City Passes are our tickets to fun

Ben and I have been pretty busy this past week. Here are some places we have been:

- The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
- Experience Music Project (EMP)
- The Space Needle
- Pacific Science Center
- Seattle Aquarium
- An Argosy Harbor Cruise
- Pike Place Market

As far as further information ... When we went to the Science Fiction Museum we weren't allowed to take pictures. I have decided it was because either 1. They don't want people to see how dumb it is through other people's pictures or 2. They figure if you look at other people's pictures you will have seen the whole thing and not go. Either way, it's a good thing you get a ticket to the Experience Music Project place with the Sci Fi museum or else a lot of people would feel very ripped off.

Fortunately for us, we purchased City Passes which basically saved us a lot of money and let us a see a lot of things for half the price so even if we felt like the Science Fiction Museum was dumb it wasn't too big of a deal for us, besides I really liked the EMP. The EMP had a lot of cool stuff to do - like playing drums, mixing music, etc.

This is the building the EMP and Science Fiction Museum is in:

We went up to the top of the Space Needle on a pretty rainy day but I still thought it was beautiful. And I made Ben strike a pose for the mirrorish windows so we could get a shot of both of us and the awesome view. The look on his face is, "This isn't going to work". But it did!

I can definitely say that this was my first Hot Chocolate I have ever had so far off the ground. I only share this small detail with you because drinking Hot Chocolate is something I do basically wherever I go.

We went to The Pacific Science Center first thing Friday morning. It was full of all sorts of interesting things. So many things that I can't even begin to figure out which pictures I should put on here so ...

For your viewing pleasure ... the dinosaurs.

and Ben playing in the water with Archimedes Screw

One of my favorite parts was the Imax 3D film we watched. It was incredible. I actually felt like I was swimming through the ocean with the fish and riding in a boat on top of the water.

If we had kids I think they would really enjoy this place. Just a little insight for people who may come visit us at some point and would like to know a place to take their kids that not only the kids would enjoy but also the adults. Just FYI.

After the Pacific Science Center we walked around looking for the Sculpture Garden. Unfortunately, we went the wrong way and all we found was this ...

Eventually we hopped on the Monorail and road that downtown then walked through Pike Place Market on our way to the Seattle Aquarium.

I'm still having a hard time coming to the realization that I live here in this big city with so many things to do. I keep imagining that before long we'll pack up our things and head back home to Salt Lake. I'm in no hurry to get back, it just all feels so surreal.

Anyway, the Seattle Aquarium is located on one of pier's at the waterfront. I thought it was fun, not as awesome as the zoo but it was still cool.

After the Aquarium we decided to just wander around until it was time for our Argosy Harbor Cruise.

The cruise was great - mostly because we got to sit down for an entire hour straight. I think we picked one of the most perfect days for our cruise. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and we were able to see a great view of Mt. Rainier.

We even got to see California Sea Lions (or were they seals?)

Here is the view just before our Harbor Cruise ended. I love it!

Anyway, after the cruise we started our way back across the city and experienced my first "Wow. I'm really not in Utah anymore" moment which I would talk more about except it was kind of disturbing and definitely inappropriate and mostly just, "Did I really just see what I thought I saw". So after that, we finally made our way back to our car and came home and collapsed. After we came home I don't think I left the couch except to go to bed.

We have been having a blast and we still have another week before Ben has to start even thinking about school so hopefully we can find some more fun, cheap things to do before then.

I'm sure there will be more pictures to come. Hopefully sooner rather later.