Tag: Space Needle

Adventurous Day with The Taylor Crew

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Grandma Denise, Grandpa Jerry and Auntie Jillian arrived last night! Its been just under a year since I last saw my sister and boy have I missed her. Her last journey to Seattle was a short one and a little more limited because of weather, so I have lots of things planned for her now that she is in town. So to start, we headed over to Pike’s Market and Post Alley for some fun!
We walked through Post Alley, stopping at some stores and to give Jillian the chance to take as many photos as she wanted. We then made our way over to Beechers and one of the French bakeries. We even had the chance to sit and watch them make cheese! Pretty cool to see them make it in such a big vat! After that we strolled through Pikes and watched the fish throwers. It was super crowded, so I didn’t get the chance to take a great picture but we had fun regardless!
Walking through the markets, trying not to buy everything in sight.
The people of the market
Listening to performers and vendors
Tossing a little bit of money into their case.
Shops along Post Alley
Along the streets and the street performers who have been there for years.
Seattle’s iconic Pikes Market… it may be a tourist trap to the locals but I love it.
Pretty fans for the girls…
Classy ladies exploring the sights!
Trying to catch a glimpse of the fish mongers and their fish throwing skills.
Hanging with Grandpa Jerry and the fish mongers.
Watching the cheese making process at Beechers.
After Pike’s Market we decided to do one of our planned trips… Ride the Ducks. Yeah I know… super touristy but I had a blast! Sometimes its OK to be a tourist in your own city and do silly things. I know the Ducks aren’t popular with a lot of people, but its a great way to get an overview of the city and have some fun. My parents, Shaun and of course Auntie Jillian had a blast and Abby did as well. Abby was amazed that a giant car could go into the water too! Unfortunately Ellie fell asleep through most of it but did wake up while we were out on Lake Union. I guess this means we will have to take her again some time. Bummer.
Two cute little duck faces… all ready for some fun!
Ducks, Kings… we know the real winner here…. Go Kings Go!!
Sporting our very best “duck faces” 🙂
My Ducks crew mate. She’s pretty cute!
Auntie Jillian’s adorable crew mate!
The rest of the peanut gallery, ready for a fun and funny tour of Seattle.
Quack, quack, quack!!
Down by the waterfront…
Our hilarious tour guide and captain!
Miner’s Landing
Historic car washes! Its said that while filming here… Elvis would bring his car here every day to have ti washed.
Seattle skyline from Lake Union
Gas Works Park from Lake Union
Loving her time on Lake Union!
From the ducks we decided to have dinner at one of our favorite Chinese restaurants. This was a treat for my parents and sister, being that Bozeman doesn’t have a lot of choices when it comes to Chinese food. After a delicious meal, we decided to make our way back to Seattle Center and enjoy the sunset view from the Space Needle. Like I said, we have guests in town… its fun to play tourist in your own city.
Patiently waiting for the monorail and having a little fun.
Oh silly little Abby!
Enjoying the ride to the Space Needle..
Loving the ride and another break from walking.
Hello Space Needle!
Trying their best to stay still and be patient. The line was a long one!
My beautiful sister… this is her first time visiting the Space Needle.
Finally made it to the top!  Pretty sunset city views!
Sunset city views!
Auntie JJ and her adorable nieces… Abby said she would keep Auntie Jillian safe.
City and mountains at Sunset.
Sunset on the Puget Sound
Hey!  I know them!
A rare moment and photo alone with my amazing husband!
They were having fun up there… I swear!!!

After our stunning views and fun at the Space Needle, it was time to head home. Everyone was exhausted from all of the fun and adventures that we had today, but it was a wonderful kind of exhaustion. Tomorrow we celebrate the 4th of July and goodness knows where our adventures will take us. Until then!

Monorails and Beautiful Glass

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Another beautiful sunny day here in Seattle and when the sun comes out, its time to have some fun outside. So off to downtown Seattle the Wharton family went with the hopes of trying something new. Once downtown we thought it would be great to take the monorail again, since Abby and Ellie loved it so much, and head down to the Space Needle. 
Once there we thought about our options and Abby said she wanted to go to the place with all of the funny glass. The Chihuly Museum is what she meant and that is where we went. ( I rhymed… did you catch that.) What an incredible museum. I was worried that Abby and Ellie would get bored quickly but they loved each an every minute. I think the colorful glass kept their attention.
Riding the monorail with my favorites!
Love that sassy little face.
Space Needle coming in to view.
A picture perfect day down in Seattle Center.
Weird and so cool. Abby and Ellie loved all of the neon colors.
Shelves and shelves of beautiful glass vases and other jars. I want one!

Under the Sea
Fisherman’s Lagoon
Coral Reef
Fisherman’s Lagoon
Fisherman’s Lagoon
Fisherman’s Lagoon
Fire and Ice
Abalone Bowls
Abalone Bowls
Hanging Flowers
Space Needle Flowers
Up close and so beautiful
Performing in the arboretum.
A final bow and kisses to their adoring fans.
ENCORE!
Reflective garden. Every single sphere in the garden reflects the Space Needle from it.
Space Needle reflection
Space Needle reflection
Sunset over the Chihuly and the Pacific Science Center.

The sunny days in Seattle are always special and today didnt disappoint. I love exploring all that this city we live in has to offer and much much more. On to the next adventure!

Ferries, the Monorail and More!

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Christmas flew by as it always seems to do and now everyone has the Christmas blues. Lots of toys and candy and now reality sets back in. After a few days of work, Shaun and I decided to get out of the house and go on a few adventures with the girls. Another Wharton Adventure without a destination or plan equals fun!
First a ride on the ferry! This always equals fun for these two!

Sister snuggles!

Happily watching the world go by.
Calm winter waters on the Puget Sound.
Its windy and cold, but I love it!
More sister snuggles!
Watching the seagulls fly with the ferry. Close your mouth Abby!
After a ferry side, we decided to stop in downtown Seattle and do the one thing that Abby has been waiting to do. Ride the monorail!
The monorail runs to and from the Space Needle. This view never gets old.
Space Needle selfie!
Space Needlie selfie!
After a ride to and from the Space Needle on the monorail, we drove around the city taking in all of the lights. Loved how the market was all done up. The lights above were all vegetables. Very fun!

Our adventures always take us to fun places. I love that we can jump into the car and take an adventure. Always puts a smile on my face.

Pikes, the Space Needle and Ferry Rides… A Busy Day!

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What a busy but fun day! When we woke up this morning we knew we were in for some fun and adventures but we had no idea we would be up to so much!
We had decided to take Grandma Zoe out to the city and do some touristy things that she hasn’t done since her last visit here back in 2008. It was a beautiful day, so we thought heading down to Pikes Place Market would be a great idea. Being that it was such a beautiful day, everyone in Seattle as well as every tourist in the area thought it would be a great day too! Despite it being a week day, Pike’s was packed. But, we made the best of it and had a fun time!
Shaun really wanted to try out a well known, highly recommended and award winning chowder house in Post Alley but that is something we will have to wait until another time. The line to get in was down the alley and the girls were too warm and too hungry to wait. So we tried a sandwich place next door. The food there was good but not great, so I think it made us long for that chowder even more. Oh well, once we were all fed and had something to drink, everyone was happy.
Post Alley shops. The store on the right is one of my favorite kids shops and has special memories as we bought a few things from there just after we found out I was pregnant with Abby.
Just like the sign says… Post Alley, Seattle.
Summer Umbrellas
This gentleman has been performing on this corner near Pike’s for years. I remember seeing him for the first time when we took Auntie Kelli to Pike’s when she visited us here five years ago. Pretty talented guy!
A very talented banjo and bluegrass band playing out on the street. Both Abby and Ellie were brave enough to walk up and leave a little money in their case.

We walked along the street hoping to get inside the market area and check out all of the shops and produce, but after making one attempt at it, we quickly decided just to walk along outside and enjoy the afternoon. It was too crowded within the market to try and keep track of 3 adults, 2 children and a stroller. Another time I guess. We attempted to watch the famous fish throwers too but alas that was overly crowded as well. We did have the time and space to watch a a great little bluegrass band playing on the street! They were great and even had a album to buy, pretty good if you ask me. Abby and Ellie even had the courage to put some money in their case too! Abby had a little help from Grandma because of the dog, but she was still very brave.

From there we left Pikes and decided to go to the Space Needle. Grandma Zoe was about to face her fear of heights and head up to the top! We had to wait for a bit but we enjoyed our time together. Used some of that time to take a look in the gift shop. Pretty soon it was up in the elevator to the observation deck. Grandma Zoe did a great job and made it all the way up. I know for her the view was worth the ride. At the top, we stopped for a bit of lunch at their cafe and then enjoyed the view. It was a perfect day, clear with wispy clouds in a very blue sky. Couldn’t have asked for a better day!

The Space Needle and the EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum
Waiting in the summer heat to head up to the top of the Space Needle!
A little bit of lunch overlooking the Puget Sound
Seattle skyline view

After a breathtaking view of the sound from the Space Needle, we decided to get out of the city and take a ferry ride. It was too perfect of an afternoon not to! Traffic was pretty yucky leaving the city, but it actually worked out in the end. We made it to the ferry terminal in Edmonds and only had a short wait.

Gorgeous summer sunset on the Sound.
A picture perfect sunset on the Sound, ferry included! 
Bubble blowing on the ferry never looked so cute.
My adorable little bubble blower!

The sunset on the very was spectacular. Being stuck in traffic made the timing perfect. Grandma Zoe brought the girls bubbles to play with and they had a blast trying to blow them out on the observation deck of the ferry. When they were able to produce bubbles, the girls couldn’t help but giggle as they blew back into their faces.

After the ferry landed in Kingston, we drove around to Bainbridge and took the ferry back into Seattle. The girls fell asleep in the car and all of the adults were a tad exhausted so we stayed in the car and enjoyed the view from where we were parked. What fun adventures today. So glad we had the chance to enjoy them with Grandma Zoe.