Seattle on $55 a day

                                       Crumpet Shop-Pike Place Market

      Tom and I are frugal travelers by nature. We're always finding ways to have fun while spending less, even when we're home in Seattle.
       This past Friday was a good example. We took a "staycation'' day, and spent most of it in downtown Seattle. It started with breakfast at the Crumpet Shop, our favorite spot in the Pike Place Market. We go most every Sunday, and order groats for two with steamed milk - the effect is something like an oatmeal latte - and bottomless cups of tea while we chat with Rob, the owners' son. Rob is usually literally up to his elbows mixing crumpet batter in a gigantic plastic tub. I love his smoked salmon and egg crumpets, but we usually go for the healthier groats - whole oats, minimally processed, that need to soak a long time before cooking. I have them with currants. Tom orders his with almond butter. Bill for two: around $12.
       Next it was over to the Meridian theater to take advantage of discount prices on movies before noon. We saw City Island for $6 each. Post-theater, we ripped out a two-for-one coupon from our Entertainment Book for the Seattle Art Museum, and spent a pleasant hour and a half taking in the Andy Warhol (free tours) and the Kurt Cobain exhibits. Cost: $15 for two with the coupon.
       The day ended with an early dinner at Il Fornaio at Pacific Place where happy hour starts at 4:30 p.m. with free appetizers in the upstairs lounge. Beer and wine is $3-$4 and full-size pizzas are $5. We each had a beer and shared a pizza for $15 including tax and tip.
       Total spent for the day: $55 - Not bad for breakfast, movie, museum and dinner!