Seattle was Dope!
I love birthdays. I love traveling. Why the hell did it take me so long to realize that birthday trips with best friends are a gift from the gods! In 2016, I got to check a major box on my bucket list: make it to the West Coast. Ever since I was a little boy, the call westward has been SO strong in my heart and turning 26 was the year I came to accept the fact that West Coast may in fact be the best coast.
Seaside fish dinners. Gorgeous mountain views. Omnipresent recycling bins. Multiple Thai restaurants.
I spent so many nights wishing and hoping for a chance to get to see a tiny glimpse of anything else, I almost forgot to actually do it! If you get the opportunity to travel you have to take it!
Seattle, in a lot of ways helped me to understand a lot about both myself and the way in which I decide to live my life. For instance, did you know that central air is not a given when on the West Coast? Spoiler alert, neither did I! In that moment I understood why the great God above wants me to live right…ya boy CANNOT do too much heat! In all seriousness though central air isn’t the norm there since Seattle has maybe three days a year where the temp breaks 75 in the summer months. You would think someone like me, who was forged in the heat of Alabama summers for 20+ years and born in the middle of August would be fine…WELP…let’s just say my relationship to antiperspirant and ceiling fans was only strengthened during the trip.
Seriously though, my time in Seattle was an absolute dream! Studying public health for so long means I’m always looking for income disparity, gender inequality, and environmental health conundrums to be present as well as solutions the community is taking to right the ship where those issues are concerned. In my conversations with local folks it was really refreshing to see how engaged many of them were to make their town the best it could be…although the Starbucks lining every corner may have contributed to the energy I observed too. Who’s to say!
The vibe in more of the downtown parts of Seattle definitely felt more geared towards ‘The Youths’ with a burgeoning nightlife and bar scene where a number of restaurants opening after 8pm already had lines wrapped around the block. However, there were little shops and bistros that specifically catered to families and more senior members of the community.
OKIE DOKIE! I want to park this car for second and talk about the food scene there…**chef’s kiss** can you say next level! OBVIOUSLY I love food but people in Seattle LOOOOVEEEE food. The food scene alone made me want to break my lease and couch surf. There were local run ‘Mom & Pop’ type shops across the city as well as upscale restaurants that almost made me forget they weren’t air conditioned! DO YOU KNOW HOW GOOD FOOD HAS GOTTA BE FOR ME TO WANT TO DIVE IN, FULLY DRENCHED IN SWEAT?!?! That is how good the food we ate was and I still have fever dreams about the desserts! I ATE NO BAD THINGS FOR A WEEK STRAIGHT!!! It felt as though I had ascended into the heavens escorted by Chef Emril and The Pioneer Woman and I legitimately cannot wait to go back and visit.
Regardless of whether you travel there solo or with a group made up of whoever, Seattle definitely has something for everyone!
