On Sunday, we departed from Boston bright and early with a 4 a.m. wake-up call. (Midnight Alaska time.) It was a breeze getting to the airport and through security—no more FBI agents at the airport.
It was nearly a 6 hour flight to Seattle (ugh!)—and I cannot sleep on airplanes, so it got to be long. I just do the whole bobble head thing when I try to sleep. I must look like a hoot. In Seattle we had a 5 hour layover. I don’t remember if Craig purposely chose to do that or not because our plane was continuing on to Anchorage—or maybe it was full. Anyway, we sometimes purposely do a long layover in Seattle or Portland since we have friends there, and it is about the only time we see them.
We arrived in Seattle at 11 a.m., and I was ravenous. My body was still on East Coast time, and I only had a small snack on the plane. When we arrived in Seattle, it was raining just a tiny little bit, but it was still gorgeous! I definitely could live in Seattle.
Our friend picked us up from the airport and we immediately went in search of food. We ended up at Brave Horse Tavern.
It was a great place for breakfast with a nice casual atmosphere and great for catching up with friends. I had an egg skillet that was very good!
Afterwards we went to a couple different parks. We weren’t at the first park for very long, and I don’t remember what it was called. But we did get some coffee at Fuel Coffee. One cannot go to Seattle without getting coffee. I had a decaf hazelnut latte.
The second park we went to was Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill area.
It was a beautiful park with several different things to do. We even saw people LARPing (Live Action Role Playing), which was quite interesting. I’m not sure I could ever do it. We also went and checked out the Conservatory.
The flowers and plants were so unique and absolutely beautiful.
This plant is a carnivore. It collects water in these baskets and insects will become trapped inside. The plant then eats the insects once they die.
This flower was so unique and so intricate. I’m not sure what it was called. 
Craig and I 
We walked around the park and checked out the sights while we caught up with our friends. All too soon it was time to head back to the airport, but it was great to catch up with friends.
Ashely and I ~ Rain jackets are a staple in Seattle, obviously. It was funny because everyone had an umbrella in Boston but no one wore a rain jacket. But then in Seattle no one used an umbrella but instead everyone wore rain jackets. I used an umbrella and wore a rain jacket because I am from the Midwest—the best of both coasts. (just kidding)
We had another 3+ hour flight back to Anchorage where I did the whole bobble head thing because I was incredibly tired. When I got home, I unpacked my bag. (I always have to unpack as soon as I get home.) And then it was time for bed because I had been up for 22 hours.
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Monday morning, I was really excited to run because there isn’t any more snow on the roads! (We still have snow piled up in other areas though.)
I ran an easy 3 miles in the daylight before work this morning. There are about two weeks in the spring and two weeks in the fall that are my favorite times to run because the sun is just starting to rise when I start my run.
It was still a chilly morning at 30*F—as my red face shows, but it was fun nonetheless.
I also made sure to wear my Boston Marathon race shirt to work in honor of the tragedy. I can’t believe it has already been a week. 
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Questions
Do you use an umbrella or wear a rain jacket when it is raining?
Ever been to Seattle? Like it, love it, or not so much?
That’s funny that one side of the country uses an umbrella and the other uses the rain coat. Personally I usually use neither and just end up pulling my regular coat over my head because whenever its seems to rain is always the day I have misplaced my umbrella.
I’m a Seattle-ite and it’s only rain jackets for me! That’s because rain seems to hit sideways a lot and an umbrella is a bit unwieldy. Seattle is also incredibly casual, so its not like you need to prevent your jeans and tshirt from getting wet 🙂
Sorry you didn’t get any sun while you were here. The rain sucks, but its what makes Seattle so green and pretty in the sunshine!
I didn’t mind the rain at all. I love how green it is during the winter, so I’ll take the rain.
Here it is often too windy to use an umbrella successfully, everyone has rain coats or just a heavy fleece to keep the rain off.
my high school had a big LARP club. one of the english teachers participated too. kinda wacky stuff but good for them! i hope to go to seattle (and WA state) this summer to visit a HS friend, but trip is pending based on $$. sigh.
I hope you are able to make it to Seattle. It is gorgeous! I have a love/hate relationship with money.
I visited Seattle for the first time in October. I love seeing new cities and hitting all the touristy spots. I am glad that I went but it doesn’t make my top 3 favorite cities. We took a day and headed out of the city to Olympic National Park and I really enjoyed that!!
Ooo. . .I’m curious, what are your top 3 cities?
1. NYC- my favorite of all time!!
2. Key West- I was meant to live in Florida
3. Sedona- If not Florida, I was meant to live in Arizona!! 🙂
I would love to visit Alaska sometime. It looks beautiful!!
Sadly, I have not been to any of those places. I need to get my butt in gear!! Visiting is always a good option for Alaska–not staying.
Even though it rains tons here… I don’t use either…
I love Seattle. I’ve been there 3 times. There see some yummy vegan restaurants there!
I need to try some of the vegan restaurants the next time I go back!
I used to live just outside of Seattle and I miss it SOOO much. Kansas does not compare.
Oh yeah, Kansas definitely wouldn’t compare. :/ Is there anything about Kansas you like better than Seattle?
Rain jacket and umbrella!! Well…not in LA where it never rains! But I’m a Minnesota girl too! 🙂
Oh man, I’m jealous! Actually, I don’t mind the rain too much, it is the snow I hate.