Since I’m currently flying back from my second trip to Seattle this year, I guess I should tell you about the first.
My first Seattle trip of 2014 was actually my second time here. I visited a couple years ago. It was a whirlwind trip – true to form of most of my trips I suppose. That trip I visited the Space Needle and Pikes Place Market, was completely overwhelmed by the crowds, and decided if I didn’t make it back here, that would be okay. I’m must say Seattle redeemed itself in my eyes this trip. I’m glad I gave it a second chance!
The weather was beautiful! I thought it rained here all the time. My first full day in town was clear and sunny and I found myself on a gorgeous balcony with spectacular views of the city skyline and Mt. Rainier. Seattle was winning my heart.
It was still cold and a bit snowy when I left Washington, DC and I had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the cherry blossoms. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to see Seattle in full bloom basking in the sun.
Early the next morning I was sleepless in Seattle thanks to my east coast internal clock. And since I have no meddling child to call into a radio show to help me find my soulmate, I decided to take a sunrise ferry ride. I may not have found my soulmate, but I was falling in love.
The trip out to Bainbridge Island was so good for my heart. I believe this is the first time I’ve been on a boat since leaving ships last June. While I have zero doubts that I’ve made the right choices for my life, it felt so good to be back on the water. My heart belongs to the sea.
After a beautiful northwest day of shopping in the sun it rained the following day to bid me a proper Seattle farewell. I was off to soak up some sun in Arizona.
That was meant to be my only Seattle trip of the season, but I jumped at the chance to come back this week.
It was even warmer and more beautiful this trip and, again, it only rained on the day of my departure. I’m sure there’s lots more to Seattle than the waterfront, but I keep finding myself there. Like a moth to a flame or Charlie Brown to a football, I am to water.
No sunrises this trip (I’m okay with that), but I was fortunate to get in early enough to catch a sunset my first day. I took a 6 mile walk along the waterfront, to Olympic Sculpture Park, and eventually to the Space Needle. It was getting dark and a bit sketchy/scary, but everything was so beautiful – I couldn’t get enough!
I intended my last full day to be a day of rest, but my adventurous side won out. I wanted to try a local doughnut shop for breakfast and I found one on the map by South Lake Union – a neighborhood I had yet to visit. So I set off. I expected a 20 minute walk there, a quick breakfast, and a 20 minute walk back – round trip, an hour..maybe an hour and a half…or maybe I would love the lakeside and spend way more time there.
South Lake Union is a harbor for historic ships and also has a wooden boat center where they handcraft boats. Again, I couldn’t get away.
Later that day I went back to Ivar’s for seaside (soundside?) fish ’n’ chips. Then I visited Pioneer Square and Klondike National Historic Park. But wait, isn’t Klondike National Park in Alaska? Yes, yes it is. But Seattle billed itself as the place to get outfitted and start your journey to the gold-rich Yukon. In many ways the gold rush turned Seattle into a successful city – despite there being no gold actually in Seattle. Many residents left town for a time to try their luck up north. One success story: John Nordstrom. He returned to Seattle and went to business school with the $13,000 he made in Alaska. He later purchased a shoe store with a friend from his gold rush days. The store of course went on to become the Nordstrom’s we all know and love today. You can still visit the flagship in Seattle.
I may not have a gold rush success story, but I’m richer for my time spent in Seattle.
