ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
Mount Rainier is a majestic part of the Seattle skyline. That's, of course, when you can see it through the precipitation and heavy cloud cover that characterize our weather most of the time. But, this year has been different. We've had almost uninterrupted warm and clear weather since May, for us an unimaginably long dry period... Continue Reading →
Among the many sea stacks that are found along the Pacific Coast, Cannon Beach is famed as much for iconic Haystack Rock as for its art galleries, boutique shops and restaurants. It's natural to think that Cannon Beach has the tallest stack along Oregon's coast, maybe because of the town's unverifiable claim ("third largest intertidal monolith in the world"), but the one... Continue Reading →
The day was perfect for exploring at Cape Kiwanda. From the rocky shore, it's natural to look out to sea.
Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose has found a home in the most unlikely of places in McMinnville, Oregon, housed in the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, having made its way from southern California. Originally built as a World War II transport aircraft, made entirely of wood, it retains the record of having the longest wingspan (almost... Continue Reading →
Along the Grove of the Patriarchs in Mount Rainier National Park, there is a fallen old growth Douglas Fir that is easily hundreds of years old. To me, its most remarkable characteristic is a fantastic burl that looks very much like a bubbling mud pool.
The first time my wife and I stayed at Sun Mountain Lodge over a decade ago, there were abundant wildflowers on the trails nearby. In spots, they were so profuse that the ground was covered with them. It was an experience that stayed in my memory, one only matched by the wildflower displays on the Big... Continue Reading →
One of my favorite public markets is located only three-hours drive north in Vancouver, B.C., which also happens to be one of my favorite nearby cities to visit. Granville Market is part of a much larger complex of shops, artist studios, galleries, restaurants, theaters and more, on Granville Island just south of downtown Vancouver. Finding parking... Continue Reading →
Anyone who travels along the Seawall Walk around Stanley Park can't help but notice Siwash Rock. It stands out as a rugged, basaltic outcropping slightly offshore in stark contrast to the smooth sandstone hillsides. Adding to its distinctiveness is the Douglas fir growing on top.
Squish. Pop. Squish. Pop. My shoes were making sounds on fields of muddy clay. In order to admire the daffodils in the Skagit Valley, i had to carefully plant one foot, then lift the other while trying to avoid water puddles, not exactly my idea of having fun. The epic rains that got dumped on our area yesterday soaked everything. But, if... Continue Reading →
I'm a sucker for farmers markets. It's not only because they sell fresh local produce, but the fact that the produce may be native to the area and the prepared foods reflective of what the locals eat. Of those I've visited in the U.S., my personal favorite is not my city's Pike Place Market, Seattle's pride and... Continue Reading →
zoomeboshi 