Seattle Summer 2025

Seattle. Summer 2025


Over the course of our ten weeks in the PNW, we saw Ethan and Stephanie several times, and made it into Seattle a couple of times. Our first trip was over the long July 4th weekend.  They have a great “4” level townhouse on a hill in the Fremont neighborhood.  From their rooftop (which I consider to be their fourth floor) they have marvelous views of Lake Union and Mt Rainier. Lake Union is a busy place with recreational and commercial traffic. It has people sailing, boating, kayaking, swimming and seaplanes landing and taking off all the time. And, Seattle shoots their fireworks off from a barge there as well, so we had a great view. 

Later in the summer, Del and Belinda, Stephanie's parents, came out to visit them. We were between our Port Townshend and Kalispell, MT builds so we happily met up with them and spent some time exploring, while the kids worked. A nice role reversal, parents play while the children toil!  And we all headed out to San Juan Island for a day. Del and Belinda live in Dearborn, MI and it had been ages since we had been able to spend time with them. 

On to pics:

View from Ethan and Stephanie's rooftop as sunset approaches casting a lavender pink hue to the sky and mountain 

Fireworks on July 4th

Some days Rainier is more of a ghostly presence and of course, some days it's completely hidden.

At the waterfront, the ferris wheel peeking up over the aquarium 

They have a new large addition to the aquarium which contains a giant ocean reef tank that is 3-4 stories high and has a window that one can look up through from the sidewalk below.  We saw a scuba diver cleaning parts of the tank and some rays swim by.

The tank was large enough to support many fish and rays of all sizes.

I think rays are so beautiful as they glide through the water. They look like they are flying with their giant wings.

Now this guy could never be accused of being beautiful.  It's a bowmouth guitar fish and looks like a cross between a horseshoe crab and a shark. Besides being pretty darn ugly, they are giants reaching up to 9’ and 300 lbs!

another ray- I was quite captivated by them

I loved the prominent “brow” on these fish. They look like they're frowning in concentration or maybe squinting because they're nearsighted.  Haha! 

The bottom-side of a seastar (it's attached to the glass display tank)

I'm always so curious about other creatures. How do they live, how do they eat and breathe? What do they feel like and why? So,  I suppose it's no surprise that the touch tank is always one of my favorite spots in any aquarium. Here I am practically falling into the tank so I can touch everything 😂

We hit the sea otters toward the end of their feeding. They were feeling pretty chill about life in general as they finished up the last of their treats.

And here was a northern fur seal just waiting for that fish to drop down into his open mouth.

From the aquarium we meandered to the other quintessential waterfront spot, Pike's Market 

We didn't see them throwing any fish, but it's always fun to check their display.

And of course the flower vendors at the market are my favorite stalls. The masses of flowers are so gorgeous. 

Ethan and Stephanie's cat, Luna, posed for grandma to take some pics :)

“It's a hardknock life for me …”

Full moon rising

Evening from the rooftop.                  Moon caught in a web of clouds.

Another rooftop view as the last rays of sunlight illuminated the city

On the waterfront with Belinda and Del, aquarium and ferris wheel in the background 

We went for a ride on the ferris wheel.  Interesting views and perspectives.      Del and Belinda 

Ferris wheel structure 

looking down on umbrellas and heaters

Cruise ship

The stadiums where the Mariners and Seahawks play with Rainier looking on.  We went to a Mariners' game that night 

a ferry coming in


The morning we headed out to San Juan Island was foggy, but as we approached the islands the fog started to lift.

Back at American Camp, a statue of the infamous pig (with a potato in his mouth) that nearly started the Pig War.

hiking at American Camp

While hiking we saw a mom and her twin fawns.

This is one of the babies.

Here you can see both

Some of the Queen Anne's lace had this lovely purple edging

The lighthouse

llamas

This guy looked like a teddy bear (except for the pronounced overbite, haha)

It's not exactly the lion lying down with the lamb, but it is the llama and the goat eating side by side.

Vintage tractors at a vinyard

Pears ripening in the sunshine and sea air.

On the ferry back we were treated to a spectacular moonrise

And sunset


Next blog: Whidbey Island,  summer 2025.

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