Seattle, Washington September 18 thru September 28, 2014

Tomorrow 9/18/2014 , my sister Deb, my niece Heather and I will be converging on the amazing city of Seattle.  We have rented a cottage on Bainbridge Island on Puget Sound where we will be staying for 7 days followed by our cousin, Renae's, wedding at the DeLille Cellars in Woodinville Wa.  Pack your virtual suitcase and come along by following our travel blog.  We're going to have a great time.

link to the cottage

http://www.vrbo.com/473395

September 18, 2014

Easy flight to Seattle, met up with Heather and rented a car.  Drove car right onto the ferry and took the 35 minutes cruise to Bainbridge Island.

Rental was on the south end of the island and as we got closer the road got more narrow.  Finally we're here!!!

The view!

The Deck!

The Stairs!!!

The Beach!!

More Beach!!

Add caption

Mt Rainer from the deck.

The Cottage!!!!

The what???????

I know it's gross but this dung was on the path to the beach at the bottom of a tree (there was some on the tree, like whatever it was from was in the tree).  What the heck is it from????

A bear???

Dinner was local sea food, amazing.

Cappino!!!

Whew!!, time for wine on the deck.

Tomorrow Whale Watching tour to San Juan Island.

September 19, 2014

Today we drove to Port Townsend, Wa. to take a tour with these people

and got aboard this

to go here

to see this

which we did but it looked more like this

.

We also saw these Stellar Sea Lions

and a dolphin played in our wake

We had one port of call for about two hours.  Friday Harbor

and ate fish and chips here

bought some goat cheese made on the island from this girl

and the caption sailed us back 

and we saw more of the beautiful Puget Sound

Just a shot of where we park our car at the cottage in the woods

September 21, 2014

               Yesterday we went to the local Farmers Market.  

I bought some Pottery.  A french butter dish this amazing lady made.

We spent the rest of the day exploring the shops and relaxing around the cottage.

Today we explored the beach at low tide.

Then visited the Bloedel Reserve on the island.

The brochure says:

"it is a place were one is reminded of the fundamental bond that exists between man and nature; it is a place to enjoy"  Prentice Bloedel

September 22, 2014

Today drove down to Tacoma Washington.  My niece has connections so visited the Pointe Defiance Zoo and Aquarium on the southern shore of the Puget Sound.  Just some pictures of the animals etc.

Per Wikipedia "Tacoma-Pierce County has been named one of the most livable areas in the country.^[7] Tacoma was also recently listed as the 19th most walkable city in the country.^[8] In contrast, the city is also ranked as the most stressed-out city in the country in a 2004 survey.^[9".

Pudget Sound in the background

Buzz Saw Shark....it's prehistoric (google it).

Ate at Dukes on the waterfront, great food!!!

September 23, 2014

Today took the ferry to Seattle.  Went to Pike Place and they really did throw the fish around.

This is the ferry docking.

I would live in Seattle just to shop at this place, it was amazing!!!

I'm told they have a gum wall near the market but we didn't go see it.  Here's a web picture.  You can google more views and find out how it all got started.  Yes, it's ABC gum.

I know, really gross!!!

Not to far from the market was the Underground Tour.  I did not know this but Seattle was burned down several times in its history and the last time they built it on top of what was already there.  Evidently this was a good idea as it had originally been built at sea level and during high tide the sewage in the city would also come in, yuk!

Here's a few pictures.  If you go to Seattle this is a great way to find out about the history of this city.  No, we did not encounter any sewage.

Main street Seattle before the fire.

Main street Seattle after the fire.

Self explanatory

Wooden sewer pipe.  What?????

Dinner was on the waterfront at a place called Ivars.  Of course we had the Halibut.

View from the ferry back to Bainbridge.

September 24, 2014

Today we did a little shopping on the island including a second visit to the BonBon's, an amazing chocolate shop.  My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Carmel Sea Salt.  

We also stopped at 'The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial' on the island.

It's build where the first Japanese Americans were banished from their west coast homes and placed in concentration camps during World War II.

September 26, 2014

This morning in the rain we drove about 40 miles from Seattle to the Snoqualmie Falls.  Light rain still when we got there so didn't stay long.

It cleared up in the afternoon for the evening wedding which

was lovely.  It was held at the DeLille Cellars in 

Woodinville, Wa.

 

Turns out Andrew purposed to Renae at Snoqualmia Falls, just found this out today after we had gone there.

                                                   September 27, 2014

Our last day was fun in Seattle.  Joined cousins for the Duck Boat Excursion.

Our Scottish Driver.

Seattle homes on the water called "live aboards"

another boat passing us in the water

the eight in front is our group

Next Deb and I went to Chihuly Garden and Glass and then up the Seattle Space needle.

Pictures from the top of the Space Needle.

On the way back we really did stop at the gum wall, GROSS!!!

Lastly we went the 'The Crab Pot' for dinner and ate with our fingers.

Flying home tomorrow, it was a great trip!!!!!

Best thing about the Seattle area........the sea food.

Worse thing about the Seattle area.....the traffic.