Seattle

We tend to avoid going into cities when we do our long trips, but we knew that Seattle wasn't a place we wanted to miss.  We found a state park on Puget Sound within a reasonable driving distance (the first plan was to take the bus, but when we discovered that it would actually cost more to take the bus than to pay for parking we opted for driving).  We headed in early in the morning and spent the majority of our day at the Pikes Market.  

If you haven't heard of the Pikes Market, and you enjoy farmer's markets, then you are really missing out.  It is one of the oldest and biggest open air markets in the country.  We absolutely fell in love.  There was so much to see, and hear and taste!  There were more fruits and vegis than we had ever seen, and the guys at the fish market were hysterical as they moved the fish around on the ice.  My favorite place to eat was Piroshky Piroshky.  I had two (a chocolate hazelnut for breakfast and salmon for lunch) that were divine.  

Other than a visit to the Space Needle (of course, we were there on a foggy day so no view) and a walk through the sculpture garden, we spent the entire day wallowing in the foodie heaven of the Pikes Market.

First stop was the original Starbucks

Space Needle

The view of Mt. Rainier (or the non-view of Rainier I should say).

Sculpture Garden

Above the entrance to the Pikes Market

We sat for over an hour and listened to The Tall Boys.  Can you see that the bass is a wash basin with a rope?

The Woodsman and The Girl ended the day with a ride on the huge Ferris Wheel.  The Boy and I watched the jellyfish in the sound.  We love Seattle!