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United States - North Pacific Coast |
In 2026 while I’m staying in Vancouver, I scheduled a small family trip
with Mom and Royceton. A nearby and easy option is Seattle — close
enough for a short getaway, yet still full of things to explore. Although I’ve been to Seattle quite a few times, visiting the Boeing factory is something new. It’s the kind of experience that sparks curiosity, especially for a kid. |
 We joined the Boeing Factory Tour, but due to trade‑secret restrictions, no cameras or photos were allowed in the factory, except this museum section. This is the real Boeing 747 tail wing. Standing right in front of it, you finally understand just how enormous these aircraft truly are. |
 The entire factory visit was strictly controlled. We could only stand at the observation deck overlooking the production floor. From there, we saw how the airplane comes together: the front, middle, and rear fuselage sections are produced separately, then connected in this massive facility. It’s also astonishing to think that a single aircraft involves more than three million individual parts. |
 Boeing plays a key role in building components for the International Space Station, designing modules that support life and research in orbit. It is also the prime contractor for NASA’s Space Launch System — the powerful rocket intended to carry astronauts back to the Moon and eventually toward Mars. |
 The factory is the largest indoor building in the world. While we were there, the factory was in the middle of producing Boeing 777-X. This model was still undergoing certification procedures and expected to be launched to the market in 2027. |
 The Future of Flight exhibit also showcased solar‑powered helicopter taxi. They also demonstrated how future airplanes will use smart window technology that will automatically adjust opacity, tinting themselves to block sunlight or brighten the cabin. Another highlight was touching the fiberglass composite shell used in modern aircraft. It felt surprisingly light, almost delicate, yet incredibly sturdy. |
 Watching them being built felt like witnessing a piece of aviation history being assembled. The engineers explained that the wider the wingspan, the more stable and fuel‑efficient the flight becomes. So a foldable wingtip is a clever solution that allows the plane to enjoy the aerodynamic benefits of a wider wing in the air, while still fitting into existing airport infrastructure on the ground. |
 The flight simulator let us “fly” the plane and pilot it around Everett. |
 It does looks like we are floating in the space. |
 Space Needle. |
 Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum |
 Over looking the downtown from Kerry Park. |
 The museum garden is no longer free entry. |
 Pike Place Public Market is always lively with a mix of fresh produce, seafood stalls, flower vendors, and small shops packed into a maze of colors and sounds. |
 The oldest Starbucks in the world with its vintage brown logo. Today, a line stretched over thirty minutes just to step inside, not even for coffee, but simply to experience the birthplace of the brand. |
 We walked down the different levels of Pike Place Public Market, following the narrow stairways and hidden corridors that connect the upper produce stalls to the quieter shops below. |
 Eventually, we reached the lower exit and wandered toward the pier, where Royceton spotted a playground and spent 20 minutes playing here. |
 Dick’s Drive‑In burger stand has been at the same corner since 1965, serving its simple, old‑school burgers in the same style for decades. |
 Royceton also enjoyed a good 20 minutes at the playground near the Space Needle and POP Museum. |
 I used to go clubbing around Capitol Hill, so seeing Dick’s Drive‑In again brought back a wave of memories of a special chapter of my life at Seattle. |
 At Kerry Park, we stopped by this small sculpture that frames the skyline. Through its circular opening, Seattle city appeared like a living postcard. |
 On our way back to Vancouver, we visited Bellingham. This small‑town is really calm with quiet streets. |
 At the border, we visited Peace Arch Park, marking the friendship between Canada and the United State. |
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