Seattle is not considered a destination place for autumn colors. Leaf peeping is well known in the New England states, and some places in the Rockies have their fans. Sadly, the Pacific Northwest is rarely on lists of fall destinations for colors. However, if you know where to go, Seattle can offer some wonderful autumn color gems. One of the important things to note about the Seattle area is the influence of the Japanese gardens. It is within these gardens…
Articles with Seattle
Encountering Starbucks Throughout the World
I did not grow up in a coffee drinking family. My parents seldom drank any. They were much more likely to drink tea. In fact, as my father grew older, he would always have a pitcher of iced tea in the refrigerator. Coffee was just not part of our life. Shortly after college I moved to the Dominican Republic for four years. There I began to have some exposure to coffee. The Dominicans would serve coffee in small demitasse cups…
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Mt. Rainier Plays Peek-A-Boo For A Day
While the Space Needle is the iconic sight for Seattle, Mt. Rainier is the icon for the state of Washington. In fact, despite Washington having many mountains, locals often refer to it as simply, “the mountain.” If you can get the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier in the same picture, then you really have a classic Washington picture. Unfortunately Mt. Rainier is not always as visible as we would like. The areas infamous rainy days often hides it from view.…
Bloedel Reserve: Following the Trail
If you are in need of a quiet place in the midst of our chaotic world today, visit a garden. In a previous post I suggested three gardens to visit. Today I am suggesting just one, The Bloedel Reserve which USA Today recently named one of the 10 best botanical gardens in the U.S. The Bloedel Reserve is located at the northern end of Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound. This 150 acre garden and forest area was originally the home…
The Quest for the Perfect Space Needle Photo (Updated 2024)
People easily recognize photos of some cities around the world because of that iconic structure that everyone knows. Think the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Arch in St. Louis. For Seattle that recognizable structure is the Space Needle. It is a architectural wonder like no other. If you visit Seattle, you have to get a photo of it. The Space Needle was built in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair. After the fair it became an important part of…
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Gardens to Visit In and Near Seattle
The state of Washington’s nickname is the Evergreen State. Many people think it rains here all the time. That’s not really true. We don’t have a lot of heavy rains, but many gray days with a light rain. Summers, however, can be quite beautiful and warm. In fact this is a perfect climate to grow many wonderful plants, and gardening is a popular activity in the Puget Sound region. Garden enthusiasts can find a number of gardens in the Seattle…
Discovering Seattle: Volunteer Park
This coming Friday (4/10/2020) my daughter and I were supposed to leave for the Netherlands, but we are obviously not going. She had wanted to see the tulips, and next week is her spring vacation. However, the COVID-19 has changed so many things including travel. It has ceased, and since I am writing a travel blog, that’s been a bit tough. Fortunately I live in a beautiful area that I can share about with others. Also I have memories of…
Discovering Seattle: The Boeing Plant
Often it is the things in our own backyard that we never get around to seeing. We make a point to visit specific places when we travel, but often we fail to visit the attractions in our own hometown. Such was the case with the Boeing Plant. I knew the company offered tours, but in 40 years I had never visited. I finally changed that after a friend recently told me about his experience. The tour of the Boeing Plant…