Portland, Seattle, Vancouver

I met Piffka and Seattlefriend and PaL, and was made welcome and showed around at length, mostly to charming spots not on the tourist track, except for ... pike's place, which I liked getting to. Account later, after I recover m'wits.

Poor Osso! I hope the computer just needs a reboot!

So, are the ferry rides so different from those in other places? Do they havbe live entertainment? Do they serve free horsdouvres? I know, I know, it's the seascape. Do you get to see whales?

Re the ferries: There are some nice routes. It's not a gourmet experience--no free hors d'oeuvres--but there is food and drink (for money). Seattle to Winslow is a short trip (30 minutes) and the views are a delight. The ferry serves mainly as a commuter service during work hours, but people also come over to shop, visit, whatever. And tourists like it, too!

Yep, just spectacular views of the Puget Sound. Jacques Cousteau was a big fan of this place, ya know. But the ferries (except for the Victoria Clipper, which is not really a ferry, exactly) are pretty utilitarian things. Beautiful islands though, really.

And Pike's Place Market is an absolute bear on weekends, so if you're going, do it on Wednesday morning, not over the holiday weekend.

check check.....

Pike's Place - is it just a big messy shopping space, or is it really worth seeing?

Both, in my estimation. I haven't seen many places like it -- and you can get some great deals on flowers there, we do that very well out here.

And if nothing else, the donuts are worth it.

(I'm sentimentally attached to it, though. I remember driving up here in high school and wading through the collection of assorted freaks and junkies on the big old wooden stairways, and it was very exciting for country-boy me. It's been cleaned up quite a bit. And it all depends on what you're into. They do throw fish, though, and, what's more impressive, they catch them.)

Pike's Place is really worth seeing; it's a market place with it's own ambiance not found in any other place. c.i.

I second what patiodog has said about the Pike Place Market, including the recommendation that you go on a weekday morning if you can. You'll get to see the Market as the locals do, and you'll see the stuff they sell there, rather than a bunch of other people.

I've been going there about once a week for over 20 years to buy stuff and have developed nice friendships with some of the people who work there. I sometimes wish I cooked more creatively, because it would be a fantastic place to buy everything I'd need!

LOL and it smells, too. It really does. But the Sanitary Market is worse, I think, not being so open to the breezes.

Wednesday morning would be the perfect time to see Pike Place, especially if you went very, very early and watched them set-up. But later in the morning is good, too. There are places to have a drink or food or coffee.

[PD - I didn't know Cousteau liked the Sound. Where'd you hear that?]

Littlek there are party boats, Argosy Cruises, etc. You pay a fee (even the ferries are not cheap, at least for cars) and have hors-d'oeuvres, drinks & sometimes music. There are also jazz brunches and other kinds of music events on summer weekends. Most of those would leave from the waterfront at the foot of the market, a five-ten minute walk downhill. As you do that you'll cross Western Ave. which runs North-South and is lined with interesting stores, especially furniture & imports. Western is also a good place to park if the lots are full (but on a Wed. they won't be).

At one of the other forums I frequent, the foodies meet annually to go to Pike's Place Market. These people are pretty jaded about food, so if they get turned on, it's gotta be great. Some day I'm gonna be in the right place at the right financial time to join them for that trip. :: sigh ::

I really liked Pike's Place!

I dunno if I told y'all that Vancouver looks like a definite possibility for relocation -- possible job for E.G. next year -- so listening in with interest.

Re aromas at the Pike Place Market: I have a fairly sensitive sense of smell, but I haven't found the place to be offensive. There is, of course, fish being sold there, but you can imagine how careful the vendors have to be to keep things smelling relatively fresh!

I would call it "fragrant" rather than "smelly" but chacon a son gout!

I liked Pike's place and I'm a foodie. I am sure my friends took me there on a weekday. Piffka in particular has driven a lot in my visits, since "Seattle" is like the LA metropolitan area, which really reaches down to the border with Mexico...a vast megalopolis with some bits of unbuilt land in between. Not that the area around Seattle is so entirely jammed up with cities, but that things were further apart than I had notions of. Next time I will stay longer and rent a car. The airport bus is good too, reservations important. (I know you aren't going to the Seattle airport, little k.)

On the ferry: I hadn't taken a ferry since I was a child and lived in New York City. The Seattle ferry Piffka took me on did serve lattes, lasted a nice amount of time (1/2 hour?), and had beautiful views in lots of directions. I just loved it.

On my computer, it has random stops daily, not sure if is related to my change to Pac Bell/Yahoo dsl, or simply multiple software conflicts. Rebooting fixes it, but it happens at least once a day, usually, but not every time, when I am typing. Presume it needs therapy for its issues, but I am watching my wallet these days.

OK, so maybe a drink somwhere tuesday night and Pike's place wednesday morning. I'll check with my Friend to see what she thinks. They have a child in tow, so, the bar thing might not work.....

Dunno. One of those factoids, that the Sound was one of his favorite places to dive. Huge diversity of marine life. Course, this may have been before they diverted the sewage from Lake Washington to the sound. And could be one of those local myths -- don't remember where I first heard it, but I know I've heard it multiple times since.

seems I arrive in Seattle before noon on tuesday!

Well, OK. I am attracted by most of the smells of the market.... Anyway, I was trying to be funny.

Osso -- That was the Poulsbo-Edmonds ferry and isn't exactly a Seattle ferry because it doesn't leave from the downtown docks. Those go to either Bremerton and Bainbridge Island. You & I were shopping on Bainbridge, then went north to Poulsbo, remember? There's also a West Seattle ferry from Fauntleroy to Southworth via Vashon Island, but it is as far south from downtown as Edmonds is north (about ten miles, I'd say).

Littlek -- If you are interested in baseball, seeing Safeco field is a treat. It's a gorgeous stadium. I don't know when/if they're open for tours or if there are any games at that time. Both Safeco and the Seahawks stadium are just south of downtown -- they're monstrous looking things with huge retractable roofs. Safeco's is black, the football stadium's is white.

piffka - nope, not really interested in sports arenas. But, now I'll know them when I see them!

Tides Tavern may be a possibility for the return trip. Here's hoping my bro-in-law brings his laptop!

There's a pub at the Pike Place Market that's kid-friendly. It's the Pike Brewery pub. ...