Seattle, WA (USA)

Kids awake rather early - ready to leave for the first adventure of the trip. Decided to take the light rail from Westlake to Pioneer Square. That was pretty fun to travel on the clean train (and we were lucky to have the opportunity - it only opened at the beginning of the summer). When we arrived in the Pioneer Square area, it was pretty quiet (nice!). We stumbled across a small fountain nestled in the old brick homes - very pretty. Turns out it was the location where UPS started... We then walked over to the Klondike National Park site so the kids could learn about the Gold Rush of the late Nineteenth Century. Movies and displays were brand new and very interesting - kids even got to pan for gold! The Junior Ranger experience was a little more difficult than usual but they finished it. Unfortunately, the park rangers didn't have any pins available (but promised to get some by the end of the day). It was approaching lunch time, so we walked a short distance over to Chinatown and found a little place to eat there. The nice hostess (who had a kid sitting nearby waiting while Mom worked) set us up with some great (authentic) Asian dishes. The kids always enjoy the culture of the visits to this type of place... Walked around a little after lunch, enjoying some music in a nearby park and exploring the many souvenir shops. We had a chance to walk through a Japanese supermarket - just like the ones I've seen when I travel to Japan (see APR 2008). Great fresh food and lots of other trinkets ("Hello Kitty", etc.)! Even looked in an Asian furniture store - very exotic art, dressers and wall-hangings... Later walked back towards Pioneer Square and stumbled across the crowd for the afternoon Seattle Mariners game. We were actually able to walk right up to see the place where the Seahawks play and then followed people down towards the baseball stadium - enjoying glimpses of the scalpers, vendors and "bike-rickshaw" drivers. Stopped for a rest at Caffe Umbria and had gelato while we sat under shady trees. Got the kids their Junior Ranger pins then we headed back towards the train station. Found some totem poles in a pretty square (took funny photos) and then went back to Westlake Mall. Getting tired... Dropped Nicky and Erin off for some shopping across from the Red Lion and took Brenna and Mollie to the Library (with the cool glass ceilings and gradual stack descent - see JAN 2008). Found out that the kids' section was as big as our library in Fort Worth... Moved the car to a new parking garage and then we all met at Pike Place Market. Probably should have arrived a little earlier, since the vendors were beginning to close up shop. Still got to see some fish flying in the air, though (great hit!). Bought some Rainier Cherries (first time for that - mmmm...). Explored the several floors of the market to see what we might want to buy later. Went back to the hotel around 1800 and decided to check out the Happy Hour on the terrace. Kids enjoying the ambiance and views. Back to the room around 2000 - very tired... No problem getting everyone to sleep!