Seattle - zoo, cruise, aquarium

We arrived Saturday evening after a bumpy flight and made it to the hotel in light rain. How nice to then unexpectedly be upgraded to the top floor of the Westin, complete with views of Lake Union and downtown!

On Sunday, Wally took off for the convention center and I on my adventure: navigate Seattle transit to the zoo. First stop: Dahlia Bakery for an incredible ham and cheese croissant and coffee. I started off very confidently, breakfast in hand and thinking I had the hang of this town. It's much harder to navigate without Wally's good sense of direction! After a few wrong steps - four blocks the wrong direction - I made it to the zoo via a clean and cheap bus.

Since it's mid-November, crowds are minimal and after you dress properly for the wind/drizzle/cold, the weather is tolerable. I spent two amazing hours wandering through the best zoo I've seen. I felt sorry for all the tropical animals who must be very cold...

Lunch was down the street at Phinney's Market; all food here seems to be local and organic, usually sustainable and seasonal as well. A cheddar burger with a side of arugula salad hit the spot. Seattle folks looooove arugula. And coffee, good Lord the coffee. It's everywhere.

After lunch I headed back downtown to catch a harbor cruise, followed by the small but excellently curated aquarium. Highlights included touch pools with starfish and see cucumbers, dwarf cuttlefish, and sea otters.

Wally and I met back at the hotel and then walked to dinner at the Dahlia Lounge. We were both exhausted from long days and jet lag, but perked up for the food. Rustic venison pate charcuterie plate, then Dungeness crab cakes for Wally and Alaskan coho salmon for me. The takeout dessert from Dahlia bakery, coconut cream pie, means I'll be back there every day for sweets and breakfast.