Great weekend away (5th anniversary)

I have just gotten back from a great weekend trip celebrating my 5th wedding anniversary. We went and stayed in Seattle down by Pike Place Market (after taking a mandatory adoptive parenting class). We stayed at the Inn at the Market which is a nice modern boutique hotel located half a block from the from the Market and very close to lots of neat shops and entertainment ( The Showbox, Benaroya Hall, Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Art Museum). It all started when we pulled to the valet parking which was on the street and the great valet name Lance offered to let me unload in their underground parking lot. I checked in and the great people at the bell desk held our bags so we could head out into the city. My wife is a huge book freak so we went to Elliot Bay Books and poked around for a while. Afterward we went to an amazing restaurant, Pan Africa Market. The food is Awesome I had the Spicy Lamb stew, curried split pea, and Yams. This is love on a plate spicy, sweet, and smokey. If you are in Seattle ever, check out this out you won't regret it.

We hit the SAM and checked out the Yale traveling exhibit, and hit the market. Now if I haven't let it be known one of my guilty pleasures are comic books, and at Pike Place Market there is a pretty great comic shop there (Golden Age Comics). Really what a comic shop should be smells of decaying paper, lots of choices in both mainstream and Indy comics, lots of toys and posters. Lots of fun really. We wandered in and out many cool and eclectic shops and stalls (Chukar Cherries).

Pros and Cons.

The Inn at the Market is a great hotel. It has a great bunch of disabled rooms located on the 3rd floor it is very luxurious, it has a large open bathroom and a great staff. Cons are that like all of the waterfront there are many hills and if you are on wheels you will need to have help or be in very good shape (I am speaking as someone who is in OK shape and got winded several times).

Pan Africa Market has great food and amazingly friendly service. the prices are cheap and the portions are good. The accessibility is very good for an older building. No real cons in my opinion.

Pike Place Market. This is a landmark of Seattle that has been around for a century. While they have made great strides at accessibility it is still an old structure which means very steep ramps, and very small elevators. Plus there are cobble stones in most of the walkway so if you are in a walker this may be a problem.

Overall if you are in good shape, or if you are with a good group willing to assist you the waterfront is a fun and romantic destination. Go and have fun!!