Globe Corner Blogs

Whenever I bring friends back to Seattle to visit my parents with me, they are subjected to my Dad’s special tour of the city. He loves to show off his native city and talk about his three favorite things: Boeing, University of Washington Huskies and the price of gas. First, we have to go on a driving tour so that he can point out all of the landmarks that we happen to pass while he is looking for free parking. He usually throws out fascinating tidbits of information such as how the best place to be in a earthquake is on top of the Space Needle since it is anchored down so deeply and how everything has an Elvis connection as The King filmed a movie at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962.

Then off to a restaurant where we are force fed Olympia Oysters, whichever salmon he deems worthy, asparagus and Washington wine from the Walla Walla Valley. Next we drive to West Seattle, so we can get one of the best views of the Seattle Skyline, and he can point out more sights such as the the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the new stadiums.

Last time he pointed out one of the smaller buildings and boasted that particular building was the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi until 1964. And then he had a “senior-moment” proudly declaring, “And it is named the Empire State Building!” I tried to remind him that it was actually the Smith Tower and that the Empire State Building is in New York City, but I think that I was talking into the ear with the broken hearing-aid and he just continued his monologue.

Needless to say, my Mom and I still tease him about it a lot and he continues to ignore us. So, in honor of Father’s Day yesterday I sent him the Explorer’s Guide to Washington in hopes that he will update and fact-check his tour.

Read more: Father's Day, News, Pacific Northwest, Touring with the Parents, Travel


Lisa can usually be found staring longingly at the Eastern European shelf at the Globe Corner Bookstore. However, she really wants to go to Colombia.

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