When I was younger and (more) foolish than I am now I used to believe that I couldn’t afford to travel. In retrospect that idea was ridiculous, but as an adult, aside from trips to visit family in Alberta and Saskatchewan, I didn’t travel anywhere until I was 21 and went to Seattle, Washington.
The idea to go to Seattle stemmed from a morning when I was home from work, and happened to come across a travel show on TV about Seattle. I’d only known Seattle as that city where the TV series Frasier and the movie Sleepless in Seattle were set, and where grunge music got started back in the 90’s. As I watched this travel show that fateful morning I realised several things. There’s a lot to do in Seattle. I could drive to Seattle from where I live (Edmonton) in just a day or two. It’s been ten years since I’ve travelled outside Canada (for a family trip to Disneyland when I was 11). It’s time for me to take a vacation.
With that settled my friend and I made plans for our road trip to Seattle. We first drove to Vancouver, British Columbia and spent a couple of days there (I had been to Vancouver before, but my friend hadn’t). Then we crossed the border (back when you didn’t need a passport, but we got one anyway) and drove to Seattle.
Seattle – not just for insomniacs and Frasier fans
I loved Seattle. There was an excitement and freedom in travelling to a place I had never been to before. I realise Seattle isn’t the most exotic of places to many people, but for two girls travelling from Edmonton, it was. We drove on the interstate, which I had been told would be filled with crazy drivers, but I’ve seen far crazier drivers at home. I know cross-border shopping is popular for many Canadians, but Edmonton is an 800km drive from the nearest US city (Great Falls, Montana) so in Seattle, we got to go shopping at US stores we had never shopped at before.
At a restaurant on the pier, we ate fresh seafood that tasted like the ocean (in the best way possible). We took a harbour cruise in Puget Sound where I learned I don’t have my sea legs (I was a little wobbly on that boat). We went to several of the tourist attractions in the city like the Space Needle, The Pacific Science Center, and the Experience Music Project (EMP). One thing we did miss out on was going to Pike Place Market, and it’s one of many reasons why I’d love to go back to Seattle one day.
That trip was almost ten years ago, but I still remember so much of it. I’ve been to many other places since then, and I’ve grown as a traveller and a person as well. Still, I have to thank Seattle, because it was this city that made me fall in love with travel.
Guest Author: Alouise Dittrick is a writer and travel enthusiast from Edmonton, Canada. She combines her passion for travel with her love for music, theatre, and festivals on her travel and performing arts blog Take Me to the World.
For more Memory Monday, read:
– Memory Monday – An Adventure Through Spain
– Memories of Lundy Church
For more about Seattle, read:
– 12 Free Things to do in Seattle Washington
