It is no secret that I love to travel to the Seattle area. Unfortunately Seattle is like a lot of cities and does a majority of their road construction during the summer. What this means is that it really messes your travel routes up with many detours. My family and I have found a sneaky trick to get around this. If we want to go downtown and do some shopping but do not want to hassle with the downtown parking, we simply park over by the Seattle Science Center (actually across from the EMP) and hop on the monorail that goes downtown. Sure from there you have to walk some but that is actually good for you to do. Also if you have a child who loves trains as my son does then it is a special treat on both ends of the shopping trip that he/she may not have wanted to go on in the first place. Keep this in mind when you are deciding to travel to a larger city. Most cities now have vamped up their mass transit systems due to more users do in part to the hike in gas prices.
Showing posts with label day trips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day trips. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
When in Scenic Seattle
It is no secret that I love to travel to the Seattle area. Unfortunately Seattle is like a lot of cities and does a majority of their road construction during the summer. What this means is that it really messes your travel routes up with many detours. My family and I have found a sneaky trick to get around this. If we want to go downtown and do some shopping but do not want to hassle with the downtown parking, we simply park over by the Seattle Science Center (actually across from the EMP) and hop on the monorail that goes downtown. Sure from there you have to walk some but that is actually good for you to do. Also if you have a child who loves trains as my son does then it is a special treat on both ends of the shopping trip that he/she may not have wanted to go on in the first place. Keep this in mind when you are deciding to travel to a larger city. Most cities now have vamped up their mass transit systems due to more users do in part to the hike in gas prices.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Day Tripper
Well here it is almost officially summer and here in the beautiful Northwest it is (you guessed it) cloudy. That is OK though because there are always some indoors activities to do. My wife and I are doing a day trip to Seattle to see the King Tut exhibit at the Seattle Science Center located by the world famous Space Needle, and Experience Music Project (or EMP). I have posted in the past that these mini vacations are extremely important for one's sanity (specifically if you have a small child). I was really glad to hear that it was being shown in Seattle and we booked it for my birthday. Will hopefully post some pictures of it. Enjoy the links until then.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Take a trip to fantasy land..
Here is what I mean by short trips being extremely theraputic. My wife's boss planned a belated Christmas party at a very funky, and fun place called Teatro ZinZanni (in Seattle). This is a amalgam of a caberet show, vaudeville comedic acts, live music and singing, sprinkled with a little Cirque du Soleil or Broadway, oh and there is also dinner (a 5 course meal that was excellent). I must admit I was a bit unsure what to expect because their website doesn't really tell you much (they don't want to ruin anything). This show was amazing and well worth every penny. What I found to be really great was that it was well performed but it had some mistakes. The table in front of us (right by the stage) had a juggler pin accidentally dropped on it getting everyone wet, and in the grand finale my wife got meringued (you just have to go to see what I mean).
So here are the nuts & bolts for us mobility impared folks. It is an older building but they have nice ramps to get in, and there are ramps throughout the inside of the building. You will need to book the main floor and it probably would be good to let them know a wheelchair is coming. The mens room had one accessible stall for when you need to use the restroom (and you will the performance is long), and I have been told the ladies room had much the same layout. Overall it was great and it was nice to be right down in front instead of shoved off in the corner like wheelchairs so often are.
Bottom line: hilarious, tons of fun, great food, and somewhat awe-inspiring. Check it out!
So here are the nuts & bolts for us mobility impared folks. It is an older building but they have nice ramps to get in, and there are ramps throughout the inside of the building. You will need to book the main floor and it probably would be good to let them know a wheelchair is coming. The mens room had one accessible stall for when you need to use the restroom (and you will the performance is long), and I have been told the ladies room had much the same layout. Overall it was great and it was nice to be right down in front instead of shoved off in the corner like wheelchairs so often are.
Bottom line: hilarious, tons of fun, great food, and somewhat awe-inspiring. Check it out!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sick day
Well folks, here I sit in my recliner thinking about getting away. No big trips recently but I did do kind of a cool day trip. The Seattle Science Center was hosting the Lucy exibit (I am kind of a geek so I thought this was fun). It was linked with the Hidden Tresures of Ethiopia. There was so much about that Country I didn't know. The reason I bring this up is because I am in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. This means I will also be traveling to that country. I do not have to say that it is not very wheelchair friendly but I will do better at keeping you involved in trips.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Day Trip
I know that you are all looking at the title and saying to yourselves has he gone nuts? One month away from his blog and all he has for us is "The Day Trip"? Well yes, that is exactly what I have for you.
I know that we all love the expansive, costly trip that comes around once or twice a year (if we are fortunate). However the real sanity saver is the weekend getaway to Port Angeles, or the day trip to Seattle or Portland to visit the art museum or to catch a show (or shopping for those who tend to hit the department store flagships). These can be the little holidays that we need to keep our relationships healthy, and us from having to be on anti depressants (when we really don't need them).
My wife and I recently had 2 such weekends where we let our inner geeks out to play. You see she is a bit of a book nut and I am a HUGE comic book and movie freak. So one weekend we went "movie hunting" and the next week we went to every bookstore and comic shop in a 75 mile radius. For those who don't know what I mean, "movie hunting" is when you make a list of movies that you're looking for, and the price you want to pay for them. Then you hit every big chain video store previously viewed rack (and anywhere else that you can find a decent copy of the movie for a discount) until your list is mostly crossed out. It's only partly about the movies, and is more about the drive to Lynden, or Anacortes (we live in NW Washington state these are my examples) and the great ice cream that you got at the farmers market, or that yummy lunch you had at that quaint drive-in restaurant, and it might be that you found some great bargains too.
What does this have to do with accessible travel? Here it is, every now and then folks with a disability crave to do what EVERYONE ELSE is doing. Something crazy, and maybe not average but silly. I love movies and books and comics. Let's make a real memory out of finding them. If your mobility impared person happens to be a kid this will give him or her a great story to share with their friends (and kids when they get older). Travel (even accessible travel) is not always about getting from point A to point B, or can I get into the bathroom. It is about the memories that you share with friends and loved ones (and even a little doughnut muncher canine). Sometimes family time needs to be on 4 wheels in search of every place that gives the dog a treat.
This is what I have learned on my month away from the PC. After all it was the great philosopher Ferris Bueller who said "life moves fast, if you don't look around you might miss something". Truer words were never spoken.
Back soon with more good vibes.
I know that we all love the expansive, costly trip that comes around once or twice a year (if we are fortunate). However the real sanity saver is the weekend getaway to Port Angeles, or the day trip to Seattle or Portland to visit the art museum or to catch a show (or shopping for those who tend to hit the department store flagships). These can be the little holidays that we need to keep our relationships healthy, and us from having to be on anti depressants (when we really don't need them).
My wife and I recently had 2 such weekends where we let our inner geeks out to play. You see she is a bit of a book nut and I am a HUGE comic book and movie freak. So one weekend we went "movie hunting" and the next week we went to every bookstore and comic shop in a 75 mile radius. For those who don't know what I mean, "movie hunting" is when you make a list of movies that you're looking for, and the price you want to pay for them. Then you hit every big chain video store previously viewed rack (and anywhere else that you can find a decent copy of the movie for a discount) until your list is mostly crossed out. It's only partly about the movies, and is more about the drive to Lynden, or Anacortes (we live in NW Washington state these are my examples) and the great ice cream that you got at the farmers market, or that yummy lunch you had at that quaint drive-in restaurant, and it might be that you found some great bargains too.
What does this have to do with accessible travel? Here it is, every now and then folks with a disability crave to do what EVERYONE ELSE is doing. Something crazy, and maybe not average but silly. I love movies and books and comics. Let's make a real memory out of finding them. If your mobility impared person happens to be a kid this will give him or her a great story to share with their friends (and kids when they get older). Travel (even accessible travel) is not always about getting from point A to point B, or can I get into the bathroom. It is about the memories that you share with friends and loved ones (and even a little doughnut muncher canine). Sometimes family time needs to be on 4 wheels in search of every place that gives the dog a treat.
This is what I have learned on my month away from the PC. After all it was the great philosopher Ferris Bueller who said "life moves fast, if you don't look around you might miss something". Truer words were never spoken.
Back soon with more good vibes.
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