Seattle, Washington in July 2018

We flew into Seattle, Washington the day before the Alaskan Cruise.... I really did not know what to expect of Seattle...it was beyond my expectations. I believe I could go to Seattle and spend a week touring it. We arrived at 10:30 am their time so we had all day and evening to explore.

We had a lay over in Denver, Co...and then about 2 hours on to Seattle. We flew above the clouds most of the way to Seattle. The Pilot came over the speaker and told us we were nearing Seattle....and all of a sudden poking out of the billowing clouds that had been carpeting the sky was a snow topped mountain! This was Mount Rainier.

FYI.....

At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington and the Cascade Range. The mountain is a massive cone shaped volcano built up by many layers of harden lava. 

                  

This is Mount Rainier at ground level at the Ship Yards

We went straight to our Hotel room when we got off the plane.

We left the Hilton and caught the Lite Rail...a train that cost $6.00 for an all day pass and you can travel all over Seattle and get on and off as many times as you please.  

We headed for Downtown Seattle....not knowing what we were in for!

 Every where you looked....

 The landscaping was beautiful....

There were these HUGE bunches of flowers growing on every light pole.

Target is built into a skyscraper..

it has 3 floors and a side escalator for your shopping carts. Other stores built into the skyscrapers are Walgreen's, McDonald's, Starbucks, Norstrom's and many more...it reminded me of the old days when you went to town to shop...not at malls.

Another thing that got my attention were the buses. They were like 2 buses put together with a huge dryer vent! Most people do not drive into the city to work or shop. Seattle has a wonderful transit system with the buses and the Lite Train.

 Like all Big Cities there is a problem with the homeless

 and drugs

and people just trying to get home after failed dreams.

Soon we walked into Pike Place Market...This is a completely a different world in the City of Seattle...

a completely enchanting world.  

 These pictures are only a drop in the bucket of what is in this Market Place

There are blocks and blocks of open air markets, restaurants and shops.

I would be shopping here if I lived in Seattle.

 The Fishmongers were fantastic!

 I know AJ could eat a dozen or more of these Oysters on the 1/2 Shell!

Fresh Idaho Trout in Washington???? These guys swam a long way......🏊

 We ate some Fish & Chips in the Pike Place Market. It was advertised as Rockfish. We asked what it tasted like and they said it was just another name for Cod Fish. It was delicious and their Clam Chowder was for sure something you would write home about!!!!!

Good-bye Seattle, Washington...I hope I get back to see you again 💙