Seattle was on our summer itinerary so that I could meet some of the Modern Love Machine’s extended family who were unable to join us for our wedding. Consider it killing two birds with one stone as I wanted to see the place that launched our country’s coffee obsession, of which I am a willing and faithful participant. We stayed down by Pike Place Market and dutifully stood in line at the original Starbucks, because that’s what you do, right? News flash: The original Starbucks is just like any other Starbucks, but with a much longer line.

And they didn’t even have salted caramel

Photos of the Pacific Northwest really do not do the region justice. We took the Amtrak Cascades train from Portland to Seattle — which, train travel is the way to go, y’all — and were treated to rolling hills, dense forests and blue water. The MLM’s aunt also drove us out to Snoqualmie Falls, a beautiful and steep waterfall outside of Seattle.

the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from the window seat of the Cascades train. Maybe you’ve heard of it?

While most of our time was spent with the MLM’s family, we did manage to squeeze in a few touristy things.

We visited Pike Place Market …

we saw the outside of the Space Needle …

it looks kind of B-movie outer space, no?

saw the inside and outside of the Chihuly glass exhibit …

worth every penny of admission price

we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island …

and by a complete coincidence of timing we visited the Museum of Flight on the same day the NASA Super Guppy landed there with a Space Shutle simulator on board.

it’s a fish, no a plane

Seattle actually captured my heart more than I expected it to. I would love to return and actually explore some of the neighborhoods, like Capitol Hill and Fremont, more fully. How convenient for me to have married into family there.