After a long year with no travel, I finally ventured out to the Pacific Northwest to visit my son, Will. This trip was everything I needed for so many reasons. The flight to Seattle was roughly 5.5 hours and the views from 30,000 feet above were absolutely breathtaking. I literally flew over the United States and wondered often "what is down there?"
When I arrived in Seattle, my son met me at the airport, and oh my goodness, when I heard him call out "mom," I looked up, and there he was. I just melted in his arms and was so happy to see him and feel his warm embrace. I knew I missed him, but it hit me at that moment just how much. We hopped on the train "the link" and headed to his apartment in Capitol Hill. When we got off the train, we walked a few blocks and I came across this intersection; I thought it was beautiful. For those of you that didn't know, my son is gay and my love for him remains strong and true. He is a wonderful son, friend, and human being and that is what is important. I love me some him!
After settling in at his apartment, we began our journey to the Pike Place Market! Oh my, the fruits, veggies, and fresh fish stands were amazing! I wanted to stop and buy a piece of everything, but obviously, I had to resist. We continued walking through the market and down a million flights of stairs to get to the pier which was my favorite place. It was so peaceful and relaxing and after a very long day, it was appreciated.
Day 2 began with another trip to Pike Market place. I swear I could go there every day...and we did! The line at the original Starbucks was down the street and with a million other Starbucks nearby, we opted for coffee elsewhere and got pastries from Piroshky Piroshky and headed back to the pier to enjoy the peaceful view before our trip to the Seattle Space Needle, Chihuly glass museum, and walk up to Kerry Park.
The Space Needle was fun until I saw the level with glass floors. I froze, literally! My body would not allow me to walk on the glass. It took me about 10 minutes before I could place one foot on the glass while squeezing the life out of my son's arm! But, I did it and it was such a relief.
The Chihuly glass museum was gorgeous! The colors were so vibrant in every piece. Pictures do not do it justice. If you're ever in Seattle, check it out!
Our next stop was Kerry Park. As we climbed up to heaven, because it was THE steepest and longest hill I ever walked to date, I was beginning to wonder if it would be worth the view. My son turned around and said "you have to go through the storm to get to the rainbow!" and his boost of encouragement got me to the top. As much as I work out, it just showed me how much more I need to push myself. I wanted to take a picture of the hill, but my body said "NO!" When we got to Kerry Park it was everything I dreamed of. Clear blue skies and the most beautiful view of the Seattle Skyline. In the distance is beautiful Mt. Rainier. OMG, the next stop was the house from Grey's Anatomy! It was literally up the street from Kerry Park. I have never watched the show or have even been remotely interested in it, but between my son and my friends telling me how good of a show it is, I decided to begin watching it before my Seattle trip. It is a great show and made the house and sights that much more special.
As it turns out, my trip to Seattle was during their heatwave. I'm spoiled with air conditioning everywhere I go so this took some getting used to. The last 2 days were intense, but thankfully, we made it through together.
Day 3 was a 1-hour boat tour around the harbor and a trip to Discovery Park. The boat tour was nice and relaxing and the breeze felt magical considering it was 10am and felt like 100 degrees out. Once it was over, we hopped on the bus and traveled about 30 minutes to Discovery park. We hiked up the hills and then down several flights of stairs and trails to get to the beach. It was beautiful and the scenery was spectacular! If you're into hiking, this is definitely a park to visit.
Day 4 was even hotter and it was just very uncomfortable outside. We decided to stay indoors and go to the movies to see the new Fast and Furious movie. The air conditioning was such a relief! Plus, it had been so long since I went to see a movie, which is my sons' favorite thing to do. After the movie, we ventured down to Pike Place Market again and just strolled leisurely to keep from getting too hot. Lots of stores were either closed or closing early due to the extreme temperatures so it was fairly quiet Sunday afternoon. We had dinner reservations at Elliot's Oyster House and took an uber because there was no way I was walking in that heat again. Dinner was very nice and a perfect way to end my trip. The views were so beautiful, I could've stayed there forever...
In my 4 days in Seattle, we averaged 10 miles per day. I'm glad I brought my walking shoes with me! This trip was very special to me and I am so glad I got to spend this time with my son in his new home. As our kids grow into adults, distance sometimes creeps in, but I want to be sure I make every effort to be there continuously making memories for us to cherish. Every step taken during this trip was filled with great conversation, good food, drinks, laughter, and so much love. It was well worth the time away.
I honestly felt like I was back home in NYC while in Seattle. The diversity and different cultures were awesome! The public transportation, the skyscrapers, and the hustle out there were so inviting and nostalgic. I truly hope I can take another trip out there again soon. I posted a video link because I couldn't possibly put this entire trip into words. Until next time Seattle...
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