Seattle, WA.
By: Claire Varty
Day 5
Graham and I decided to book a ferry to Seattle instead of taking a plane because we found the idea more exciting. Since the price was slightly cheaper and the travel time only slightly longer. One of the key reasons was so I could experience pulling into the harbour and seeing the city skyline. I was so happy we did because although it was cloudy, it was definitely worth seeing. Once we docked, Graham’s childhood best friend Jon picks us up in his brand new Tesla (yes, I know) and takes us back to his place, so we can drop off our belongings. We go on a small walk around the neighbouring main street with bubble tea shops lining both sides as far as the eye can see. Jon takes us to a Taiwanese fruit tea franchise, YiFang and I get the Passion Fruit tea with pearls. It was a delightful surprise to see them also add the passion fruit seeds in the drink, which gave it a perfect balance of sour crunch and sweet chewy from the tapioca. I was even happier to hear they had just opened a couple locations in Toronto when I got back! After running a couple of errands, like picking up the quintessential Natural Light (a very cheap American beer), we stop and get a quick bite at a shawarma place before calling it a night.
Our view from the ferry
Passion Fruit Bubble Tea
Fried salmon, fried Alaskan true cod, fried shrimp with salmon and white chowder
View from Gas Works Park
Fountain at University of Washington
By nightfall, we head over to a nearby brewery to get drinks before our big dinner. Jon’s roommate Kenny, insisted we go to this 5-star Michelin-awarded Taiwanese restaurant called Din Tai Fung. Now, my dear readers, please forgive me I have committed the cardinal sin of food blogging, which is to not have taken any pictures of our food. It came out too quick and we were too hungry at the sight of the marvellous food for me to even think twice of digging in until everything was gone. Thankfully, I was able to find some pictures for you of what we ordered from their website to give you a glimpse of what we ate. The wontons perfectly cooked and drenched in spicy sauce was certainly one my favourite, along with the crunch of the string beans covered in garlic. I could live off of those beans for the rest of my life. Among some of the other dishes we ordered was various dumplings, Xiao Long Bao, noodles, fried rice as well as rice cakes. Following our enormous dinner, we decided to all go bowling before heading home for the night and getting rest for our big tourist day tomorrow.
Day 6
The next morning we take our time waking up and Jon decides he’s going to take us to Gas Works Park that overlooks the city and Lake Union. The sun is shining as we toss the frisbee on the grass, and I watch them play while also seeing the float planes land on the lake, with the city in the backdrop. Since we skipped breakfast, we are definitely more than peckish and we stop at a Seattle staple, Ivar’s founded in 1938. Ivar Haglund, a captain and Seattle native, began serving clam chowder and fish & chips to his customers while visiting his newly opened aquarium on Pier 54. Now they have multiple locations across the city and we stopped at the one closest to the park, people lining up to order. I ordered fried Alaskan true cod with salmon chowder on the side; Graham gets fried salmon and regular chowder; and Jon gets the baby prawns, as well as the salmon chowder. Everything is salty and deliciously heartwarming on this windy day.
Later, while Jon relaxes at home, Graham and I go on a walk through the University of Washington where Jon went to school. It’s definitely a beautiful campus and I understand why people would be eager to attend here. On our way back to Jon’s, we walk through Greek Row which as a Canadian, has never truly experienced. Mansions lined the wide street with big greek letters plastered on the front of both fraternities and sororities, which felt quite overwhelming.
Wontons with spicy sauce
Garlic String Beans
Shanghai Rice Cakes
Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao
Kimchi & Kurobuta Pork Dumplings
Day 7
We wake up bright and early to go to a Brunch spot Kenny has picked for us on the other side of the city. Driving by before finding a parking spot, you can see people lining up to try and get a table at this funky dinner called Geraldine’s Counter, named “Seattle’s Best Breakfast.” After being seated, we glance at the menu while in line and order quickly. Jon and Kenny got the biscuits and gravy. Kenny’s girlfriend, Chloe ordered their daily special French toast. On the other hand, I went for a savoury option with the bacon, egg and arugula sandwich with a potato hash on the side. Then, both Graham and Doreen (Jon’s girlfriend) devoured the “Three Pancakes of the Day.”
Crowded Pike Place Market
Bacon, Egg and Arugula sandwich with a potato hash
Peaches in syrup over french toast
Next up is the ultimate tourist destination, Pike Place. Famous for being one of the oldest and longest running farmers’ market in the United States since its opening in 1907, it’s also where the first Starbucks opened. The original coffeehouse is located near the central harbour above the various piers. There are still cobblestones on the street and in a passage underneath is the local landmark, The Gum Wall where people stick their used gum on the wall, for some odd reason.
The market is lined with various stalls for fresh seafood, fresh cut flowers and produce for metres and metres long. The lively fishmongers throwing large salmon through the crowd to entertain the tourists. Additionally, there are smaller stalls for craftspeople and artists selling their pieces and souvenirs. Even though it was a very cliché place to visit, it was one of my favourites due to all of the antiques that I could picture what it was like over 100 years ago.
Produce Stand
Flower Stand
Seafood Stand
Later that day, we went to meet up with another friend of Graham and Jon’s from back home for dinner. John (with an ‘H’ this time) recently accepted a job and moved to Seattle with his girlfriend Laura. We go to this conveyor belt sushi restaurant, Sushi Land, where the sushi is made right before our eyes by sitting in front of the belt. We lose our focus with the sea of colour -coded plates going around and waiting for us to pick them up. Once satisfied, we follow John back to his new apartment in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland that overlooks Lake Washington. After the tour and a nice walk along the main streets, we head home to get ready for being on the road for the next 11 days.
Day 8
Before heading out to Portland and start the real journey of our road trip, we get up early to get some dim sum in Seattle’s Chinatown with the entire gang, including John and his girlfriend Laura, but minus Doreen who had to get her car ready for pickup before heading on the road with us. Kenny insisted on ordering for us because he wanted us to eat authentic Chinese food and not the dishes pawned off on new comers to this restaurant. This was definitely some top tier dim sum complete with pork buns, siu mai and even chicken feet, it reminded me of home in Toronto. We say goodbye to Kenny and John before heading back to the house to pack our bags into the car and get on our way to Portland later that day.