PTR Seattle Spring Break

This past week, we decided to do the local thing and check out the tourist things in Seattle, WA, about 2 and a half hours south of us.

Included in the first day-actual live coaster goodness in the Pacific Northwest! We got our fix until Oaks opens March 25 or Playland April 14 or Enchanted Village Memorial Day(?)

The day started out kind of cold and wet-no big surprise here in Lewis and Clark country.

'S up, BIAATCH!

Heheheh huhuhuh

A carousel to keep child happy...Then a walk to lunch-down along the pier-past pier 70 and on down...

Coaster goodness done. That should do for a month or two.

OMFG!

I'm not ordinarily a fan of helixes, but this coaster has two sweet sets, the second tighter than the first...

Not much of a lifthill, none of the drops are too huge, but...

Now the highlight, a coaster called Windstorm, a clone of the steelie at Santa Cruz.

And the real beauty of being a parent...when you've got your own 11 year old, you don't have to borrow someone else's 6 year old! This is the Rainbow Chaser, an appropriate name now that the weather was improving.

Here's downtown Seattle, with the world's shortest 76 story building...

Here they are at the top of said needle. The child knows there's a couple of coasters down there...

My wife and child in the city that invented grunge, looking up at the world's tallest hypodermic....

The day's first stop at a rest area-check out the new sign-that little man is in for SERIOUS pain

That Spongebob hat is awesome!

Well...thanks for the trip report! I've been on the Santa Cruz clone of that blue and white steeling, called the Hurricane. Its was smooth and fun, but a bit slow.

Although, I amit that the hairpin-helix thingy is really fun.

-Jahan

Here we pass right by Wild Thing, with a loop and two corkscrews, which won't be open for almost TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

Seeing this picture makes me sad. I don't know whether it's seeing this coaster closed most of the year, or anticipating Vekoma pain/goodness

^It's more like Arrow pain and goodness

^It's more like Arrow pain and goodness

True

But in my defence, my first looping coaster was Scream Machine at Expo (now Ninja at SFStL) started by Arrow and finished by Vekoma.

^^^ The wild thing was my first looping coaster. Its a shame that there are barely any coasters up here in the NW

Day 2 we woke up bright and early and headed to Ikea for their $.99 breakfast. Then it was off to the Museum of Flight right at Boeing Field. Then after a delicious lunch at Ivar's Acres of Clams, we had time for an Argosy Harbor cruise.

EDIT: She's not ACTUALLY touching that plane, BTW

CLOSE_UP!

On our harbor tour, I only took one picture-there's sea lions on that marker...here, let me show you...

Concorde "flight deck"

Across the street, a Concorde

It actually flew once

I want one of THESE

Mary FINALLY finds her flying car

WHEEE!

One of THESE! I think this full-size one is a mock-up

She's in the actual cockpit from a SR-71

Don't say we didn't warn you...

The Flight Museum, please DO NOT TOUCH the Hawker Harrier

OMFG, they actually found a VW in Seattle to be "The Ikea Sale Car"

ICHIRO!

Bonus picture of the child on the mini S&S

The tounges on the Frog Hopper are just wrong.

The tounges on the Frog Hopper are just wrong.

 

That may be wrong, but it's not as creepy as this:

Be thankful I'm wearing underwear!

Day 3 we saved a little money by starting from home again. We headed to the Woodland Park Zoo, where highlights included Kookaburas, Emus, Gorillas, a Jaguar and a MASSIVE Brown Bear.

(Note: Bear is not shown actual size, it's bigger)

A kookabura in an old gum tree.

I'm a Jaguar, gimme some MEAT!

She's OK, folks.

Poor tired gorilla.

Gimme some CANDY!!!!!

Is there a bear in here?

Here's a bear, far away....

I still have all my fingers.

Here's an emu

Day 4 started with the usual breakfast at Ikea. Then we drove in from the southside and decided to visit Starbucks World HQ. They were giving away FREE COFFEE! Turns out it was the nationwide coffee break 10am-12noon, but it was cool.

Then it was on to the Seattle Aquarium. No whales here, but it was a very good representation of the wildlife around the area. We got to see a Pacific Northwest Octupus chow down on a Dungeness Crab, saw seahorses and saw some other animals get fed.

Then it was on to Pacific Science Center at the base of the Space Needle where I got another photo of the Rainbow Chaser just outside.

Inside, we saw some cool stuff including an exhibit on imploding buildings, saw a 3-d IMAX movie "Walking On the Moon", and saw a few large insects....

I'm a GIANT Mantis.

Gimme some HUMANS!

Tribute to "12th man" (the fans).

Me and 3 million Seahawks fans agree the Super Bowl referees should live here

See, it's a credit!

It was the salmon mousse...

Whale Rider!

Here you get to see what an octupus would be like Actual Size.

I'm an Otter. Give me some FISH!

Evil Child: "$1 Hot Choclate!"

Evil Wife: "FREE COFFEE!"

Here we are at Dr. Evil's World HQ