stop, we grabbed some lunch, shopped for souvenirs. and strolled through the meadow trail where black tailed deer enjoyed the pleasant September weather.

Honorable Mention…

Besides the main attractions above, this post would be amiss if I didn’t mention our cruise around the harbor, a visit to Ballard Locks where we saw salmon run (or swim) upstream in the salmon ladder, the Seattle Aquarium, amazing seafood at the Athenian restaurant and Ivar’s Acres of Clams (yes, acres), and fresh pastries each morning from Macrina Bakery conveniently located next door to our Airbnb.

Sleepless in Seattle? Maybe breathless would be a better description.