Downtown Seattle, I love you. Your streets are aligned with gorgeous architecture and homes built with personality. I happened to visit Seattle on one of the most beautiful days of the year. You called it hot, but I soaked up every moment of Seattle sun without 60 percent humidity like in the South. And the biggest shock about Seattle? People don’t have AC in their homes! That’s inconceivable to someone who came from Georgia.
However, the salty sea breeze… I can sniff that all day. I wanted to bottle that smell up and take it home with me. I miss the smell of the ocean. It flooded my mind with memories from my childhood in Hawaii.
Last week we were vacationing in Washington. It was the first real vacation we’ve had in two years. Sad, huh? Well, that’s what happens when Nathan has been chugging away at his MBA by going fall, winter and summer semesters. But as soon as he was done, we were ready to go somewhere. Anywhere. First we took a short trip to the beach. And then we went to Washington to visit Nathan’s family.
We spent a couple days in Seattle. I have been to Washington four times now and this was the first time I actually looked around Seattle. It was too bad our kids had a hard time at first adjusting to the the three-hour time change. So really, it was sleepless in Seattle for us that first couple of nights.
While we were there, we ate lunch with the seagulls at Ivar’s. Yummy fried seafood. Fish and chips, right? The fish were delicious and the fries were perfection, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
The girls had a great time tossing fries to the seagulls. Those seagulls are professional beggars. They yell at you until you give them food. Maybe even a few threats of fly-by droppings.
We also visited an awesome beach park. It had playgrounds, a beach, picnic tables and grills, gorgeous views and even Wi-Fi. Couldn’t have asked for anything better. The girls ran around chasing birds and dipped their toes into the cool water.
Lastly, we walked through only a part of Pike Place Market. We didn’t have enough time to go through the entire market. Although I would have loved to see all the shops underground. I couldn’t believe how cheap these breathtaking flowers were.
Really?! Only $5 for a bunch? I would be there every week for new flowers. You could use these for weddings. They were that nice.
If I lived in Seattle, I would shop here all the time. The fresh fruits and veggies made me drool. And the seafood… I love seafood. Need I say more?
The place was shop after shop of marvelous wonders. Even a whole stand dedicated to honey. Local honey. That’s the best stuff.
And at the end of the day, we all went home happy. Especially if grandma found a princess tiara made of jewels and feathers and a long pink train on the back. And people gave you free flowers just for being cute.
» Tell me… Have you been to Seattle? What is your favorite thing about Seattle? Do you live there? What is it like to live there?
I really want to visit Seattle. I have driven through it when I was younger but did not experience it at all. My husband was raised there and we are thinking of relocating to the area (after a visit to make sure. I heard it gets COLD) The pictures (especially of the girls at the Beach Park) are love.
Seattle is my most favourite city in the country! Sadly I live on the east coast but I dream, almost daily, of living in Seattle! So glad you loved it so!
I have only been once for my uncle’s wedding. I only got to experience 1 day of beauty and the rest was in preparation for the wedding. What I saw and experienced was all that you just posted. We ate at the same place and went to the market. I was also taken by the beauty of the fresh flowers and fresh produce. Seattle won me over and I want to go back sooo badly!
Drooling over those cheap flowers!
I went to Seattle for a meeting. It was gorgeous! My best friend took me to a lovely arboretum and we enjoyed Pikes Place and some yummy Indian food.
I live in Maple Valley about 15 miles from Seattle, my husband works downtown Seattle, and we love it! I go in to Seattle with the kids and meet him for lunch and usually walk down to Pike Place to get flowers, they are an amazing deal aren’t they! I’ve had several friends use the flowers there for their weddings, it’s a great deal! Glad you had nice weather!
I love, love, LOVE Seattle! We were just there a few weeks ago! Such a fun city! And yes the flowers are that nice! And the fruit that good too
We lived in WA for 3 years….right across the sound from Seattle. Temperatures are mild most of the year. You have “2 weeks” of summer heat and “2 weeks” of winter and the rest is very comfy. I love the ferry systems there. They are cheap and very easy to use. The Northeast’s ferries are small and way too expensive. I miss the WA ferries. We took full advantage of them and visited Seattle often for the museums, aquarium, restaurants and of course the market! Thanks for the wonderful pictures of WA…we miss it very much! Glad you were able to get a taste of that wonderful city!
Dana
I used to live in Seattle for a few years and I was NEVER going to move. And then of course, I met my husband, and moved back to my hometown in Northern California.
I could go on for days about Seattle! It’s gorgeous – the gray can be hard in the winter, but it is beautiful. I used to live in the Wallingford neighborhood, a short walk from Gasworks park and a beautiful view of Lake Union and downtown Seattle. We used to go kayaking in Lake Union on long lunch breaks. My absolute favorite thing was the water – we used to have bonfires at Golden Gardens beach, or go watch the boats come in from the ocean at the Ballard Locks.
I lived in Tacoma for 6 years, and spent many weekends in Seattle. Since moving to the midwest, I miss the gorgeous natural beauty of the Puget Sound area almost as much as I miss our many precious friends and family in the area. There’s nothing quite like living on the Sound with full access to all sorts of water recreation, but within close proximity to amazing mountains like Mt. Rainier.
You listed a few of my favorite things: Ivar’s, Pike Place Market, (ok, the entire waterfront area!)
Some of my other favorites were the Sunday evening Compline service at St. Mark’s Cathedral on Capitol Hill – gorgeous acapella chant in a grand sanctuary.
Rock climbing at REI,
and The Fremont Troll
Ah, it’s making me homesick…
Oh I love Seattle too! I’ve only been once for a day and a half, but it was with friends and it was a blast (I met a race car driver!) Such a beautiful city!! I’ve wanted to go back ever since. Only this time with my husband
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Oh how I love Seattle. I lived in WA for 5 years, and I was always going to Seattle to visit friends, shop, just enjoy the beautiful city that it is. My favorite parts of Seattle? I’m very fond of the U-district, with it’s funky boutiques and eateries. I love Pike Place Market, obviously. But I really like the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. I could live in ANY ONE of those beautiful old homes, in a heartbeat. We’re actually moving from Florida to either Seattle or Portland, depending on where my husband gets a job. I’m partial to Portland, but I’d take Seattle happily. Have you ever been to Portland? If you loved Seattle, you’ll absolutely fall head-over-heels for Portland! Anyway, so glad you enjoyed your trip. And I’m so sorry you had to come back to the weather of the South…I’m in Florida, so I feel your pain (100% humidity makes me want to die). Not to say that you don’t love Georgia
It’s just that the darn humidity and heat can really make for a miserable August, right?
We were in Seattle in July for a family wedding. Your first shot of this post reminded me of the woman just outside Pike Place Mkt who had hair coil jewelry. What a character! And we had dinner in the sit down section of Ivar’s after riding the ferry over from the Olympic Peninsula. We also spent time in Federal Way and Lake Stevens. Where is that beach park? It looks very nice.
I know this is a really old post (sorry, been a bit out of the loop and am catching up!), but we live in Seattle. I work at the downtown REI store (the flagship), so we’re downtown all the time. Pike Place for flowers and food is fantastic, as are the other farmer’s markets over the summer. Our kids look about the same ages, too, though mine are boys. There are definitely some absolutely great places in Seattle, though rest assured, there are some downsides, too. But mostly, it is a great place to live! Let me know next time you’re out here and we can meet up and show you around!