Seattle, Washington Trip (May 2015)

My journey to Seattle, Washington began years ago when my dad told me, "if you ever get a chance, go to Seattle." My dad went on liberty there while in the Navy and he must have had a lot of fun to be able to give that advice.

My lady friend Pam joined me on this trip and as she put it was, "just along for the ride."

Pam and I started out on Thursday morning with a plane delay for a couple of hours but we were able to take advantage of the United Club for breakfast with some free passes. It was a nice perk. Just an aside, we are both "foodies". Trendy word, I know, but it is what it is and I will be sharing our food experiences along the way as well.

Finally getting into San Francisco (a trip to a Giants game and hangin out near McCovey Cove is in the future hopefully but not this time) and connecting to Seattle, a trip on the Lite rail from Sea-Tac got us into Pioneer Square, an older part of Seattle near the waterfront of Puget Sound and after some misdirection, we checked into our hotel.

After a long day of travel, we decided to relax at Safeco field, taking in the Indians Mariners game. In a strange coincidence, my cousin Joe and his wife  Annie were thinking the same type of baseball trip and were in town as well so we met up with them for some pre game, after we enjoyed a Calamari appetizer and a Hefeweizen at the Pyramid Ale House.

We made some new friends and even got tossed a ball from the Indians bullpen

After a few drinks and an order of garlic fries (a Seattle staple, I guess and a little over rated in my opinion), we were pooped and headed back to the hotel around the seventh inning, via our new friend, Shannon, who peddled us in a bicycle handsome cab for minimal cost. Walking Seattle, as we found out the hard way, is not the best way to go.

Plans to meet up with Joe and Annie on Friday morning were made to hit Pike Public Market, home of the famous fish toss, incredible seafood selection and the Athenian Inn from the movie Sleepless in Seattle, where we had a toast to my dad with a bloody Mary.  Nice of them to pick us up at the hotel.




We decided to split up and go our separate ways until lunch and after sifting through the market, full of interesting shops, food stands etc. Pam and I set our sites on the Space Needle and the Chihuly Glass Museum and Garden in Seattle Center.

Since the weather was gorgeous, the line for the Space Needle was ridiculous, we decided to just do the Chihuly. Pictures don't do it justice.

Using "The Force"

We made our way to the waterfront, on our way to the Crab Pot for a late lunch which was outstanding.

  On our way back from Crab Pot, we ran into the infamous "Gum Wall" which I felt was pretty gross so I moved on. Apparently its quite the attraction.

We parted ways with Joe and Annie and took a rest back at the hotel. Since we didn't get to go up in the Space Needle, we decided to take a locals advice and head to the Columbia Sky View Observatory to view the city in 360 degrees.

Unfortunately, I decided to walk us to the
Observatory UPHILL, five blocks....not good .

Century Link and Safeco Fields

 

This would be our final day walking. We worked our way back to the hotel and in need of a cocktail and a bite, we ducked into the Merchant Cafe, the oldest restaurant bar in Seattle. I had my first Wagyu beef (from Japan) burger and a Buffalo Trace bourbon in a place we later found out, is haunted. Luke was an excellent bartender and manager and the whole staff was very hospitable. They invited us to look at the new Underground Bar downstairs, which was not open yet and was a little creepy, to say the least. Our night ended with ghost stories read by Ms Pam back at the hotel.



 Saturday morning our plan was to ferry over to Bainbridge Island to see Seattle from the Sound. And speaking of the Sound, its amazing how the Sounders MLS soccer team is such a big deal there. Just as many if not more than Mariner fans. But the Seahawks own the town.

It started out a little overcast on our way to the island but it cleared up and after a quick 30 minute trip, which was a little brisk, we stopped for a Bainbridge Crepes for a coffee and a Battle Point, which was ham based. Pretty tasty for my first time.


We walked the streets of the island and checked out the quaint little shops and then hopped on a shuttle bus across the island to the Clearwater Casino and proceeded to contribute my usual $ to their community.

We took the ferry back around 2 pst to get ready for Game 7 of the Blackhawks vs Ducks series. It was at this time we decided to use Uber.

Our first Uber ride was quite the adventure as we made out way to Sport Restaurant for the game. Great service from Ron behind the bar and made some new friends as well. The Hawks won to move on to the Stanley Cup finals vs Tampa Bay.


After the game, feeling like a dive bar, we took a short walk to 5 Point Cafe where I was able to play a CD jukebox , get gravy on my french fries, and just relax with many different walks of life. I mean, a place with a sticker reading "I F Nuns" can't be all bad, can it?

We finally Ubered back to the hotel with a little more success this time.

Our last day in Seattle, Sunday, we decided to finally go on the Underground Tour that was highly suggested by many we had talked to.  Starting the tour with a bloody Mary, we embarked with our tour guide, Walt, who was excellent. The tour told the story of the great Seattle fire of 1889, the Klondike Gold rush and how the city had to rebuild, over the old city! The tour was entertaining as well as educational. If you are ever there, and if you can handle the scent of a damp basement for about 30 minutes, take the tour.


The tour ended up, ironically, at the Merchant Cafe, where we ended our Friday night. The new Underground Lounge was open so we went downstairs and had a few bourbons and met some more new friends, Brian & Denise.



We parted ways with our new friends after a drink at J & M Cafe, Seattle's Oldest Bar and we went back to the hotel to relax before dinner. We got another Uber ride to Anthony's Pier 66 where Pam and I enjoyed a relaxing dinner as we took our time and reflected on our journey. Wagyu Sirloin and Prawns for me and Dungeoness Fettuccine for her. The view was awesome as was the company.





Our last Uber ride was to the airport, where we got off ok but had an hour and a half delay in Denver before we got home early evening, ending our vacation to the great Northwest and returning to reality. And reality bites.