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dolariAugust 2nd: Class Reunion Dinner.
August 3rd: Fly to Seattle
August 4th: Seattle
August 5th: Seattle
August 6th: Vancouver
August 7th: Vancouver
August 8th: Victoria
August 9th: Victoria
August 10th: Fly back to Austin
I will NOT be at Trinoc this year. While I won't be leaving my job, and will more than likely end up staying at this job past July 31st. I do plan on moving before the year is out. The job search is already on, the resumes are cast, and I'm waiting on a nibble.
The cat is WAY out of the bag at work. IT seems my asking to be transferred to Seattle made some waves. One of the girls at work asked me if I was going to Seattle, and when I said yes, she just kinda silently wailed "Noooooooooo." This was the same person who put an HR violation on me when I started. How things change, eh? It was also the first positive reinforcement of my job I've had since the Shooting Star award.
The Seattle trip is mostly to scout out areas to live. Prolly in the Bellevue area. Even the Vancouver trip is also a scouting trip, as we're planning to move there a year after living in Seattle.
That isn't to say I won't be doing some sightseeing - I've never been there before, and there's stuff I wanna do. So.
IF YOU LIVE IN SEATTLE, WA, VANCOUVER, BC, or VICTORIA, BC! What should I go and see?
So far the candidates of Things To See are:
SEATTLE (In no particluar order):
Emily
Erin Lindsey and her Posse
The Experience Music Project
The Sci Fi Museum What No One Knows The Name Of
The Science Center
The Toy Test
The Cinerama
A lunch at Taco Del Mar
A goddamned Starbucks
The Fish Market
The Freemont Troll
VANCOUVER (In no particular order):
Emily
Peace Arch Park
VICTORIA (In no particular order)
Emily
What should I be seeing folks? What's famous that I should go see? What's NOT famous, but frickin' cool to see that no one knows about? Anything in between?
August 3rd: Fly to Seattle
August 4th: Seattle
August 5th: Seattle
August 6th: Vancouver
August 7th: Vancouver
August 8th: Victoria
August 9th: Victoria
August 10th: Fly back to Austin
I will NOT be at Trinoc this year. While I won't be leaving my job, and will more than likely end up staying at this job past July 31st. I do plan on moving before the year is out. The job search is already on, the resumes are cast, and I'm waiting on a nibble.
The cat is WAY out of the bag at work. IT seems my asking to be transferred to Seattle made some waves. One of the girls at work asked me if I was going to Seattle, and when I said yes, she just kinda silently wailed "Noooooooooo." This was the same person who put an HR violation on me when I started. How things change, eh? It was also the first positive reinforcement of my job I've had since the Shooting Star award.
The Seattle trip is mostly to scout out areas to live. Prolly in the Bellevue area. Even the Vancouver trip is also a scouting trip, as we're planning to move there a year after living in Seattle.
That isn't to say I won't be doing some sightseeing - I've never been there before, and there's stuff I wanna do. So.
IF YOU LIVE IN SEATTLE, WA, VANCOUVER, BC, or VICTORIA, BC! What should I go and see?
So far the candidates of Things To See are:
SEATTLE (In no particluar order):
Emily
Erin Lindsey and her Posse
The Experience Music Project
The Sci Fi Museum What No One Knows The Name Of
The Science Center
The Toy Test
The Cinerama
A lunch at Taco Del Mar
A goddamned Starbucks
The Fish Market
The Freemont Troll
VANCOUVER (In no particular order):
Emily
Peace Arch Park
VICTORIA (In no particular order)
Emily
What should I be seeing folks? What's famous that I should go see? What's NOT famous, but frickin' cool to see that no one knows about? Anything in between?
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 01:35 pm (UTC)I've long wanted to go to the Sci-Fi Museum but haven't gotten around to it. I also want to visit Seattle's new public library.
I love going to the Uwajimaya grocery / Kinokuniya bookstore in the International District, but I'm sure that's less fun when one is on a tight budget.
Tonight I'll be in Seattle at the Richard Hugo House (a small playhouse used for local productions) to watch a play written, produced, and performed by Asian-Americans. I make this trip once or twice a year to see the play (now up to episode 14). There are always inexpensive events and activities to do in Seattle.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 04:49 pm (UTC)>original.
::nods:: I detest Starbucks. But not seeing the original starbucks is like not seeing the original McDonalds. Now whether I'm going for chocolate, or to toss a brick hasn't been decided yet.
Half of Seattle agrees with you
Date: 2007-07-09 05:19 pm (UTC)But by all means, while you're at the Pike Place Market pop in to the original shop.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 01:41 pm (UTC)Victoria: visit the harbor, which is kinda unavoidable, really.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 01:47 pm (UTC)Strangely enough I ate at the Taco Del Mar across the street from the Seattle Greyhound station while I was waiting for the bus coming back from from Jenn's. I didn't know they were such a big thing, but I can see why: their burritoes are HUGE. I only got through half of my meal.
I'm so so looking forward to this.
The burritos are good (and huge), but...
Date: 2007-07-09 06:09 pm (UTC)-justme
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 01:56 pm (UTC)(You may wish to shuffle your dates: Vancouver Pride is August 5th, hint, hint, nudge, nudge)
Okay, things you gotta see:
Grouse Mountain skyride (http://www.grousemountain.com/). The view is fantastic, the show at the top is a little hokey but entertaining and the restaurant is fantastic but fairly expensive. If you time your trip for around dusk you can see the whole city spread under your feet like a carpet of twinkling lights. The trip is worth it for that alone.
Stanley Park (http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/Parks/parks/stanley/), the Aquarium (http://www.vanaqua.org/home/) and Seawall. This is the second-largest urban park in North America, and once you're in the park, it can be difficult to tell that there's this big city just over there. The views from the seawall are fantastic and ever-changing. Davie street (the gayest street in town) is a short walk away from the South-East park entrance at Pacific Boulevard.
Granville Island (http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/node) is a former industrial area that was cleaned up and turned into a shopping/eating/entertainment area that's a short Aquabus (http://www.theaquabus.com/) ride away from downtown. Take a couple hours to stroll around the craft shops and such. It's good for relaxing but if you're eating outdoors, watch for the seagulls stealing your food : )
Not Famous but Frickin' cool? The Reifel Bird Sanctuary (http://www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com/). You need a car and a good map or local guide. Getting there is a little bit esoteric but it's so peaceful and the birds are so nice to watch, including the resident flock of greedy ducks who are accustmed to being fed by the visitors. They'll walk all over you if you're not careful.
There's so much more that I risk overwhelming your comments page so I'll leave it at that. Emily probably has her own list of things to recommend.
Don't bother with the Capilano Suspension Bridge Tourist Trap, there's a free one in Lynn Canyon Park that you can take the bus to and the trails are not nearly as crowded by busloads of tourists.
And while you're in Seattle if you're at all interested in airplanes the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field is worth half a day : )
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 02:13 pm (UTC)OK, it's not...
Date: 2007-07-09 05:22 pm (UTC)-justme
Victoria stuff
Date: 2007-06-23 03:40 pm (UTC)Skip the High Tea at the Empress Hotel and go a few blocks over to the James Bay Tea Room at the corner of Superior and Menzies. It's much friendlier and far less than half the cost.
Miniature World is really, really hokey but fun to do if it's raining. Same with the Wax Museum and Underwater World. Spinnakers is a really good brew pub in Vic West and back in James Bay you can try the fish and chips in Fisherman's Warf Park at the end of Superior. I think it's called Annie's but Emily can correct me if I'm wrong. Beacon Hill Park is a good place for a stoll and the ice cream place just across the road from the main park entrance on Douglas is worth a stop.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 04:53 pm (UTC)The royal bc museum(Victoria) has an IMAX theatre, though the one at science world in Vancouver is much bigger. (It makes you dizzy)
If you like rides n junk, goto the PNE/Playland in Vancouver. I've been here almost two years and still haven't bothered to go see anything. I keep getting stuck with cruddy shifts that make it difficult to see anything because my shift ends before everything opens, and I'm supposed to be sleeping while they are open.
August 6/7 are days I work, though technically the 7th is my weekend.
The 'big' mall is the Metropolis at Metrotown mall, it's accross from an incredably compact asian mall (crystal mall) accross the street. There's actually one big movie theatre in the mall (Famous Players) and a smaller one in the building right beside it that shows the older stuff. Not worth seeing unless you want to go shopping for something, as there are like 10 malls or something along the skytrain.
OH...
Are you taking your vehicle up here? I'm not sure where the closest park n ride is, but if you are going to visit around victoria or vancouver, the cost of parking on the street can be as much as 15$ a day, IF you can find a place to park. Your best bet if you want to go tourist for a day is to park the car and use the skytrain in vancouver, that way you aren't going to get a pile of parking fees or fines (you are not allowed to park on the street without a permit for more than 2 hours, even in residential areas.) Hmm apparently the only park and ride(I see) is in surrey, which is like an hour by skytrain to downtown, ick.
Figure out more stuff the closer you get to the date, sometimes things can be spontaneous. Don't me like my roomies ex who's car died every single time he came to vancouver from seattle.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:02 pm (UTC)k, are you bussing to victoria/vancouver? Are you flying back FROM victoria to seattle or going back to Seattle then flying back? You'll need your passport if you fly from victoria.
There is a train from seattle to vancouver, but I believe it only runs in the morning. ... yep 7:40AM. check out amtrak.com if you want to try take that, it's 4 hours, only slightly longer than the bus, but remember the bus has to contend with traffic, while the train (and bus) both end up at Pacific central station at the Main street/Science world skytrain stop. Going to Victoria is the hard part. Here's the 'suggested' method:
http://www.pacificcoach.com/Schedule
Route: Vancouver Depot (Pacific Central Station) - Victoria Depot
Date: May 17, 2007 - October 8, 2007
Ticket For: Adult
One Way: $37.50
Return: $73.00
This is supposed to include the ferry fare.
The ferry doesn't sail between 9pm and 5am last time I checked.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:11 pm (UTC)>victoria to seattle or going back to Seattle then flying back? You'll
>need your passport if you fly from victoria.
I'm flying to Seattle, then renting a car in Seattle, to Vancouver and Victoriam and the last day is a travel day, driving back to Seattle to take the last flight out.
If I remember right, I'll just need a Birth Certificate (and obviously the name change order since you can't change your birth certificate in Texas), and a photo ID.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 08:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 08:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 08:29 pm (UTC)Don't need your passport yet but...
Date: 2007-07-09 06:05 pm (UTC)I flew to Toronto last week and it just felt... so... wrong to need to show a passport to go to Canada (and to have to submit to practically a body cavity search to be allowed to return to the country my ancestors helped start, but that's another story.)
-justme
no subject
Date: 2007-06-24 02:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:22 pm (UTC)>things can be spontaneous. Don't me like my roomies ex who's car
>died every single time he came to vancouver from seattle.
One day I'll tell the story about the Best Vacation Ever. It's a fun story.
Anyways, yeah, I tend to be spontaneous because my dad planned things METICULOUSLY. Down to the minute. I don't do that, but I'd also know what there is to see so I can at least plan a route. Drive here, get out see three things - drive here, get out see ten things - ooh, what's THAT OVER THERE!
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 04:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:13 pm (UTC)Or to laugh at it. One of the two.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-24 02:38 am (UTC)*celebrating quite possibly the 10th anniversary of that joke*
Don't bother eating at the Space Needle...
Date: 2007-07-09 06:24 pm (UTC)Of course, I suppose you have to factor in the price of a ticket to the Needle's observation deck if you're not eating there, which makes what you pay for the food somewhat less-unreasonable.
-justme
no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-23 11:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-25 11:22 am (UTC)I'll leave you a little present. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-06-25 01:39 pm (UTC)Seattle suggestions
Date: 2007-06-26 03:47 pm (UTC)LovelyAngelpdx's suggestion of Uwajimaya is magnificent but I highly recommend the by Store location by King Street Station as it's the best of their stores in this region (there are some truly awesome Chinese restaurants nearby too). I also second her Museum of Flight suggestion.
Space Needle is a great visit with two caveats, overpriced and a dress code. As the Space Needle, EMP, the Toy Test, Pacific Science Center and the Sci-Fi Museum are all at the Seattle Center it's an all day affair. And while there we have an awesome set of Laser Light shows at the Pacific Science Center in our Laserium.
I know it's a bit of a tourist thing but I always suggest the Underground Seattle Tour, a Ducks tour, a ferry ride, and the Skagit Valley Tour.
The Sci Fi Museum What No One Knows The Name Of
* It's the "Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame"
Other things in Seattle vary season to season and month to month, like Bumbershoot or Seafair.
Re: Seattle suggestions
Date: 2007-07-01 05:26 am (UTC)Re: Seattle suggestions
Date: 2007-07-01 11:17 pm (UTC)Re: Seattle suggestions
Date: 2007-07-09 05:12 pm (UTC)If you get homesick for Texas-style bbq while you're here, there's a little hole-in-the-wall called Pecos Pit on 1st Ave S, south of the stadiums that's the closest thing I've had outside Texas.
-justme
Seattle suggestions
Date: 2007-07-09 05:56 pm (UTC)If you had a couple more days I'd suggest the more "outdoorsy" stuff like visiting Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, or taking Hwy. 101 around the Olympic peninsula and seeing Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rain Forest. Barring that, if you want a small taste of pristine nature there's a little park in West Seattle called Schmitz Park that's a couple of acres of old growth - the only original trees in Seattle that weren't cut down I think, or something like that. And as long as you're over there, there's Alki Beach where the original Seattle settlers landed, and you might want to eat at The Alki Cafe. They have really good (and fairly reasonably-priced) breakfasts; their lunches and dinners are great too. By the way it's pronounced "al-kye" not "alky" - it's a Chinook word that means "bye and bye" and is the state motto.
If you're at all interested in things Scandinavian, come to Ballard. There's the Nordic Heritage Museum, and several Scandinavian food and gift stores scattered around.
And of course there's the Ballard locks (technically the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard) and the one can't-miss-it Ballard destination, the Archie McPhee's store. If you're not familiar with Archie McPhee's, they're one of the nation's top purveyors of American kitsch. This is where you go to get all that stuff you used to see advertised by the Johnson Smith Co. on the back of comic books - your pink famingoes, your rubber chickens, your x-ray specs, your boxing nun puppets, your wind-up false teeth, you name it.
-justme
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 10:53 pm (UTC)Stephanie
arzendiq AT yahoo DOT ca