Love Across Landscapes & Waterfront: Perspectives from Seattle’s Mountains and Multitudes
Happy Son-Day!!!!
You will always find the "Good News" here.
Jo and I are steadily making our way through our travel bucket list, and last weekend we—along with BJ—checked off a big one: Washington State’s Emerald City. Let me begin simply: Seattle is a place I would gladly return to.
The Emerald in the Northwest
Seattle is framed by two stunning mountain ranges: the Olympics to the west and the Cascades to the east. The crown jewel, Mount Rainier, 14,410 feet of snow‑capped majesty, rules the southern skyline. Rainier isn’t just a mountain you see; it’s a mountain that stops you. Mount St. Helens and other Cascade peaks add to the drama.
A Weather Twist You Might Not Expect
Navigating the City
We set out to explore Seattle the way we’ve tackled many cities, by using public transit whenever safe and sensible. We've navigated cities like Baltimore, New York, and Washington DC without renting a car, because their light rail/subway systems were a wonderful option.
Renting a car has become a wallet‑buster, so we paired the light rail with Uber and Lyft, mostly to reach stations. Rideshares averaged around $8, while an all‑day light rail pass cost just $6. Contrast that with our first Uber from the airport area to downtown: $61.
Riding the light rail offers a panoramic, unfiltered sense of a city, the good, the challenging, and everything in between. Seattle’s geography stretches north to south, hemmed in by Puget Sound on one side and the Cascades on the other. Yet what we saw from those train windows felt vibrant and mostly well‑kept. Unlike parts of Chicago, Detroit, or Baltimore, there wasn’t much visible blight.
Downtown: Classic Seattle Vibes
We started our downtown adventure at the iconic Pike Place Market. On first sight, it was spectacular. After a playful Mary Tyler Moore twirl, we dove into photos and videos. This spot is quintessential Seattle, skyscrapers to the east, Elliott Bay to the west, and the Space Needle perched to the north.
From Pike Place, we hopped on the historic monorail, a Jetsons‑like ride, that carried us over the city to the Seattle Center. There we found the National Pop Culture Museum, Chihuly Garden & Glass, the Children’s Theatre, the International Fountain, and of course, the Space Needle.
The Space Needle Experience
Tickets cost $47 each, but the splurge felt worth it. The skyliner elevator, mounted on the exterior of the tower, reveals the entire city as you ascend. At the top, the view is a masterpiece: the Olympics and Cascades stretching out in opposite directions, the skyline rising with intention, and Mount Rainier commanding the horizon.
The outdoor deck circles the tower, giving you 360 degrees of wonder. We went down to the lower platform, a rotating glass‑floored level. Even BJ thought it was cool.
A Food Lover’s Winner, Especially for Pescatarians
Seattle is a dream for pescatarians (vegetarians who eat seafood). Fresh Pacific Halibut from Puget Sound made for unbeatable fish and chips, which was a meal staple for us during the visit.
Food is pricey, though, Washington’s 10.35% sales tax makes sure of that. So, for dinners, we opted for budget‑friendly gems: a mom‑and‑pop Mexican place close to the hotel and a chain called California Burrito, which quickly became our favorite. Generous servings, great flavors, we’d welcome a Minneapolis franchise in a heartbeat.
Diversity on Display
As a major port city, Seattle offers markets filled with goods from around the world. But even more striking was the diversity of the people. On the surface, it felt natural, races and cultures intertwined, mingling, sharing space without friction.
I’m sure my brother Alex, who lived in Seattle years ago, might tease me for romanticizing things. But what I experienced, in the light rail cars, on the waterfront, in restaurants, at Pike Place, was a spirit of acceptance that felt genuine and refreshing.
An Invitation to the Country
America is only getting more diverse. The lesson Seattle whispered is one we all need:
Love and acceptance, not division, will determine our future.
Romans 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Before we left, we took a boat excursion around Elliott Bay for $44 per person. Beautiful as it was, we realized later that a ferry ride, just $11, would’ve shown us even more of the waterfront. So, if you go, learn from us: take the ferry.
Hallelujah! Sing a New Song to GOD. Sing HIS praise in the assembly of godly people. Psalm 149:1.
I love the Vanessa Armstrong kind of groove to this song. Lyric hit point. Click "cc" in the video to see the lyrics.
Live Breathe Fight, 2025, Tamela Mann
LyricsVision out of focus, thought I heard you clear
Can't unload this pain all by myself, I need Your help
Lord, You know the feeling, I am not alone
Mountains of emotion try to block my way
And answers escape me time after time
(I don't know what I'm doing, no) I don't know what I'm doing
The silence is loud (silence is loud)
Here in the quiet, enemies all around
(So) so many mistakes (oh) but I can't press rewind (can't press rewind)
I don't understand it, I know you'd never let me down
(I'm so disappointed) still I'm so disappointed
Tears day and night (tears day and night)
But whatever I'm facing, Your love has allowed
My solid rock (my solid rock)
No, I won't be shaken (no, I won't be shaken)
'Cause I trust Your heart ('cause I trust Your heart)
And I know you're working (and I know that you're working)
Turning things around (turning things around)
'Cause you go before me, you're shielding every side
Breathe (with every inhale, I'm strengthened to)
Fight (fight 'til You give me the victory)
(Oh, I) oh, I know You will
Breathe (wind of Your spirit gives me strength to)
Like I know Heaven is my destiny
Fight (like You've already delivered me)
I will fight, I will live, I will breath (I know You will), hey
I will have victory, (live) I will live, (breathe)
I will not die, hey, (fight) hey
(Live) live, (breathe) come on, we will fight (fight), yeah, yeah
'Cause we got victory, live (live), Heaven is our destiny
(Breathe), fight (fight), yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I won't be shaken, for I trust Your heart
I know You're working, turning things around
So I live, breathe, and fight
Oh Lord, oh Lord, I will live
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