Seattle is an amazing city, and we had a great time! The one thing we weren't expecting was the record breaking hot weather we experienced. We were expecting nice, cool weather, but it was in the 90s most days and reached 101. Talk about unexpected. We bought a city pass for each of us that allowed us to see six attractions for a fraction of the cost. And they weren't cheesy attractions. We enjoyed our experience there and I wouldn't mind it being the location again for another family vacation in the future. Only next time, no heat wave please.
Space Needle by Day
Our city passes allowed us to go to the top of the Space Needle twice, so of course we went once during the day and once at night.
View from the top of the Space Needle
Seattle from the top of the Space Needle.
We took a couple's picture and they offered to take ours. Austin was walking around and missed out on the picture.
Almost the same location at night.
The Seattle skyline at night is amazing!
Sorry this is such a blurry picture of the harbor.
Pikes Place Market. It had so much yummy fresh fruit, the best, most juiciest peaches on the planet, lots of fresh flowers, and lots of fresh seafood. Yummy! Wish we had a market like that around here.
We encountered pirates on our trip.
This wall is completely covered with chewing gum...gross! But it reminded me of the burger joint in Greensville, OH where Joe's mom posed against the gum wall.
One very bad picture of Sea Otters. One of my favorite things about the Pacific North West coastline.
Austin during our harbour cruise.
Space Needle from the harbour during the cruise.
Since they closed down the Rain Forest Cafe in Baltimore, we make it a point to take Annika anytime we are near one. We can't wait to go to another one next month in California.
The Seattle zoo.
The monkeys were fun to watch.
Annika has tamed the dragon!
Annika had to have a picture by the lion.
Austin and Annika at the zoo.
Annika eating her first ice cream cone on the Space Needle grounds. Yes, she has had ice cream before, but never the cone.
This was a cool science museum. Joe was listening to a recording using surround sound, or something like that, so of course Annika had to copy him. She is still such a Daddy's girl!
Annika playing drums at the music museum. She really got into it!
We saw an IMAX film. Annika loved the glasses until she saw the first 3-D effect, and then she lost interest. It was funny though, because the first effect was bubbles under water and she kept trying to reach for them and grab them.
Annika's first real carousal ride.
We went on a ferris wheel ride. Annika looked about as nervous as I felt the entire ride.
Annika loved this car ride. She went on it 3 or 4 times. I thought she might not like it because she had to go by herself, but all she wanted to do was keep going back on.
Driving the car. She's so good she doesn't even have to open her eyes.
Outside the R.E.I. flagship store.
Among other things, the R.E.I. store had a neat play area for kids. Annika is in the canoe.
We took a drive south and spent a couple of days in the Mt. Saint Helen's area. It looked so barren compared to the rest of the state, but the more time we spent learning about it at the visitor centers the more fascinating it became. The blast of the volcano spewed enough ash for every person on earth to have 11 5-gallon buckets full. The ash blackened the sky to night and fell as far as Denver. It also created a heat wave that reached Maryland 3 hours later. All the trees within several miles were either incinerated, or blasted over. A lake at the base of the mountain was relocated 300 feet higher from all the debris of the fallen Mt. Anyway, if you are in the area it is worth seeing, but you have to visit the centers and listen to ranger talks to get a feel for how awesome of an event this was.Mount Saint Hellens-notice the top and side of the mountain are completely blown away.
Annika napping on Joe as we take in the landscape.
A blasted tree that was 180 feet tall at the time of the blast. We are six miles away.
Austin touching a fallen tree. This area was a lush forest before the blast. It will most likely take thousands of years to return to its previous condition.
Spirit lake that is now 300 feet higher and much smaller.
More fallen trees. All that grows now is pretty much shrubs.
Annika at the playground at one of the interpritive centers.
Joe having a good time playing with Annika (not seen). I love that Joe still has a big kid inside him that isn't afraid to come out, especially when it comes to playing with Annika.
One cool toddler. And as a side note, Annika no longer needs a bottle to drink her milk. Yeah!!
Believe it or not, this volcano is still very active. It is predicted that it will blow again.
We took a trip to a European village East of Seattle. This is the scenery along the way to Leavenworth, WA.
This reminds me of the movie, "A River Runs Through It."
Leavenworth, WA. This was a fun village, but it was over 100 degrees and we were melting. Wish it would have been cooler.
Annika was such a good little trooper considering all the driving we did. Everywhere we went took longer than it should because the roads in the entire state of Washington are under construction.
We went for a couple of days to Vancouver, Canada. This is the park at the border.
Joe standing on the border.
Vancouver wasn't quite what we expected. We had a good time, but it was a typical big city with less charm than we expected.
One of the highlights of Vancouver is Van Dusen Gardens. They were gorgeous. You can't really see them, but Annika, Austin, and Joe are walking on the floating bridge.
Annika was fascinated by these ducks at the gardens. Obviously they were very used to people.
We did this cool maze at the gardens. Joe did it on his own in less than 2 minutes. It really is bigger than it looks.
Joe and Annika in the weeping tree.
Snow boarding dude at the gardens. Pretty cool how he's made of plants.
Van Dusen Gardens. Probably not the boys favorite activity, but I'm glad they indulged me because I loved it!
Another highlight of Vancouver was Grouse Mountain. Here we are taking the tram up to the top.
We enjoyed a lumberjack show at the top of the mountain. It was fun! Even Annika was captured by it.
I thought these boats in the harbor were so cute. The one on the left is a boat designed to look like a little house, including planters on the balcony.
Leaving Canada and returning to the country we love.
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