We’re in Seattle for the evening, having gotten here smoothly all things considered. We got up at the crack of dawn (heck, even before then – I got some great pictures!), packed things up, and had exited the rental home at 6 AM on the dot. We dropped off the key at the real estate agent and then made a beeline for the queues at the ferry landing. There were three lanes full for Anacortes by 6:20 but we were number 4 in lane four. We spent our spare time visiting the coffee counter at Orcas Hotel.
The ferry arrived a little late but we got on fine. I was concerned we weren’t going to make it but I always do that when it comes to travel. I’ve done the planes-trains-automobiles routine so long now that I’m a stickler for catching the next required vehicle at all costs. You miss one of them and your whole day is often shot.
We rode the biggest ferry so far, and spent the time parked in front of the observation deck’s arcade games. Hallie and Travis entertained themselves by driving cars while the ferry plowed through thick morning fog on the way to Anacortes. Without much warning we were at the landing, driving back to civilization. (I kept forgetting Fidelgo Island, where Anacortes is, is also part of the San Juan Islands, but it is. Unlike the others, Fidelgo is connected to the mainland by a large bridge.)
We found ourselves on dry land around 9:30, so with little else to do we continued south straight to Seattle. Kelly took over driving halfway there so I could get a nap (a deer enjoying an early-morning snack right outside our bedroom window awakened me early), and she drove us to a sweet, free parking space close to the Seattle Space Needle, our only real must-see in Seattle (sad, isn’t it?)
Elevators have a way of making you feel lighter. The elevator at the Space Needle made me feel $40 lighter, even before I stepped inside one. Having been to New York’s World Trade Center observation deck, as well an impressive skyscraper above Shanghai, I have to say I was quite disappointed in the Space Needle. The kids were grouchy from hunger (or sleep) as well, so it didn’t make for a fun experience all around. We soon headed back down to find some food.
There was the Arab Festival going on in the nearby park, so we had an opportunity to watch some of the festivities. There was what was apparently a burka fashion show going on in the food court, which I found amusing. I had to laugh when the female announcer, apparently of Arab descent, announced that Oman was the capital of Muskat. I’m no Middle Eastern expert but even I knew that was backwards!
The kids rebounded considerably once they had food in them, so we shuffled over to the amusement park rides nearby. Hallie rode the Ferris wheel with me while Travis got a ride on a jeep car. Both rides lasted seemingly 30 seconds, but they were enough to cheer up the kids.
It was near 1:30 by now and Hallie was falling asleep in the back seat, so we opted to try for an early check-in at our airport hotel. Success! We then piled our sizable pile of stuff into our hotel room and relaxed a bit before I ran the rental car back over to the airport. We then walked across the street to Dave’s Diner and enjoyed a good, inexpensive meal. Then it was back to the hotel for an hour of swimming in the pool, after which the kids got baths and were tucked into bed by Kelly. We’re all in one room, so we hope things will stay quiet tonight.
Morning begins at 5 AM PDT for us. We’ll catch the hotel shuttle to the airport across the street, check in our bags, and grab breakfast. With Travis with us, we can get in the preboarding group and snag the bulkhead seats, which will let us stretch out a bit. We’ll be stopping in Vegas before heading back to Raleigh: a long day but we’ll be home in time for a “normal” bedtime tomorrow. Miraculous, really, when you think about it.
It’s been an amazingly fun trip. The kids have been amazing – really proving they’re ready for almost anything. I look forward to many more fun family trips together. Hard to believe they can only get better!