Our Alaska Cruise and Seattle

Our Alaska Cruise Began with an Unexpected Surprise in Seattle

We had spent months wondering about the best time to visit Alaska. Would it be cold? Rainy? Foggy? As it turned out, we couldn't have picked a better week. Once our cruise began, we were treated to sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s to upper 60's  almost every day—perfect weather for exploring Alaska's beautiful ports.

This photo was taken in the Space Needle overlooking Seattle. 

Before boarding our cruise ship, we spent two nights in Seattle, Washington, giving us time to see a few of the city's famous attractions (we went with 3 other couples). What the eight of us didn't expect was to arrive in Seattle during a major heat wave.

The afternoon we landed, temperatures soared into the high 90s with high humidity. Since we had packed for Alaska's cooler weather, our suitcases were filled with jeans, sneakers, and long-sleeved shirts—not exactly ideal for a sweltering hot Seattle day- which they said was unusual for Seattle.

Despite the heat, we headed to Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. More than just a fish market, it's a lively waterfront destination filled with local artisans, flower vendors, restaurants, specialty food shops, and, of course, the fresh seafood and fish-throwing demonstrations that have made it world-famous.

Normally, we would have loved wandering through the market. Instead, the combination of the oppressive heat and no air conditioning made our visit there much shorter than we had  originally planned. 

Feeling overheated and exhausted, we decided to call it a day and returned to our hotel to cool off. Dinner was a simple meal at a popular local hotspot. It was crowded but we still were able to get a table for 8 with no prior reservations.

Fortunately, our second day in Seattle was much more enjoyable. The temperature dropped into the  70s, making it comfortable to explore on foot. We visited two of Seattle's iconic attractions—the Space Needle and the spectacular Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. Both were worth seeing. The Space Needle offered spectacular views of the city and the Chihuly exhibit was exceptional glass art!

Both were within easy walking distance of our hotel, making for a relaxed and enjoyable day. Dinner was in a nearby food court with lots of choices for everyone. Since we knew we would be eating fancy meals on the cruise, we did some simple eating in Seattle. 

The Chihuly Glass Art was exquisite. Here is a small sampling.

Hot Spot for locals for dinner: Walking distance from our hotel.

When we were leaving the grounds surrounding the Space Needle in the late afternoon, vendors were busy setting up booths for what looked like a large outdoor arts and crafts festivity. We were disappointed to learn it wouldn't begin until the next morning.

The next morning, however, we boarded our cruise for Alaska. Later, we learned there had been a random shooting at that very event and 3 people were killed. It was heartbreaking and frightening and to think that, had our schedule been just one day different, we might have been there when it happened.

In fron to ehe entrance to the Space Needle

We left Seattle grateful—not only for the experiences we enjoyed but also for the good fortune of perfect timing. As we boarded our ship to sail north toward Alaska, we were ready to leave the heat behind and begin what would become a wonderful cruise. 

Have you been to Seattle? How about Alaska?