We had a fun-filled blast from the past in Seattle
It’s been six years since we had an address in the Emerald City, but a recent visit felt like the best kind of homecoming. Here are the hot spots we hit as we played tourists in our old stomping grounds.
Staying downtown: We checked into the gorgeous Lotte Hotel on Fifth Avenue and swooned over the sweeping views of Elliott Bay and good old Smith Tower. That evening, we thoroughly enjoyed an outstanding dinner at the hotel’s stylish dining room. Charlotte serves a global menu that brings a fresh take on some classic Korean dishes and amazing desserts. Wow times two, plus that view from the 16th floor is spectacular.
Action-packed Valentine’s Day: After stopping for stellar pastries at Dahlia Bakery – where we were spotted by Tina Wynecoop, a very kind Going Mobile reader from Spokane – we headed to the Space Needle. Yes, it’s touristy, but so what? From the observation deck, we could see the townhome where we used to live. While the restaurant is sadly no more, visitors are welcome to wander on the revolving, see-through floor for an extra-special thrill.
Super sweet show: We came down to earth and headed to the KEXP Gathering Space for a live performance by DeVotchKa that had the appreciative audience laughing, crying and whoop-whooping. We’re sustaining members of this incredible radio station and it was a treat to experience this heartwarming show. We followed up with a beautiful lunch at The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass. That warm salmon dip really hit the spot on a chilly afternoon.
Embracing art: When we lived in the Queen Anne neighborhood, we spent many happy hours hanging out at the Olympic Sculpture Park and though the crowds were absent on this midweek afternoon visit, the vibe was pure positive energy. Who can look across the water at the snow-capped Olympic mountains and not feel uplifted? Maybe it was partly the Mudhoney Mocha from Caffe Vita, but we were downright giddy walking through the gorgeous space.
A stop at Pike Place Market: This historic landmark is at the top of Leslie’s list of happy places. She loves to swing by and say hey to the gang at Frank’s Quality Produce, Pike Place Fish, indi chocolate, DeLaurenti, Market Spice, Beecher’s Cheese and lots more. Winter is the best time to wander around because it’s pretty quiet.
One more hit of art: While John headed back to the hotel, Leslie checked out the “Calder in Motion” exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. So beautiful. She also learned that the amazing artist spent a portion of his early career sketching for Barnum & Bailey Ringling Bros. Circus. She loved the pen-and-ink drawing called Men Persuading Elephant.
Whew, what a day: After taking in all the sights, we enjoyed a casual dinner in the lounge, watching the dressed-up couples head into the busy dining room for a special holiday meal. We slept well that night, woke up refreshed and ready to hit the Seattle RV Show. Check out our Instagram for a recap of that whirlwind walk through dozens of new models. One futuristic trailer stood out, a find you can read about next week.
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