Category Archives: Travel

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle

305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

Hours:
Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 8pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am – 8pm

GENERAL ADMISSION *Tickets purchased at the door are $1 more than below stated prices.
Ages 13-64 $19
Senior Ages 65+ $17
Youth Ages 4-12 $12
Child 3 and Under Free

So I had seen several of my friends post photos from Chihuly on Facebook and was amazed each time I saw them. I knew that the next time I went to Seattle, it was a must-go attraction. Unfortunately, for Sheepie who hadn’t seen any photos needed some convincing from me that the $20 admission was going to be worth it. I even said I would go alone and he could wander around outside. LOL. It turns out that he was pretty amazed and loved the place – and he’s a hard to impress guy.

As you can see, lots of great, colourful glass – fantastic for taking photos (but don’t forget to admire them with your own eyes too!). I’d never seen anything like it with glass – the use of colours, light and the scale! Each room you walked into never failed to amaze you.

If you have time, there is a small theatre that shows a film of how the glass are made, including interviews with Chihuly himself.

The exhibit does not end just indoors. Go out into the ‘garden’ to see the glass pieces integrated into the environment. With the lit Space Needle in the background, it’s a beautiful and awing experience.

A must see in Seattle!!!

Entrance to Chihuly

So pretty!!

Amazing craftmanship!

Nothing like it elsewhere… Take home your own Chihuly glass! Ummm…if you have $5000 each for these small approx 10 inches glass work.

Pike Place Market – Seattle

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I’ve been to the Pike Market in Seattle several times. The place is like Vancouver’s Granville Island. Local foods, crafts, vegetables are sold, and a great place to get your hands on fresh seafood.

It’s lively with lots of people, especially during the summer time. One can not miss the opportunity to go to the very first Starbucks (read blog post here) that still keeps its original logo. It’s always packed with customers. Be prepared to line up for a while. I got the brown cup with the original logo with saucer. Unfortunately, it got slightly chipped recently and am contemplating on whether to get another one…lol.

There are neat little shops that can keep you entertaining for those who like to window shop or are shopaholics. Great place to buy souvenirs for yourself and those back home. (read about getting our new friend here)

Lots of fresh seafood

Colourful fresh veggies

Canadian Rockies

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From Vancouver, you can drive out to Calgary in about 13 hours. Even with meal and washroom stops along the way, you can get there in a day. Of course, if you’re wanting to sightsee and you haven’t gone before, then taking several days may be a better course for you.

You can also take the Greyhound Bus which does stop at various pickup/drop off points which does delay the time, resulting in 16 hours. But the stops are short, so this is NOT for a sightseeing option other than seeing the scenery through the window.

Best time of year to go is between June and August. I remember still in May, the lakes can be still frozen (like at Morraine Lake) and weather can be pretty unpredictable outside of those summer months. Depending on the season, you’re bound to see some wildlife such as Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Mountain goats, eagles, porcupine, coyotes and if you’re lucky, some bears. I have yet to see a cougar, fox or a wolf. (see my post on a guidebook on the animals and birds of the Canadian Rockies that I illustrated and my dad published)

Wild Bighorn Sheep!

Greyhound Bus

Vermillion Lakes with Mount Rundle in the background

Streets of Banff in summer One of my favourite mountain – Castle Mountain

For me, I grew up in Calgary (1 hour and 30 minutes from Banff) and my dad ran a tourism company, so I went to the Banff National Park often. I also lived in Banff over a summer when I was a student, so the Rockies are like my backyard. I’m not the nature-camper-hiker-snowboarder type, but I do enjoy the serenity and peacefulness. It’s especially nice after living in congested, loud downtown of Vancouver to go somewhere that is the complete opposite.