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Charles Towne Landing is kind of one of those things that really only locals go to, which is nice because it cuts down on the crowding.
This is the site of the first settlement in Charles Towne...
Charles Towne Landing is kind of one of those things that really only locals go to, which is nice because it cuts down on the crowding.
This is the site of the first settlement in Charles Towne back in the 1600's. There is a replica ship and town there, and if you go during the summertime, they'll have 'real life' reinactment people making soap and candles and stuff.
This is a huge park and has a zoo, too, with bears and aligators and raccoons. It's very nice.
Lots of picnic grounds as well.
Take a day and spend the time at CharlesTowne landing. Beware--this is a popular place for field-trips and daycares, so you may have to battle large groups of children to get to see anything, but it's really spacious so it shouldn't be too bad.
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Did you know that the coffeeshop in the TV show "Fraiser" was modeled after the basement-level coffee-shop at Elliott Bay!?
Well it was!
But don't go there for the pseudo-fame. Go there for...
Did you know that the coffeeshop in the TV show "Fraiser" was modeled after the basement-level coffee-shop at Elliott Bay!?
Well it was!
But don't go there for the pseudo-fame. Go there for the literal tons of books that they have.
Go there for the dark, rustic basement coffeeshop.
GO there for the wonderful smell that can only come from a bookstore.
It's in Pioneer Square, so no parking. But who drives in Downtown Seattle? Tourists only. Locals take the bus.
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Look. If you eat at a place on Capitol HIll, you're going to get a Capitol Hill attitude.
The waiters don't care if you want more water. They'll bring it to you when THEY are ready.
But that's...
Look. If you eat at a place on Capitol HIll, you're going to get a Capitol Hill attitude.
The waiters don't care if you want more water. They'll bring it to you when THEY are ready.
But that's to be expected. Just know this going in and you'll be fine.
The portions are huge and the decor is interesting. It's typical Capitol Hill Goofy Chic with snobby waitstaff and snobby clientelle.
Do not even think of eating here on a weekend night, because right next door is a bar and the patrons spill out of one and into the other.
So-So food in an interesting environment. There are better Mexican restaurants in Seattle, but none of them have the panache that Bimbo's does. And none of them have a dirty word in their name.
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But yes way indeed.
Pacific Drugs has THE best coffee stand in Seattle. Forget STarbucks of Seattle's Best.
Go to Pacific Drugs and you will get the BEST mocha's and other 'speciality' coffees...
But yes way indeed.
Pacific Drugs has THE best coffee stand in Seattle. Forget STarbucks of Seattle's Best.
Go to Pacific Drugs and you will get the BEST mocha's and other 'speciality' coffees for such a great price AND they have really nice barristas as well.
The chocolate they use for their mocha's is Ghiradelli chooclate and really makes the difference in flavor.
Go there now. STop debating.
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Owl'n Thistle is located in Post Alley in Pioneer Square. It's hidden away and located right across from a pay-parking lot behind the Viaduct. Next to a bike shop, I believe. It's hard to find if...
Owl'n Thistle is located in Post Alley in Pioneer Square. It's hidden away and located right across from a pay-parking lot behind the Viaduct. Next to a bike shop, I believe. It's hard to find if you don't know where you're going.
This place is the epitome of the word "dive". Everything smells like an ashtray. They even have Real Life Barfly's sitting at the bar. It's a great experience for the kids if you want to expose them to something beyond the sheltered life of the suburbs.
This is a eating joint for the working folks downtown. You're just as likely to see a biker in full leathers as you are an attorney in a 3-peice suit.
The food is full-on grease. It doesn't matter what you order, they're going to deep fry it, or at least pour some grease on for the same effect.
I love their Reuben sandwich & fries. Oh such greasy goodness. Chicken fingers are what you'd find anywhere, and the burgers are pretty good too.
This is NOT a non-smoking establishment. Maybe there are parts that are non-smoking, but you're going to smell smoke.
It's dark and dusty and smoky and easy to forget that it's 1pm outside instead of 1 AM. Not a bit of sunlight peirces the thick walls of Owl'n Thistle.
Prices are okay, but I've only ever gone there when someone else pays my way :-)
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Right across the footbridge from Mae Phim's Thai restaurant is Cilantro, located just behind the Starbucks on 1st Ave at the ferry footbridge (walk on the bridge, Cilantro is on the upper...
Right across the footbridge from Mae Phim's Thai restaurant is Cilantro, located just behind the Starbucks on 1st Ave at the ferry footbridge (walk on the bridge, Cilantro is on the upper level)
Lunch and dinner specials and pricing schedule. Lunch is 1/2 the price (or cheaper) than dinner prices, but you get the same amount of food. If you want it for dinner, just order it earlier in the day and heat it up later.
Even better, for dinner, get one of their dinner sampler platters. It's the same as an individual entree but you get SO much more food---enough for leftovers, and for the same price.
I'm in love with their green curry. I dream about it. I am obsessed with it. Heaven, to me, is a neverending supply of Cilantro Green Curry.
I'm not a tofu fan, but their fried tofu (in place of other meat) has a super texture and flavor. The chicken is white meat, and the beef is high quality.
The food is more expensive than at Mae Phim, but the quality is also alot better. They have a huge seating area, but I've only gotten take-away, so I don't know how the service is.
The two people I always see at the register are the same man and woman---I suppose the owners? At any rate, they're pleasant to deal with and are happy to take phone-in orders. Grab a menu while you're there.
They are not open on Sundays.
Lunchtime during the weekdays can be hectic, as Cilantro is a favourite of the local office crowds, and understandably so.
Because this is in Downtown Seattle, there is no parking. Either be prepared to pay $6 to park in one of the pay lots, or drive around for hours looking for a parking space.
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Mae Phim's is located behind Fado's pub on South 1st Street.
it's very small, and better for take-away than eat-in.
All meals are $4.75, I believe, unless the prices have gone up recenty. You...
Mae Phim's is located behind Fado's pub on South 1st Street.
it's very small, and better for take-away than eat-in.
All meals are $4.75, I believe, unless the prices have gone up recenty. You have your choice of chicken or beef or tofu with each meal, and they only charge you more if you get shrimp instead.
The portions are HUGE and you'll definitely have enough for leftovers.
They do phone-in orders, so grab a menu while you're there and call ahead next time.
Being in downtown Seattle means no parking---have a friend wait in the car and circle the block while you pick up food. Do not even attempt to go there during weekday lunchtime---Mae Phim's is very popular with the working crowd (it's obvious as to why), and the line can be out the door.
Very good thai food at very cheap prices.
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Med Mix (as it is known) is the BEST Mediterranean food I've ever had.
The service is rather quick (considering everything is made from scratch and fresh for your order), and most meals give you...
Med Mix (as it is known) is the BEST Mediterranean food I've ever had.
The service is rather quick (considering everything is made from scratch and fresh for your order), and most meals give you a free soda.
They don't just serve middle eastern food either. YOu can get fish and chips and hamburgers & fries and I think even Pizza.
But don't waste your money on those run of the mill things.
Get the gyros---the chicke is white meat, the beef is quality, and the chunks of lamb are HUGE. The gyros and fries plate is enough to seriously leave you with leftovers.
The Babaganoush is good too, but my favourite is the falafel plate. They are fried to perfection and taste SO yummy.
THe people that work there are middle eastern and I feel that they make the food for you the same way that they would make it at home. The portions are generous and the prices are to die for. Most meals are $4.75-6.00 and the food is outstanding.
They take cash and credit cards.
Being in Pioneer Square, though, there is no parking. You can call ahead for to-go orders, but they don't have portable menus so take notes when you go :-). If you have to park, try parking under the viaduct. It's generally a better shot than you get with street parking, and you don't have to pay the meters on Sunday (at least that's how it was last time I was there).
There is a small eating area both inside and out on the sidewalk.
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I am certain that Red Mill Burgers has THE best hamburgers on this planet. Or at least they're in the top 5.
The serving sizes are huge, and everything is made to order. When you get your food,...
I am certain that Red Mill Burgers has THE best hamburgers on this planet. Or at least they're in the top 5.
The serving sizes are huge, and everything is made to order. When you get your food, it will be piping hot, no doubt.
The lines can get long at lunchtime and there isn't alot of room to sit. You may have anticipated being able to go to Red Mill and eat in, but if you go during the wrong time of day you will have to eat in your car.
Parking spaces are not numerous either, but then again, this is Seattle.
They do not accept credit cards, and don't have an ATM on site. THey do take cash and check, however.
Do not even think about talking on your cellphone while in the restaurant. They (the workers) will come up to you and tell you (not ask) that you either leave the restaurant, or stop chatting. That's fine, though. I don't mind not having to hear my neighbor's lunchtime conversation about his recent colonoscopy.
Call ahead if you plan on take away. It's faster and you don't have to stand in line.
They have a menu that spans everything from chicken to burgers to veggie burgers. Tons of milkshakes in nearly every flavor on the planet.
Very good locally owned place. When you go there, you're around locals who shun the big-time burger joints for a place that is inexpensive AND good.
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Firstly---
if you are any kind of animal rights activits, PeTA member, vegan or vegetarian, please...please do not subject yourself to the horrors of Waccatee. Honestly.
There are so many...
Firstly---
if you are any kind of animal rights activits, PeTA member, vegan or vegetarian, please...please do not subject yourself to the horrors of Waccatee. Honestly.
There are so many really horrid things about Waccatee--namley, the living habitats of several of the animals. But there are many wonderful things about Waccatee--namely, the animals themselves.
Myrtle Beach, for those of you who don't know, gets very hot and humid in the summertime. When we were there recently, it was over 80 degrees outside. There, in a wood and wire crate with no temperature control (think home-made rabbit hutch) was an artic fox who looked like it was going to croak from heat stroke. It was really bad.
THen there's the gorilla that is kept in the metal cage with the TV and broken chair. You're advised to not look at the gorilla, or even take pictures of it, because it's so ornery.
The monkeys in general make me very sad. I think because they're so obviously sentient, and in just ratty shacks. No trees to climb on at all--everything here is wood and metal. They don't have large expanses to play in---every animal lives in a relatively small cage (considering their natural desire and to swing and play and move around in an area bigger than your living room)
They're given cheap plastic truks to play with and they just look so sad and so unhappy.
I don't think that the people who own Waccatee have the skills and facilities necessary to house monkeys.
BUT--the rest of the animals look okay. They've got Clyde the camel, the lion that pees on everyone, and a bunch of on-the-loose peacocks that make a noise you'd not expect to come from a peacock.
At the front counter, you can buy a big plastic "souvenir" cup full of animal feed for $3. It's not a bad deal. All of the animals, for the most part, love to be fed this mixture of catfood and sunflower seeds, so the zoo is very interactive in that regard. You can pet many of the animals--the baby goats are adorable (as baby goats are required to be).
There's a possessive one-horned cattle of some sort in this open grazing area that battles with the emu's over who gets more of your attention. Watch out, though, because they will follow you. The entire way. Seriously.
All in All, Waccatee offends some of my most basic thoughts about treating animals humanely. As fun as other parts of it is, I can't believe this place is allowed to stay open.
When you go to Waccatee, ask yourself whether it's better that these animals live in squalid conditions and be alive, or to have died living their entire lives (even if short) in the jungle or their natural environment. Waccatee does very little to mimic any "natural" environent and you won't see displays here as much as metal and wire cages. There is no interaction between the animals, and they all live in the same "habitat" regardless of whether they're a South American monkey, or a Canadian Bear, or an African lion. They have no concern for different temperature, shade, sun, and water requirements for different animals.
HOWEVER--if that stuff doesn't bother you, I fully reccomend going to Waccatee....you can interact with the animals and the minature horses are just a hoot. Especially when they follow you around.
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