Beecher's Cheese

One of the vats to make the cheese curds at Beecher's in Seattle. It's our favorite cheese!

Space Needle View

One of the views from the top of the Space Needle.

Yep - We Went Up

Fifty-two stories in an elevator to get to the top of the Space Needle. Cost close to $52, too!

Food and Flowers

Food, flowers and art are the specialties at the Pike Street Public Market.

Dungeness - the best crab there is.

It's hard to get a shot of lucky pig "Rachel" with all the kids clambering on her. She's in the Pike Street Market. Just follow the hoof prints in the sidewalk to find her.

We walked down to the market and this was our first glimpse.

Somebody's Treasure

I always wonder how this happens. Someone collects a clunker with a mind to make it shine again? Is it an object of affection? Or, just a derelict no one wants to pay to get rid of?

Draw Bridge

The University Bridge goes up and down to let tall boats through - mostly sailboats.

Another Hazy Skyline View

The heat haze really blurred the view from the ferry.

Seattle Trip: Hazy and Hot

This is how Seattle looked for much of our trip: hazy because of the heat.

Seattle Trip: Bainbridge Excursion

Getting ready to dock as we returned to Seattle from Bainbridge Island. I was happy to get a clear shot. The skies were very hazy during our trip because of the super hot temperatures.

Wynn and Encore along the Strip

Poker tournaments at the Wynn have a minimum $540 buy-in. We hadn't been to Las Vegas in a couple of years. Everything was much more expensive than last time. A bottle of water is $3 everywhere, even in a vending machine.

Seahorses

Seahorses in a tank at one of the hotels along the Las Vegas Strip.

Pretty Kitty at the MGM

One of the lions at the MGM Grand.

Paris in Las Vegas

The Paris on the Las Vegas Strip.

Oxygen Bar in One of the Shopping Zones

Breathe flavored oxygen at a kiosk in a shopping district. After all that secondhand smoke, I can see the need.

Marilyn Monroe Bus

Impersonators are commentators on the bus tours.

Indian Shrine at Caesar's Palace

This is on the grounds at Caesar's Palace. There were people placing incense in holders along the railing.

Prehistoric Creature in the Tank at the Mirage

That prehistoric-looking creature at the bottom really caught our attention in the tank behind the check-in desk at the Mirage. We think it's an eel.

Empty Trump Tower

Our view out of one of our hotel room windows at Treasure Island. The cabbies told us this new Trump Tower is mostly empty and in some sort of bankruptcy.

World's Tallest Chocolate Fountain

Looking up...the world's tallest chocolate fountain flows in the Bellagio. White, milk and dark chocolate streams.

Costumes For Sale

A lavish costume and mask shop in the Venetian.

Big Winners in Las Vegas

My husband and my mom Sooz showing off the winnings...11 pennies!

Flower Arrangement at the Bellagio, Las Vegas

Giant fresh flower arrangements all throughout the Bellagio, Las Vegas.

Bellagio Conservatory

Chinese New Year was the current display in the Bellagio Conservatory.

Bellagio Ceiling - Chihuly Glass

Look up when in the lobby at the Bellagio to see a massive Chihuly glass decoration.

Bellagio Check-In Desk

A peek behind the check-in desk at the Bellagio. We visited the Bellagio, but didn't stay there this time.

Las Vegas Nightclub Decor

Ten of these rose petal-filled tubs line the entryway of one of the nightclubs in the Venetian. I don't remember the name because I'm not near hip enough to enter the club...or the tub.

View of Ship Equipment

Look at those stormy skies. It didn't rain but the seas were rough that night. Quite a few folks got woozy. No one in my immediate family was affected.

Huge Gingerbread House

This is a real gingerbread house on the ship. When the carpenters were making it, they were handout out free frosted gingerbread samples. It smelled wonderful every time we walked by the house.

View of Castaway Island

The view of Castaway Island before we went to play.

More Playing in the Water

At Castaway Island. We spent the day, playing in the water, and sitting in the shade.

Mickey Makes an Appearance

We stayed up late to catch Mickey. We're glad we did, hardly anyone was there so we had time to take lots of pictures.

Belle Poses for Pictures

Lots of costumed characters on the cruise. They posed for pictures before dinner each night, made scheduled appearances, and surprise appearances.

Port of Call: Castaway Island

Disney's private island in the Bahamas, a port of call on the Disney cruise. Beautiful water. The water was chillier than I expected. The air temperature was hot.

Approaching Nassau, Bahamas

The view from our cabin while approaching Nassau, Bahamas.

Powerful Sunshine

Too much morning sun poolside.

Watch Cartoons While Swimming

Watching cartoons poolside.

Bon Voyage Party Kid View

My daughter collecting streamers at the bon voyage party on deck.

Bon Voyage Party on Deck

My beautiful step-mother at the bon voyage part on deck.

Areas for Adults Only

Just a peek at the adult pool. We didn't go there. We did the kid pool and the family pool. There were lots of "adults only" areas, including a very nice restaurant we ate at one night when the kids were parked in the kids' club.