Summer Vacation 2015 (Part 2)

August 12-18, 2015

 Seattle

It was late afternoon on Thursday when we rolled by the massive shipping docks that signaled our arrival into Seattle. We checked into our hotel, the Hyatt, which was right across the street from the Space Needle and EMP Museum. We got situated, checked out the views from the rooftop deck, then headed out on foot to discover the city. We walked down to the piers, then up through the closed Pike Place Market and checked out the gum wall alley then into downtown where we dined at P.F. Chang's because it was what we could all agree on. We wandered through some shops for a bit after dinner and realized we had worn ourselves out and loathed the thought of dragging our bodies back to the hotel. Well salvation arrived in the form of a tram the guys noticed that went from downtown to the Space Needle! Sure it cost us a few bucks but it was worth it. The next morning we feasted on the free yet deluxe breakfast at the hotel before heading out to experience the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market during business hours. There was cheese to sample, fresh blooms of flowers, and flying fish. Lauren got to see the first original Starbucks, though there was a long line so she didn't want to wait to get anything. Lauren got a sunflower from one of the vendors, Jace got a donut that he shared with me, and we made another visit to the sticky, disgustingly beautiful gum wall. By the time we left and got back to our hotel the rain had started. We were hoping to take a tour on Ride the Ducks but because of the rain they had to shut down. So we  took a drive to the University of Washington because Lauren had been interested in possibly going there. It wasn't far but the traffic was terrible and the streets were small and crowed and it took forever but we made it, only by the time we got there Lauren was in a mood and didn't care to see anything- plus it was still raining and nobody wanted to get out of the car. By this time we were pretty hungry and I had come across a burger joint called Dick's that was a "must eat at when in Seattle, local favorite" type place. We find one that's en route back to our hotel and go in and order. Well we attempted to order anyway but got shot down on everything we wanted. Evidently the menu is 'as is' no substitutions whatsoever. If you don't like mayonnaise- too bad, guess you can only order the hamburger. If you like mayonnaise but don't want cheese- too bad mayo only comes on the cheeseburger. If you don't want tomato, guess you're picking it off and throwing it away. Oh, and you have to pay for ketchup if you want it with your fries. A free drink refill- don't make me laugh. I ended up ordering nothing, everyone else gagged down the small, lifeless, microwaved burger and we vowed that we would never return!! The rain died down and we were able to go up in the Space Needle that evening just before the sunset, it was windy and cold but the views were great! Then we ventured back down to the pier to wander through Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe- man there were some oddities and freaks of nature in there!! It was interesting for sure. The kids got an ice cream and we wandered around for awhile. The next morning we bid farewell to Seattle and began our journey to the coast.......

Lauren in front of first Starbucks

First Starbucks

Jace and seafood

Lauren and the beautiful fresh flowers

Close up of the gum wall in Post Alley under Pike Place Market

Gum art in Post Alley

Rained out!

Jace rained out!

Jace at the top of the Space Needle

Blown away on Space Needle

view from the Space Needle

Lauren at Olde Curiosity Shoppe

Mermaid at Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe

EMP Museum from the rooftop of our hotel

Mom and Dad and the Space Needle

checking out the gum wall

This place was TERRIBLE!!