Thanks for all the tips about my Seattle trip. Here goes my piecemeal trip report.

Landed at noon today at SEA. I love Virgin America, although I passed out so quickly I could have been flying any airline.

Took light rail to Westlink. Very clean and efficient, although I had to walk a while to get there from Virgin. Had lunch at the Nordstrom Grill, which I think they were very smart to locate the priciest place at the Metro level. Yummy turkey club with great fries, although the waitress was definitely more attentive to another patron than to me.

Walked up to my hotel, SpringHill Lake Union. About .6 miles, so no biggie. Thankfully no rain at the point for my luggage to stay dry.

Check in was smooth, and I got a free coupon for something from their Marketplace! Yay! Sadly, the shuttle runs only every hour from the hotel and only goes to the Convention Center, Space Needle or Westlake. Not really convenient for me at all.

Decided to walk it down to Columbia Center, which wasn't too bad. I appreciated getting to see all of the commercial stuff on 5th street. I loved the observation tower although was disappointed that it was so rainy and overcast that the mountains were obscured. Welcome to Seattle, I guess. Had a quick drink at Starbucks there and also appreciated the views.

Walked quickly to the Library and took a brief tour. I loved the 10th floor observation room as well as all of the neat reading spaces there and on other floors. Definitely a very literary city, Seattle. Good on you!

It was 4 pm and I wasn't scheduled to go to SAM until 6. I therefore made a brief stop at Sip Bar for some calamari and a glass of Riesling. Pretty good, and the bus boy was super cute.

Went to SAM around 5 and spent a little more than 2 hours. I thought the permanent collection was pretty weak but I really liked the Gaughin temporary exhibition. I was upset to not see any other impressionist works, as the European art seemed to stop at the Enlightenment.

Then walked to Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. i had a 9:30 reservation but turned up about 7:30. I'd called a couple of times to get it moved back, but no luck. Fortunately the hostess was amazing and sat me at about ten minutes. I had a super adorable gay waiter with a bow-tie. Yay for personal style. Spent 30 dollars on a salmon sandwich with fries, sparkling rose wine and a small coconut and chocolate dessert. All very yummy. This was a great, convenient, and hip place.

Took a taxi back to my hotel for a whopping 7 dollars, including tip.

Thanks for the report.

the waitress was definitely more attentive to another patron than to me. One of the main functions of Nordstrom Grill is to provide a place for Nordstrom buyers, executives, and their clients to dine. Often it is impossible to get a reservation at lunch time.

HTTY

<was so rainy and overcast that the mountains were obscured. Welcome to Seattle, I guess>

Happens all the time, we refer to it here, when Mt Rainier's "out"

Yes sorry about the weather, but nothing unusual about it for February. Be glad you weren't here a month ago when we got a freak snow storm for 10 days the the city was brought to its knees!

Really, thanks so much for taking the time to post about your trip!!

suze (in seattle)

Saturday:

Skipped breakfast and got to the Market first thing. Of course, for me, this meant around 11. Oops. Wandered around the Market for a while and had a not-amazing but great view lunch at Athenium. Thanks for that suggestion.

Then walked down to the water, saw the totems, and did a wine tasting nearby. I'm forgetting the name, but it's in a new space right next to the Market. Fun for only $5.

Walked from Market to Pioneer Square and wandered around. Had a cookie break at Cow Chip Cookies (something like this). Went up Smith Tower - it was so worth it to see the Chinese room and especially the outdoor space. Really glad I did this.

Walked up to the Frye. Wow, so many hills. I'm not in shape! This was a small museum. I did not like the modern contemporary exhibitions, but they had one called "Beloved" where a 10-year patron who used to come in every day with her husband before he passed picked out her favorite pieces and shared quotations about them. Definitely very moving.

Next up was a walk to Capitol Hill. I explored a bit of Pike and had a drink at Elite. Only patrons beside me were several loud older gentlemen. Nonetheless, a glass of Riesling for $4 is not to miss. Killed time there until dinner with a friend at Quinn's (shared a great smoked salmon salad and had a burger/fries. Yummy). Then back to hotel for a boring night!

Today is Space Needle/Olympic Park and Bainbridge before heading out. I should have gone yesterday to Volunteer Park, but I'm not sure I'll have the energy for it today.

Thanks for the report.

Then back to hotel for a boring night!

You could have gone to the Cuff, which is two blocks from Quinn's!

Olympic Sculpture Park and the Bainbridge ferry is a good plan for today. I hope it doesn't rain too much.

HTTY

HTTY I was super tired by that point, and my phone had died with all of my google mapping ...

I hate when that happens!
Have a great last day in Seattle.
Check this out: http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2010/...tea-dance.html

HTTY

Ugh, too bad I missed it.

Sunday I took the hotel shuttle to Seattle Center and walked around for a tad bit there. Then walked to Olympic Sculpture Park. The views were really amazing. Walked from there to Pier 52 for the Bainbridge shuttle. I thought it was really neat to walk through a bit of Belltown - I loved the condos and apartments around that area. The Bainbridge ferries were definitely the best parts - great views of all the islands and greenery. Baindbrige itself was, um, quaint, but I did have a nice walk and lunch there at Doc's on the Marina as well as fudge at a local shop. Took the ferry back, walked a little around the international district and to the Japanese grocery store. Luckily managed to snag a free bus back to Westlake, where I walked around Pacific Place for a bit. Then walked back to the hotel to retrieve my bag and made it back to Westlake to catch the Light Link to the Airport. Had a long time at the airport and enjoyed the art and free WiFi, as well as a good Chinese chicken salad at something like Vintage Seattle.

Thanks to the fodorites for all the great recommendations!

Hey, that went pretty well... except perhaps for the implication that you never got to ride the S.L.U.T.


Glad you went to the Smith Tower (for the elevators if for no other reason)... and I think we told you about the steep incline to the Frye.

Ah well, it appears you had no dramas... so it all went fairly well, and as generally anticipated in print here.

Sadly no SLUT, Smith Tower was totally worth it, no drama, and, yes, I do typically follow my schedules. Planning is almost as fun as actually traveling!

Planning is almost as fun as actually traveling!

Good point. I do all the planning on our trips and I feel that I have twice the fun.

Thanks for your reports.

HTTY

I only rode the S.L.U.T. when she was 'free', at the very beginning of her S.L.U.T.ty life on the tracks.

If you're paying for the S.L.U.T., then it's sorta taboo...