In June I visited Lake Wilderness Arboretum in Maple Valley, south of Seattle. I enjoyed exploring various gardens, noting the seasonal blooms, the legacy garden contributions, and the children’s discovery area. While some gardens were past their prime, the visit revealed unique plants and tranquility, proving the arboretum’s value as a community space.
Washington State
Places to visit in the state of Washington
New Waterfront Gateway to Seattle
The author and his wife explored Seattle’s waterfront, transformed after the demolition of the elevated viaduct. They visited Pike Place Market, enjoying new access paths and artistic spaces. The revitalized waterfront features parks, shops, and cultural attractions, exemplifying a vibrant public space celebrating the city’s natural beauty and community.
Spokane’s Unexpected Urban Waterfalls and Gonzaga University
The author explores Spokane, Washington, on a road trip to Glacier National Park. Despite encountering rain, they enjoy a day in the city, visiting Gonzaga University, St. Aloysius Church, and the Expo ’74 island with its notable landmarks. Highlights include beautiful gardens, waterfalls, and unique urban art installations.
Seattle’s Lumen Field Reveals its Secrets
Seattle is a popular tourist destination. Many come here to start their cruise to Alaska. Others enjoy exploring Pike Place Market and the Seattle Center with its Space Needle and Chihuley Glass Exhibit. Of course wandering the newly rebuilt waterfront is another attraction. Once a visitor has done all that, then what? As in every city there are always some less obvious sights to see. One such option in Seattle is a tour of Seattle’s football and soccer field, Lumen…
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New Garden on the Skagit Tulip Festival Tour
We visit Skagit Acres, a new garden to enjoy during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mt. Vernon, Washington
Discovering the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge
This trip has been about touring some of the byways in northeastern Oregon. There was one more byway in Oregon I wanted to tour, but we couldn’t make it work with our schedule. Instead I suggested we drive along the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge to see what it had to offer. Most people drive the Oregon side because of the ease of the I-84 freeway. Checking out the other side of the river seemed a unique opportunity.…
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Cruising White Pass in Washington down to Oregon
There are many ways to get to Oregon from Washington state. From Seattle, the obvious way is to head south on I-5. However, for this trip we were headed to Northeastern Oregon, and I decided we should go the scenic route over White Pass. Crossing the Cascade Mountain range, which runs north and south through Washington, is necessary if one wants to travel east. The main Washington route is I-90 which takes one all the way to Boston if one…
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The Colors of Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Two years ago my daughter Andrea and I visited the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in the Netherlands. They had an amazing variety of tulips, and the beauty of their gardens is unrivaled. It’s a very worthwhile experience. However, not everyone can cross the ocean to see tulips. Fortunately, there are places here in the United States that celebrate tulips, and one of them is just north of Seattle in the Skagit Valley. Skagit Valley is one of the last major agricultural…
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A Hike and a Waterfall in Snoqualmie, Washington
A natural site one can count on to attract a crowd is a waterfall. My daughter Andrea is particularly fond of searching out waterfalls which we did on our trip to Iceland. There are many waterfalls in the northwest, but if you are looking for one that is easy to get to from Seattle, then Snoqualmie Falls is the one to check out. On a clear, beautiful day in March we decided to drive up to see the falls. First,…
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Dash Point State Park: From the Beach to the Forest
A beautiful, sunny day in February is a great opportunity to do some exploring. On such a Saturday we decided to travel down to Federal Way and explore Dash Point State Park. Washington state has over 100 state parks so there are a number of locations to see, and we have only visited a few of them. It was time to explore more. Dash Point is on Puget Sound in Federal Way. We took the 320th St. exit off I-5…
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