Seattle's Waterfront...

…is the place where The Bearded One and I go to take stock of our life and times. Whatever the weather or season, a walk from the Olympic Sculpture Park at the north end of the Waterfront to the Ferry Terminals at the south end and back to the Sculpture Park is more than enough time to allow us to sort things out.

It clears the mind to watch the activities on Elliott Bay. The who, what, and where of all that water traffic can set your mind adrift (I mean this in a good way). Seattle is such a young city, as major cities go, and the fact is there are still many buildings along the waterfront that are the originals, built by Seattle’s first businessmen only two or three generations ago. However, you should look now as they are being replaced by progress.

If I walk briskly, without grumbling for most of the way, The Bearded One treats me to a nosh at one of the many dining spots along the way. There is coffee and pastry, fish and chips, a steaming cup or bowl of clam chowder, ice cream in a waffle cone, hotdog or a hamburger with fries, or a full course dinner to choose from. We can sit inside or out depending on the weather or take it to go. We can stop by a lamp lined oasis of a park with a waterfront fountain, viewing platforms, picnic tables, and benches.

So much for brisk walking, we stroll in and out of converted waterfront warehouses and find merchants who have shops filled with freshly made candies, jams & jellies, and other Washington products, from both land and sea. There are shops with specialty clothing items, jewelry, collectables, souvenirs, and memorabilia from near and far.

Along the way there are museums, an aquarium, more shops beckoning us to come in and browse a bit, perchance even stop to visit, and multiple kiosks to book our water travel desires either local or foreign (Canada).

Just maybe, we will make a night of it and stay at one of the hotels located along the waterfront, after dark we can have a glass of wine and watch the lights from the ferries and other water traffic dance across the water.

Let’s just forget all about that brisk walking idea, ok.

Belva & The Bearded One