Downtown Seattle is within close proximity to everything we could possibly need during our stay.

As we approached the final weeks of our PNW cruising adventure, I asked Lisa if there was one place she wanted to visit before our trip came to a close. Unsurprisingly she said, “Downtown Seattle of course.” That’s why we positioned ourselves at the Bainbridge Island anchorage. We stayed for two nights there waiting for an available slip at Bell Harbor Marina, before we made the short 8-mile trip across Puget Sound into Elliott Bay and finally to the Port of Seattle’s Bell Harbor Marina. The reason we like docking in downtown Seattle is that everything we could possibly need is within 10 blocks or so of the marina. This proximity provides us with an endless amount of activities. Our favorite is the Pike Place Market.. of course.

While waiting for our slip to open up at the marina, we cruised around the harbor and happened upon two-year-old Serene, one of the world’s largest private super-yachts.

Jim was amazed at the variety of beer selections at the World Market during our first walk into town.

On top of our list, when visiting Seattle, is the famous Pike Place Market. With everything from fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs, brightly colored bouquets of flowers, homemade pastries, pasta, and mountains of freshly caught seafood, Pike Place Market is the “bomb.” Opened in 1907 and holding the distinction as the oldest continuously operated public farmers market in the country, this attraction is a must-see when visiting Seattle. Our love for the market formed years ago – first when Lisa lived on Queen Anne Hill, (just north of the downtown area during the 1970s), and again when we, together, spent a winter, in 2007/2008, renting a room in a B&B on Capitol Hill. We were waiting for our Fathom 40 to be built. During that time we’d visit the market once a week to procure produce, fresh fish, and assorted accouterments. We’d return to the B&B to put together a feast from our finds – we like to revive that ritual whenever we visit downtown Seattle.

This was our first taste of Jack’s smoked salmon candy. Wow, delicious!

The Bubble Gum Wall, a local landmark in downtown Seattle, is located in Post Alley under the Pike Place Market by the box office for the Market Theater. The old brick wall, 15 feet high and 50 feet long, is covered several inches thick with used bubble gum. The tradition continues after theatre workers twice scraped the gum away only to have it reappear. The growing gum wall was finally left to grow on its own and was declared a tourist attraction around 1999.

Pastries for breakfast and freshly baked bread is always procured at our favorite, Three Girls Bakery (above).

We bought halibut for our dinner that night. It was fun deciding where and what to buy.

The next day we walked down to Pioneer Square, close to where the Seattle Seahawks CenturyLink Field and Seattle Mariner’s Safeco Stadium are located. That afternoon, unbeknownst to us, the Seahawks had a home game. This was not to be any home game as sometime during the game they were going to try to set a record for the “Loudest Outdoor Sports Stadium.” As we sat in the cockpit of our boat later in the day the roar of the crowd was loud and we were a good mile away. They did end up getting a 136.6 decibel sound record at that game and Seattle went on to win the game and become SuperBowl Champions.

Years ago, during our stay at the B&B, we discovered Uwajimaya, the 35,000 sq. ft. Asian market located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Similar to our experience at the Pike Place Market, visiting Uwajimaya is a visual treat. With an abundance of interesting produce, unusual seafood, and all things Asian, this Asian market is more like visiting a living cultural museum.

Another walk to Pioneer Square brought us to an old-time favorite, the Glasshouse Studio. Founded by good friends back in the 70s, under new ownership it survives the ups and downs of today’s economy. We thought the window display looked like a richly blooming garden with bright and colorful, organically crafted glass.

Lots of driftwood piling up at the marina… daily. If you don’t want it banging on the hull of your boat you just drag it out of the water and set it on the dock.

When we spent the winter in Seattle several years ago, our favorite happy hour spot was Ray’s Boathouse, a waterfront restaurant we are totally hooked on.

Earlier in the week, we made arrangements to visit Ranger Tug owners Bruce and Vickie at their downtown Seattle condo. Upon entering their lovely home, the stunning views from their picture windows captured our attention. Elliot Bay, downtown Seattle and off in the distance, the majestic Olympic Mountains presented themselves for our viewing pleasure. After meeting their two beautiful Bengal cats, our conversation quickly turned to boating. We discussed our cruises up to British Columbia (we both traveled with the 2013 Ranger Tugs Desolation Sound Cruise), and future boating plans. After romancing one of Bruce’s artfully prepared martinis, we all walked back down toward Pike Place Market to one of Bruce and Vickie’s favorite restaurants for dinner. After dinner, we said our goodbyes  – the next day we waved goodbye to Seattle as we left Bell Harbor for the trip to Anacortes where we would prepare Kismet to come out of the water.

The post Seattle – Miss You Already! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Not only did the fishermen “bring home the shrimp,” but we also brought it home, to the boat that is. Freshly caught shrimp for dinner tonight, what could be nicer? Fresh seafood all within a mile of the marina. Fishbusterz usually has a full array of fish and shellfish available. The Lobster Company, closer to the marina, has more including stone crab claws, a new favorite of ours. This is just one of many reasons we love to stay on Stock Island.

The shrimp boats raft off each other in the basin behind Fishbusterz. We originally thought there were docks out there for the boats to tie up to but one day we visited when all the boats were out for the day getting their catch and we realized there are very few docks but that they all raft off of each other when they come back to port.

The Safe Harbor Marina next to Fishbusterz and the Hogfish Restaurant has a few houseboats in residence. Looks like a fun lifestyle.

No shortage of tropical folk art in the keys. These are just a few of the items that caught my eye today along with this old classic boat (below left) this unusually decorated car (below right), this small modern loft house (below left), and metal sculpture (below right)

The post Bringing Home the Shrimp – Stock Island, Florida appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Amazing as it seems, Jim and I have never tried stone crab claws, so, off we go for the well-known happy hour at Keys Fisheries Restaurant in Marathon. This is a good way to try this seafood special at a great price and we love the atmosphere. We’ve been here before for lobster Reubens, another unusual treat for boaters from the Great Lakes. We’re glad to report the claws, along with the tuna sashimi we also ordered, were absolutely yummy.

The post Happy Hour Special – Stone Crabs at Keys Fisheries appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.