Not Just A Layover

We hadn't really spent time in our new hub, Seattle. For me, it's been a layover airport on Lower 48 travels.  This month we explored the big city and loved us some big city livin' too. We figured out Seattle's excellent public transit system, walked many, many city blocks (with more steep hills than we ever expected), ate all the time, got Andy a pair of jeans at Nordstrom Rack (big success!!), visited REI's mother-ship store, caught a couple of movies, and shopped a little bit more.

Oh, and we were lucky to find out at our first purchase that Alaskans have sales-tax exemption status. That's important considering their 10% sales tax. It's worth saying you're from Alaska, and getting your license ready to show while at the cash register. That's a bit of savings on our end.

Two meals that really stick out was at Tulio's and Fado's. Tulio is rated online as an excellent Italian place, cuisine that really appealed to me, so we hiked uphill to find an exceptional (and expensive) little restaurant. We did not hold back and stuffed ourselves as a true-blue belated anniversary meal. Can't get bone-in veal stuffed with spinach, cheese and truffle oil in Sitka!

Fado's is a fab, comfortable Irish Pub and we just wandered in during a mid-afternoon for a late lunch. Andy got some great Guinness pours and our pub grub in the dark-wood setting made us just feel right with the world.

Often, we'd walk several blocks from our hotel, in the "Alaska building," to the famous Pike Place Market. It was always bustling, and full of visual and olfactory stimulation. We saw the market a bit subdued and filled with locals an early Sunday morning as we picked up some groceries before flying out.

We also made our way up the Seattle Space Needle for panoramic views of the city and Puget Sound. While at the City Center we also took advantage of the huge Taste of Seattle (can we say big corn dogs??).

I was especially excited to see some live music, an actual real concert. The AVETT BROTHERS! We drove out to Everett, WA for a VIP dinner before the show and then lived up the high-energy music. These guys didn't stop moving, and the cellist actually jumped up and down with his instrument as he played! Here are a couple of precious video clips. The first song is "January Wedding"--one of the three songs we included in our wedding slideshow last summer.

Ah, I could go back and have that night over and over. Andy would probably say the same for our very next night in Seattle--seeing a Mariners game.

Seahawks stadium on left, Safeco field on right.

Yes, we saw a loss during their horrible streak this season. Andy's summary is brief and to the point: "great stadium, great weather, poor team." I have a feeling we'll be back to this ball field as we stick around SE AK. We only had to walk from the field to our hotel, through historic Pioneer Park. City life! Again, it's healthy and important to get out and find the things that make you happy: like music and baseball. If you gotta fly to do it, well, that's part of the travel adventure.

We're feeling more confident to tackle Seattle in the future and I think we have a few favorite "haunts" to see next time.

*Amy