Back when I made my Summer List I included the bullet point “plan a vacation”. I guess it’s only fitting that I got around to that on the “last official week of summer”, right?
Last week my bosses (why yes, I have several) told me I’ve been working too much. It’s probably true, but at the time I felt like I was being punished when they told me I had to take a half day on Friday and “wasn’t allowed” to come in on Sunday. It was sort of the same reaction that I had when one of my bosses said “I noticed you had 120 hours on the last pay period”. (I bit back my “I noticed you wear black shirts a lot” retort to that comment, though he wears a black shirt every day. Instead I simply said “Yeah… I’m sorry about that, things have been crazy”.)
By the end of the week, I was starting looking forward to my time off, especially when Friday morning proved to by especially frustrating. Friday at 1pm I clocked out, joined some coworkers on their lunch break to a local coffee shop, then headed home. The idea of two and a half days off was looking amazing.
When I got home from the coffee shop I laid on the couch in the library and opened the mail. Mostly bills and catalogs, but one from the Clerk of the Courts. Oh crap. Turns out it was unrelated; a jury duty summons for Robert. For the week we both requested off from work for vacation. For the first time in three years. Still kind of an oh crap.
Long story longer, the “long” weekend (and pending unpleasant things in the upcoming weeks) made me realize yet again how important planning a vacation was. After all the unpleasantness in July Robert and I both wanted to get out of the city for a while but didn’t take the chance. Luckily, I also received an email from Robert’s lovely Aunt J that day, asking for an update to her business cards, and saying she hoped we could come out to visit. Just the answer I needed to end my endless cycle of trying to decide between Key West, DC, and Ashville. SOLD.
photo by the lovely Becky at casacaudill & used with her permission
Our tickets are booked, we’re headed to Seattle for a week in October! (Although I’m currently freaking out about the idea of 1. flying cross-country again after out experience on the way home from San Fran, and 2. leaving the dogs).
Here’s my “must do” list while we’re in Seattle (most of which are free/cheap, because it’s me after all):
- Kerry View Park
- Alki Beach Park
- Ferry
- Monorail
- Seattle Art Museum
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Concert at City Hall
- Museum of Flight
- Frye Art Museum
- Pacific Science Center (King Tut, maybe IMAX)
- Pike Place Market (& first Starbucks!)
- Top Pot Doughnuts
- Matt’s in the Market
- Lowell’s
- Maritime Brewery
- Space Needle
- Ballard Locks
- See Sleepless in Seattle house
- Have a latte from a local (non-Starbucks) coffee shop
- Catch up with Aunt J
Possibly do:
- Earthwise Salvage (because it looks awesome)
- Seattle Lakes tour
- Bainbridge Island
- Mariners game (?)
- Aquarium
- Seattle Asian Art Museum
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park
- Museum of Glass in Tacoma
- Olympic Rain Forest Scenic Drive
I am also contemplating dragging Robert to the store where Chezerbey bought their midway lights because I am neurotic, I want to see them in person before buying them, and I can’t find any in town.
I compiled the lists from various Google searches, as well as blog posts from All Things G&D, casacaudill, Chezerbey, Yellow Brick Home (in alphabetical order because I’m neurotic). R and I are very open to suggestions if I’m missing something crucial! We’re supposed to call R’s Aunt J tonight to go over our plans, and I’m sure she’ll have suggestions of her own.
Swivel Plate Caster, 8 In Dia
Thanks for the photo love!
If you want to do a ferry ride, you can ferry over to Winslow on Bainbridge Island, walk around the downtown area, and then head back to Seattle. That’ll knock two things off your list. Also, if you want to do the locks and the lakes, I recommend the Argosy tour that goes through the lakes to the locks and then out to Elliott Bay. It’s still one of my favorite things we did in Seattle. You’ll also see the Sleepless in Seattle house on this route.
I won’t admit I said this, but the monorail is kind of lame. Unless you’re a huge monorail fan and that’s your “thing” you could probably skip it. Also, on the “skip” list is the museum of glass in Tacoma. They just opened up a Chihuly museum near the Space Needle so you’ll get your fill there.
I don’t see it on here, but if you’re at all into city planning and the history of Seattle definitely do the underground tour. We really enjoyed it. And if you love meat, lunch at Salumi in Pioneer Square is a must!
You’re welcome for the photo love! Thanks for allowing me to use it!!
I will definitely keep all of your advice in mind! I know Robert would love the boat tour you mentioned, and we might end up skipping the monorail and the glass museum (especially if we don’t rent a car). Thanks again!
Considering you have an appreciation for design, I would recommend checking out the following buildings if you have time. They are my most memorable “attractions” on visits to Seattle! The chapel at Seattle University (designed by Steven Holl) is one of the most peaceful spaces I’ve been to. Since you’ll be at the Space Needle, you can check out the EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum designed by Frank Gehry, the exterior (which is clearly free) is probably the coolest part… I never actually paid to go into the exhibits, but wish I had! And Rem Koolhaus’ Seattle Public Library is pretty incredible, just from the sheer size. I’m an architecture dork, so I plan my vacations around buildings to tour. This definitely might not be your thing! And I know you mentioned coffee at a non-starbucks, but while you’re at the Public Market, you might as well step into the original Starbucks… just to say you’ve been there! Have a great time!!
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I’ll definitely keep all those suggestions in mind!