Damkier's Travels: Seattle

Yours Truly at the Space Needle

Thanksgiving is usually a time for family, and since part of my family now lives in Seattle, I have been visiting the Emerald City for Thanksgiving for several years. November is not the ideal time to visit the Pacific Northwest since it is usually dark, cold, and rainy, but the lure of roasted turkey and pumpkin pie draws me near each year.

View of Downtown Seattle with Mt Rainer in Background

This year was very unique. Besides the happy coincidence of many extended family attending our wonderful dinner, the weather was unusually clear and dry over the holiday. Besides the pollution inversion and very cold nights, the weather was perfect to get out of the house and explore. First stop was the iconic Space Needle. Built in 1962, this Seattle landmark is no longer the tallest, but it is a top spot for visitors. The view is very impressive from the outdoor observation deck, however the steep admission price makes this an expensive view. The Space Needle is also near several museums and the monorail in a large exposition park area once home to the World's Fair.

Who Needs Two Rails?

Speaking of the Seattle Monorail, this was my first time to actually ride this historic version of the future. It is actually pretty cool as it glides through downtown Seattle, and it is a surprisingly good way to connect the main tourist spots in Seattle. Alas, the great monorail experiment was about as successful as it was in Springfield, with limited deployment. Best to stick with subways and high speed rail instead.

Steaming Hot Biscuit and Gravy

Back on the ground, it was time for lunch. I searched Yelp for a great restaurant and was intrigued by the Biscuit Bitch. I am a huge fan of biscuits - see my Southern Food and BBQ post - so the combination of killer biscuits and gravy and espresso was a strong draw. The place delivered with a nice caffeine jolt and a massive serving the above delicious lunch. That gave me the energy to tackle my next destination.

Pike Place Market

Another Seattle institution, Pike Place Market is a fun and crazy combination of farmers market, fish market, and craft fair. You can buy any number of fresh or prepared food items in the haphazard collection of stalls or just browse the crafts while enjoying the people watching. On a beautiful Black Friday, the place was completely packed but still enjoyable. I especially love the fresh cheese curds from Beecher's or walking by the original Starbucks.

Pacific Northwest Native Art Exhibit

Before the sun sets early in the west, it was time to unwind and enjoy some fine art. The Seattle Art Museum is right next to Pike Place Market and houses an impressive collection of artwork. This museum is always enjoyable, but the special exhibition of Impressionist painting was a huge draw. I really enjoyed strolling through the museum decompressing from the market and enjoying the art.

Flying Heritage Collection Hangar Exhibit

No trip to Seattle is complete without visiting an aviation museum. The Flying Heritage Collection is convenient to those visiting the northern suburbs of Seattle and has a large collection of military aircraft and other equipment. They host several flying exhibitions throughout the year and have a lot of movies and exhibits.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Lefse

Of course I had to post my Thanksgiving dinner. Spending the holidays means never having to answer the question "Who wants more lefse?" The answer is everyone! I had a nice time in Seattle this Thanksgiving and am happy to share it with you and your family. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.