Seattle from Above and Below

One visit to Pike Place Market wasn't enough for Ava, so we made a couple more trips there today.  This morning we visited the very first Starbucks location so Ava could drink her long-promised hot chocolate.

In the main arcade, Abby and Ava enjoyed the scents of locally grown lavender. 

Back outside, Ava added a chewed up piece of gum to the Gum Wall. 

Heading to the sky, we rode on the Great Wheel.  While not quite the same as the London Eye, it still offered wonderful views of the bay and the city. 

For lunch, we stopped at Ivar's Fish Bar for some tasty fried goodness overlooking the harbor.

We then headed to Pioneer Square to visit the oldest parts of Seattle. 

The highlight for us was taking the Underground Seattle Tour (free for kids 6 and under!) where we explored Seattle below street level and were able to see an original Crapper toilet. 

Nearby was the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park where we stopped in to learn about the difficulties of travelling through Seattle to Alaska at the turn of the century in an attempt to strike it rich. 

On our way back to the hotel, we walked by the Seattle Public Library, which was exactly as depicted in Goodnight Seattle. 

For dinner we met up with Ava's old playgroup friend Audrey and her little brothers Lucas and Owen at Etta's.  It just happened to be wear a stripey dress day. 

After dinner we strolled around the market again and the kids climbed aboard Rachel the Pig. 

For dessert, the kids each savored their strawberry gelato from Botega Italiana. 

Our last stop of the night was Victor Steinbrueck Park where the kids had the chance to run around on the grass and visiting the totem pole while avoiding the homeless people.   

Ava has long enjoyed the Larry Gets Lost series and has read Larry Gets Lost in Seattle many, many times.  Today, we found a Larry that can join us during story time and that Ava can take home with her.