Ralphie Rough Road

This beautiful city has plenty to keep you busy while visiting.  I highly recommend exploring the city on foot.  Grab a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a map/guide-book, and your wallet.  You will want the cash handy as you walk by various restaurants and bars with smells wafting through the streets.

First up, the seafood of Seattle is amazing!  Fresh and delicious = it will cost you, but it is worth it.  Look for places offering happy hour specials and plan your meals accordingly.   I have to admit I am jealous of the locals.  Having the ability to walk to Pike Place Market and grab fresh fish makes my stomach envious.

This is just one of many seafood shots I snapped while walking through Pike Place Market.

While visiting this past summer we were lucky to catch the Navy’s Blue Angels flying overhead throughout the weekend.  In addition two Navy ships were in port.  Sailors filled the streets and pubs, enjoying a little time away from their ship.

Not the best shot of the Blue Angels but we were onboard the ferry from Bainbridge Island, so this shot was better than nothing.

When the afternoon turned rainy we headed over to the Seattle Aquarium.  Our time was spent enjoying the sights of underwater creatures and dodging the rain.  Lucky for us we had purchased a City Pass, which included tickets to the aquarium, the EMP museum, the science museum and two trips up to the top of the Space Needle.  I highly recommend purchasing a City Pass (available at several major cities in the U.S).  The pass not only saves you money but also time.  It allows you to skip the lines at most places.

Brightly colored star fish in a touch tank, allowing children and adults to have an up close and personal experience.

Jelly fish on display, thanks to an ever-changing light, they were easier to see.

What a cute little river otter!

The EMP museum consists of music, sci-fi and pop culture.  It is also conveniently located near the Space Needle.  Taking the monorail over is cheap and quick.

I love the architecture of the building.

The guitar display is awesome.  Pictured above is less than half of the entire tower of guitars.

The museum also houses the impressive Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana display rooms.

With the City Pass you have the opportunity to tour the Space Needle during the day and at night.  In our case we ran out of time for the daytime but we thoroughly enjoyed our night tour, along with some delicious adult beverages at the top.

What a beautiful night-time skyline!  We enjoyed ourselves at the top for a couple of hours, leaving only when it was closing time.

Out of all of our City Pass tours only one disappointed us, The Pacific Science Museum.  Shane and are both big science geeks.  As such we were excited to tour this museum.  The place should have been called “The Children’s Science Museum”.  For families with children it is an excellent museum, for adults without children it was a let down.  The only saving grace in my book, the butterfly exhibit.

While visiting Seattle we opted to camp on Bainbridge Island at Fay Bainbridge Park.  This was the perfect choice for us with views of the Puget Sound, showers available and a reasonable camping fee.  Everyday we took the Bainbridge Island ferry over to Seattle to explore the city on foot.

Our perfect little getaway campsite.

Most of our time spent in Seattle involved tasting the local food, enjoying the nite life along with a few cocktails, meeting new people and simply enjoying the last big city on our trip Out West.

Passing by a protest on the streets of Seattle.

Enjoying a sunset while strolling along the water’s edge.

Wishing I could rescue this dog, his owner was inside the bar enjoying cocktails while he sat outside looking lonely.

A deserted Pike Place Market.

Rushing to catch the last ferry ride over after a full night of enjoying the city.

With so much to see and do in Seattle, you owe it to yourself to visit.  This was my second trip and I would go back in a heartbeat.  Until then I will await the next great adventure.