Anticipation

I cannot even contain myself…I am so excited for my family to come visit. So excited! I am excited to give them a big hug, share jokes, share food, play cards, sightsee, catch up, make fun of each other, etc. I am 75% excited to just seem them and be with them and 25% excited to do more touristy things in Seattle and show them around. There are sooooooo many things that we could possibly do during their stay. They should be staying for a month. But then again we will just be able to keep some things for the next visit.

Just a sampling of things that we may do (and more reason for anyone and everyone to come visit me in Seattle):

Seattle duck tour (3hrs of fun and sightseeing of the city) Shopping on 5th Ave. (Macy’s, Nordstrom, Banana, JCrew, Sephora, H&M, Urban, Barneys, etc.)
Kayaking on Lake Union, or Lake Washington, or Puget Sound Pike’s Market
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
Boeing Museum
Museum of Flight
Underground tour
Golden Gardens or Alki Beach (fire there)
One of many, many possible hikes
Salmon fishing
Seattle Center exploration (Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Science Center)
Seattle food tours
Scooter rental to tour around to all of the awesome parks: Gasworks Park, Discovery Park, Magnusson, Kerry Park Run/tennis/basketball at Green Lake
Mariners, Sounders or Seahawks game
Go see one of the many concerts
Listen to live jazz at Lucid with amazing cocktails
Visit Woodinville wineries and go to wine tastings Rent a sail boat (mom knows how right?)
Do a pretty drive by ferrying over to Whideby Island and then driving over Deception pass (reportedly one of the most scenic views anywhere)
Go to a Broadway play on tour
Most likely there will be a festival Go to microbrewery tours in the area
Do the Theo chocolate factory tour in Fremont
Walk along the Waterfront
Free yoga at the Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle Art Museum
Go to the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth
One of the many outdoor movies held throughout the summer

Shall I go on? Okay I will…moving on to food opportunities:

The Tom Douglass series of restaurants
Some great brunch spots: Portage Bay Cafe, Macrina, Thomas Street Bakery
Happy hours up the wazoo: Japonessa (sushi), Serious Pie (pizza), Local Vine (wine flights and tapas), Toulouse Petit (nationally known for their happy hours and cajun/creole inspired…really good breakfast happy hour)
Coffee hello…Le Panier Coffee, Caffe Vita, Starbucks, Fonte, Fuel, Chocolati, etc. etc.
Food at Pike’s: Market Grill fish sandwiches, Piroshky, Piroshky pastries, Beecher’s mac and cheese (Oprah’s favorite), Le Panier (again), fresh bread, cheese, fruits, desserts
Gelato yummy
Mario Batali’s Salumi sandwich shop
Lots of tapas bars
Taco trucks
Seafood!!!
The International District
All-you-can eat dungeness crab for $21 in Bothell

Now you see why I am excited and why you should all come visit!!! And I have a separate list for my grandparents if they ever do come visit which I really hope may happen at some point because I know they would love the nature/outdoors stuff!!!

Chelsea