One of the things I like about where we live is that we live our daily life in a small Norwegian town with very little traffic or hustle and bustle.... But, when we decide to do some serious shopping or just enjoy a change in routine, we are only a 30 minute ferry ride from the big City of Seattle....also known as "the Emerald City"... Let's take a ferry ride over to Seattle....
Here is our granddaughter, Brenna, with a ferry that goes to Seattle in the background. The ferry makes several trips each day over to the big city. You can ride the ferry as a walk on passenger or you can take your car on the ferry. We usually like to walk throughout the city so we ride the ferry as a walk on passenger.
Sometimes, we bring bread to feed the seagulls...
The seagulls follow beside the ferry and will take the food right out of your hand if you hold your arm out...
In the next photo, you can see the city-scape just around the bend...
Here is a photo of my husband, two sons and I seated on the top of the ferry on a trip over to Seattle about a year ago. You can also sit inside if it is too windy. You can see how close we are getting to the City...
Brenna and I as we near the ferry terminal... Seattle is a big City! We are anticipating a great day!
My sons, Brandon and Elliott, and I... My older son went to University of Florida...so we are big on the Florida Gators as well as the Washington Huskies. On this day, the guys had on their Gator shirts...
City and space needle... getting closer...
Sometimes, it is just my husband and I going over for the day.... We enjoy spending time together in Seattle.
There is a lot of walking in the City---if you choose to be a walk on passenger---so comfy shoes are a must! I was used to the heels of the South when I moved here. First time my husband and I went over to Seattle, I quickly learned those were the WRONG shoes to wear. I made a quick visit to the shoe dept. at Nordstroms and bought some nice flats to wear. Did you know that we have the BEST shoe department at our Nordstroms in Seattle? It is partly because Nordstrom started out as a shoe store! Bet you didn't know that... If I want fabulous shoes---- I head to over to their shoe department. Best Nordstrom shoe section I have have ever seen!
Now that we have left the ferry terminal, let's head over to Pike Place Market. Yes, it is famous for flowers and fresh produce. The marketplace was started over 100 years ago by the wives of the local farmers. Always a busy place, the Market is a popular place for locals and tourists alike. The fish throwing is legendary and a popular place for visitors to stand and watch the guys who work the seafood shop sing and throw the fish people buy to the person who wraps it. They ship all over the world and have some awesome looking seafood.
Here is a photo of my neice, Jordan, in front of the fish market. She was visiting us from Florida for my younger son's graduation from highschool. There are always lots of cameras flashing in front of the fish market....a popular place for a photo. The man you see in the suspenders works at the market. The guys all wear these rubber-waterproof overalls with suspenders. They are always happy to pose for pictures with you and sometimes get into the act on their own...
Here is Brenna when she was here visiting us from Florida...
The produce is wonderful at the Pike Place Market. There is always someone cutting up fresh peaches, plums, apples and other fruits for you to sample. They know once you try the fresh, sweet fruit, you are sure to buy... The veggies are great, too!
The market place sign is a popular landmark. Next is a photo of my two sons and I in front of the famous sign.
The flowers are magnificent at the marketplace, and you can get a great deal on a huge bouquet of some of the prettiest flowers you have ever seen!
Here is Brenna picking out a pretty bouquet...
Brenna in front of one of the many flower stands.... can you believe a beautiful bouquet for only $5.00... Which one to choose....
Ashley and Brenna at the market place..
Cherries and peaches look delicious!
More seafood...
You will not believe how many Starbucks are in Seattle... Here is one that is supposed to be the original that is located in the Pike Place Market area. There are several different and interesting shops on this strip.
Seattle is also known for music. There are always musicians playing outside along the streets. Here are Ashley and Brenna listening to this couple sing and play their guitar and banjo...
This couple has a CD for sale if you like their music...
Brenna inside this Starbucks checking out the coffee beans...
Here is a photo for the "McDreamy" fans... Me with this cutout in front of one of the shops along the waterfront. I love Grey's Anatomy myself...
Brenna and Ashley posing with some of the fun cutout photo signs...
Brenna sitting in the cute "pig chair" near one of my favorite restaurants---The Pink Door...
Here we are dining alfresco at the Pink Door for lunch. The food is delicious. They have various entertainers perform inside the restaurant in the evenings. We decided to sit outside on this day and enjoy the beautiful weather we were having.
My husband inside the Pink Door...
I love this shot of the flowers and umbrellas along the waterfront...
Me on the ferry with some lovely flowers that I selected... You always see people with bouquets on the ferry. Many people will select their flowers to take home right before getting on the ferry. The market always wraps them up nicely and puts enough water in the plastic wrapped around the flowers to ensure they are are still fresh by the time you get home...
Of course, the Space Needle is a landmark for Seattle... You can go up on top and take in the view. There is even a restaurant on the top. Pretty to see the lights at night, too...
Many people like to visit the campus of the University of Washington when they tour Seattle. You can go on a tour with a guide or just walk around yourself on a walking tour. This school is near and dear to my heart because my younger son is currently a student here. Go Huskies!
The campus has some beautiful buildings. Here are just a few photos...
The college has many beautiful trees and you also have a view of Mt. Ranier from the campus. Trees bloom in spring, and there are beautiful leaves in the fall. Here is a photo of my son and husband on our first visit to the campus a couple of years or so ago. My son attended a local community college and is completing his third year of college at the University of Washington.
Pretty building...
You can see Bill Gates and Paul Allen's presence at the school...
My son is taking computer engineering at UW...
The college has a huge fountain near the main square, and there are always baby geese and ducks in the spring... Make Way for the Ducklings....
The day we visited, there were lots of geese walking around...
You can see all the Canadian geese in front of the rose garden...
I feel like Mother Goose... ha!
Seattle has a lot of museums and cultural events... We are members of the Seattle Art Museum where we last saw Picasso's works. Seattle was one of the three museums in the United States that was selected to receive Picasso's art. The show was very interesting. Here is a photo of my husband and Brenna walking along the street in Seattle. You can see the Seattle Art Museum in the background...
We are also members of the Seattle Aquarium. We love to visit the aquarium and see the octopus and all the beautiful fish. The aquarium is located right on the waterfront. Here are just a few of the photos we took when Brenna was visiting us last year.
Our favorite exhibit is the octopus tank...
Feeding time for the octopus...
Look at these suction cups... These creatures are amazing!
Brenna with my husband and I at the octopus tank...
My son, Elliott, with Brenna and I at one of the tanks...
Another fun place to visit is the Experience Music Project. Paul Allen created the Experience Music Project partly to house his huge collection of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia. There is an entire room devoted to Jimi Hendrix. You can see some of his clothing he wore in concerts and even read some of his personal letters when he was in the military. The information you read gives you a lot of insight into Jimi Hendrix and his songs.
Jimi Hendrix is buried in Redmond, Washington, and you can visit his grave there. Many people do.... Here is a photo of my neice, Jordan, and my son, Elliott, in front of the Experience Music Project building. My older son took a year or so of architecture at the University of Florida. They actually studied the design of this unique building in college. The Experience Music Project has a very large display of music artist memorabilia and information. There is also a section that is very interesting about the history of the guitar with some guitars on display that belonged to artists such as members of the Beatles and other famous musicians. There is a sci-fi section in this building which is quite interesting to see, too. Sometimes, there are touring shows. I have seen a few of them including Michael Jackson's famous glove which was on display. Plan to spend some time here if you go to Seattle...
There are plenty of places to have lunch in Seattle. The next photo shows my neice, Jordan, with my older son, Brandon, and I having lunch near the Market.
The Space Needle is a landmark. It is located close to the Experience Music Project. Here is Jordan with the Space Needle...
Ashley and Brenna at the market...
There is an area near the waterfront called "Post Alley" and there are lots of restaurants and shops in this area, too...
If you love the theater and broadway shows, you can take in a show on tour at Fifth Avenue. We have seen a couple of shows here over the past six years. Here I am on my birthday last year. My husband, son, and I saw South Pacific. It was awesome!
Sadie and I in front of the theater.
The theater is beautiful inside. They don't allow photography during the shows so I had to snap this photo before the theater filled and the show started.
Sadie and I in front of this beautiful oriental dress on display in one of the shop windows. Plenty of shopping in Seattle...
I am having my dress made for my son and his fiance's wedding in November at this shop. Cicada Bridal.
I love the flowers and the wrought iron window boxes on the building...
You never know what you will see walking along the streets of Seattle... take a look at these little dogs... We had to take a photo of them.
Another place we love to go for lunch sometimes... Tap House Grill...
One of the things available for someone who is a tourist is the "Ride the Ducks" tour of the city and Lake Union. This a vehicle that takes you around town to see some of the famous spots of Seattle. The vehicle floats....so you actually go right into the water at Lake Union. This is the area made famous by the movie---Sleepless in Seattle. You can actually see the home that was featured as the floating home of Tom Hanks and his son, Jonas, in the movie. We had never experienced the Duck tour before so decided to take Brenna and Ashley on it when they visited. It was a lot of fun...
The tour starts near the Space Needle... The curvy building is the roof of the Experience Music Project building--also in this area.
Everyone gets the little duck bill/duck call... Sounds just like a duck :)
At first, everyone is way too cool to use these.... but....
It doesn't take long and the entire tour group is into it....
Hey, we are not "too cool" to have fun! :)
Our driver/tour guide was dressed like a pirate... hmmm....Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow wannabe? No matter... he was fun! Everyone enjoyed him and his humor...
Notice the life jackets above.... That is because we will be heading right into the water.
After being told some water safety rules...we are off! Here is Brenna ready for the tour...
Everyone waves to the people on the "duck" as you go by...
After pointing out many landmarks and things to see in Seattle... including just how many Starbucks there are (Cha Ching Baby!).... it was time to head to Lake Union...
We are floating in the water now...
Here is one of the floating houses along Lake Union...
Other floating homes in the distance...
As you can see, the Ride the Duck tour of Seattle is fun! Don't be intimidated by the duck or be too cool to go on it.... or you will miss out on a fun time! It is a very tourist-type thing to do but----everyone should do it once..... We lived here four years before we rode the duck. One of my girlfriends rode it with her sister who was visiting from Tennessee, and she encouraged us to ride it the next time we had visitors.
Time passes quickly when you are having fun. Soon, it is time to leave to walk back to the ferry terminal. Riding the ferry and taking in the view is a nice way to end the day. Back to feeding the seagulls...
Good bye to Seattle for now....
My two sons and I...
Me with my flowers from the Market...
Nearing Banbridge Island...
There was a bride and groom on our ferry.... I couldn't resist making a photo of them...a happy couple taking in the view as husband and wife together... No doubt a day they will remember forever...
There are soooooo many things to do in Seattle that I cannot share it all in one posting. I hope that you have an opportunity to visit the beautiful and fun City of Seattle sometime. My favorite time of year to tell folks to visit is in the summer....July or August...there are a lot of events, all the flowers are in full bloom and the weather is beautiful. When it is very hot in the South, our weather will be more springlike... warm in the day but can get cool at night so bring a light jacket. Hope you have enjoyed a day tour of Seattle. I will be making some new photos soon so will be doing an additional posting at some point. I have upgraded my camera from the time these photos were made and am looking forward to getting some great shots this summer! Hope you have a beautiful day today! xoxo Kim
Thanks for sharing the trip...I have been there once. I think Brenna needs one of those pig chairs. So, in the winter time, do you cross that way too? Looks like you went on such a nice day. I would love being able to have the fresh flowers like that. :D
Posted by: Julie Harward | Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Hi Julie,
Thank you for the comments. Yes, I think Brenna needs that chair, too! :) We do go over in the Winter sometimes to Seattle. I like to go during the holidays to see all the holiday decor in the City. We are beginning my favorite time of the year to do day trips into the City though. I sometimes even go by myself to shop all the stores. Fun place. We live only 25 minutes from the ferry. Have a wonderful day today! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 04:56 PM
Kim,
I love your view of Seattle. Rory and I have been there once...based on your post, we missed so much and definitely need a return trip. I kind of felt like I was there just by viewing your photos! Thanks for sharing. (I can't believe how much Ashley looks like Mark!!) Love you!
Posted by: Katherine.Peebles | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 03:31 AM
Hi Kathy,
Thank you so much for your sweet comment and for visiting me today! Would love for you to visit our area again. Glad you enjoyed the post today. I think Ashley looks a lot like Mark, too. Kathy, I love your blog and look forward to reading more of your postings. I am going to add your blog to my "other nests to visit" posting. Have a beautiful day today. I love you, my dear friend! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Friday, May 20, 2011 at 10:07 AM
What a beautifully journaled and shared adventure! Loved it ALL! And a gorgeous family you all are too.
The photo of you and your sons, shopping and standing in front of the sign needs to be framed. LOVE the happiness that exudes from that one... and the love.
Always,
Kim
Posted by: Daisy Cottage | Monday, May 23, 2011 at 04:31 AM
Thank you so much for visiting me, Kim, and for the sweet, sweet comments. I love the photo of my sons, Brandon and Elliott, with me under the sign in Seattle at Pike's Market, too... one of my favorites. I love your new blog and soooooo enjoy seeing the swans. You are so blessed to live near to be able to photograph this miracle of life! Love you lots, xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Monday, May 23, 2011 at 09:21 AM