In the beginning of May, we decided to take a little mini vacation to Seattle. We actually had to get some registration and paperwork done at the nearest AF base, which happens to be in Tacoma, so we decided to make a trip out of it and see more of Seattle while doing so. We had only been up there once, during our first year in Oregon, for a concert. You can read about it here if you're so inclined. To summarize, we basically left Beaverton too late in the day (and we didn't even have a kid yet!) to see any of the sites and drove home directly after the concert.
Well, turns out our second trip was even more of a bust. We got a hotel room for a night so we could get the driving done when Mark got home on Friday and have the full day Saturday to see stuff and get our errands done at the base. We got a great deal on Priceline's Name Your Own Price (I <3) and stayed in the Westin, which was lovely and had great views. The next morning, we woke up, went out for breakfast, took a swim at the hotel's lovely pool, and decided to get our errands done with first just to be safe (since things on base close about 4). We drove to Tacoma, arriving around noon, and to make a long story short- didn't get to leave the base until about 4:30 or so. We were about to head back up to Seattle, but decide to scrap it because a lot of the "sites" would be closing by the time we got there and the restaurant at the Space Needle was fully booked that night. So we basically went to Seattle to stay in a hotel (guess I should be happy that it was a nice hotel). I was really disappointed and Mark felt bad that things had taken sooo long on base. He knew he would have to return to the base in about 3 weeks to pick up some things he'd ordered, so we decided we would give Seattle one more try at that time.
We planned things a little better the next (third) time. We arranged it so we could leave early in the day and stop at the base on the way to Seattle so we wouldn't have to spend time backtracking. We got the base and Mark picked up his things and made it to Seattle in the early evening. This time, we stayed in the Hotel Monaco (again love Priceline!). It was also a lovely hotel, but I have to say that I preferred the Westin overall. After checking in, we headed out the Space Needle, where we had dinner reservations that night. We were early, so we were able to spend some time walking around the area where the below pictures were taken. Cee was really into posing and we got some funny shots of that. She also wanted to take pictures of us, and she actually got a really good one of me and Mark.
When it was time, we headed back the Space Needle and they took us up to the observation deck first (included in the price of dinner- which is why we decided to eat there). We stayed out there for a bit and enjoyed the great views before heading up another level to the restaurant. It was a nice place, although we've definitely had better food. It probably would have been better for us not have had Cee (especially since she wasn't on her best behavior), but it was a cool experience with the restaurant doing full rotations as you eat.
Observation Deck of the Space Needle
The following day had gorgeous weather (yay!) and we headed out to the Seattle Aquarium and Pike Place Market. It was a really cool aquarium and Cecilia had fun, although she wasn't as adventurous at the touch pool as she had been when she was younger at the Seaside Aquarium.
Standing at the edge of the touch pool
Cecilia and Mark on a Sea Otter bench
The Pike Place Market was fun, but very crowded. We mainly just browsed, but I had a delicious salmon burger for lunch and Mark had some type of fresh seafood cocktail. We also got a few pastries to try and found wooden rings which we bought for our upcoming 5th Anniversary (which happens to be the year for giving wooden gifts). Mark likes to wear his, although mine is a little bulkier than I prefer. My favorite thing was all of the flowers at the market. It was tulip season in the NW so there were some incredibly beautiful varieties of tulips and I wanted to buy them all (sigh).
Outside of the market where you can see a bride and groom taking photos behind us.
Afterwards we walked back the hotel and began the drive back to Beaverton. Mark would have liked to go to the Experience Music Project, but we just thought it would be too boring for Cee, so we'll have to make it back there some day sans children.
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