Day 26: Seattle

There were multiple instances on this trip when we Adler and I disagreed about what we should do and he'd remind me, "This isn't Dad's American Road Trip it is ADLER'S AMERICAN ROAD TRIP!" For our second full day in Seattle I let him choose what we did. I presented him with two options: the Seattle Aquarium or the Pacific Science Center. After describing what we would see at both locations he selected the Pacific Science Center. I purchased tickets online. Then he promptly changed his mind. Typical of Adler but too late. We were going to the Pacific Science Center.

For those that haven't been to PCS it is similar to San Francisco's Exploratorium. There is underlying science presented in a fun way that allows children to interact with the exhibits. While the Exploratorium can be enjoyed by children of all ages it felt like the Pacific Science Center was geared more for a six-year-old. And considering that this was HIS trip, this was perfect. Adler ran from exhibit to exhibit lead only by his curiosity where he pushed, pulled, smelled, touched and stimulated all of his senses.

An exhibit about air pressure
also blows hair really well 

Hanging like a monkey!

When purchasing our tickets I'd reserved seats for the planetarium show. This was a proper planetarium with a domed ceiling but small in diameter. It almost felt like a living room with couches lining the walls. It intimacy allowed interaction with the presenter and the audience could affect the presentation. Adler demonstrated that he retained the astronomy lesson from Alice's Montessori when he correctly located things like the Big Dipper and North Start. We also learned how to identify some of the lesser known constellations in the northern hemisphere.

He chose pizza for lunch. I found a place called Rocco's that was close enough for us to walk. Quaint, quirky and hip would all describe this restaurant that devotes as much attention to pizza as it does to spirits and cocktails. We ordered the Caesar salad that Adler described as ranch dressing with anchovies--not up to his expectations. Then he enjoyed a slice of pepperoni while I dined on two slices of their special for the day that had crumbled meatballs and some type of Italian cheese that now escapes my memory. The slices were came out hot with thin crisp crust. The beer was cold. This was a great lunch.

We returned to PCS to finish off the afternoon playing outside with all of the water exhibits and tour the butterfly gardens where the tropical humid temperature of 85 was too uncomfortable for Adler. The last thing for the day was to watch a 3D IMAX film about giant pandas being raised in captivity and the attempts to release them into the wild. It was a full day of fun activities for a young boy. And everything that we did were entirely his choices.

Common blue morpho

Turning Archimedes screw

Now THAT'S a watergun!

The only thing that I pushed back today were his constant pleads to return to the top of the Space Needle. I reminded him that it wasn't very fun for him and that he found it scary. Besides, I told him that it wasn't cheap. Once was enough for this trip. But he was already planning his return to Seattle by inquiring how long a flight would take if we took a plane next time. Relentless.

That night we went to a dim sum restaurant in Bellevue called Din Tai Fung that was recommended by another friend who lives in Seattle. I'd been to one of their other locations in southern California years ago with my sister-in-law and husband. Recently one opened at Valley Fair in Santa Clara but the waits times have been ridiculous and we haven't dined there yet. It was familiar food for a kid that could even be eaten with your hands which extended the day's sensorial experience. We ordered pork and kimchi dumplings, vegetarian fried noodles and a cucumber salad. It was too much food for both of us but made for yummy leftovers consumed on the next day's drive...