Buckley Blog

So you want to experience Seattle?

Here is a free tour.
With a dose of radical honesty.

So, you're driving to Seattle...and out from your car window you see...

picturesque sea-side villages...

quaint harbors,

landmarks and thingies.

Seattle.gov boasts, "the original grounds of the Seattle World’s Fair have been transformed into a center for arts and cultural – there is always something going on."

If "always something going on" means you'll encounter people asking you for spare change, then, Yes! There is always something going on.

Otherwise, we found it unusually desolate.
We approached the entrance of The Children's Museum, Seattle. "The Children's Museum, Seattle offers a hands on experience full of wonderment for children, birth to age 10, and families." Blah, blah, boring.
Really, it's a playground for babies and little kids. Quick shout out to Pacific Science Center (see space needle pic above, that was at the entrance to PSC.) The PSC is a "must see" Seattle attraction, it's just that we've been there already. We ended up passing by the Children's Museum opportunity up for non-babyish activities like The Pike Place Market.
"The Pike Place Market is the soul of Seattle. The Market's traditions, products, and people create a unique shopping destination and a thriving community."
Where else in America are you going to find a Banana Republic, Ross Dress For Less,or Starbuck's? Seattle dares to be different.
The original 1971 Starbucks was actually interesting.
It's about a 10 square foot shop packed with people, musicians, artists, tourists, photographers and beggars.
No. we did not get coffee or even hot chocolate. We just walked on by.

I think that the appeal of Pike Place is not the fish throwing, but being able to poke a gynormous sharky looking creature. Skip the Seattle Aquarium, come to Pike Place! The fish here are already dead so...that's nice, they are in fish heaven.
A "Must Have!" at Pike Place Market: a tricycle-tire size doughnut.
These babies are like 14 inches in diameter.
Just when you think you've had enough excitement, you must experienced the thrill of the monorail.
Nick & Josh's Seattle highlight was riding the Monorail.

"It is a favorite part of the Seattle skyline and provides a fun, quick and convenient link from downtown Seattle to Seattle Center"

True, except for that:

It's not a favorite part of the Seattle skyline, I have never noticed it before. Now that we've ridden it I still don't think I could find it. It's invisible. True that it's fast, the ride is about 48 seconds long and I couldn't help but think we could have just walked.

However, it's only $4 round trip for adults & $1.50 round trip for kids and the kids think it's a ride, so this is a "Must Do" tourist attraction.

Washington has a Costco. We went there before we drove to Seattle.
That was my personal highlight, getting a smoothie. And a churro.

In 1 week it's our mid-winter break.
We will be exploring many other Washington State hot spots.
(Christian & Preston were not present during this outing because they were busy.)