My base of operations was the Sorrento Hotel, a 115-year old institution just a few blocks down Madison Street from Sam’s apartment.

We were just a few blocks from Pike’s Place Market so we started there.

Our breakfast started at the Crumpet Shop and after that we nibbled our way down the street.

And walked along the harbor. Spending all day with your 3-year old son, or 13-year old son, could be a bit challenging. Spending all day with your 30-year old son is a wonderful blessing.

It would have been nice to spend the whole day just staring out at the boats, like this guy.

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) features the Seattle’s response to Chicago’s Bean (IMHO), artfully shaped rusty hulks.

And then on to the Chihuly Museum. Dale Chihuly was trained in the UW’s (that’s University of Wisconsin, not Washington) blown glass lab, the first collegiate glass blowing lab in the country, and became an internationally known artist. This display is called Mille Fiori, “a thousand flowers.”

Another creative use of glass.

In the shadow of the Space Needle.

The glass blowing demonstration was informative and entertaining. Another beautiful work of art was created.

After lunch we stopped at the conservatory.

From the top of the nearby water tower the Seattle skyline was in view.

Our last stop before dinner was Seattle’s Japanese Garden.