You know how I love my wine! That’s part of the reason I came up with my quest to visit all the wineries in Washington State – over 900 of them! You can find more about that quest on my new wine website, Seattle Bits & Bites, where I’ll be writing about my quest and visiting wineries. But there will be more – the site is about all things related to wine tourism, and will include winery information and visits, news, food, restaurants, festivals and events, tasting rooms, attractions and more. It’s all the things that go right along with wine to make life enjoyable. I’ll share bits of information about where to get the great bites around the state, whether that’s a formal winemaker dinner, a burger and shake at a roadside drive in, or the latest restaurant to […]
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Weekend Getaway: Gig Harbor, Washington
The Pacific Northwest town of Gig Harbor, Washington, is located across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Tacoma and is about a 45-minute drive from Sea-Tac Airport. The town has taken its rich history of commercial fishing and boat building and turned its downtown area into a historic waterfront community that attracts visitors with its galleries, parks, public and private docks and marinas, shopping, and dining. It is also one of the many small towns that promote itself as the gateway to Olympic Peninsula. It’s easy to think of Gig Harbor as a summer destination, and it is a great one, but don’t overlook the value that can be found in the shoulder or offseason. Fall is a beautiful time in the area, sunny and crisp days, but the rainy season means fewer people and lower prices. Things to Do Enjoy a […]
Read MoreTalking About Seattle on the Amateur Traveler
I’ve lived in Washington State all of my life, and the greater Seattle area for most of it. When my friend Chris Christensen from the Amateur Travler wanted to talk about the city, I was happy to oblige. The discussion center mostly on things to do in downtown Seattle, things you wouldn’t need a car to go see or do. Take a listen below, or visit Amateur Traveler Episode 502 – Travel to Seattle, Washington for show notes and to subscribe via iTunes. Amateur Traveler Episode 502 – Travel to Seattle, Washington
Read MoreLooking Good in Bangkok: Buying Custom Made Clothes
Cleaning out the ill fitting clothing in my closet, and replacing them with items that I love and that fit well, has been on my to-do list for far too long. To be very clear – haute couture is not in my budget, and it’s never going to be. I’m a casual kind of gal, and I prefer to spend money on travel and experiences rather than more “stuff.” BUT – buying some custom made clothes has long been on my bucket list.Who knew that a week in Bangkok would be the impetus to get it done. I was in Bangkok for a conference and received an email from my friend Scott Eddy (in photo, right) letting me know that he was heading off to Jackie’s Tailor to get some new items and inviting friends to join him. Scott divides his time between the […]
Read MoreFestive Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Zoolights has been going on for over 25 years at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and up until this weekend, I’ve haven’t ventured out to see it. It was a real treat, despite the cold, and listening to guest talk about this year’s display, comparing to previous years, it’s clear that this is an annual tradition for many. Over a half a million lights went into this year’s Zoolights displays, creating a magic world of animals, local landmarks, and festive bits of nature. My favorite was the family of polar bears with Mt. Rainier in the background, although it’s hard not to like the 22-foot giant crab with moving pincers and the replica of the twin span Narrows Bridge. Note the detail in the bridge display, right down to the white lights representing oncoming traffic and the red lights […]
Read MoreHotel Review: Mayflower Park Hotel, Seattle
Mayflower Park Hotel Address: The Mayflower Park Hotel is located at 405 Olive Way, Seattle, Washington. Value Luxury Rating: (out of 3 hearts) Features: Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the classic European-styled Mayflower Park Hotel dates back to 1927. The lobby features chandeliers and antiques, creating an inviting atmosphere for checking in, meeting a guest or just relaxing before heading out for the day. It is accessible by light rail direct from the airport, about a 40-minute trip. The hotel has 160 rooms and 29 suites decorated in color schemes similar to the lobby, and each room features art specially designed for it. Contrasting with the classic headboards and armoires, are all the necessary modern amenities such as a flat panel television, coffee maker, and free wifi. Price Range: I stayed in a King Suite, which had […]
Read MoreThere’s a New Bird in Town: Goldfinch Tavern at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
After months (and months) of construction, and months (and months) of wondering what it would be like, the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle and Ethan Stowell have now opened the Goldfinch Tavern. Named for Washington’s state bird, the Goldfinch Tavern offers simply prepared Pacific Northwest cuisine made with premium local ingredients. Open for break, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and daily happy hour, the restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows framing great views of Elliott Bay, the Seattle Great Wheel and the Olympic Mountains. While I haven’t sampled the menu yet, a quick look at the dinner menu reveals a nice selection of seafood and beef, served in a shared, family-style manner. If you’re not the sharing type, order in courses, and keep all the delicious choices to yourself. Appetizers are priced from $4, entrees from $17, and sides are $8. The wine and cocktails list […]
Read MorePaul McCartney Out There in Center Field at Safeco Field
It was big, it was bold, it was Out There last night as Paul McCartney played center field in Seattle’s Safeco Field. For its first major concert held in the stadium, you could hardly go wrong with the legendary Sir Paul, who last played Seattle eight years ago. What can you say about a musician who has held audiences in the palm of his hand for over 50 years. And who, at 71 years of age, can still headline a show for two and a half hours (including two encores). Oh sure, there were a couple of times his voice showed the age (Yesterday), but there were ten times more that he delivered in spades. I jumped on buying tickets early (thank you Amex Gold card advance ticket option), grabbing field seats in the middle section. The seats were 32 […]
Read MorePostcard from Seattle: Summer in the City
I’ve spent most of today in downtown Seattle, glued to a chair in front of my keyboard. But – it’s time to knock off for the weekend and enjoy the evening at the Paul McCartney concert at Safeco Field. How are you kicking off your weekend?
Read MorePostcard: Downtown Seattle Skyline
I’ve lived in the greater Seattle area most all of my life, and during that time I’ve seen a lot of changes in the downtown skyline. No matter which direction you’re looking, there’s always something to catch your eye.
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