Seattle - Fish, Glass, and a Space Noodle
We kicked off summer 2025 in a pretty perfect way: a family trip to the Pacific Northwest. A few days in Seattle, then out to Olympic National Park. If you're going to ease into summer, that's the way to do it.
The trip came together a little unexpectedly. We'd had camps and childcare lined up for the entire summer since February, except for that first full week of June. And to make it more complicated, I was already scheduled to be in Seattle that week for a work conference. So Amanda and the girls tagged along, and we turned it into something way better than a work trip.
We stayed at Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown, which made a great home base. It’s located across the street from the Space Needle (renamed by our 6-year-old to the “Space Noodle”) and within walking distance of many of the spots we visited. We arrived late the first night, so the real adventure didn't start until morning.
Day 1: Pike Place, Flying Fish, and the World's Grossest Wall
We set off on a 20-minute walk toward the waterfront in search of breakfast and landed at Ben Paris. The menu is familiar foods with a creative twist. Ricotta pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, hot chocolate, there was something for everyone. A great start to the day.
First stop after that: Pike Place Market, the kind of place that smells like fish, flowers, and old wood, somehow all at once. Amanda and I finally got to see the famous flying fish in person! Pike Place Market completed a circle that started decades ago at Kings Island. When Amanda and I met, we were working summer jobs in food service at the amusement park. When we got promoted to Leads and Supervisors, we got to sit through mandatory training videos about the FISH! philosophy. Basically, it is a workplace culture program inspired by the people who throw fish at Pike Place Market. We're talking full VHS-era production value. Motivational music. Slow pans. A narrator who really wants you to believe what he is saying. Now we were watching the fish fly through the air at the actual Pike Place Market. Full circle. Somehow slightly less fishy than the video.
After a few laughs and a few "ewws" from the kids, we headed down the alley to Ghost Alley Espresso. That tiny spot under the Market packs a punch. We grabbed a caffeine boost plus a few pieces of gum. We needed to leave our mark on Seattle by adding our very own colorful (and slightly gross) contribution to the Gum Wall. Iconic? Maybe. Hygienic? Definitely not. But it's one of those "when in Seattle" things, and we couldn't skip it.
Next up was the Seattle Aquarium, right on the pier. The girls explored tide pools, asked about sea stars, and watched jellyfish drift through glowing tanks. But the clear winners? The otters. Watching them munch shrimp while floating on their backs was oddly mesmerizing. We could’ve stayed there all day.
After the aquarium, we wandered over to Robot vs Sloth, easily the girls' favorite shop in the city. Quirky, colorful, and completely unpredictable, it felt like someone reached into their imaginations and built a store around it. We did some damage in there.
After a day full of walking, we sat down at the counter to enjoy ice cream at Shug’s Soda Fountain, just steps from the Market. Old-school charm and modern flavors made it the perfect pause.
Dinner was pizza at Zeeks, and unexpectedly, we found a pizza that PK actually enjoyed. That alone made the day feel like a win.
We ended the day at the Space Needle, or as Abby kept calling it, the Space Noodle. It stuck, and has become part of the family vocabulary. We were lucky and had picture-perfect views of the city and Mt. Rainier in the distance. A rare treat, we were told, and one we didn’t take for granted.
It was one of those full days. The kind that left our legs tired, hearts full, and my camera roll completely overflowing.
Day 2: Science and a Toothless Uber Passenger
Amanda and the girls explored Seattle without me for the majority of the day while I was at my conference.
They hit MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture), where the kids geeked out over music, movies, and Star Wars exhibits. And the Pacific Science Center was filled with dinosaurs, hands-on experiments, butterfly exhibits, and enough interactive stuff to keep four curious kids busy for hours. (Pro tip: get there early. By mid-morning, the school field trips and summer camps roll in.)
Close to dinner time, I joined them with the obligatory stop at the original Starbucks at Pike Place. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, the line is long. And yes, you still have to do it. Rite of passage. Non-negotiable.
Dinner was at Half Shell, serving up fresh Pacific Northwest seafood with big West Coast flavor. And just when we thought the night couldn't get more eventful, Abby lost her first tooth in the back of our Uber on the way to the hotel!
Day 3: Chihuly, Glass, and an Artist Is Born
I returned to my conference the next day while the girls had an unexpected highlight of the trip. They visited the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. We weren't sure how the kids would respond, but the alien-like beauty of the glass sculptures had them completely mesmerized.
They have all seen the Chihuly tower at the Indianapolis Children's Museum before, which they thought was cool but it never really captivated them. This was something different. Walking through those rooms, seeing the full scope of what Dale Chihuly created, something clicked for Abby. A passion was ignited. I feel we will be hearing the name Dale Chihuly in our house for a long time.
Thanks for all the fish!
Seattle gave us a mix of work, wonder, and way too much coffee. We loved every minute. We loved every minute. Seattle, you’re weird in all the right ways. We packed up and made our way to the Bainbridge Ferry (the girls' first-ever ferry ride) and headed toward the Olympic Peninsula.
