Seattle College Visit

We took our daughter up to Seattle to look at the University of Washington — she wants to apply next year, and she wanted to walk the campus before sending anything in.

The waterfront got an evening first: Pike Place under the big Public Market sign, the neon fish hanging over the arcade, then down to the piers, where the Great Wheel ran pink and blue and laid its colors on the water off Pier 57. From the overlook by the new park we could see Rainier out past the stadiums, which felt like the city showing off a little for her.

The campus was the real errand. Geese grazing on the lawn in front of the brick Gothic halls, Drumheller Fountain going full blast with the rose garden still blooming around it. Whatever doubt there was, the fountain settled it — she loves the place and plans to apply for next fall. We kept walking anyway, past the old dorms and down streets under cedars big enough to hide the buildings.

Last stop was Fishermen's Terminal, under the memorial column with the bronze fisherman hauling a halibut up on his line.