The Evergreen State

Washington State is known as The Evergreen State for good reason. Majestic evergreens fill the landscape with their beauty most anywhere you go. We recently visited family in the Seattle area and took advantage of unusually good weather to be outdoors as much as possible. 

In the Redmond area is Sammamish river and lake and we found a park near our hotel stay that had several choices of trails and while our family was busy at work and school, we drove to Marymoor Park and looked at our options. The park is quite large and includes trails of varying length and a huge area where dogs are allowed to be unleashed. 

The trail we chose, the Marymoor Park Loop, would take us down to a boardwalk that went along the lake shore and was just under two miles long. It turned out to be half paved and half with walkable surface some of which included quite a mulched trail where the loop took us through part of the unleashed dog area. We were a bit concerned about entering that area on the way back but the few dogs we encountered were all well behaved and more interested in playing catch with their owners. 

The opening onto the lake gave us some pretty views of all those evergreens reflected in the water and we marveled at some of the bird life we saw. I wished at this point I had brought my good camera. As nice as the iPhone is, it still does not zoom like my camera does.

The loop trail complete, we decided to go back the way we came to get to the park and walk the river trail we had passed by. Of course we got distracted when we saw on the map an area called the Heron Rookery. We parked on the street and walked behind some apartment buildings to get to it. If there was a rookery there once it was gone now. The place where there might have been a small pond was filled in and covered with mulch which I'm sure would make a great place for kids or dogs to run and play.

A bit disappointed, we found our way to an easy place to park and walk the river trail along the Sammamish River. That too was a very pleasant walk and we walked one direction, returned and moved on. It was time to meet family for lunch and then get ready for a graduation celebration for our grandson.

The day after graduation was predicted to have a little rain but we woke to sunny skies. With everyone back at school and work, we were on our own to explore again. We had to choose between going into Seattle or going up the mountain a bit to see the Snoqualmie Falls. We chose the falls. We'd been there once before with our family but it had been a cold day and we didn't linger long.

The waterfall is 268 feet high and had thunderous water rushing down into the river. From the pictures posted nearby, the falls appeared to be at peak production. Below the observation area is hydropower plant #1 which is underground and originated in 1898 when a 23 year old civil engineer named Charles Baker envisioned a way to produce power for the growing population of Seattle. The plant combined with it's companion plant #2 generate enough power for 25,000 to 40,000 households.

We enjoyed the falls view for a bit and then walked over to the Salish Lodge and Spa for a mid-morning tea and pastry. The lodge is amazing inside and out and sits right next to the falls. From the outdoor seating you can view the falls. Unfortunately, it had started to rain a bit so we sat inside and enjoyed a pot of loose leaf tea with my blueberry muffin and Bob's "gotta have" cup of chowder. 

While we sat waiting for our tea, I looked up the cost of the rooms at the lodge. Whoa! Out of our price range. Biscuits arrived as a usual fair at our table and we were asked if we wanted some honey. The lodge has their own local source and the waiter takes the honey scoop and holds it about three feet up in the air and expertly dribbles the honey over the biscuits.

While enjoying our tea, the rain subsided and the radar showed that there was a good break between rain clouds so we opted to walk the ten minutes to the hydroelectric museum across the river. Not too many people it seemed were very interested in the displays as we were the only ones there except for the two interns who were working there for the summer. 

There was a lot of antique equipment including an old test set I found interesting since that the sort of thing Bob used to design and produce at his company. Just as we were about to step outside, the rain started up again. We weren't going anywhere since we hadn't thought to bring an umbrella.

One of the interns suggested we look into the exhibits next door at the old train station. We found a video running that was interesting and sat down to watch it while we waited the rain out. It answered my question about the Snoqualmie tribe that had ceded its land to the government. In the first display I'd seen, it didn't mention anything they got in return. The video explained that they received some monetary compensation as well as schools, and a few other needed structures. They also retained rights to a reservation and fishing rights on the river which was very important to them.

The rain finally let up and we hustled back to our car in the lot by the falls. We had enjoyed the best of the morning and early afternoon and didn't mind so much the rain. After all, it keeps those evergreens replenished.

Flashback Friday - Meet The Man

My boys (all grown now) have a knack for finding the most unusual places to eat. Here's a look back at one we went to in the Seattle area in 2008. I'm assuming it is still open. The most recent review I could find on it was from April of this year.

So where would you take your parents for lunch when they come to visit? How about an old automotive garage under a freeway?

When we recently visited our son and his family out in the Seattle area, he took us to the place where all the Microsoft geeks get together, Dixies Barbeque. It's actually a very popular tourist attraction and known for it's very, very. . .did I say VERY hot barbeque sauce.

When we pulled into the place, I figured he was just turning around because he'd missed the restaurant. But no, he parked the car and we all got out and ambled past the back porch--or maybe it was the front porch--that stretched across the facade of an old automotive garage. The porch had a couple of long tables covered in vinyl cloths with an eclectic collection of chairs including a rocker, some computer chairs, and various wooden kitchen chairs. Could this be where they put together the idea for VISTA?

We entered a tiny room brimming with smells of barbeque sauce. The limited menu included pulled pork, pulled pork over sausage, BBQ chicken, and side dishes of beans, beans and rice, and corn bread. You could purchase plain or sweetened tea or go to the vending machine near the exit door to buy your soda.

The lady I assumed was Dixie sat at the end of the serving counter pouring tea and taking money and all the while kibitzing with the customers. But the big question of the day was "Do you want to meet the man?" The man is how they refer to their hottest BBQ sauce. My acid indigestion was churning up just smelling it but my son said he couldn't go back to his office without "meeting the man."

Only a few drops on a small section of his sandwich was enough to redden his face, cause his neck to sweat, and send his father back in to get a second glass of tea hoping that would cure him. Once he could talk again, we sat back and enjoyed our sanwiches which, by the way, could have fed an army of computer techs, and wondered how in the world anyone would think to come here to eat. It just proves the power of word of mouth advertising and finding the right mouths to spread the word--that is if they can still talk after meeting the man.

Port of Call - Seattle, WA

Seattle was the starting and ending point for our cruise. Because of our family living there, we have visited often. It is a great city to spend some time in either before or after a cruise. On our way out of the harbor, I grabbed some great shots of the skyline and Mt. Rainier was kind enough to show itself as we sailed away. Mt. Rainier is a bit like Mt. McKinley (Denali). It manufactures its own weather system and is often shrouded by clouds. But when it clears, it is glorious.

There are beautiful mountain areas that surround the Seattle area. The waterways lend an unsurpassed beauty to the city and surrounding towns. Downtown Seattle is fascinating in itself with its history. We have explored the underground where the old part of Seattle still lies after the new Seattle was built on the ruins of the burned buildings after the great fire of 1889. The city was subject to flooding so it was all built up higher to prevent further problems. It's a fascinating tour and story.



Of course there's the space needle, the landmark of the city, and the Farmer's Market where you can watch the infamous "fish toss." The first Starbucks is right around the corner from the market. Plenty of places to shop, eat, and lots of coffee places to get your caffeine hit. If you'd like to see some of the things we've done in past visits, check out my travel index for Washington.

Flat Stanley Finds Sunshine at Snoqualmie Summit

Sunday morning after an early church service and with ski gear loaded and strapped to the van, we tucked Stanley into the camera case and headed for Snoqualmie Summit, a ski resort in the Cascades east of Redmond (Seattle).

It was still pretty foggy and frosty as we drove the west shore of Lake Sammamish to connect with I-90 and head up into the mountains. On a prettier, sunnier day the lake is quite nice and a popular spot to hang out at some of the park areas that can be found nearby. In the summer, lots of water sports and sand castle building goes on.

From Redmond it is about an hours drive to the Snoqualmie Summit. If you continue on I-90, it takes you to Snoqualmie Pass which is a little over 3000 feet high. The Pass is the largest of three routes through the Washington Cascades and is open year round but can be pretty dangerous in bad winter weather.

As we neared the base of the mountains and began to climb, it didn't take long for ears to start popping. But, wondered Stanley, where is the snow?

As we climbed further, we found ourselves above the fog and the sun shone brightly. Soon after, we began to see signs of snow, not just frost, and suddenly the sides of the road were piled high where the plows had cleared the pavement. There was reportedly a 66" base of snow for the skiers.


Snoqualmie Summit resort was packed with families. Adults and kids of all ages clomped about in ski boots with their skis tossed up on their shoulders. Soon our family group was divided into their lesson areas and off to learn the day's new skills. The older, non-skiing folks, took Stanley into the lodge to warm up and sip some hot drinks. Later, they joined the others around the outdoor fire pit before beginning the trip home.

The beauty of the area was not lost on Stanley. I could hear him sigh as he watched an eagle soar over distant pine trees. The brilliantly lit snow from the bright sunshine was a welcome change from all the dreary fog of the last few days. What a difference between the area near the sea and the mountain top!

It was good that Stanley got used to a little snow because he was about to travel to another area of the country that was white with the cold fluffy stuff.

Flat Stanley: Will the Seattle Fog Lift?

Poor Stanley. So much to see in Seattle and too much fog to see it. Those are the chances you take when you travel even if it is in an envelope.

Saturday morning began with dropping off the grands at their Japanese school. The Seattle area has a large Japanese population and there are small schools in the area that offer the opportunity for kids with Japanese heritage to learn Japanese writing, reading, etc. as well as culture and tradition. It was still pretty foggy  and frosty when we dropped the older kids off at their Saturday morning school.

Instead of driving into Seattle, we opted to head back to the house to warm up again and share some pictures and stories of other trips to Seattle in much nicer weather. We told Stanley that when we visited the Space Needle, the iconic landmark of Seattle, it was a much warmer day in June and there was no frosty fog. The views of the city and Puget Sound were breathtaking.

The Space Needle was built in 1962 for the World's Fair. The original sketch was made on a napkin and was the idea of Edward E. Carlson. It took 13 months to build at a cost of $4.5 million. A hole 30 feet deep and 120 feet wide, filled with cement, anchors the Needle which was engineered to withstand 200 mph winds.

But everything that's interesting about Seattle can't be seen from above ground. Below the ground level under the sidewalks and streets is a maze of tunnels that allow you to explore some of the oldest parts of Seattle. The city was originally built on soggy tideflats and was subject to nasty flooding every time it rained for any length of time. After the Great Fire of 1889 the city was rebuilt over the top of the old city and retaining walls were constructed to control the flooding. It's quite an interesting tour to take on a warm day when you want to cool off.

At street level, in the heart of the city is another iconic landmark of Seattle, the Public Market Center, a huge market with vegetables, flowers, meats, and the entertaining fish markets. The fish company is noted for their fish toss. When someone places an order, they toss the huge fish to the butcher who prepares the order. It is a fascinating place to wander through and plan to eat lunch at.

But alas, the weather was just too bad for all that touring and unfortunately most of us had nasty colds and were feeling bad so we spent the Saturday cuddled up near the fireplace enjoying each other's company and playing games. Stanley fit right in.

We wondered though, would the sun break through on Sunday?

Flat Stanley in Frosty Seattle

Flat Stanley arrived toward the end of our stay in Seattle. Unfortunately he missed the few sunny days we had at the beginning of the week. Seattle's temps in January average 48 F. The week we stayed to sit with our grands, the temps were in the mid-30s and chilled you to the bone. The always moist air iced into a thick fog that covered trees and bushes with crystals of ice. It made the foliage look sugar-coated.

Each morning we walked the older kids to school and were amazed to see some of their school friends in shirt sleeves while we shivered in our winter coats. Hardy folks those Seattle area people. but then they are used to a misty rain most mornings. The climate is described as temperate or oceanic mild. Trees and bushes grow well in the climate and the area has huge pines that grace the landscape.


The city of Seattle sits between Puget Sound on the Pacific Ocean side and Lake Washington to the east. From there, the metropolitan area spreads out to the east where we were located in Redmond, home to the huge Microsoft headquarters complex. The Microsoft complex is like a huge university sprawling across acres of land with multiple buildings that make it a small community in itself. The Microsoft influence can be seen all over the area. The mall in the nearby city of Bellevue has a large Microsoft store to wander through and play in with all the latest MS hardware and software.

Even further to the east lie the Cascade Mountains. On clear days their snow capped tops stand out against the blue skies. When the sun clears the air and the clouds part, you can glimpse Mt. Rainier in the distance. At first glance you might think the mountain was named for the notorious claim that the area is always rainy but no, it's named for a man, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier.

Now that Flat Stanley had arrived, the question was what would we do to show him around? Our grands decided that we'd start with a trip to their favorite restaurant, Wibbley's Gourmet Hamburgers in Bellevue. It's a little restaurant in a small strip mall but had the greatest hamburgers. I looked closely and sure enough, there seemed to be a slight smile on Stanley's face.

What to show Stanley next? The Space Needle? The Farmer's Market? The Original Starbucks?

Through My Lens - Frosty Seattle

Only in Seattle. . .

Where else would you find a sign like this but in Seattle?

Washington - The Olympic Peninsula

On our recent visit to Seattle to see family, we packed the grands in the van and set out for the Olympic Peninsula to the northwest. Taking the most direct route ("Are we there yet?"), we boarded a ferry in Seattle and took the 35 minute ride across to Bainbridge Island.

Bainbridge Island would have been a nice day trip as well with all the different shops that line the main street (and once the new paving is done, it will be easy to navigate). We shopped a bit and then stopped for lunch at Cafe Nola. After indulging in their specialty, the Dungeness Crab Melt, sampling some delicious mussels, and sharing some truffel fries (fries seasoned with truffel oil), we set out for the drive to Olympic National Park.

Our son stopped at the information center when we arrived about an hour later and purchased a day pass for the park. (Passes are also necessary for the state park as well.) Our first destination was the overlook on Mount Walker about 2800 feet up and accessible by one very long, narrow winding road (or a trail if you want to hike straight up 2.000 feet). Two options allow for a view to the south and north. To the south you get a fantastic eagle's view of the city. On a really clear day it is probably spectacular. The north view is more mountains and below lush green countryside of the rainforest and glimpses of Puget Sound.

A few miles south of Quilcene we parked and hiked the short trail to Falls View Falls. The kids were especially impressed with this as we watchen the water tumble over the smoothly warn path it has made in the rock wall. There are many waterfalls in the park. This was probably one of the most easily accessible. A waterfall trail is available online if you are ambitious and looking for a good hike.

Nest we drove to Dosewallips State Park to walk out to the beach where people are allowed to dig for clams and oysters. There are rules and regulations one of which is that you must shuck the oysters there on the beach and leave the shells. This made for great scavenging for the kids who picked up large shells and dug with them and used them to try to catch small crabs in the water.


While a day is certainly not enough to explore all this region has to offer, our day was filled with spectacular views, great fresh air and even the sun which sometimes doesn't cooperate in the Seattle area. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to return sometime and take the 101 highway all the way around the park.

Seattle--Tugboat Races

When we were in college, it was always said that there were submarine races down on the Olentangy River at midnight. Of course that was always said by the guys to the girls. So when my son started talking about tugboat races in Seattle, I thought perhaps he was kidding. But no. Sure enough we got down to the waterfront and there were the tugs out along the shore steaming along in several scrimmages. And I might add that tugs are not the slow boats I imagined. They raced past at a good clip.

The Seattle Marina Festival had a great crowd and lots of entertainment. For a small donation, we were able to build small wooden sailboats with the grands and of course enjoy the best part, getting feet wet in the small fountain where the kids floated their boats.

Seattle gets a bad rap for weather but this past weekend could not have been any more perfect. Temps in the upper 60s, a cloudless sky, and a cool breeze. We even got some great glimpses of Mount Ranier, snowcapped and majestic in the distance.

The waterfront area is a joy to wander. Lots of shops and restaurants and those ever-necessary ice cream stops popular with our grandkids (and grandpa too).

Meet the Man

So where would you take your parents for lunch when they come to visit? How about an old automotive garage under a freeway?

When we recently visited our son and his family out in the Seattle area, he took us to the place where all the Microsoft geeks get together, Dixies Barbeque. It's actually a very popular tourist attraction and known for it's very, very. . .did I say VERY hot barbeque sauce.

When we pulled into the place, I figured he was just turning around because he'd missed the restaurant. But no, he parked the car and we all got out and ambled past the back porch--or maybe it was the front porch--that stretched across the facade of an old automotive garage. The porch had a couple of long tables covered in vinyl cloths with an eclectic collection of chairs including a rocker, some computer chairs, and various wooden kitchen chairs. Could this be where they put together the idea for VISTA?

We entered a tiny room brimming with smells of barbeque sauce. The limited menu included pulled pork, pulled pork over sausage, BBQ chicken, and side dishes of beans, beans and rice, and corn bread. You could purchase plain or sweetened tea or go to the vending machine near the exit door to buy your soda.

The lady I assumed was Dixie sat at the end of the serving counter pouring tea and taking money and all the while kibitzing with the customers. But the big question of the day was "Do you want to meet the man?" The man is how they refer to their hottest BBQ sauce. My acid indigestion was churning up just smelling it but my son said he couldn't go back to his office without "meeting the man."

Only a few drops on a small section of his sandwich was enough to redden his face, cause his neck to sweat, and send his father back in to get a second glass of tea hoping that would cure him. Once he could talk again, we sat back and enjoyed our sanwiches which, by the way, could have fed an army of computer techs, and wondered how in the world anyone would think to come here to eat. It just proves the power of word of mouth advertising and finding the right mouths to spread the word--that is if they can still talk after meeting the man.