Little Bird in Seattle | August blog circle

Late one night I was overcome with rock fever and on a whim bought the family tickets to Seattle. What we were going to do in Seattle was not as important as just getting off the island. In my haste I forgot about major events like end of the year school fundraisers and preschool graduation. Or maybe missing those things was an extra bonus. I can’t decide. In any case I found myself scrambling for a plan in the weeks leading up to our departure. After quizzing many friends, I had a loose plan to eat tasty food, see orca whales, hike through dense, drippy rain forest, and photograph a sea star. That roughly translate to Seattle – San Juan Islands – Vancouver Island.

This was our Seattle leg. We arrived to unseasonably warm, sunny weather and delighted in the greenness of it. Springtime! We stopped to smell the flowers, listen to the birds, and there was coffee everywhere. Good, delicious coffee. Only our children were a disaster. Full on tantrums and fighting and incessant whining. I actually started to consider hiring a babysitter for just a bit of relief. The fighting didn’t end until we were out of the city and back on another island, but there were moments of joy interspersed. Our highlights include making forts at Discovery Park, renting a cheesy 4-person bike at Alki Beach, and random dives with hot bowls of clam chowder. And, okay, i’ll admit it, visiting the flagship REI store.