Friday, May 29, 2015

Travel by the Book ~ Seattle


Welcome to Travel by the Book. I know for most of us, reading is an escape. One of the things I love about reading it getting to travel. And I'm sure I'm not the only reader who has wished to take a trip inspired by a place I read about in a book. I've been fortunate in that my Hubs is kind enough to indulge me and take me to said places. This is where I share those vacations that were inspired by a book.



***The Book***


Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1)
Y'all know Twilight was a game changer for me. It lead me to Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy...which, in turn, lead me to Mead's Georgina Kincaid series. What? I had to read something while I waited for Rose & Dimitri's next adventure! ;) And honestly, Georgina's story kept me more than entertained. I met one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends in this series...Seth Mortenson. There's an outstanding cast of characters, both angelic and devilish. ;) And who could resist reading about a succubus who hates her "job" but actually enjoys her job at the Emerald City Bookstore. Reading about Georgina's antics in and around Seattle made me dream of this humid, lush city that has quite a bit of history and entertainment to offer.




***The Travel***

Before I share photos from our trip, I wanted to say a few other things about Seattle. One, I went to TWO different bookstores hoping to find the one that inspired Mead's Emerald City Bookstore. I went to one in the Queen Anne district of the city. It was a small, quaint bookshop but not the one Emerald City was modeled after, even if Emerald City is supposedly in Queen Anne. We also went to Elliott Bay Bookstore. It was incredible! Three stories set of books looking out on Elliott Bay...I loved it! Sadly, I didn't take photos of either of these bookstores while I was there. :( TWO, I've been back to Seattle twice more since our first visit because I love the city. But when we went with our kids, and walked over to where Elliott Bay Bookstore had been, we were told it had moved. *sigh*

Here's Pike Place Fish Market...where they really do throw fish!



Puget Sound is behind me here...there are so many great places to walk to and by. And many, many fish places. Too bad I can't eat seafood!



Of course, we can't visit a city famous for it's brew pubs without visiting one!



We couldn't believe the hills...I read about them, but seeing is believing! Everything slopes down to the ocean.



Here I am in front of the original Starbucks Coffeehouse. It was founded in a good year...1971. We're the same age! ;) Oh, and the entertainment being offered out front was fantastic!



My hubs took this photo of me without my knowledge. He'd gone to get us lunch. I, of course, was taking advantage of the opportunity to read in the park. It'd be something if I could remember what I was reading...but I can't. *ha* This is in and around Pioneer Square...a location where Georgina meets Jerome (her demon boss who looks exactly like John Cusack) and Carter, Jerome's wayward angel friend, at a bar quite often. :)



It was a fabulous trip! (even if our luggage took a detour) We didn't even get rained on. And like I said, I fell in love with Seattle and we've been back! There are other books I've since read that are set in Seattle, so it's been so much fun traveling there and seeing the city from the page come to life in person!

8 comments:

  1. Aww, I've always wanted to visit Seattle!! I'm glad you had the chance and that you loved it, Brandee! Also, I read Succubus Blues a few years ago and loved it, it was different and quite entertaining for sure. :)

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  2. Seattle has to be one of my favorite cities - I've only actually been once but it remains one of my favorite trips and I'd love to go again. I just loved being so close to the water - I walked pike street over and over! It is a great city for lots if books too, though I wasn't reading any of them when I visited - you make me want to go back and see it from that point of view!

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  3. Even I, far away in France, learned by watching Frasier that it always rains in Seattle, so you were lucky ;) Thanks for bringing us pictures ! And yes, once a reader, always a reader :)

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  4. LOL of course you had to read why Mr. Man got you some lunch ;) That's proof right there that you're a true reader, Brandee! I loved the Georgina Kincaid series, too, but I haven't been able to go to Seattle to check it out for real, it looks really beautiful, I love the slopes down towards the ocean.
    I hope you've had a fantastic week, and that the kids are happy to be out of school for the summer.
    I am so ready for our summer vacation now, but we still have four more weeks of school here (the youngest kids do, anyway) and then off to Spain we go!
    I'm opening a bottle of champagne in a few, and I will salute you, my dear! *BIG HUGS*

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  5. Ah yes, I love Seth as well, and sounds so fun to travel there

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  6. I love Pike's Place and the stuff they sell at that Starbucks are exclusive to that store, am I right? Or at least some of it?

    Happy weekend!

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  7. It does look like a fabulous trip, and again I feel jealous :)) Your idea to travel by the book is wonderful. You should market it! :)

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  8. We travelled to Seattle for our summer trip 2 years ago. We had a blast. We visited a lot of bookstores, made several trip to Pike Place Market and took the train down to Portland to visit Powell's. My husband and I both agreed that we needed to take a trip to Portland and spend more time there!

    Terri M., the Director
    Second Run Reviews

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Now you know what I think...what are your thoughts??