There is something about the waterfront of any city on the ocean. Each has its own character that shines through. The Seattle waterfront is no different. Packed full of restaurants, gift shops, tour groups and activities, the waterfront is an easy place to lose an afternoon. We began at Pike Place Market and descended the stairs through the “Down Under” region and continued down along the Pike Place Hillclimb to the piers.
Our first stop was the Bay Pavilion (or Miners Landing depending on your preference) at Pier 57. Starting at the back of the pier, we watched the vintage carousel spin round, entertaining young and old alike. In the arcade area, the sound of calliope music mixes with the more modern soundtracks of the assorted video games. At $1.50 per ride the carousel is worth a ride if you have the time.
From Pier 57 we headed to Ye Old Curiosity Shop located at Pier 54. No visit to Seattle is complete without a visit to this amazing collection of curios and gifts. The Ye Old Curiosity Shop was established in 1899 and is still going strong today. Inside you will find an astonishing assortment of the weird and unusual ranging from fleas in evening wear and antique scrimshaw work to genuine shrunken heads and mummies. Amidst the curious collection is perhaps Seattle’s only landmark gift shop or rather gift shop turned landmark. The Curiosity Shop carries an eclectic array of knick-knacks and souvenirs to cover the entire spectrum of gift giving for every event ...or perhaps just for yourself.
After a long look through Ye Old Curiosity Shop, the logical next stop is next door at Ivar’s restaurant. If you have the time you can head inside for a nice sit down meal, but the true experience is outside at the walk-up windows. They do things a bit different out here. Once you know what you want, approach the window, get the workers attention and shout out the fried items of your order. Don’t worry, they seem to have steel traps for minds and will not forget your order even if there are dozens of people yelling out. When your items are cooked the cashier will add anything not deep-fried (drinks, coleslaw, chowder, etc.) and then get you on your way. Around the corner from this chaos are rows of benches, tables and a covered eating area. The covered area is great for the rainy days, but if it's nice out you are denying yourself part of the experience: Seagulls. As you eat, these scavengers of the sky will creep ever closer until they are nearly sitting at the table with you. As opposed to most of the areas in the city, feeding these wild animals is encouraged, with the sky filling with the sound of beating wings as soon as food is presented. If you’re feeling daring you can hand feed these scavengers of the skies…Just count your fingers afterward.
No comments:
Post a Comment