Seattle/Alaska

Tuesday, May 23 - The Trip Begins...

Planning for this trip began in the early Spring of 2016 when my mother Edna and her friend Suzette started talking to me about booking an Alaskan cruise for them. By the time they booked, Suzette's daughter Stephanie and I had also decided to go with them.  A few months later after looking at all of the wonderful things we would be seeing and doing, I knew I wanted my daughter to have this wonderful experience as well. Just before final payment, my daughter Shelby and her friend Rachel were invited and booked too. 

Shelby, Rachel, my mom and I flew out a few days before Suzette and Stephanie because we were meeting up with mom's friend Betty for a day.

Mom, looking so happy, excited, and raring to go!

Waiting for the hotel shuttle. The hotel shuttles pick-up on level 3 of the parking garage.  There is a complimentary phone you can use to call the shuttle for each of the local hotels. Each hotel has a one or two-digit number you dial and a directory is posted. We waited about 15 to 20 minutes.

We stayed at the Best Western Executel about a mile from the SeaTac airport. They had a free shuttle service and the price was right for a quick, overnight stay.  It was clean and comfortable.

There are very few dining options around SeaTac and virtually none within walking distance of the Best Western, so we took an uber to Dave's Diner & Brews. The place was cute in a kitschy kind of way and the food was about what you'd expect for that sort of place. Another short uber ride back to the hotel and we were sound asleep within minutes. 

Wednesday, May 24 - Bremerton, Poulsbo, & Pioneer Square

We scheduled the hotel's free shuttle to the Light Link Rail station for 9 AM.  The driver was right on time, but he made a few other stops before taking us to the station. The light rail is a very economical way to get from the airport to downtown at a cost of roughly $3 per person (less for children and seniors); however, it does get crowded at times and space for multiple large bags is hard to come by. We managed, but later opted for a private shuttle for our return to the airport. We exited at the Pioneer Square station and walked a few short blocks to the Marrott Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square.  Although our room had a view of a rooftop and an alley, it was ready at 10 AM when we arrived. I highly recommend this hotel if you need/want to stay in the Pioneer Square area. The rooms were modern and comfortable and the staff was friendly.

After dropping of our luggage, we headed for Pier 52 to catch the ferry over to Bremerton, Washington. It was a short walk. The ferry is also economical, costing just $20.50 for the three of us roundtrip.

This cute guy joined us for the ride.

The ferry boat was clean, comfortable, and not crowded at all.

About an hour later we arrived in Bremerton and met up with Betty. We had a delicious lunch at the Oak Table Cafe in Silverdale. We ate and chatted and chatted and ate. After lunch, Betty took us to Poulsbo, a quaint little city originally settled by Scandinavians and still known as "Little Norway". The main drag was lined with adorable little shops selling everything from chocolate to retro clothing to handcrafted items and art to books and even fidget spinners (ugh!).

Behind the shops was a marina and small park.

Next we visited the grave of Chief Sealth for whom Seattle was named. We left some change and something else I can't remember as our offering.

We'd been in the Seattle area for nearly 24 hours and had not had coffee yet, so that was next on the agenda. The girls played with their fidget spinners (ugh!) and we drank and chatted, chatted and drank.

After a brief visit to Betty's lovely home, she took us back to the port and we boarded the ferry for our return trip. The timing was perfect as we got to see the sunset during the ride.

It was about 9 PM when we arrived back in Seattle. We took the scenic route back toward our hotel because I wanted to see The Central Saloon and Occidental Park.

Nirvana played their first show here and, more importantly, Mother Love Bone played their last show here. 

This crazy shotgun wedding "chapel" was right across the street.

Firefighter monument in Occidental Park

This crazy guy is in Occidental Park too.

By this time we were getting pretty hungry, so we started looking for a place for dinner. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to me, most of Seattle shuts down before 9 PM. A handful of bars were still open, but we could not find a single place in the Pioneer Square area that was still serving food and that was not 21+. About a quarter to ten we finally decided to take an uber to the Hard Rock Cafe near Pike Place Market. It was the least obnoxious Hard Rock I've ever visited, so there's that.

We made a quick visit to Target across the street and then uber'd (is that a word yet?) back to the hotel. 

Thursday, May 25 - Suzette & Stephanie Arrive/Pike Market

Suzette and Stephanie were scheduled to arrive about 10:30 AM, but their flight was delayed by a little over an hour. Meanwhile, mom, the girls and I took the Link light rail again to the Mayflower Park Hotel  where we'd be staying the night. If you ask me, the Mayflower is the best located hotel in all of Seattle. The Westlake rail station is at the other end of the block, the monorail which takes you to Seattle Center is connected to the hotel, and Pike Place Market is just a few blocks away. It's also a beautiful, 90 year-old boutique hotel with a friendly, helpful staff.

Our room was ready yet, so we stored our luggage and headed for the nearest Starbucks - about a block away, of course! After our caffeine fix, we did a bit of shopping until we received the call that Suzette and Stephanie were just a few minutes away. We met up with them at the hotel and then headed out for lunch at the market.

Lunch was at Café Campagne, a french café with a tasty but limited menu.  I had originally planned to go to Beecher's, but their seating options did not easily accommodate a party of six. 

I love tulips!

Mom and Zette sampling some chocolate covered cherries with assorted flavorings. 

I could take pictures of flowers all day long.

Unusual teapots in the tea shop

Suzette bought this pretty bouquet for her stateroom.

We made our way down to the "Original" Starbucks. The line was atrocious, so we settle for a picture instead of a cappuccino. This busker got around - we saw him several times around town.

We spent a few minutes at Victor Steinbrueck Park which overlooks Puget Sound before deciding to Uber back to the hotel. Long story short, it took us four attempts and an hour to finally get an Uber to pick us up. It was hilarious and frustrating. On the way back to the hotel, I caught a glimpse of The Moore Theatre, Seattle's oldest active theater. Pearl Jam's "Even Flow" video was shot here.

A few hours chatting and napping, and then it was time for dinner. The girls headed to Chipotle and we headed to Mexico Cantina y Cocina at Pacific Place. We arrived about a quarter 'til nine and the stores in the mall were already closed.  What is with everything closing so early in Seattle?

Mom and I made one last run to Target for some needed supplies for everyone, and then we called it a night. Tomorrow we sail away!

Friday, May 26 - The Embarkation From Hell!

Up until this point, save a small flight delay and a no-show Uber or two, our trip had more or less been going according to plan. Unfortunately, our luck was about to change. I had arranged for Seattle Shuttle to pick us up at 10:15 AM, and I estimated we'd be at the port by 10:30 to 10:45 AM. Perfect timing! A few minutes after 10 AM, Seattle Shuttle called to tell me they were running late and the new pick-up time was 10:45 AM. Melinda, our driver, arrived at the new time and within minutes we were headed to Smith Cove Pier. We arrived at the parking lot a few minutes after 11 AM, took our place in one of six lines of vehicles and sat...for an hour and a half...in a van without air conditioning. We didn't move at all for an hour and a half. I still have no idea why they weren't letting us through, but it was ridiculous. People were getting irate and eventually many started walking. Once we made it to the drop-off point, we gave our bags to a porter and joined another very long, slow-moving line to have our passports boarding passes checked. From there we went up the escalator and joined another long, slow-moving line for security. At one point, they stopped letting anyone in our line through for a good 20 minutes just to give the check-in area some time to clear. Finally through security, we joined yet another long, slow-moving line. I was irate and fuming by this point. An hour later, we made it to the check-in desk and ten minutes later we were boarding the ship...at 3 PM!

I did hear that it was the first day that the port had two large cruise ships boarding at the same time. Whatever the reason, the whole process was poorly managed and it certainly did not start the cruise off on the right foot.  I hope that Celebrity works with the port authority to resolve these issues, otherwise, I recommend arriving at the port before 10:30 AM and by taxi only as they apparently have priority.

We'd missed lunch by the time we boarded, so we went straight to our rooms where our luggage was waiting for us. Loved the view from our Sunset Veranda!

Our muster drill was in Tuscan Grille. It was a little long and the video hokey, but not quite painful. As soon as it was over, the girls went on their way and we (adults) headed to the Martini/Ice Bar and ordered our first round of "free" drinks (we had the Premium Beverage package).

The ship was moving now, so we took the escalator up to the top deck and the famous Celebrity Lawn.

Another round of drinks was ordered from the Sunset Bar and hilarity ensued.

Photo Credit: Stephanie H.

Photo Credit: Stephanie H.

What is talked about on the lawn, stays on the lawn!

I am fairly certain this little spot behind the Sunset bar is the best place on the ship
for sail away for a couple!

Zette doing her best Neil Diamond impression.

More Neil Diamond

We were all starving by this time, so we went back to our staterooms to get cleaned up for dinner. Suzette gave us a scare from the veranda as Benjay, our stateroom attendant, converted the girls' beds. Benjay was positively terrified of us! He was a nice guy though and he certainly worked hard to keep our room clean and tidy.

Below you can see the girls' beds. Shelby said they weren't as comfortable as Disney's sofa beds, but not terrible either.

The girls had already ordered and received their dinner. The only time room service was quick.

 Nice views from our veranda...

Crazy hair don't care!

I have no idea what was going on here.

I had pre-ordered a dozen chocolate covered strawberries; we received six. I later spoke to Guest Services about this and they refunded my money for the full dozen and we later received another half dozen.  I carried on a bottle of inexpensive champagne as the ship's prices are steep!

Cheers!

Mom, Suzette, Stephanie and I went to The Grand Epernay (the main dining room) for dinner, although I can't seem to find any pictures. The room was lovely and the food and service were quite good.  I believe we toured the ship a bit after dinner, and possibly had another drink or two, but the details are already fuzzy. We must have gone to bed shortly thereafter as I have no other pictures. Despite the horrendous embarkation, we were happy to be on-board and eagerly anticipating what was to come!

Saturday, May 27 - At Sea

Because we had gone to bed so early the night before and the sun rises at 4:30 AM, we were up fairly early. It was a beautiful morning.

We had ordered room service breakfast the night before to arrive between 9 AM and 9:30 AM. The girls were hungry and didn't want to wait that long, so they went up to Oceanside Café to try out the buffet. 

The girls waving to us from the Oceanside Café

Breakfast did not arrive until 10:15 AM and they'd forgotten Suzette and Stephanie's coffee and Bloody Mary's. Thankfully, those appeared a few minutes later and we were soon enjoying brunch on our veranda even as the fog rolled in.

After our brunch, we made our way to the shops on Deck 5 and did a little shopping/browsing. Each day they had tables out in front of the stores with different sale items or specials. The items changed every few hours as well - t-shirts 2 for $20, jackets and purses up to 50% off, watches, jewelry. Mom played slots for a few minutes in the casino and I got a drink from the bar. The others joined me not long after.

They didn't have Tito's at the casino bar 😢!

Christine, one of the activities directors, led a group doing the Cupid's Shuffle. It was fun to watch for a few minutes.

Backside photo intentionally chosen to protect the innocent!

I think we may have had lunch in the buffet after this, but I have no photos to prove it. I know it seems like we just had lunch, but in reality quite a few hours had passed. Next, we went to the Sky Lounge for the Music Challenge, Xtreme Trivia, and more adult beverages.

Next on the agenda was a talk from Miss Amanda Fairchild on the city of Ketchikan. She was quite the storyteller, as promised. She spoke about eagles, totem poles, Creek Street, and the infamous Miss Dolly.

Following Miss Amanda's informative lecture, we returned to our staterooms to change for dinner. The sea days had a recommended "Evening Chic" dress code which is open to wide interpretation. You'll see everything from nice jeans and blouses to evening gowns and tuxes. 

The girls looking for whales.

 We went to the 7 PM show before heading to dinner in The Grand Epernay. Tonight's show was "Rock City".  It was a medley of classic rock tunes from the '70s and '80s with some acrobatics thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed the music and overall it was entertaining. Each show is just shy of an hour. The shows were never more than half full, so there's no need to get there super early for a good seat.

Dinner in The Grand Epernay was delicious again, but as it turned out it would be our last visit here.

The girls went to the hot tub after dinner and the rest of us went back to the Sky Lounge for, you guessed it, more adult beverages and some people watching. I enjoyed the band that played in the Sky Lounge. They played a variety of music but most nights had a theme or an assigned decade. My pictures from this night pretty much stink because 1.) their was poor lighting, 2.) I didn't want to use a flash and bother everyone, 3.) I was tipsy. Nonetheless, I think you can tell we had fun.

So lovely!

Awwww! Photo Credit: Stephanie H.

Mom and amaretto

Mom after a few amarettos, spinning in her chair.

Good Times!

Okay, I hesitate to share video of others on a public blog, but it's really just too good not to share. I think the quality of the video is too poor to really identify anyone anyway. This made our night! The lady in white was the epitome of elegance and refinement...and then she danced. Listen for her yelling. It was hysterical. They were having fun though, and that's all that matters!

And with that we called it a night! 

Sunday, May 28 - Ketchikan

I was wide awake before 5 AM again. I spent a few minutes out on the balcony watching the sunrise; it was so beautiful. Then, I wandered up to the Sky Lounge to watch the ship pull into Ketchikan. I am glad I did. There were only a few other people in the Sky Lounge and it was a nice, relaxing way to start the day.

This was taken from our veranda on the back of the ship.
You can see how close the Tongass store is to the pier/ship.
Photo Credit: Stephanie H.

We had't planned any major excursions for this day, just wanted to check out Creek Street and see the Lumberjack Show. So, the rest of the crew slept in a bit and then we all had a leisurely breakfast in
the Oceanview Café. We made it into port sometime before 10 AM. Tongass Trading Company
was the first stop and we spent a good bit of time there before making our way through the city and
on to Creek Street.

The ship from the pier with our cabins marked by the red stars,

Can anyone tell me why I took this picture?

The obligatory "Welcome to Ketchikan" sign pictures...

A few interesting things from the shops about town...

The Chief Johnson totem pole which stands 55' tall and is made of one red cedar log.
It tells the story of Fog Woman and the creation of salmon.

My dad would have loved this bench.

We enjoyed some time playing with the totem poles in front of Cape Fox Lodge. 

Mom and Suzette took the funicular back down to Creek Street while the rest of us took Married Man's Trail back down. 

More shopping, browsing, and posing on Creek Street...

By the time we finished with Creek Street, it was time to walk over to the Lumberjack show for

our 12:45 entry time.  We had a few extra minutes and were thirsty, so we stopped into the adjacent building to grab a few drinks. I ordered an Alaskan Brewing Summer Ale for Stephanie and I to 

share. I recommend it.

                                          

Not really Coors!

The Lumberjack Show, brought to you by STIHL chainsaws, was as hokey and touristy as I
expected, but entertaining nonetheless. Rachel won a prize - an autographed postcard - and mom commandeered some wood, ahem. The lumberjacks kindly signed the wood "cookie."

After the show, we went back to Tongass Trading Co. and the other port shops for a few specific souvenirs. I bought one of their jackets for our Tracy Arm day and Suzette and Stephanie bought some salmon which they had sent to Stephanie's brother.  We were going to grab a late lunch at 

Burger Queen, but "she" was closed. It was nearing the all aboard time, so we just went back to the ship instead. If I recall correctly, Suzette and Stephanie ordered room service, mom and I went to 

the buffet, and I have no idea where the girls ate. 

As we left Ketchikan...

Our evening activities started off with a lecture on bears by naturalist Brent Nixon. You can tell that man really loves what he does! 

Next, we saw the show which was another medley of songs, mostly current pop and rock hits.

                                   

 After the show, we walked out and into the Celebrity Port vs. Starboard Game Show (or some name similar to that) that was just starting outside the theater. Rachel was picked as a contestant and we were here team.  The two contestants sit with their backs to a TV screen that shows various locations around the world which Celebrity ships visit. The team had to give their contestants clues and the contestant had to correctly guess the name of the place, building, etc. This was so much fun. We really go into it. For the last question, Rachel used a lifeline and switched places with me. I narrowly beat out the other contestant and our team won! Rachel did all of the hard work though, so she deserves credit for the win! Mom, Shelby, Rachel, and I received prizes - Celebrity journals and international chargers.

We ended the night in the Sky Lounge again.

An early night was necessary as we needed to be up and dressed no later than 6 AM the following morning. 

Monday, May 29 - Sawyer Glacier/Juneau

We managed to wake, dress ourselves, and make it out on the upper decks by shortly after 6am. And it was worth it!

We had booked the small boat excursion to get up closer to the glacier. Our meeting place for the excursion was the main dining room at 7am, but first we made a quick run to the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast. For some reason, I was worried about transferring to the "small" boat. I shouldn't have been, though, as it was easy and safe. 

The crew fished a large chunk of ice out of the water.

Everyone had fun taking pictures with the glacial ice.

These hors d'ouevres were served. They also had free doughnut holes sitting out at the bar/concession stand. I may have had a few!

Beer and other beverages and snacks were also available for purchase.

I would say we spent about 30 to 45 minutes at the glacier. We did a little calving a few times, but nothing huge. As we exited the fjord most everyone adjourned to the indoor seating. It was about a 3 hour journey to Juneau and, although it was quite scenic, many, many people dozed off a bit. Between getting up so early and the lull of the ocean, it was hard to stay awake. The naturalist on board would point out anything of interest, such as a small island covered in seals.

We made it back to the ship about 2pm, I think. Just about the time that everyone else was going ashore. Before we headed into Juneau, we grabbed some lunch in the Oceanview Cafe. One of the wait staff made friendly conversation with us and ended up offering us a discount at Tuscan Grille. I had wanted to eat there on our first night (they offer a discount on the first night), but we weren't able to get a reservation since we did not make it onto the ship until so late. Anyway, I was happy to be offered the discount from the crew member and we took him up on it and scheduled Tuscan Grille for the following night. Apparently, he earned a night off for selling us the upgraded dining. Win! Win!

As everyone was finishing up their lunch, I went ahead to pick up our car rental from Juneau Car Rental. You could actually see the office/shack from the Oceanview as it was right there at the dock. I'd booked the mini-van rental in advance and the pick-up process (and drop-off process) was super easy and fast.  I drove the car right up to the end of the gangway and we were off to Mendenhall Glacier. 

Our rental car

(Since I returned home and downloaded all my photos, two things have happened. First, my laptop which held all my photos croaked. Long story short I was unable to pull the photos off the laptop. Second. we started the process of moving, including packing the memory card I used when I took the photos. It is packed in the bottom, back corner of our storage unit. I am hoping if we ever get moved and unpacked, that I didn't wipe the memory card clean and that I can still recover those pictures. Anyway, I do have pictures from my phone and pictures from the other ladies, so we will carry on as best we can.)

We arrived at Mendenhall about 4:30pm. It was a short ride and easy to find. It was a short walk from the parking lot to the park area. Mom, Suzette, and Stephanie decided to hang out at the viewing deck while the girls and I took the Nugget Falls Trail. The Nugget Falls Trail is a one-mile (each way), moderate trek. If you are even remotely in shape, you'll be fine. Those with mobility issues might have some trouble though. It was a lovely walk and the pay-off was grand. I've never been that close to such a large waterfall.  You could feel the mist from 100 feet away. The girls had a great time wading in the water and climbing on the rocks. 

After the glacier visit, we piled back into the mini-van and headed down Glacier Highway to St. Therese's Shrine. The drive was no more than 30 minutes. What a beautiful, serene place! We spent about an hour or so here just walking the grounds and whale watching. A whale did breach a few times, but it was difficult to get a picture. 

Can you spot the whale?

It was starting to get late, so we headed back to town. I'm driving down the road when all of the sudden Shelby screams out "Bear!" I safely slammed on the brakes and put it in reverse all while reminding everyone of what we had learned at Brent Nixon's presentation the night previous. I'd barely come to a stop when the doors flew open and everyone jumped out of the van. Are these people crazy? There is a wild bear on the other side of this two-lane highway and nothing stopping him from crossing the road. I was too busy trying to figure out how I was going to explain to Rachel's mom that I'd let a bear maul her to take any pictures. Luckily Stephanie got a few.

We named him Walter.

After the excitement, we continued on our way. We considered doing the Mt. Roberts Tram, but we passed as it seemed a bit expensive for what it was. We paid a small fee to park in the downtown area. Dinner was at Alaska's fabulous Red Onion Saloon. 

We added our mark to the collection for posterity.

It was getting late, but we managed to fit in a little shopping before heading back to the ship. It was after 9pm when we made it back to the ship. We all crashed. It had been a long, but fantastic day. I sat out on the balcony until just after sail away. 

Tuesday, May 30th - Skagway

We slept a little later than I had planned today, but eventually we arose and started getting ready to explore Skagway. We had lunch in the Oceanview Cafe and then disembarked for our ride on the White Pass Railroad. We did have a moment of panic here, when just minutes before our excursion pick-up time we realized Rachel did not have her passport with her. The girls sprinted back onto the ship and all the way to our far aft rooms, grabbed the passport, and made it back just in time. 

We boarded a coach bus and were driven about a mile away where we unloaded to watch a short presentation about the White Pass Railroad and the Gold Rush. I could have skipped this rather lackluster info session.

Soon enough we boarded the train and were on our way. I so wish I could access that memory card because I had so many awesome pictures from the train ride. For now, we'll just have to settle for these.

Upon arriving in Canada, we got off the train and took a bus back to Skagway. We made a stop at the 'Welcome to Alaska' sign.

Back in town, we did our final shopping in Alaska and had a late lunch. The girls went off on their own, but coincidentally we all ended up eating at the Bonanza Bar and Grill. Drinks were had. Neil Diamond was played. Good times!

Our waiter was great fun.

When we got back to the room, the girls were already there donning their matching purchases.

A little later we went to dinner at Tuscan Grille and it was delicious! Service and food were both on-point. Even better, a whale was putting on a show for us, trailing just behind the ship for a while. No pictures, so you'll just have to take my word for it. We wandered the ship for a bit before turning in for the night. 

Wednesday, May 31 - Sea Day

Ah! A relaxing sea day. We could sleep in as long as we wanted, and we did. Thankfully, this was the only rainy day we experienced during our entire trip. It was cold and wet and bitter out on deck, but all was good inside. Everyone did their own thing today, some of getting together for this that and the other. There was more trivia, more shopping, more drinking, more eating, some reading and some napping too. The girls dressed up and went to the main dining room for dinner while to rest of us ordered room service. We went to the show and I believe they did the captain's skit this night too. It was hilarious. Do not miss it!

Thursday, June 1 - Inside Passage/Victoria, B.C.

Another lazy morning and uneventful afternoon. We had to pack since our luggage had to be set out while we were in Victoria. Around 4pm I went up to the Sky Lounge and watched as we docked in Victoria. We were supposed to disembark at 5:30pm, but it was closer to 6pm before anyone was allowed off the ship. Suzette and Stephanie had booked a whale watching excursion and the rest of just toured the city.

Meanwhile, the girls, mom, and I took a taxi to Fisherman's Wharf. The houseboats are just adorable. I wish we had been hungry because there were some good looking eats.

We loved this little shop.

Next, we took the water taxi to Chinatown. There wasn't much going on in Chinatown, but we stopped in a few stores. We continued walking back toward city center, stopping here-and-there. Eventually, we stopped for dinner at The Docks which overlooked the marina. I ordered a Phillip's Chocolate Porter.

It was dusk by the time dinner was over and the city lights had been turned on. Victoria is a beautiful city and I am yearning to go back with my husband. We continued leisurely walking toward the Fairmont Empress hotel and the Parliament building. I took hundreds of photos none of which I have to post here. Ugh! After some final souvenir shopping, we hopped in a taxi and went back to the ship. I cannot overstate how much I loved Victoria. I did not expect to like it there as much as I did, but not a week goes by that I do not think about going back. If I do get to do this cruise again with my husband, I plan to disembark in Victoria and stay for a few days. 

Friday, June 2 - Seattle

We were in no hurry to disembark, so we leisurely made our way to the Oceanview Cafe for one last breakfast. They practically had to kick us off the ship. Thankfully, disembarkation was MUCH smoother than embarkation. Within a few minutes we were re-united with our luggage and waiting for our ride to the Enterprise rental location. There wasn't enough room for all of us in the van that was already there, so I hopped in it solo while the others waited for the next van. This allowed me to get our rental ready to go before everyone else got there. Now, we were staying in Seattle an additional night and once again staying at the Mayflower which happens to be about a block away from the Enterprise rental office, which in a parking garage (very weird). Anyway, we packed our luggage into the mini-van, piled in, and drove a block up the road to the Mayflower where we unloaded our luggage and checked-in. Our room was ready yet, of course, but that was okay. We were headed to Mt. Rainier. 

Now that was a long drive. We eventually made it though. I had planned to have lunch at Paradise Inn but it was late and we were starving well before we got there, so we ate at the National Park Inn Dining Room. It was fine. We stopped a dozen or so times as we wound our way up the mountain. There were several breathtaking vistas. 

It was about 5 or 6pm by the time we got back to Seattle and everyone was needing a little pick me up, so we stopped by the Starbucks Roastery for a little jolt of caffeine. We did a little more site seeing before going to the hotel. First up was a drive by of the Jimi Hendrix statue.

Second, was the Singles apartment building. I don't think anyone cared other than me. Oh, well.

 Next, we tried to find Meredith Grey's house from Grey's Anatomy but that was a bust.

Lastly, we stopped by Kerry Park.

It was nearly 8pm by this time and the troops were getting hungry. I dropped everyone off at the hotel while I went to re-fuel the rental and drop it off. The girls went to Chipotle for dinner and I met up with mom, Suzette and Stephanie at Buffalo Wild Wings which is right next door to the Mayflower. One more day.

Saturday, June 3 - Seattle/Departure

I think no one was happy with me when I told them we had to be out the door by 9am, but they complied anyway. One good thing about the Mayflower is that it is connected to the monorail. It was just a short, inexpensive ride over to Seattle Center. First up was a light breakfast from Eltana Wood-Fired Bagels in the Armory. Satiated, we walked over to the Space Needle and purchased the Space Needle/Chihuly Garden Combo tickets. We were able to get immediate entry for the Space Needle, so 15 minutes later we were at the top. Honestly, I was not impressed. I think if you have done the Empire State Building, this will be just meh. We did see a proposal though, so there's that. 

The Chihuly Museum and Garden, however, was fabulous.

We headed over to the Museum of Pop Culture next, and opted to have lunch at the Wolfgang Puck Cafe before touring the museum. I have to admit that I was not all that impressed with the Pop Culture museum. I don't know what I was expecting exactly, but it wasn't that.

And with that, our tour of Seattle was complete - at least for this visit. We had left our luggage with bell services at the hotel, so we hopped back on the monorail to go back. We retrieved our luggage and waited just a few minutes for our pre-arranged shuttle to the airport. I will spare you the details of our flight home. It was long and arduous, but we made it.  

Many thanks and photo credit to Stephanie H.