Vacation in Seattle
Vacation Ideas

My first morning was spent wandering among the merchants at the Pier. The Pier is a partially open air market that offers everything from regional foods (must try the chocolate covered Chukar cherries!) to beautiful treasures by local artisans, with a little tourist flare thrown in here and there.

I ate my way through the market, sampling fresh salmon, local fruits, and the offerings of a small Russian deli, once visited by Anthony Boudain. I visited the Seattle Aquarium, a well-maintained facility that offers both hands-on experiences for children, and aquatic life for all.

On a rainy day, I visited the Seattle Art Museum to wonder among some lovely art, and spent the evening enjoying the view from the Space Needle, where the lights of Seattle shine brightly. I hope to visit Seattle again someday, as my brief stay wasn't long enough to take in all that Seattle has to offer.

The streets of Seattle are steep and a good way to get exercise. Parking at the bottom of Queen Anne Hill and walking up to my uncle's home was an adventure. I also walked to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls and back up again, and across the U of Washington campus to visit an exhibit of Shackleton Expedition photos.

Other memorable experiences include lectures at a writers' center called Hugo House, hearing Andre Watts perform with the Seattle Symphony, antique shopping at Snohomish, a visit to Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe, a walk along the pier, a ferry ride to Vashon Island, and buying Asian food at the markets.

Starbucks and other coffee shops are everywhere and since I am a caffeine lover, which led to many positive experiences. My relatives didn't persuade me to go up in the Space Needle but I enjoyed the Seattle Center anyway.

The area is famous for its seafood, dairy, and berries and fruit. I tasted Marion berries for the first time. The rhododendrons in bloom are spectacular. There are still some activities I would like to try such as a visiting the zoo and taking the underground tour, so I would imagine I will return one day.

The park museum is on Main Street in Seattle. During the summer the park offers gold panning demonstrations and a ranger-led walking tour of Pioneer Square Historic District. You can take a tour of the Arthur Foss Tugboat which was used in 1898 to transport miners and their supplies to the Yukon gold mining area.

The Nordic Heritage Museum offers a collection of art and objects that showcase the Nordic Culture. It is located in the heavily Scandinavian neighborhood of Ballard. The Museum of Flight house a collection of aviation related artifacts and aircraft such as the first presidential jet.

This is one of the country’s premier marketplaces and should not be missed when visiting Seattle. Nearby the Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle is the fascinating Japanese superstore Uwajimaya. Here you will find a wonderful array of Japanese grocery and gift items. This is a great place to get a taste of real Japanese culture right here in the U.S. Whether buying or just looking, Uwajimaya is such a fun and interesting experience that it has become an integral part of the Seattle tourism scene.

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