August 4th and 5th. Our family vacation this year started by flying to Seattle and then to head out to the Olympic Peninsula to trek around the Olympic National Park. Due to the price of round-trip airfare and a booking oversight our flight left the airport at 7:00 am (when flights are less expensive), so we got up real early to get to the airport on time. The advantage to leaving early is that 
we would arrive in Seattle around noon and have the rest of the day to sight-see. We flew into SeaTac airport, hooked up with the #194 bus to downtown Seattle and found our way to the HI Olympic Hostel fairly easily. I say fairly easily because there were a few tense moments. After we disembarked from the bus, we walked to where I thought the hostel should be, but didn't see any hostel. No hostel for you! My navigation skills were immediately criticized until we spotted the HI Olympic Hostel out of view, down a flight of stairs and across the street--not my fault. However, once we arrived, all was well.
we would arrive in Seattle around noon and have the rest of the day to sight-see. We flew into SeaTac airport, hooked up with the #194 bus to downtown Seattle and found our way to the HI Olympic Hostel fairly easily. I say fairly easily because there were a few tense moments. After we disembarked from the bus, we walked to where I thought the hostel should be, but didn't see any hostel. No hostel for you! My navigation skills were immediately criticized until we spotted the HI Olympic Hostel out of view, down a flight of stairs and across the street--not my fault. However, once we arrived, all was well. The Hostel was centrally located in the downtown area two blocks from Pike's Place Market and the waterfront piers and maybe four blocks from Pioneer Square. This was our first experience staying in a hostel and we all enjoyed the experience. We had our own room, which I guess is a luxury at a hostel, but did share the bathroom facilities with the other denizens. Most of the hostelers were young people (with laptops and ipods in use) but there were a few elderfolk. The room was clean and the staff at the front desk friendly. The kids really enjoyed the pool table in the common room and I enjoyed the complimentary breakfasts and economy of making our dinners in the shared kitchen. Walking
around Pike's Place Farmers Market was interesting. Most of my attention was drawn to the food vendors (in particular the mini-donuts and frozen yogurt) and the three Fs....fruit, fish and flower stands. Unfortunately, there were also a lot of small "junky" touristy shops. As in most urban tourist destinations, there were also a lot of street performers. None particularly good, but they did try to entertain in their own unique fashions. Pictured below, one street performer was feeling her groove thing while roviding a visual interpretation of her partners muscial renditions.
around Pike's Place Farmers Market was interesting. Most of my attention was drawn to the food vendors (in particular the mini-donuts and frozen yogurt) and the three Fs....fruit, fish and flower stands. Unfortunately, there were also a lot of small "junky" touristy shops. As in most urban tourist destinations, there were also a lot of street performers. None particularly good, but they did try to entertain in their own unique fashions. Pictured below, one street performer was feeling her groove thing while roviding a visual interpretation of her partners muscial renditions. The second d
ay we visited the Seattle Asian Art Museum which was small but enjoyable. From the front of museum there was a nice view of the Seattle Space Needle. The museum had a nice exhibit of pictures taken at Shi Shi beach that whetted our appetites for our planned adventures to come; visiting various beaches along the west coast. There was also an interesting exhibit featuring stacks of slide projectors that cast images on the walls of the room while recycled television tubes, hanging from the ceiling, made popping noises. Both the projectors and popping noises were activated by our walking around the room. 
It was weird but definitely interesting. Also in Volunteer Park was a small botanical Conservatory that we walked through. I learned later that we missed the blooming of a particular large and foul smelling skunk cabbage that was an item on the national news a few weeks later when we were home. Timing is everything! Afterward, we met a particularly friendly squirrel in Volunteer Park. By the time I had taken this picture, he or she had eaten or buried half a scone and a handful of grapes. The squirrel encounter was definitely a highlight for the kids. The remainder of day we spent with a family friend who lives in Seattle.
ay we visited the Seattle Asian Art Museum which was small but enjoyable. From the front of museum there was a nice view of the Seattle Space Needle. The museum had a nice exhibit of pictures taken at Shi Shi beach that whetted our appetites for our planned adventures to come; visiting various beaches along the west coast. There was also an interesting exhibit featuring stacks of slide projectors that cast images on the walls of the room while recycled television tubes, hanging from the ceiling, made popping noises. Both the projectors and popping noises were activated by our walking around the room. 
It was weird but definitely interesting. Also in Volunteer Park was a small botanical Conservatory that we walked through. I learned later that we missed the blooming of a particular large and foul smelling skunk cabbage that was an item on the national news a few weeks later when we were home. Timing is everything! Afterward, we met a particularly friendly squirrel in Volunteer Park. By the time I had taken this picture, he or she had eaten or buried half a scone and a handful of grapes. The squirrel encounter was definitely a highlight for the kids. The remainder of day we spent with a family friend who lives in Seattle.
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