Washington State: Exploring Coastal Bellingham

Bellingham is a beautiful coastal city on Washington state's I-5 corridor, 90 miles from Seattle and 25 miles from the Canadian border.

With this amazing location, it is no surprise they are best known for the Ski to Sea race, an event held each May. Teams of eight compete in a seven-leg, 101 mile course that brings them from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay. It's seriously exciting stuff, and indicative of the culture here, outdoor-loving, quirky, and very artsy. (In fact, Bellingham ranks second in the nation for arts businesses per capita.)

Full disclaimer - this is my stomping grounds! I grew up in Blaine (25 minutes north), and went to high school and college in Bellingham. This is home! We were in town for a good friend's wedding, and squeezed in some family fun around the nuptial festivities.

Not having been home for a while, everywhere I went people were suggesting things that were NEW in town! This means our itinerary is a bit heavy in that end, but I've thrown in suggestions for some good old favorites, too. Have something to add? We'd love to read your ideas! Please leave a comment below.

So what's to love about Bellingham? Lots! We started with a visit downtown, driving right on past the blocks around the bus depot where we hung out as mischievous teens, and stopping a few blocks down in an area that is known for interesting shops and fun museums.

SPARK

We love a good hands-on museum, and the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention is an excellent one. The collection takes visitors from the dawn of the electrical age through the radio era, and features plenty of experiments to facilitate independent learning. Bria learned quickly to look for the signs with a blue hand that indicated an exhibit you should touch, and she was fascinated to move from one to the next, learning how it all works.

Check the museum out on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for the MegaZapper Electrical Show. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Visit SPARK at 1312 Bay Street. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children under 11. Memberships are also available, which include unlimited admission.

Michael's Books

From there we walked a couple of blocks to one of my favorite haunts, Michael's Books at 109 Grand Ave. Michael's is a used book shop that specializes in out-of-print and rare books. It is filled floor to ceiling with books, books, and more books, just the way we like it.

The children's corner is a great one, featuring a large collection of books of all kinds. Bria is working her way through the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading list. and we found half a dozen books from her list to pick up. 

Across the street is Henderson's Books, another used book shop well worth a look - it's a little bit of a Stones vs. Beatles debate here, everyone seems to love one or the other! If you are a bibliophile like me, check out this blog post for details on other bookstores in the area.

Mount Bakery

Open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Mount Bakery at 308 W. Champion serves breakfast all day. The kids love the bottle of water served to the table (a recycled wine bottle), and feel very sophisticated pouring themselves a glass while they wait for the selection of goodies we ordered to be delivered to the table.

This family-owned local business is a treat, with a variety of pastries and cookies baked daily. Mmmm, and the crepes! Sweet or savory, you can't go wrong with a crepe from Mount Bakery. I indulged in the apple, pear, and brie crepe, while Bria had a half sandwich, piled high with fresh vegetables and meat, with a cup of the soup of the day.

We finished with a delicate brown sugar shortbread cookie that was so good, I wanted to go back and order a dozen. Or two.

If you are around more than one day and would like other suggestions for food, downtown Bellingham is a great spot for breakfast or brunch. The Little Cheerful Cafe at 133 E Holly does some serious goodies like an amazing Eggs Benedict and a Crab Cake Omelette that will leave you happy and full. Don't forget to "pimp your hash or cakes." Another great crepe place is AB Crepes at 1311 Railroad. If you're feeling crazy, bring a friend and do the AlphaBet Challenge - 26 crepes between two people in one hour. I'm sure the kids would enjoy the spectacle!

When breakfast isn't quite the right fit, check out Tadeos Mexican Restaurant at 207 E. Holly. It's authentic and yummy and priced right. I'm obsessed with the tamales.

Railway Museum

We wrapped up our downtown outing at the Bellingham Railway Museum, sneaking in for the last hour before closing. I wish we had taken more time!

This little museum is a great treat, featuring a large collection of model trains and tons of kid-friendly trains for kids to get their hands on and play with. Families will also love the large collection of train books which line one wall - you could spend a day just exploring those. Another favorite exhibit was the collection of railroad lanterns, definitely something little train lovers don't see every day.

Located at 1320 Commercial Street in downtown Bellingham, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 for children and $4 for adults.

More Downtown

There is so much more to see downtown, we definitely didn't do it justice. Check out the Whatcom Museum and Mindport Exhibits for more museum fun. There is a great collection of art spaces, theaters, shops, restaurants, and lots more. Visit the Downtown Bellingham website to learn more, and then get out there and explore!

Indoor Activities

On our second day in Bellingham, we had tuxedo fittings, rehearsal dinners, and pouring rain to navigate, but we did manage to fit in one fun activity - a trip to Trampoline Zone. Located in the old Allsop building at 4201 Meridian St., this recently opened feature is a great place to run (or bounce) off some energy on a rainy day. There are not a lot of places that are equally fun for a 5-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, but this place fits the bill.

Parks

Our final day in Bellingham was beautiful and sunny, so we set out to explore the parks, starting with the brand spanking new Squalicum Creek Park.

So new the grass is still being cultivated, the park sits on the location of a former concrete plant, and efforts are underway to reclaim the area for fish and wildlife, as well as providing a fun place for families. You can follow the trail and explore the salmon enhancement project at Willow Spring, or do like we did, and hit the playground.

The playground at Squalicum Creek Park features a zipline (my Kiwi hubby would call it a flying fox), and a line of children dutifully waiting in line to take their turn at the excitement. There are also climbing structures for a wide range of age groups, and some very Washington-appropriate mushrooms to hop along.

The fun doesn't stop there, either. The park is home to a dog park, basketball court, baseball field, hiking trails, and shelters for hosting gatherings.

If you're looking for established trees and grass to run around on, head down the hill to Cornwall Park, which has always been a favorite. The paved trails weave in and out of a gorgeous oasis in the center of town. Or move toward the lake and explore the 241-acre Whatcom Falls Park, with its four sets of waterfalls and miles of trails.

We chose to visit Boulevard Park, which is a beautiful waterfront space with a boardwalk and beach. Bria and I brought along a book, and read from Winnie-the-Pooh and watched the kayakers and dog walkers. This is a great place to just hang out and take in some fresh air.

Links

Need more help planning your visit to Bellingham? Visit the Bellingham Tourism site, or their office downtown. The City of Bellingham also has some details on their site, and Experience Washington is a great state-wide resource!

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Bahamas: Visiting the Atlantis Resort

Thinking of heading to the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas? Check out this insider information before you pack your bags.

Getting There

Flights into Nassau are available from several airlines. We found great deals with Jet Blue. Connecting out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami will mean a 35-45 minute easy hop onto the island. The airport is small and easy to navigate, with plenty of transportation available outside.

As with so many places, taxi rates from the Nassau airport are set by the government. Be sure you know them before you get into a taxi. When we went, it was $33 for the first four people, and $4 per person after four, and took about about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. If you are traveling somewhere on the island without a posted rate, speak with the driver to agree upon a price before getting in the cab.

It isn’t a great option when you arrive and have bags in tow, but to go into Nassau from the resort, you can take a land or water taxi for about $4 per person plus tip. We took the water taxi one day and wrote about it here.

Getting Around

This place is massive, there are no two ways about it. You're sure to blow up those pedometers! Bring your walking shoes and band-aids for blisters. There is a shuttle that takes you between towers every thirty minutes, but we never found it worth the wait, and ended up just hiking everywhere we went. Strollers are available to rent through a third party, ask about them at Guest Services. We got one for the day we went into Nassau for the food tour (amazing, by the way, we highly recommend it), and paid $16, which included having it dropped off and picked up in our room. Easy peasy.

Check In

Check in time for the rooms is 3 p.m., but if your flight gets in early, you can head to the resort early and do a partial check in, which allows you access to the facilities before your room is ready. We arrived in Nassau at 9 a.m., left our bags with the bellman, and set off exploring.

One things we really wished someone had told us at the time was that Atlantis offers complimentary use of their In-Transit Hospitality Lounges, located in each of the towers. The lounges offer lockers, showers, restrooms, changing facilities, and bathing suit dryers. Be sure to ask about this feature if you check in early or won't be leaving at the 11 a.m. check out time.

The Towers

I read a review of the Royal Towers that said, “If you heed the warnings about the impending chaos that awaits you, Atlantis will not disappoint you.” I couldn’t have said it better! This place is loud and bustling and high-energy. But it is also classy and opulent and a sight to behold. We’ve been twice (on business), and stayed in the Royal Tower both times.

Atlantis is a busy resort - especially the Royal Towers end. There is lots happening, including the aquarium, waterpark, and casino, and people congregate here in large numbers. If you are looking for quiet rest and relaxation, you may be disappointed. But if the hustle and bustle of lots to do and see is your thing, you’ll feel right at home.

With that said, here is the view from our room...

...not much to find fault with there!

We have never stayed at the Beach or Coral towers, but every time we have visited them, they seemed quieter and less chaotic, despite the fact that most of the children’s activities (aside from the waterpark) are located on that end. Most of the promotions offered on the Atlantis website are for the Beach tower, so you can get a good deal by going with a slightly smaller and less fancy room.

There is also an adults-only tower called the Cove, but I’m not really sure I would choose a waterpark for a romantic getaway! The Reef Tower is a timeshare option.

Eating

The food at Atlantis is expensive. And not in the “oh that’s kind of spendy” sense, but more in the “that was physically painful, can you check me for blood?” sense. Prepare yourself ahead of time and surrender to it, or you’re going to have a very depressing holiday.

We budgeted $120 per person, per day for food, and managed to stay under, but it wasn’t always easy. We did need to remind ourselves of the budget a few times, especially when we were signing $500 dinner bills!

The resort does offer a wide selection of restaurants, with everything from local fare to upscale sushi and Mediterranean. Bobby Flay even has a restaurant here, for the Food Network lovers.

The meal plans are an option, I suppose for those who like to have their pain upfront, but read the fine print. You will still pay a 15% gratuity on the menu price of anything you order, and lunch is not covered in the plan. A few more details - everyone on your reservation must eat together at every meal. They also aren’t available for a partial stay, so if you plan to eat off site at all (like we enjoy doing at least once), the plan may not make sense for you. Children 6 and under do eat free with an adult dining plan, so that’s a benefit.

There are three plans available (depending which tower you are staying in and which range of restaurants you prefer), and they must be purchased before arrival.

We have never used the dining plan, partly because the event we traveled with has some dinners included, because we like to venture off into town and eat with the locals, and because we enjoy the flexibility of doing our own thing. We have tossed it up, though, so I’m not discouraging travelers from it based on our situation.

Aquaventure

The big draw! Our crew loved the waterpark, Aquaventure. The attractions are included in your stay at the resort, and day passes can be purchased for those arriving by cruise ship or staying in other hotels.

Aquaventure offers a good selection of attractions for all ages, with everything from the splash pool for tiny littles to the Leap of Faith, which drops riders 60 feet from a Mayan temple into a shark tank. The flagship of the park, the Leap of Faith has been called the Scariest Water Slide in the World by Odd Stuff Magazine and one of the Top 10 Craziest Water Slides in the World by Travel + Leisure. It is definitely one for the thrill seekers to cross of their lists!

There are more than 18 slides in the 141 acre park. It isn’t all about bigger means better, though. One of our favorites is the Current, a one mile long river ride, complete with rolling rapids and surging waves. Our five-year-old had a great time riding along on this one, but for the less adventurous, there is also a lazy river ride near the Beach tower. There are 11 unique swimming pools, too!

One thing to note - most of the main slides require riders to be 48 inches tall. While there are many children's slides and pools, this did lead to some disappointment from one member of our group.

Beach

With all that water park, it is easy to forget that this is, of course, the Bahamas, and there are gorgeous beaches just steps away! The Atlantis property includes private and public beaches, with crystal clear water and absolutely amazing sand. Unless you are staying in the Beach tower, it may take a little effort to get to the beach (I have to admit, the first time we visited, we didn't make it to the on-property beaches at all), but it is well worth it!

Marine Habitat

Atlantis is home to more than 250 species of aquatic life, making it the largest such exhibit in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world. Check out the Dig, the lost continent-themed aquarium beneath the Atlantis tower, and then venture out to the lagoons throughout the property to see the fish and animals up close and personal. It is a pretty amazing place for the budding marine biologist in the family.

Programs are available for all ages to interact with the sea life, as well. Bria participated in the Sea Squirts program and we definitely found it to be high value to her. Check at the Guest Services desk for information on programs available during your stay.

Night Life

Once the water slides are all closed for the evening, Atlantis really comes alive. We aren’t really casino people, but Atlantis does offer a large, popular one. It is flanked by two bars with very different atmospheres. The Moon Club offers designer cocktails in a relaxed, classy atmosphere, complete with a wall featuring a tank of live jellyfish. On the opposite side of the casino is Dragon’s Ultra Lounge, a nightclub with a dance floor and VIP seating for people watching. Weekend nights, those looking to dance the night away can head over to the Aura Nightclub, a 9,000-square-foot nightclub designed by Jeffrey Beers.

There is also live entertainment, including shows in the theater (check out the schedule before you come) and the Joker’s Wild Comedy Club, which we have enjoyed on both of our visits. For $25 (cash or credit card, no room charge), you’re sure to get a laugh and enjoy a few hours of adult time.

For the younger set, there are teen and pre-teen night clubs available, too. Crush is a parent-free space by night, with family tours available each afternoon for the curious. More than 14,000 square feet, the club includes an internet lounge, gaming room, and of course a dance floor with a live DJ. The concession stand and bar serve up non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.

Our teenagers had mixed reviews of the club, but that is largely because they are on the older end of the target market. I imagine younger teens would be more interested in what Crush has to offer.

Other Things to Do

There is definitely no shortage of things to do at the resort. There is rock climbing, tennis courts, a fitness center, the spa, shopping, pottery studio, and a Build-A-Bear workshop. Atlantis Theater, located in the convention center, offers complimentary movies several times a day. If you need some quiet time, the library offers books, computers, and a children’s corner.

Just outside the Dig, there is a Cartoon Network obstacle course set up in the water. The course is free of charge, but slots fill early, so check out our blog post about the fun, then head down to Guest Services to book your go.

Grab the daily newsletter, the Atlantean, near the elevators each day for a complete schedule of activities on the property.

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Florida: Mambos in Cocoa Beach

Starving after a day at the beach, we wandered down A1A looking for a fun place to eat on the beach. We found Mambos, located at the International Palms Resort in Cocoa Beach.

We were drawn in by the promise of live reggae music, which was actually a combination of a DJ spinning upbeat tunes and a group called Karmatic enjoying a fun reggae jam session. What a fun vibe!

I had the crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fries, which was delicious, moist, and fresh. Check out the rest of the menu here. The drink was something Caribbean in a bucket - can't really go wrong there!

There were a couple of cons, too - there are seats down in the sand, which would be awesome during cooler hours, but you can't really see the ocean, even though it is a few feet away. Bummer!

I was disappointed in the children's menu, because even though the adult menu featured fare like conch fritters, crab cakes, and mahi mahi, there wasn't so much as a fish and chips option on the kids menu. The three children in our group had hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.

The service was quite slow, too, but we just chalked that up to island time and enjoyed the music.

Find Mambos on Yelp here.

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California: Sea World San Diego All Day Dining Deal

Sea World San Diego offers a plan called the "All-Day Dining Deal." Basically it works like it sounds - you pay one price, receive a wrist band, and can eat in the park all day. We were headed to Sea World this weekend, and I am a researcher (in case you hadn't caught on to that yet), so I did some poking around first. Was the all-day dining deal worth it?

I read a few message boards with mixed reviews, and a blog post from a mama who felt the lines kept their family from taking advantage of the pass. A friend suggested there would be a lot of junk food involved, which made sense - it is a theme park, after all. But really, there was very little information readily available about how the deal would go. 

(As it turns out, much of the information I read ahead of time was incorrect - but these discrepancies could come from the fact that there is more than one Sea World location. Please note that we visited the San Diego location.)

We decided to try it out, and were VERY pleased we did.

Here's our experience...

Passes start at $32.99 for adults and $16.99 for kids 3-9. There appears to be a few dollars variation based on the particular day you go. We went on a Sunday in high season, and the online price was $35.99 per adult.

We purchased a one-year membership, which gave us 10% off the price, so our total for two adults came to $64.04. (More on that membership and why we chose it here.)

TIP: Children under 3 are free at Sea World, and they encourage sharing with little ones. Our preschooler, B, was a big reason we chose to try this plan out, as she prefers to eat at LEAST every two hours.

The pass is good for four restaurants in the park:

Shipwreck Reef Cafe (ribs, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, salads, kids meals)
Mama Stella's Pizza Kitchen (pizza, pasta, kids meals)
Seaport Market (hand crafted burgers, salads, breakfast bagels, kids meals)
Calypso Bay Smokehouse (smoked chicken, ribs, brisket, kids meals)

A glance at the map told us they were well spread throughout the park.

The deal is a wristband which allows its bearer one entree, one side or dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line. Simple enough.

We started our day mid-morning with the kiddie rides in Sesame Street Bay of Play, so Mama Stella's was nearby when little B decided she needed to munch.

The line was short, and we were pleasantly surprised by the choices. Brightly colored foods lined the cafeteria-style counters. Side options included large, fresh salads, cups of strawberries and sliced watermelon. The entree plates were large and included options such as manicotti, eggplant parmesan, pizza, and pasta with sauce. There were plenty of healthy choices available, and our selections were plenty of food for the three of us.

The average adult meal was somewhere between $13 and $18. Some quick math told us that if we were eating more than twice in the park, the deal was worth our money. Add in snacks, and we were coming out on top financially.

We ate well, and headed on through the park. It was great to know that we didn't have to worry about making the little one sit because this was her chance to eat - we knew we could just take her to get another snack when she needed it.

For our next meal we tried out the Shipwreck Reef Cafe - mostly because the smell of barbecue as we walked by was too much to resist! Again we found a variety of healthful sides and salads. We got a teriyaki chicken plate and a delicious salad with fruits and cheeses on it, and everyone ate together. The plates are plenty large to enjoy family-style.

And don't worry, not ALL of the food is healthy. We had a lovely slab of decadent carrot cake and B got her nosh on with a chocolate-covered Shamu cookie that made her very happy.

We enjoyed the versatility of being able to stop in and get a drink, or a drink and some fruit, anytime we chose. While we were concerned lines would be cumbersome, we found them easy to navigate and only skipped a stop once because they were a little long.

At the end of our day we enjoyed delicious fresh burgers with lots of choices at the Seaport Market and went back through to grab a couple of bottles of water for the trek home. Overall, we were pleased with our purchase and would make the choice again.

To sum it up, we highly recommend considering this plan if...

...you are going for more than five hours (give or take - we arrived at 10:30 am and left at about 5)
...you are going early in the day (things get busier as the day wears on, so you may find yourself less inclined to stand in line)
...you (or smaller members of your party) eat relatively often.
...you enjoy not having to worry about prices and who is spending what while enjoying family time.
...you want to save money but don't want to trek back to your car every time the kids are hungry

San Diego Vacations

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California: Dana Point Farmers Market

Admittedly, we have lived in North Dakota for a long, long time, and this may not be as exciting to other coasters, but we had an amazing visit to the Dana Point Farmers Market today. This is a great place for kids, because you can set them out to choose something to purchase, and you know it will be healthy and local.

We found everything from eggs, chicken, and fish to fruits and vegetables to delicious homemade tamales and hummus. We also picked up bread and some honey sticks, which my daughter thinks are the best treat ever. The atmosphere is wonderful, with a very family-friendly feel. This will definitely be a regular visit!

The market is held each Saturday at La Plaza and Pacific Coast Highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring cash, most of the vendors are not credit card friendly.

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Bahamas: Atlantis Marina and Bimini Road

We had heard that Johnny Rockets was THE place to go with kids, but when we wandered to the end of the boardwalk and found it was a burger place, we decided to go back to Bimini Road, a bright and airy spot with local fare.

It was dusk, and there were buskers playing drums and singing on several spots along the marina boardwalk. Bria stopped to dance with some of them, and had a fabulous time - they even had little handmade instruments so the children could join in. She is a big fan of the beats of this island music.

Bimini Road was brightly colored and bustling. We joined the queue and the hostess added our names to a list, giving us a pager and telling us it would be 60-80 minutes. We took the pager outside and enjoyed the live music - but were pleasantly surprised when the pager went off after only about 10 minutes.

The service was fast and friendly, with a parade of smiles greeting us at our table. It had been a long day of travel, so none of us was especially hungry, so we ordered a variety of sides and enjoyed them as a family. The conch fritters and fried plantains went over especially well.

The drinks were a bit spendy, but that was to be expected, and overall we were very happy with this simple first night meal.

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Atlanta -- Centennial Olympic Park and Metro Cafe Diner

We had one free afternoon while we were in Atlanta, so we took a peek at the map and considered the places we might visit. Centennial Olympic Park, just down the hill from our hotel, seemed like a good place to start. So we trekked down the hill, and were greeted by a beautiful and vibrant part of the downtown Atlanta area.

The park has a great story, too. Twenty years ago, the land where the it now sits was a run down eye sore, filled with abandoned warehouses and dilapidated storefronts. You would never know that, now! In addition to revitalizing the downtown area, Centennial Olympic Park is a great tourist attraction. The improvements bring an estimated 3 million people to the area.

We enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the 21-acre park, reading the displays commemorating the Olympics (like those listing all the gold medal winners), and checking out the park's three water features.

After spending some time relaxing under some trees and watching children and families enjoying the park, we decided to hike back up the hill and find some lunch. There are lots of great places to choose from in Atlanta! We went for a place called the Metro Cafe Diner, where we were pleasantly surprised by food with a Greek flair and several international food choices, along with some of the most decadent cakes I have ever seen, rising layer after layer in a display case taunting you from the hostess station.

The service was friendly, including not just our own server, but another waitress and the host. The atmosphere was fun -- sort of reminded me of a night club with a shiny banister leading up to the balcony where we ate. My Gyro was yummy, and Justin enjoyed the lasagna.

We left with happy tummies.

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Dinner in Piste, Mexico

On our way back from Chichen Itza, we realized we were famished from a long day in the hot July sun, and asked our cab driver to stop for food. He brought us to Piste, a tiny village near the ruins, and stopped in front of an open-air cafe filled with Mexican families enjoying an evening meal.

In large part, that meal was the first time we felt as though we had been in Mexico. Far from the hotel zone, we ordered from laminated menu cards featuring photos of each dish, with prices that were pennies on the dollar compared to what we had been seeing in Cancun.

We were introduced to this beautiful drink called horchata, made from rice milk and cinnamon. Light and delicious, the sweet horchata sliced straight through the heat of the day. It was easy to imagine an afternoon spent on that patio, people watching and sipping away. Creamy and white, it came to our table it in a plastic pitcher with a stack of plastic cups, which we filled and refilled gleefully.

Dinner itself was a variety of tastes and textures that can only come from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant where the locals eat. We shared three dishes, including a lovely light soup, sopas, and delicious pork tacos. Everything was warm and flavorful, with just the right balance of spicy kick.

While we ate, we had the pleasure of looking at more beautiful ruins – a church across the street intrigued us so much we had to go take a look.

The stop was a beautiful cherry on top of our day, and we were so glad we had decided not to wait and eat at the hotel.

Piste Vacations

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Cancun - The Food at Casa Magna

Nothing stood out about my trip to Cancun quite like the food.

The eats at the Casa Magna Marriott were the sort of thing the Travel Channel might flit down to highlight. Day after day we were presented with plates that pleased all the senses.

Who wouldn't fall in love with mouth-watering dish after mouth-watering dish, complete with absolute impeccable presentation.

Day after day, we enjoyed soups, salads, mains and desserts that were worthy of photography. Every single meal, someone had their camera out to snap a picture before digging in! One thing is for certain -- the photos really did not do any of it justice.

Early in the week with a small group to cater to, we developed a personal relationship with the people preparing our food, as it was delivered each day with such care and presentation.

During the larger group meetings, the chefs really outdid themselves with elaborate displays of sushi, meats and cheeses, chocolates, and so much more.

When we returned to our rooms at night, more treats awaited us. It was absolutely decadent. I would highly recommend every moment of the trip I had!

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Seattle, Washington

Today's objective: Cameron's passport. Cameron, Jeff, Cara, and I met up at the passport office at 8 am and commenced the hours and hours of waiting. At times it was kind of nerve wracking, but by 3 pm we were in line to pick the magic book up from will call. Phew!

Government bureaucracy took up the bulk of our day, but we did manage to see a few of Seattle's sights. We drove by the Space Needle and the Boeing fields, which the kids were pretty excited about.

Since we were already bogged down in errands, we drove across the city to get my international driving permit, and along the way we saw the Seattle waterfront, including the ferries and Pike's Place Market, which we plan to check out tomorrow, along with the tallest buildings in the city, because Cameron is especially interested in finding out about that.

Our day included a few interesting new food experiences, too. For lunch we ate at a little Hawaiian place around the corner from our hotel, and for dinner we went to Chinook's in the Fisherman's Terminal.

We tried the mixed shellfish appetizer, to mixed reviews from the kids. Maia and Bria were definitely not sure about that one! But the rest of us loved it.

Bria looked out the window and wanted to know which boat was "mine," and was not super impressed we couldn't go for a ride.

The atmosphere was wonderful, as it always is at Chinook's. I love the feeling that it is a nice place, but you feel totally comfortable bringing your family.

The kids were totally in love with our waiter, too, and for the rest of the trip, every time they didn't care for the service, one of them would say, "I want Oliver back!"

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