Experience Music Project Building
Okay, maybe Seattle on $0 per day was a tad unrealistic.
Seattle is traffic-ey and expensive. Did I mention the traffic?
I walked Maggie the dog through the arboretum in the morning with my 10-year-old. The highlight was not the oasis of nature amidst the city. No, no, no — the highlight was the cleanly cut-in-half rat. Only part of which was squished. I got to teach my son the word, “bisected.”
“You know honey, Like Darth Maul in ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.’ ”
These are the memories a child brings into adulthood.
The dog duly walked, we drove off to The Experience Music Project, which we have a membership to. Street parking was easily found, which saved us $2.
I really liked the Science Fiction Museum area. (I am an enormous Sci-Fi geek!) However, I’m not a huge rock music fan, so the main part of the museum was lost on me. I explained to my husband that it would be like him going to a quilting museum, (not that I quilt). I think he understood.
Luckily, I’d brought a library book from home, so I found a comfy bench and made myself at home. There was one other person doing the same thing — he looked to be in his 80’s. We bonded.
My 12-year-old bought a Nirvana stretchy wrist band, and my 10-year old made one of those flattened souvenir pennies. I’ve decided the smooshed penny thing is the ideal non-consumer keepsake. There is no packaging, shipping, or environmental impact from the process. It’s hand-cranked, and doesn’t even require electricity! And at 51 cents, it’s steal!
We were now hungry and on the bad side of cranky at this point, and decided to find a nice locally owned restaurant. The boys declined the granola bars I’d stashed in my purse.
So we drove, and drove, and drove. We somehow ended up on I-5 South, which sent my husband into fits. The language used has no place in my family-friendly blog, so I’ll let you just use your imagination.
When we did see places that looked good, there was not even a slight chance of a parking spot. We probably drove for an hour-and-a-half (no exaggerating here) before settling on a somewhat corporate yuppy pizza place.
I hate spending a bunch of money eating out unless it’s something special. This place was not special. Expensive, yes.
I had my husband drop me and the 12-year-old at the Montlake library on the way back. We stocked up on graphic novels, (for him) and chick-lit (for me, I am on vacation after all!). Plus we pulled a few decent DVD’s from the shelf.
Tomorrow will be better. I really want to go to Goodwill, I’m crossing my fingers that we can score some Mariner’s T-shirts there for the boys.
Whatever we do, I see that the only way to have this vacation under fiscal control is to plan ahead.
The rat was free though. It will probably be what my son remembers most from this trip.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
P.S. I found $2.02 in change the evening before, but none today. Coin-Girl was not happy.
P.P.S. Have any frugal Seattle tips? Please let me know in the comments section below.
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For frugal fruits and veggies, head to china town. For frugal breads, find one of two (or more) Orowheat outlets (one near northgate, one near 70th & greenwood).
For fun times, hop a bus down to the waterfront (or pike place). Find Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. You won’t need to spend any money there to see the mummies, shrunken heads, etc.
Next, take a ride to see the Fremont Troll.
Wonder around Ballard Locks. Beautiful plants, and lots of mechanical crap to keep boys (and men) entertained. We often buy fish and chips nearby and picnic at the Locks.
Continue on to Golden Gardens, and spend the evening at a fire pit roasting marshmallows.
Hope these ideas help.
J