It is downright embarrassing that we have lived in Washington State most of our lives (since we were 7 & 8 years old!) and have never been to the Olympic National Park (ONP). This shame has been rectified, and it was amazing.

Located on the Olympic Peninsula in upper left Washington State, the gateway to the ONP is really Port Angeles. There are several lodges and resorts closer to the park as well as Airbnb rentals and camping.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – I got the first speeding ticket that I’ve gotten in probably 25 years!  We came down a hill, about 30 min out of our destination and got tagged by what seemed like a 12-year old deputy from the Jefferson Country Sheriff’s Office.  I swear I was already slowing down, pacing the cars in front of me and barely in the reduced speed zone.  Ugh…after this and the “dreaded shake-down” in Yucatan, I should not get behind the wheel on any more sisbehaving adventures.

Our Stay in Sequim

In the absence of availability in Port Angeles, we opted to stay in Sequim (say it like Squid with an m, “Squim”), a short little hop to the east. We found the cutest little cottages on the water overlooking the Strait of Juan De Fuca, ironically enough called The Juan de Fuca Cottages.

Juan de Fuca Cottages were perfect!  Absolutely beautiful, with an amazing view of the water and their own waterfront beach area (in the summer they have kayaks you can borrow, in a shed that is seriously creepy in winter).

ssn – you can actually see Victoria, Canada.  I saw the buildings glimmering in the sunshine!  LOL, recall back to our ferry captain in Wisconsin laughing at me (“Jesus Christ, no”) when I asked if you could see Canada from Lake Superior. 

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The cottages (and water) are set back a bit off the highway that runs through town, about a 10 min drive.  But there are a couple of great local places to stop for lavender and produce, the Olympic Game Farm, and a lovely little creamery.  So, don’t go for the easy stop at a chain hotel in town, you will find a cuter experience making the drive out to the water.

Dinner and Drinks in Sequim

The first night we stopped in at the Salty Girls Seafood Company for dinner, and I’m sure it’s fairly obvious that this was chosen completely based on the name.  We loved the atmosphere and the people.  The menu reeled us in with the oysters and cocktails. They keep it simple, focused on what they do best: Oysters.  The clam chowder was fantastic as well, and we loved completing our meal of shared foods with the grown-up grilled cheese.

We were really in the mood for a little sisterly bar-hopping after our cocktails with dinner. 

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much open in this sleepy little town on a Thursday night. 

However, we did stumble upon Blondie’s! This was a glorious find, a converted church with a little bar in the back.  Blondie herself was there hanging out, and she was a hoot and a half! (that’s my official measurement).  Great cocktails and friendly people, we would definitely come back.

ssn – we ended our night in one of our favorite ways. Back to our charming cottage where we “comfied” up in our provided matching robes, poured ourselves some whiskey and giggled about our day and our adventures to come.

Quest to Olympic National Park

The next morning, we were up super early, before the sun, to head to the National Park. 

We had mapped out our route, because you can do most of the park in one day, it just involves a lot of driving between spots.  Basically the furthest point we wanted to get to was the Hoh Rainforest, with stops along the way including the beaches at La Push and anything else that drew us in. 

We only had two days and we were determined to crush as much out of those two days as possible.

Olympic National Park – a Few Items Worth Noting

Time and Miles

The park is huge, nearly a million acres! Highway 101 is the main road around the perimeter of the peninsula and most destinations are accessible by roads that branch off of it. But it can be a lot of driving between the highlights. I recommend spending a few days.  However, we were short on time and just wanted to experience as much as possible.  Take your time, hike all the hikes, stop at all the lookout points, and wander the visitor centers. 

Weather

When you are traveling the peninsula, be cautious of the time of year you choose.  It is not uncommon to get snow in September or April, but it is packed with tourists over the summer. 

Summer is gorgeous, but if you find beauty in hazy grey skies then early fall or late spring is perfect for you to avoid the crowds. During summer you will encounter traffic and waits to get in as the lines back up at the entrances, plan accordingly.

Wear layers, because the weather is unpredictable.  It was beautifully sunny as we drove into the Rain Forest then poured rain and hailed 20 minutes later.

The National Park Pass

It is a National Park, and we highly recommend investing in an America the Beautiful National Park Pass, but there are plenty of spots you can see without having to actually enter the park.  Hoh is not one of them, so just get the dang pass, it’s worth it.

Back to our Journey

We knew we wanted to hit the ocean beaches first, and it was a two hour drive to La Push, therefore, early pre-sunrise start. 

Basically, head for Port Angeles and hang a left, and drive through this gorgeous Olympic Highway lined with evergreens and fantastic foliage.

It was dark so it took us a minute to realize we were passing Lake Crescent.  It was just prior to sunrise, we stopped for some lovely but dark-ish picture taking, and just to enjoy the view. 

The air is just so crisp, and it feels good to breathe around all those trees. The sun was just starting to come up, and it makes for just a beautiful peaceful drive.  Well, ok, it would be peaceful if weren’t having a little carpool Karaoke going on, but we rocked it, and it felt good.

La Push

The drive takes you right along the twisting, turning Sol Duc River, so the views are incredible along this area. 

We arrived at La Push fairly early in the morning, with hopes of finding breakfast.  But had zero luck in La Push with anything being open. 

So, another note to travelers, pack snacks. As I stated the park is huge, and there is a lot of driving between spots, bring water, bring road snacks.

La Push is a cute little town on the Native American reservation of the Quileute tribe.  It is also known as the home of Jacob in the Twilight series.

Second Beach

La Push has four unique beaches: Rialto, First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach.

They put a lot of thought and creativity into these names. 

If you go into the town of La Push, there is a little ocean side lodge, and camping spots, if you plan ahead it is a lovely outdoorsy place to stay.  It has a fantastic ocean view, remembering this is the Washington state version of the Pacific Ocean, not the California version.  It’s absolutely stunning. 

Second Beach – the hike

Although Rialto Beach is the most well-known, we heard that Second Beach was actually the prettiest. So we opted for a hike at Second beach for our first adventure of the morning.  We had a rainy day, which was no surprise, but it made for a slippery hike on the trails.  Come prepared with proper footwear and rain jackets. 

ssn – This was not foreshadowing – which is shocking – neither of us fell.  AND we were appropriately prepared.  Win!

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It felt like at any minute the beach was going to just leap out in front of us, but the trail twisted and turned a while, and then there are slow winding steps actually down to the beach itself.  I kept swearing I was not hiking all the way down to the beach, but at the end of the day I knew I would regret it if I didn’t, and my booty needed to shake all the way down and back up again.  All in all, it’s about 0.8 miles round trip but take it at your own pace, it is worth it. 

Second Beach – the reveal

The hike opens up on this amazing rocky beach, with a few fallen trees, streams of water running out of the trees, and crashing waves on the big beach boulders.  It was stunning! The beach stretches out about 200 yards in either direction, there are rocks to climb on at low tide, but just to stay and breathe in the natural wonder of the Pacific Ocean is incredible.

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Forks, WA

After our hike we were long overdue for food.  Coming out of La Push and continuing our journey led us straight into Forks, WA.  A town known for really only one thing: The Twilight Series. 

If you are a fan of these books, I’m sure this town is already on your radar. 

At the town’s Visitor Center, you’ll find Bella’s truck, take pictures with cardboard cutouts of Edward, Bella, and Jacob, and see movie memorabilia. The town plays up their claim to fame well and provides many sites for those obsessed with the story.

There are several small local restaurants, but be mindful of the limited hours of a small town. And, as is our preference, there are no chain restaurants in the town. We opted for a little Mexican restaurant, small, unassuming, local, and definitely authentic Mexican food, as a chiliquiles lover, I was happy.

Olympic National Park – Hoh Rainforest

After a quick bite to eat and refueling, we were excited to head to the Hoh Rainforest. The drive is just under an hour.

Here’s a big shocker, it rains a lot there.  This is a temperate rainforest, meaning rainfall of around 150″ per year with moderate temperatures. It is the wettest place in the continental United States. It poured the entire time we were there, and you can’t even complain or be shocked, it is just nature at its finest.

The Rainforest is stunning.  In fact, the entire drive in is amazing.

Hoh Rainforest Visitors Center and Hall of Mosses

In late Autumn it was beautiful & haunting, but I am sure at its peak season in summer it would be mind-blowing.  Because it was Autumn, there was naturally a lot of foliage on the ground (it was fall, y’all).  Even though there is an abundance of Sitka Spruce, Red Cedar and Douglas Fir, there are still plenty of deciduous trees, mainly Big Leaf Maples, that drop their leaves this time of year.

ssn – Visitors Centers are always a great place to learn about the native flora, fauna, climate and environment. One of the more unique facts we learned was that the rainforest’s banana slugs eat poop. This prompted giggles and a new euphemism that we still use, “I’ve got to feed the banana slugs”.

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ssn – I would definitely not use the word disappointed, but I was slightly let down by amount of soggy, brown leaves covering the ground.  This sounds ridiculous, I know.  But I was expecting year-round green, lush & dense foliage.  It was still beautiful but just not quite was I was envisioning.

However, let’s talk about the highlight of our entire trip:  THE RIVER OTTERS.  Obsessed?  Why yes, we were.  They were adorable, and I want to go back and visit them again!

The entire Hoh river trail is gorgeous, with the moss covered rocks a bright beautiful green, and the water flowing and tumbling over the fallen trees, beaver dams, and natural twists and turns.

The visit to Hoh is worth the entire day long drive around the ONP loop just to experience this level of beauty.

Beaver Falls

Heading back on Highway 101, we realized we missed every waterfall along the way, due to pre-daylight hours or lack of opportunity.

ssn – we really wanted to do Sol Duc Hot Springs and Sol Duc Falls but there wasn’t quite enough time for that.  Plus, the hike in our still slightly wet clothes and the dropping temperatures didn’t sound all that appealing.

So, we did a quick search and found a roadside surprise in Beaver Falls.

Just a quick side trip off the 101, with a pull off on the side of the road and we got our waterfall junkie fix pretty easily and quickly, and impressively.

Lake Crescent

On our way back to Port Angeles, we drove back passed Lake Crescent, and we were actually surprised at how much we really did miss driving it in the dark that morning.  It is a huge lake, with plenty of viewpoints.  It was strikingly beautiful in the daylight. We also stopped along the way and got some beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains.

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Port Angeles

We had planned to stop for dinner in Port Angeles. It’s a little bigger with more food choices than Sequim.  We were really looking for a sunset view but failed miserably.  Instead, we stopped for a cocktail and a quick appetizer at Smuggler’s landing near the ferry terminal.  It had a pretty standard seafood menu, but we were saving our appetite plus, no view.  Cute little spot for watching the harbor, but not exactly what our souls were craving.

Luckily, we found Next Door Gastropub, because who doesn’t love a good Gastropub.  And it had great reviews.  For a reason!  We loved this little place right on front street.

We secured seats at the bar, with a fabulous staff behind the counter. Craft cocktails and local ingredients; a little seafood done right, and local beef hamburgers. 

Plus, they have a pay it forward board, where you can leave drinks for others.  So, naturally we bought a round for the house for after work.  We left full and happy and looking forward to our day two!

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Olympic Peninsula Day 2

Here is where we disappoint you (and ourselves).  And how we developed our tips about planning accordingly for the weather.

Because our Day Two plans of Hurricane Ridge were snowed out.  We were bummed and wish we would have done that on day one.  Hurricane Ridge is a 17-mile drive up to the mountains, it’s windy and twisty, and scenic to the hilt, and too dangerous for us to drive on Day Two.

Instead, we settled for breakfast with an old friend at the local Big Elk Restaurant, which turned out to be fantastic (I’m sure Peggy has a ssn for her breakfast, because she totally won that round).

ssn – my picture perfect breakfast was hearty and delicious.  Chorizo omelet with the most perfect hashbrowns ever.

Back to Seattle

We ended up heading back to Seattle earlier than planned.  Opting for the scenic route back to Seattle, continuing on Highway 101 along Hood Canal.  It was beautiful but the rain just never stopped.  An early return to Seattle had its upside (besides seeing baby Beckham); it led to our night of Tiki, Thai & Sushi in Seattle. Which ended up being soooo worth it, go read all about it!!!

While you are in the PNW, check out our other posts:

• Seattle Center and the City’s Quirky Neighborhoods
• Seattle Day Drinking (part 1)
• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and Whale Watching
• Tri-Cities, WA
• Portland, OR

Tri-Cities are Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick, with a quiet nod to the outlying areas of West Richland and Benton City.  The cities are located in Eastern Washington, the sunnier, arid side of the state. An easy 3.5 hours southeast of Seattle or 2 hours south of Spokane; where the Columbia River meets the Yakima and Snake Rivers.  Kennewick and Richland sit adjacent to each other on the South shore of the Columbia River, and Pasco across the river to the North.  With a combined population of over 300,00 it is a mid-sized city but definitely maintains a small-town feel.

A Little About the Tri-Cities

Tri-Cities started as a farming community; the area hit a boom with the establishment of the Hanford Nuclear Site in 1944.  The Manhattan Project was created to help in processing the nuclear material and building the “fat man” bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki to help end World War II.  The small community grew overnight with the Hanford Nuclear Reservation continuing to support job growth and economic development.

Pasco is the largest town by area and mostly agricultural; Kennewick is the largest in population and mostly industry and retail, while Richland is the smallest in population but is home to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Columbia Generating Station (the only nuclear power plant in the Pacific Northwest).

It is a fantastic place for families, with relatively low crime rate, good schools, and plenty of parks. The area consistently makes lists such as “most livable small town” and “best place for families.”

But why should you come here? What should you do, eat, drink, and see? Well, here we go with our best suggestions from a local.

Where to Stay

We are partial to Richland, and a stay on the river is your best choice.  Either The Hampton Inn, The Lodge at Columbia Point, or the Courtyard by Marriott; all have beautiful views and are close to restaurants.

If you are in town for a conference, the hotels nearest the Tri-Cities Convention Center in Kennewick are the Springhill Suites, the Hilton Garden Inn or the Best Western. Beware the Red Lion Hotel Columbia Center (you might be tempted because it is a Red Lion, but it is not good).

Any other purpose, just reach out to us and we can help you with our best suggestions.

Definitely Do

Tri-Cities Wine tasting

Alright, winos, did you know that Washington is second only to California in United States wine production?  The Tri-Cities falls within the state’s largest AVA (American Viticultural Area), the Columbia Valley AVA and boasts over 200 wineries within a 50-mile radius.  And the Tri-Cities is situated at the same latitude as the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions of France.  Long summer days, warm temperatures, and low precipitation (5 inches/year) are prime for growing red grape varieties, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (60% of plantings) but also killer Merlot and Syrah (my personal favorite).

Wine tasting is the biggest tourism draw to the Tri-Cities, so definitely hit up some wineries while you are here.  You know how much we love day drinking, and a wine tasting tour is the perfect “excuse”.  There are several wine tours available for hire.

Wine Tasting in town

But if you’re looking to stay “in town”, you can find a fantastic triumvirate of wine on Tulip Lane in Richland with Bookwalter, Barnard Griffin, and Tagaris.  We highly suggest going later in the day, because the outdoor patio at Bookwalter is a fantastic place for dinner and sunset.  Barnard Griffin features renowned red wines and a super cool fused glass art studio.  The patio at Tagaris has live music all summer and a fabulous fountain at the center.

These wineries are beautiful locations so plan some time to hangout and enjoy.  And bring your appetite because these wineries are also making incredible food.

Wine Tasting within a Short Drive

If you have a driver and feel like getting out into wine country, venture out to Benton City.  A little further but still a day trip, Prosser (30 minutes from Richland), or better yet, Walla Walla (60 minutes from Richland).  Explore all the little family run wineries with breathtaking views and fantastic local wines.

Our Wine Tasting Recommendations

Benton City:  Cooper Winery (my personal favorite!), Col Solare, Frichette Winery, Hedges Family Estate, Terra Blanca (go for the views!), Kiona Vineyards, Tucannon Cellars, Fidelitas, Hamilton Cellars

Prosser:  Chandler Reach, Daven Lore (my recommendation), Alexandria Nicole, 14 Hands, Vintners Village, and Desert Wind

Walla Walla: L’Ecole No. 41, Waterbrook, Woodward Canyon, Walla Walla Vintners, Gramercy, Three Rivers, and Sleight of Hand (my favorite)

Museums

The B Reactor

The B Reactor Museum and Tour.  If you have a chance to tour the B Reactor, jump on it.  The location of the first full scale nuclear reactor, this place has tons of history and technological achievements of our country’s finest scientists.  It is amazing and nerdy, and full of history.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – The B Reactor Museum is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, so you National Park counters can check this one off.

The museum also covers a lot of information about the region’s contribution to the ending of WWII by the development of nuclear technology.  It is fascinating learning about the work camps set up here and the secrecy surrounding the mission. The exhibit speaks to a lot of the attitude of patriotism and community pride in the 1940s.

The REACH Museum

The Hanford Reach Interpretive Center shares the cultural, natural history, and scientific history of the area.  You can learn about the ice age effects on the local landscape, and local wildlife.  It’s a very interesting experience for anyone interested in a shrub steppe ecosystem, or anyone who knows what a shrub steppe ecosystem is.  As I type this, it sounds rather boring, but I actually enjoyed the museum and all the information contained in it.

Experience the Outdoors

The area boasts over 300 days of sunshine per year, which means there are seven golf courses in the area, three local disc golf courses, and ample opportunities to hit the water for some water skiing, fishing, kayaking, and Stand-up Paddleboarding (and SUP Yoga, too). Because of this, it is a very outdoorsy area, with hiking, biking, and walking paths around the city. 

The favorite local spot for a hike is Badger Mountain. It is a moderately challenging 3-mile up and back that climbs to 1,579 ft and gives sweeping views of the whole Columbia Basin.

ssn – “hiking Badger” is the sisbehaving code for sneaking out for morning mimosas and sister-time.

On the Water

A great option for getting out on the water is the Water2Wine tour, a dinner and drinking experience that takes you on a tour of the Columbia River. Or maybe you’d like to rent a boat and spend the day on the river just soaking up the sun.

Fishing

Finally, there are many opportunities to hire a fishing charter to experience some of the best fishing in Washington State.  The Columbia River offers some of the best salmon and steelhead runs, along with bass, walleye, sturgeon. If fly fishing is your thing, the Yakima River Canyon is world class.

We highly recommend Hester’s Sportfishing if you would like to hire a guide service.

Tri-Cities Events

During the summer, the Tri-Cities host many festivals, art shows, cultural celebrations, car shows and farmers markets.  Each of the cities has farmers markets that run June – October and are definitely worth a visit for the local produce, food products and crafts.

The most notable event of the year is the Tri-Cities Water Follies – unlimited hydroplane racing on the Columbia River. 

The Columbia Cup (aka, The Boat Races)

On the last weekend in July, tens of thousands of visitors flock to the shores of the Columbia for the Unlimited Hydroplane Races. This event has been the ultimate party of the summer since we were teenagers sneaking in drinks by any means possible.

Ready to Eat?

The Tri-Cities has amazing local restaurants, so don’t bother with the chains, you will be missing out.

ssn – in 2019, Guy Fieri featured the Tri-Cities on several episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We’ve recommended Frost Me Sweet (Richland, below) but the others are definitely worthy of your time. Porter’s Real BBQ (one in each city), The Folded Pie, Vinny’s Bakery (Pasco), Ethos Bakery (one of our favorite mimosa stops on our way to “hike Badger”.

Breakfast & Brunch

For breakfast, our favorite for the 21 and over crowd is Amendment XXI, only open Fri, Sat, and Sunday, they offer the best chicken fried steak in town, and “The Stack” which is corn tortillas layered with pulled pork, cabbage, and avocado, topped with a fried egg.

Any day of the week you can get into Sageport Grille, get in on their breakfast. A full menu with a wide variety of food, this place is a local favorite and fills up fast on weekends.

Just Joel’s is flat out amazing, but tiny. So get there when they open, Joel is in the back cooking up his favorites that will become your favorites, and don’t skip getting a piece of pie, even if you are there at 9 am.

Sushi

For sushi, Aki is our favorite, the owner meets his seafood connection every morning fresh out of Seattle for the freshest sushi in town, and none of that “but I can’t see the water” nonsense to worry about.

In Richland, our newest sushi restaurant, Ara, is ranking right up there with some of the best I’ve ever had, and a wide variety of chef special rolls. Ara also has plenty of grill options for those in your party who might not enjoy a good roll. 

Mexican

Due to the diverse local population of migrant workers and immigrants, the area really does an amazing job with Mexican restaurants.  Pasco definitely has the best brick and mortar restaurants, with El Asadora being a personal favorite, but there are taco trucks everywhere.  With the birria taco crazy growing we have Casita Maria as the best birria in town.  We also have a new Birrieria El Sazon bringing you fantastic options. 

And while not Mexican, but Salvadorian, Pupuseria Salvendorena hits the mark every time.

Other Worthy Mentions

A quick overview of styles and recommendations (because I love to eat, and eat out):

Thai:  Bhan Kun Ya in Richland (translates to Grandma’s kitchen? Yes, please). Thai Garden, because two sons bought it for their mom to cook in, and she’s amazing.

Indian:  Maharajah is my favorite, their ambiance matches their food, and bring out the best of Indian flavors and comfort.  Love Curry is also strong, less fancy but definitely amazing tandoori.

Pho:  Lao Kitchen, hands down the best Pho.  However, there is also Lotus Café just a few doors down which also serves some seriously soul warming Pho.

Greek:  Greek Isles, they also do a Greek pizza and calzones.  Kabob House is a small local chain doing Mediterranean food from dolmas to shawarma, they get me with the best baba ghanoush every time.

Sandwiches:  Go to Graze.  They call their Rueben “La Tronka” and it’s huge, and mouthwatering; but I am a huge fan of their “Sexy Time”, chicken, bacon, grilled onions, and brie.

Fine Dining

For fine dining, our local fare is way better than the chain restaurants in town.  Bookwalter Winery’s restaurant, Fiction, does simple, local ingredients elevated to perfection.

ssn – hands down the best food in town, we highly recommend!

ssn -my favorite steak is at Bookwalter, the flat iron topped with truffle butter.

Frost Me Sweet Bistro and Bakery is definitely one of our favorites. Their Bistro menu has a little of everything and everything is fantastic! Along with a Guy Fieri DDD pick, she has also been featured on a couple episodes of Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge and Holiday Wars)

A little-known gem, hidden away off the main street in Richland is Monterosso’s.  Located in an old, refurbished train car, they specialize in authentic Italian food and a fantastic local wine selection.

Not in the fine dining category but if you can’t get into Monterosso’s seek out Atomic Ale just across the street. They feature several of Monterosso’s pasta options but also do amazing pizza and sandwiches, but absolutely get the Red Potato Soup, it’s the best soup on the planet.

Tri-Cities Local Beer Scene

The geographic location of the Tri-Cities makes it a great area for hop growing.  Hops, as in one of the main ingredients in beer.  Right up the freeway is the Yakima Valley which is the #1 hop producer in the world.  Which means we have a growing beer scene with 9 local microbreweries, and I’m including this under food because a couple have fantastic food, and a couple bring in local food trucks all week long.

White Bluffs Brewing

Ranking the best beer in town is White Bluffs Brewing.  Their standard taps include Nectar of the Gods IPA, Mighty Knight Stout which are winners, but they consistently put out quality beers and have won several GABF gold medals for their brews.

Bombing Range Brewing Company

On the next block from White Bluffs, conveniently found next to the B Reactor Museum, is Bombing Range Brewing.  They are a local favorite with a solid beer selection, and a fantastic menu of pizza and mac and cheese.  This is a great place to eat, not just drink, so definitely try one of everything.

Moonshot Brewing

Moonshot brewing brings in Fast and Curryous food truck every Friday for Indian Cuisine.  Moonshot spreads its beer wings and does some standard brewery fare mixed with eclectic beers, definitely not afraid to step out of the box and try something new and different, they keep a wide variety on tap and rotate frequently.

Sage Brewing

Sage Brewing is growing and expanding, with a brewery and a taproom in the Tri-Cities.  Opened just before the pandemic, they survived and grew because their beer is just that good.  Their Pasco location has a great taco truck in the parking lot, and they strive to bring in a rotation of local food offerings from Pho to Corndogs, go for the beer, stay for the food truck.

Thanks for Letting Us Share our Hometown Tri-Cities

The Tri-Cities have come a long way since we were kids when I’m sure we swore to leave the small town and never return. Now, the booming wine and craft beer scenes are worthy of a weekend visit any time of year. But combined with the rivers and the sunshine, it is a pretty nice place to be.

If you decide to make the trek over from Seattle or Portland, be sure to check out our other posts.

Update: since the original post, we have added to our Seattle list with another must-do tiki bar and a not quite nearby speakeasy…scroll to the bottom to read about them!

After a trip to the coast, Peggy and I had the fun of staying one extra night in Seattle where we “accidently” discovered a couple of new-to-us businesses. If you saw our original day drinking in Seattle blog post, you know we had previously hit quite a few spots and had an amazing time, but we were going to try to outdo that?

On this particular day, we were exhausted and just not feeling it, and actually debated just Door Dashing something to our hotel room. What is the point of having a balcony with a waterfront view if you don’t take the time to enjoy it?  Only what was supposed to be a waterfront view turned out to be a “rest of the hotel” view if you weren’t actually on the balcony.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – we were returning from a couple of nights on the Olympic Peninsula and had been in the pouring rain ALL day. Being native Washingtonians, we realize that it takes rain to make all of this incredible beauty. But we had had enough.

We had timed our arrival back in Seattle for sunset from our balcony at the Marriott Waterfront. The weather was clear in the city but the lack of balcony view was a disappointment and just kind of added to the mood. But the room was great and the view was beautiful (if you leaned left). So off to the hotel bar to plan our dinner.

Tiki – Ooh, is that a Tiki Bar?

Since it is sister-time we really wanted sushi. If you didn’t experience it during the pandemic, takeout sushi kind of sucks. Peggy convinced me that we should go out for sushi, and that we wouldn’t regret it. But we had no intention of bar hopping!

When we pulled up our Google maps Peggy noticed there was a tiki bar, Navy Strength just a couple of blocks away. We couldn’t get reservations at our sushi choice until 8:30 pm. So scratch what I just said, we decided that we should definitely start there. Due to our dedication to our readers, you absolutely needed to know if this was better than the last Seattle tiki bar experience, The Lava Lounge. 

Navy Strength

Navy Strength has done a great job with the theme. Instead of looking like some cheap tiki hut, this bar actually reminds you of the bars you would see in a movie set on a military base in Hawaii.  Picture From Here to Eternity or Pearl Harbor. Fantastic drink choices from tiki glasses to flaming shots, they really thought through the selection.

After we each ordered a shot, Peggy announced, “We are not getting fucked up tonight”.  So, you know shit is about to start going downhill.

ssn – the drink menu was so creative! I honestly don’t know why we started with a shot. Except that it sounds exactly like something we would do. I had a “Gnarly Proposition” with Mezcal, Cynar, Passionfruit and lime. Patti had the “Surf Rock Radio” with Pineapple rum, Amaro, Coconut liqueur, Falernum and lime.

We actually one-and-done’d Navy Strength for the sole reason that my phone battery was dying. You are required to show proof of vaccination in order to dine-in within the city of Seattle and my vaccination card was on my phone.  I found out Bathtub Gin Speakeasy was right up the road, and we had missed that on our last trip to Seattle, so I really wanted to make sure to get that stop in before our dinner reservation. 

Thai – Bangrak Market

Then it happened.  Walking right down 2^nd Avenue in Belltown, it was right there, in all its glory!  The spot that had recently become a bit of a Seattle TikTok sensation:  Bangrak Market.  A restaurant specializing in Thai street food.  It was lively and colorful, we were just drawn in.

Inside was hustling and bustling, and there was a big top tent looking area right in front of the open kitchen leading it to look like a true Thai hawkers stand. We were greeted by this wonderfully nice man at the door who was running around like crazy. He cleaned up and led us to the corner bar seats that had us wow’d.  We love bar seats because you get the best view of what the bartender is creating.

ssn – I have seen this so many times on Tik Tok recently! I had saved it knowing we wanted to try it sometime but we didn’t think we would be getting into anything except sushi on this night. Good thing it threw itself in front of us!

The Drinks

Everything looked amazing. I ordered the first thing I saw, the Tom Kah Martini, Peggy stuck with her wheelhouse passionfruit based.  Hers was prettier, but mine was amazingly perfect for the restaurant theme.

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There are huge glass apothecary style jars on the bar with infused vodkas in assorted Thai flavors claiming to enhance your libido, fancy drinks being poured left and right, and a choice of Thai and other Asian beers

Then we see a big bowl of shots and flowers…what?? And the server lights up a huge sparkler in the middle!  I’m immediately thrown back to my birthday in Tulum with the sparkler.  But our sweet little host was racing around like crazy and didn’t stop long enough for a proper video presentation of what was going on in the bowl.

ssn – don’t worry, I’ve got you. I finally managed to get this shot.

The Food

We decide that we had better try something to eat, so as not to let our readers down.  Just a small plate, since we still have sushi ahead of us.  We agree that Moo Sam Chan Tod Nam Pla is the winning choice, that’s fried marinated pork belly to us English speakers.

ssn – just yum!!!

I may have died and gone to heaven with those flavors but came right back to Earth when our cute little host set our very own sparkler shot bowl in front of us because he felt we needed to try it.  He explains there are four shots, the red is the spicy, Thai flavor shot, and the yellow shot is to smooth it out and make it all ok.

And far be it from us to question what is actually in them or to clarify what he means by spicy shot. It’s lit up and sparks are flying so we just go for it.  It was pretty much incredible.  We still don’t know what was in it, but it was an amazing flavor combination like nothing either of us had ever experienced.

As a side note, the people next to us were having a beef noodle bowl, and the fresh garden rolls, and everything looked amazing.

ssn – you know you’ve really hit on someplace special when the service, food & drink, and atmosphere are all in competition for the stand out part of the experience. This had all of them – very hard to choose which put it over the top!

Speakeasy – Bathtub Gin & Co

It was so sad to leave, but our time had come. We had just enough time for Bathtub Gin & Co before our dinner reservation, so we had to go!  Bathtub Gin turned out to be a little difficult to find, luckily Google had a photo of the door, and we had a bit of experience after our Savannah stumble to find Alley Cat.  We knew when it didn’t turn up on the street that we should check back behind the street in the alley.  And, boom, there it was, we are getting rather good at this.

A wooden door with a plain little sign telling you that you are there.  Walk into the landing, show vaccination cards, choice to go downstairs to actual seating or upstairs to the bar area was a no brainer.  Upstairs is a little 5-person bar and two small two person tables.

Again, right in front of the bartender with a great view of the drinks they were pouring.  Clearly a Gin joint, serving a plethora of gin varieties. I stepped out on a ledge with a carrot infused gin.  I do not recommend you do this in the future and if you do read all the ingredients. So you know it has Ancho Reyes Verde in it, proceed down the menu with caution to several of the other items that looked amazing. I have huge regrets about not ordering the Death Star.

The bartender can also help find you ideas within your wheelhouse as their gin selection is impressive.

Sushi – Umi Sake House

And finally, we hit our reservation time for sushi.  I love sushi with my sister.  It’s one of my favorite things.  We eat well together and always share plates. Umi Sake House was our winner for the night.  It was beautifully decorated, the staff was friendly, the place was clean, and we had seats at the sushi counter.

We started with the uni, which was very sea water flavored, and good, but we don’t see what the fuss is.  Next up was the Bad Boy roll, followed by the Pretty in Pink, and ended with the Rainbow Tartare stack.  Everything was amazing, very fresh, well prepared.  We absolutely loved our sushi experience at Umi Sake.

And yes, of course we had the sake.  But no, of course we were past the point of remembering what kind we had, but it was amazing, and I remember it being whatever was on special. So, if you go, order the Sake special!

ssn – we had been wanting to try uni for so long and hate to say it was disappointing!! The menu was incredible and our other dishes were so, so delicious. Our server gave us the final recommendation for the Rainbow Tartare and it was a winner. I cannot wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!

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I am already excited to go back to Bangrak, it was definitely the highlight of the night, and has inspired me to revisit the idea of going to Thailand in March after our Bali retreat.

ssn – we had a lovely, slightly buzzy, slightly giddy walk back to the hotel. Such a fun night!

Additional Tiki Bars and Speakeasies

Recently, we were in Seattle to see the play, Six – which happened to be on the same weekend as Taylor Swift, a Mariners game, Capitol Hill block party, a WNBA game – the city was madness! We, naturally, made some time to get a few new stops in. The first was a speakeasy on Whidbey Island – while technically not Seattle, it is certainly worthy of a ferry ride when you have time. The second was a tiki bar that Patti had been scoping out for a while – Inside Passage!

Speakeasy – Skein & Tipple

We found Skein & Tipple on TikTok and knew we had to make the trek to Whidbey Island! For those not familiar, Whidbey Island is a farily large island northwest of Seattle in Puget Sound. It can be accessed by ferry or across Deception Pass on its northern end. I could go on and on about Whidbey Island but I’ll save that for another post. Skein & Tipple is a yarn shop by day and speakeasy by night. To quote the website, “She’s Skein – she loves yarn. He’s Tipple – he loves cocktails. Together, they just might make it work!”. Let me just say, they were the loveliest people!

Tiktok tells you that you have to get there early because there will be a line to get into this 20-seat speakeasy when it opens at 5:00 pm. This was no lie. We got there about 10 minutes early and we were 17th & 18th in line!

Once inside the yarn shop, you are led through a curtain to the small, but perfectly decorated speakeasy. A little nautical, a little history, dimly lit but lively at the same time. We were offered a seat along the wall or on stage…no surprise which we chose! So from the stage, aka, our Thrones of Judgement, we enjoyed a fantastic evening!

The drink menu is full of inventive, interesting choices. All are prepared by the owner…it is damned impressive! And speaking of impressive….the glassware is handblown by a local artist and is like nothing I’ve seen. I’m a sucker for glassware and I am still, weeks later, obsessing over it!

Not Tiki – Inside Passage

Patti has had Inside Passage on her radar for a while and was so thankful to get a reservation despite the crowds in Seattle that day. Inside Passage is located in Rumba Bar (which is also beautiful!) in the Capital Hill neighborhood.

While we lump it in here as Tiki, Inside Passage does not consider themselves a tiki bar, but rather “an immersive underwater, tropical experience celebrating the uniqueness, history and beauty of the Pacific Northwest”. We now consider it absolutely perfect.

The decor is so elaborately true to theme and features at its center, Kiki, the giant tentacled sea monster. Inside Passage is known for its equally elaborate cocktail menu. Immersive drinks that are as over-the-top delicious as they are fun. And don’t pass on the food!! Three little words that changed my life…Shrimp.Corn.Dogs!! Throw in some Brie wontons…Amazing!

For more food and drinks, check out our Day Drinking adventures:

• Seattle – Day Day Drinking
• Boise
• Dallas
• Kansas City Day Drinking
• Savannah

Speakeasy Guides

• Seattle Speakeasy Guide
• Las Vegas Speakeasy Guide
• Chicago Speakeasy Guide
• Denver Speakeasy Guide
• Kansas City Speakeasy Guide

First Stop – Brunch

After our shenanigans the previous day (Day Drinking Seattle), we began our Saturday with brunch at Toulouse Petite Kitchen.  I had seen it on Best Thing I Ever Ate on Food Network and wanted to go there ever since.

Peggy made reservations, and I was super excited to soak up the previous night’s drinking with some creole brunch.  We loved this brunch spot.  The décor, the service, the food, it was amazing.  Beignets, crab and asparagus scramble, and a Madame Toulouse cocktail are outstanding ways to start any day. During breakfast we scored tickets to the opening session for the Chihuly Glass Museum.

Sister Side Note (ssn) – I had the Fried Oysters and Bacon Benedict. It was to die for!

Seattle Center could be seen from Toulouse Petit, so we opted for a beautiful walk through the city.  I was really hoping to walk through the Olympic Sculpture Park. But alas, recall my little stumble (ahem …overextended curtsy) the evening before. With my limited range of motion and slower pace we wouldn’t have made the Chihuly opening time.

Seattle Center

Seattle Center is someplace where you could spend the greater part of the day.  The Pacific Science Center is a great place for whole family, hands-on fun that we love. Additionally, this is where you’ll find the city’s most famous landmark – the Space Needle.

It is always worth a trip to the top, but is a do-not-miss spot on a sunny day.  The Center has fountains for kids to play in during summer, gardens and grassy spots, and a food court.  The Museum of Pop Culture (aka, The Jimmy Hendrix Museum) anchors one end and the brand new Climate Pledge Arena at the other. Climate Pledge Arena is home to the NHL Seattle Kraken and the WNBA Seattle Storm. Seattle Center also hosts many festivals, cultural events and live performances.

ssn – so many childhood memories going to the Science Center and later taking my daughter to her first ever concert at Bumbershoot Festival!

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Seattle Center is also the home to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.  I love Chihuly’s glass work but have never made it to the museum.  Frankly, it seemed more like an exhibit you would attend at a bigger museum than a stand-alone kind of place to me. But Peggy convinced me.  And it was incredible!!  We walked through room after room of the spectacular art from Dale Chihuly -glass sculptures, glass chandeliers, paintings.

The outside glass garden area was gorgeous.  His artwork has been so beautifully blended into nature.  Afterward, you can watch a glass blowing exhibit in the courtyard, and then end in the gift shop. I was wrong, Peggy was right, (big dramatic sigh) AGAIN.

ssn – I am always right 😉

Killing a Little Time – random Seattle sights

We were left with about 5 hours to kill before our dinner reservation. Chihuly will only take you about an hour. So we decided to go do some drive-bys of things we found on Atlas Obscura.  This led us to the Fremont District. 

ssn – on the way to Fremont, we were trying to find something called The Wall of Death. Well that sounds macabre. Turns out it was tucked under an overpass by Peace Park and not really much to see. However, the multiple circling, re-routing & back-tracking was an adventure. We also came across this darling statue Origami Girl and some spectacular Puget Sound views.

Fremont Neighborhood

Fremont is the home of the big annual Fremont Solstice Parade, and is a bit artsy and a bit bohemian, and a huge hunk of fabulous.  Some “scientists” consider Fremont to be the Center of the Universe (although, I still believe it is Wallace, ID). Fremont has eclectic eateries, independent and peculiar shops. It is famously guarded by the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge. 

ssn – we didn’t go see the troll this trip. We have seen it plenty of times but in case you are curious, here it is:

Our plan was just to wander and soak up the vibes. But once we got there, we joyfully discovered that the Fremont Street Market was back in post-covid swing. I love me a good street market, with crystal vendors, small cottage food vendors, and quirky little businesses. We did some shopping, found some amazing gifts, and then realized that one of my pre-chosen brunch spots was RIGHT THERE.

The Dreamland Bar and Diner

The Dreamland Bar and Diner overlooks the weekly market, with a big beautiful outside patio. Up a big staircase, and inside to an impressive indoor garden atmosphere with disco balls to highlight its own version of quirky.

We just wanted to split a snack, and the server recommended the Crunchy Rap Supreme (an upscale version of our favorite Taco Bell breakfast). She was spot on – it was amazing.  Not only great food, but paired it with a Passionfruit Whiskey Sour and a Caramelized Pineapple Mule – which both were fantastic. We love what they are making happen at the Dreamland, it was a great choice. 

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After our nourishment, we found the Fremont Rocket. Hey, I warned you, Center of the Universe plans included launching a rocket! Also spotted the Stalin Statue that is a subject of much controversy, the center of the universe sign and other funkiness.

Additionally, there were so many great looking restaurants and bars we passed by. Next visit we’ll definitely spend an entire afternoon exploring.  Also, there are multiple breweries in Fremont, being an offshoot neighborhood of Seattle. For those beer nerds, Seattle is a definite beer town!

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Capitol Hill Neighborhood

Next, we were headed for an early dinner at Nue, which was up in Capitol Hill. The drive was beautiful, overlooking the city.  Capitol Hill was the home of the 2020 protest known as CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone). So much of the area’s street art still has a lot of Black Lives Matter themes and graffiti.  It was incredible to experience at the time. The whole neighborhood and its businesses are very progressive and LGBTQ+ friendly.

The Unicorn Bar

We had just enough time to stroll down to The Unicorn bar.  This place is pretty iconic in Seattle’s bar scene.  It’s a circus themed bar, that is just fantastically over the top.  Similarly, the cocktails are sweet and sassy with names like Unicorn Jizz, Cheap Date and Montezuma Snapper. The food listings are circus-fare like corndogs, funnel cakes, and popcorn. Burgers, tots, and the amazing Narwhal balls are also options if you need to soak up some of that alcohol and sugar you’ve ingested. There is a photobooth, pinball arcade, and basement Karaoke in keeping with the theme.  It was pretty awesome, and iconic for a reason.

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Nue

Lastly, dinner at Nue closed out our beautiful day.  Nue is relatively new (haha) and centered around global street-eats.  The inside of this little hole in the wall is eclectically decorated with memorabilia from around the world, and there is a little bar at the front for people watching on the street.  The food was extraordinary!

As usual, we ordered way too much so we could try a little of everything. Everything except the Thai water beetles, Peggy was having none of that!  It was all fantastic, and we took a chunk of the pineapple cornbread to go, because we were completely stuffed!  Their menu changes seasonally, so definitely check them out. And get the wings if they are available, best wings I’ve ever had, and made my mouth all tingly!

ssn – Nue was such a great experience. Food from everywhere in the world – if you’ve ever wanted to try it, you’ll find it here. Inventive, creative and delicious!

End of a Wonderful Day

Having grown up in Washington State, we have visited Seattle many, many times over the years for a variety of reasons.  I can honestly say, this trip was one of the best we’ve ever had. We discovered even more amazing new things to love about this city, even after 20 (or 30 or 40) years of experiences.

ssn – actually 40 years!!

We haven’t been as good at blogging about them as we should. Hmmm….maybe a flawed plan? But check out our previous post in this category, Day Drinking – Boise.

We experienced an epic day drinking afternoon in downtown Seattle.  While a little limited by Covid shutdowns, our biggest challenge seemed to be the fact that bars didn’t update their Google information to show their true open hours.

Now, as we move through this blog post with our recommendations and sharing our experience, please gloss over some areas that lack details as there are portions that tend to get a little hazy. Nah, just kidding, one of us pushed through, one of us snoozed at a table.  And I’m not telling which one. Then again, one of us rallied like a champ, and one of us is still nursing a twisted ankle.

The Search Begins

So after our amazing adventure in Skagit Valley the day before, we actually held off drinking until after 2. I know, it’s a little shocking.  We had a hotel room right downtown, the Charter Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton was perfectly located right in the center of all the goodness, and close to Pike Place Market.

Which is where our wander first took us.  I only got about a block down when I realized that NOPE, my post-Covid isolationist self was not ready for that level of people.

We raised our vibration by raising our elevation about a half a block up to Post Alley. Located between the Market and 1^st street, where we found one of our favorite Irish Pubs, Kells.

Kells has an outdoor patio with a little bit of skyline, and Irish car bombs. Aaaand, the cutest older server with a thick Irish accent who almost certainly was a relative of the owners. Unfortunately, she didn’t know squat about drinks and couldn’t recommend anything different for us. Now, I love me a good Irish Car Bomb, but it was our first stop and I felt an Irish coffee was a more realistic start to an afternoon, plus it was still a little chilly out. 

Sister Side Note (ssn) – Kells has been around a long time! It was one of the must-go places when visiting Seattle during college. Floods of memories!

This Is More Difficult Than It Should Have Been

A Google search showed plenty of bars, pubs, and cocktail lounges in about a 4 block radius, so we were off to first street to start a pub crawl of our own design.  First place closed, second place closed, third place guy outside smoking has zero idea if they are open but recommends a few places on the next block that he knows are open, and finally, success.

And unfortunately, it’s a creepy clown bar.

Shorty’s is technically Coney Island Themed and was the start of Seattle’s pinball culture, in case you didn’t know there was such a thing.

Now I’m all down for a good theme, and the tables were all made out of old pinball machines, and the music was 90s alternative, and I LOVED IT.  Peggy was unimpressed, but after a couple Kamikazees we got to play some skeeball and it’s all good!

ssn – those damn kamikazees were so good! Sub in your normal vodka for any flavor – I think we did peach and blueberry. You’re welcome.

And The Ball Gets Rolling…

Having broken our traditional one and done guidelines, we decided we needed to move on.  Right next door, just opened and completely empty was the Rendezvous and Jewelbox Theater.  In non-Covid times it houses a small theater, a basement bar, and a pretty 1920’s gin joint vibe.

I dug it and enjoyed checking out the décor since it was empty and we were free to move about.

This is the point where I have the Mermaid Man cocktail and start quoting Zoolander endlessly about being a MerMan, pops, a MerMAN! (here’s a quick tip, when I get focused on something, like a movie quote or I don’t know, say seashells imbedded in the Savannah sidewalk, I’m probably feeling pretty good).

So, Mermaid Man causes a bit of a brain freeze cuz it’s a frozen slushie drink and we must move on.

ssn – when she says ‘quoting Zoolander endlessly’, she means endlessly – not an exaggeration! We’re talking Blue Steel, the Black Lung Pop, Ridiculously Good Looking, Water is the Essence of Wetness, on and on….

And next up on the list was the Lava Lava bar, yes!!!!! TIKI THEME!  How did my little heart sustain such joy as two themed bars in one afternoon? A big ole surfboard greets you with the menu list, and they are all tropical themed. And my heart goes a little thumpity-thump at a drink in a tiki glass.

We end up out on the patio, which was fantastic for people watching and gathering more recommendations from the patrons who had clearly knocked off work a little early. 

Rolling Downhill Quickly

It’s at this point that I get super excited that The Rabbit Hole next door is opening, so count it with me now. THREE THEMED BARS!!!  The Rabbit Hole is Alice in Wonderland. Which I’m nuts about and love to seek out Alice reference in places. It probably ranks above Wizard of Oz, but just under Winnie the Pooh – which does not make for a good bar theme, BTW.

Pretty low key design, so it’s definitely themed but not over the top and tacky, AND they get bonus points for more skee ball in the back. 

A Small Detour

So at this point, Peggy is drunk social media-ing and sees that one of the Seahawks has posted from a restaurant in Lake Union and we MUST go. Boom, Lyft to Lake Union, where you know how this is going down:  he’s already gone. 

ssn – you know we love our Seahawks, and this wasn’t just any Seahawk, it was Luke Willson! Love him!

And there’s a 20 min wait so we wander next door for some sushi to pad our tummies since it’s been a few hours since we have consumed anything non-liquid.

Sushi from I Love Sushi at Lake Union was just what I wanted, the gold flaked sake that Peggy insisted we get with it, was not.  Looked like Goldschlager, tasted like sake.

And, see, I get to blame Peggy for this one because she doesn’t remember that it was her that ordered it. But I think we all know it was.  And the sushi was so freaking good. Like I don’t know why we were surprised, we were in Seattle. But it was called “I Love Sushi” which doesn’t instill a warm fuzzy feeling that I would actually love the sushi, but I did!

Back To Our Mission (well, one of us)

Lyft back to where we left off, where we are pretty sure we need to go to Mr. Darcy’s for a Pride and Prejudice theme.  There is only one over-worked man we believe was the co-owner. The place is a little obscure but has such great potential.

There are only 4 cocktails on the menu, where I now decide I have to drink both of to keep anyone from noticing that Peggy is not drinking but instead has decided she should meditate on how close we were to hanging out with a Seahawk. By meditate, she must sit quietly with her eyes closed, in a bar.  And I’m sure we will get kicked out if they notice, therefore I have taken it upon myself to drink for both of us.  See, logic, pure logic.

ssn – y’all, I was done! I hit that wall, whoomp. I definitely had to close my eyes to center myself.

The Rally

Peggy has the forethought that we need a little booze snooze before dinner. We hit the hotel, and I’m sure we are done for the night. I document the occasion with a few pictures of her sleeping it off, giggling to myself for having outlasted her, only to delete them 30 minutes later when the girl rallies like the champ she is. WOOT!

ssn – I’m not sure how this happened. I am not a rally-er. But this place is wildy popular and dinner reservations were hard to come by! She didn’t mention that they were also at 9:30 pm. Who does that??

Peggy had made us reservations at The Pink Door, which we had both been dying to go to.  It is just half a click above Pike Street Market back to Post Alley. While not a speakeasy, the entrance was not marked, no signs, just a faded pink door with string lights.

It’s a local seafood-driven Italian restaurant that has Burlesque and Cabaret acts throughout the restaurant.  We were super-duper excited to finally get to go.

Then they smashed our hopes and dreams by having canceled the floor show for covid.

Rally-worthy Pink Door Experience

But we will say, definitely add The Pink Door to you must-dos in Seattle. The restaurant is gorgeous, upscale, romantic, and the food was amazing!  The cocktail special was a dedication to George Floyd, proceeds were being donated locally. On top of amazing food and ambiance they also have a social conscious.  And I can not wait to go back when the floor shows resume!

ssn – oh sure, she can talk about me resting my eyes in public but completely leave out her little incident. I’m talking a lapse in walking ability. Maybe an over-extended curtsy. Whatever you call it, she ended quite gracefully on the Seattle sidewalk.

This is where we shut down our evening. Pretty impressed with the downtown Seattle daytime bar scene. And with many more bars that we will look forward to visiting next time. Including several roof top bars, and other quirky bars we do not want to miss.

Side note:  we hit up the Unicorn Bar on Capital Hill, it was fantastically tacky circus décor, themed cocktails, carnival food, and flair – plus karaoke, but this was the next day and therefore can not be included in our day of Day Drinking.

Check out our next Seattle adventure: Explore Seattle Center and Seattle’s Quirkiest Neighborhoods

Checkout our other Day Drinking adventures:

• Boise
• Seattle – part 2
• Savannah
• Dallas
• Kansas City
• Reno

The list of “24 Breathtaking Places You Won’t Believe are in the US” led us to The Apostle Islands, Dry Tortugas National Park, Savannah, and quite a few others.  But there was one right in our own backyard that we hadn’t done.

In April, it was time for the once a year opportunity to see the Tulips of Skagit Valley. While it is never going to be the Netherlands, it is a Washington State much-loved event. Definitely someplace you should be eyeing if you are looking for a mid-spring getaway in the PNW.

Sister Weekend Begins!

About 90 minutes North of Seattle is Mt. Vernon, Washington.  A small town in the Skagit Valley, with reminders of their Tulip-y claim to fame in everything from the street signs to water towers to overhead freeway tiles. 

Sister Side Note (ssn) – I flew into Paine Field in Everett late the night before the adventures began. Pro tip: If you are visiting Seattle and you are focused on anywhere but the south end, check for flights to PAE (currently only Alaska Airlines). VERY small, newer airport that is insanely convenient compared to SEA. If there were such thing as Boutique Airports, this would be one.

But first, Breakfast (as always!)

We started our morning with breakfast at the Calico Cupboard.  A place chosen off the internet pictures of a quaint bakery, with mimosas and a varied menu.  And it was just charming, and sweet, and we had some fantastic blueberry pancakes!  Pouting about my new found sensitivity to eggs, we had to pass up the mushroom quiche that look amazing in the bakery glass case! 

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

There are two big tulip farms and a bunch of small ones – find information here.  We opted for Roozengaarde over Tulip Town. It seemed less family oriented. If you are traveling with the kids, Tulip Town has activities, food trucks, and booths that will make for a more family friendly day. Roozengaarde is bigger and we were in for more bang for our Tulip buck.  Definitely buy your tickets online before going. The festival gets very busy as it is only one month long but definitely worth the trip.

Roozengaarde

Roozengaarde was truly amazing, more beautiful than I even imagined or could describe.  Our trip was on the last weekend of the festival and they were winding down. But it was so beautiful I can’t fathom that it may have been better a week earlier, when all the fields were in full bloom. You can check the “tulip forecast” on many local websites.

It was HUGE, fields of row after row of color.  A smaller, more curated garden area as you walk in, with colors and styles of tulips you never knew existed.  It was made more magical by the slight breeze blowing the cherry blossoms around.  And as we were walking by, the cute little man outside the fence guiding traffic yelled to us to look up. There were tulips blooming on the tree branches.  Oh, he was such a sweet man!  Then you walk past the big windmill for a short walk to the true tulip fields.

OMG, the Tulips!

We know you might feel like you should dress up for your Insta-poses in your long flowy dresses in heels. Please keep in mind that you are walking about a quarter mile around the fields through dirt. And as this is the Pacific Northwest, often mud.  Peggy wore adorable rainboots and they were perfect for the day!  Go buy some adorable rainboots for your social media filtered pictures.  The back drop for this incredible view are the hills and mountains leading up to and including the Cascade Mountain Range.  So, you are going to get some incredible pictures, even if it is grey and overcast.

We had a lovely couple stop and help guide us with what they found was the best shot. Take the shot from the left, with tulips in front of us and tulip fields behind us.  Everyone was super friendly, and helpful, because how can you not be surrounded by all this beauty in nature.  Sadly, you are not allowed to actually tip toe through the tulips. But there are several points where there are posing points set up to make it look like you are in the middle of the field from a camera lens. 

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And You Can/Should Buy Your Own Tulips

Roozengaarde also has a cute boutique shop, food stands. They also have a big tent where you can order tulip bulbs to be delivered in the fall when it’s time for planting.  The helpful women in the tent can tell you what types of tulips grow best in your temperate zone. If you don’t know what you kind to order, you can tell them which kind you liked best and they will tell you what they are by the description. Ok, you know those ones that look like sunset with flames shooting out the middle?  Yeah, I don’t but these wonderful women know what they are called.

It was a crazy beautiful experience. I definitely understand why this is on the American Most Beautiful Sites list.  It was gorgeous.

Deception Pass

After the festival (it really is only a 2-3 hour experience), and since we were this far north and in the middle of all this beauty, we headed up past Anacortes to Deception Pass.

Now, I know many of you are like us and there is nothing better than a sunny, warm jaunt through a tropical island.  The San Juans are not that type of island vacation. But they are their own spectacular sightseeing experience for those who are not so fond of the heat and humidity of the tropics. 

I have been really dying to go up to Deception Pass. Mainly because in 30 years of living in the Pacific NW, I have never been.

Deception Pass Bridge

It’s this huge bridge spanning Whidbey Island with the mainland at Fidalgo Island (near Anacortes).  And yes, I was the one who was actually WANTING to go to a bridge and cross over it.  It seemed like such a great idea at the time. Until reality set in and I not only had to drive OVER it, I had to drive BACK OVER it to get back to the mainland.  Then, my slightly sadistic sister insisted that we walk out on to the bridge for the ‘gram pictures. 

It was so beautiful. The colors of the water, the view, the “Welcome to Canada” text message that came on my phone. No, it’s not actually in Canada. But it’s that close, that you could, I don’t know maybe see it if it were on fire. *please reference our Madeline Island Ferry trip for why this makes me giggle*.  The views were incredible for sure, and definitely death defying in MY mind. But I survived, once again, the treacherous adventure of crossing high bridges that could lead to my death.

ssn – the extent of her bravery never ceases to amaze me.

La Conner

We decided it was time for a little sustenance, and perhaps a cocktail to calm my nerves, and found the darling town of La Conner.  And while we really wanted to eat with a view of the Puget Sound, La Conner is right on an inlet. It turned out to have this adorable little downtown with tiny local shops, hand-crafted goods, and fresh seafood.

We chose the La Conner Pub and Eatery, shockingly not for the fact it’s a pub. But actually because it sits right on the Swinomish Channel, overlooking the water.  The mimosa was just a bonus. We shared the seafood platter, and it was super fresh (and deep fried). It was an inviting pub with a great, friendly staff.

We spent some time wandering in and out of shops and galleries, it was really quaint. I am so glad we found this town that is not much more than a blip on a map, but is actually a great little touristy stop.

It would be a great opportunity for a peaceful get-away weekend.  It is also home to the Swinomish Indians with their tribal community just over the bridge across the river, and is worth a drive to see their little community.

Whale Watching

As long as we were in the San Juans and it was early May, it was a great time to go whale watching.  There are plenty of opportunities to see orcas in the Puget Sound. They have many orca pods that live there year round. You can track these pods online at www.orcasnetwork.org and there are many whale watching companies that launch either out of Seattle (in the city), Anacortes, or Friday Harbor.

While we really wanted to do the kayak tour (out of Friday Harbor) we couldn’t book a ferry ride, as it was sold out. So if you know you are going for a visit, pre-book your ferry ride for the day at www.wsdot.wa.gov so you make sure to get over to all the little islands. We booked our whale watching tour with Island Adventures out of Everett, where we were staying for a few nights. The boat had indoor and outdoor seating and a bar (surprise!).

An Afternoon of Whale Watching

While we didn’t get to see the orcas I was so ready for, we were fortunate enough to have several encounters with grey whales. And exploring the beauty of the San Juans and all the gorgeous homes, and beaches. I found some “ooh, I gotta go there” moments for future weekend getaways.  There are morning and afternoon tours about 3 hours in length.  As long as you are there in peak season, the tours have about a 96% success rate of getting you to see a whale. Plus, they always guarantee a free return visit if you aren’t so lucky.

ssn – there is no video proof, but I’m fairly certain that our spot-on whale calls (picture Dory from Finding Nemo) were key to bringing the whales to us.

As much as people focus on Seattle for vacations, and there is so much to see and do there, it is definitely worth shifting your focus a just a little more north if you are going to be in the area in the spring.  The weather is amazing, a little rain but a possibility of sun and mild weather. And the views are incredible and views that are a whole different kind of beauty that simply must be seen.

More Seattle and NW Washington Adventures

• Seattle – Day Drinking
• Seattle’s Quirky Neighborhoods
• Seattle – Tike, Thai, Speakeasy and Sushi
• Olympic National Park

This city is where my heart is happy and my soul is at peace. Portland is beautiful anytime, but positively spectacular on a sunny day! And we were lucky enough to have some of those magical, rare, sunny days last weekend when we met for a “working” weekend to kick off this Sisbehaving Blog.

Getting to Portland

For me, Portland is an easy flight from Denver; for Patti it is an easy 3.5 hour drive from Eastern Washington, how could we resist? So bright and early on Friday morning, I boarded the plane, settled into my upgraded seat (thanks United Airlines), ordered a mimosa and tried to contain my excitement!

First Things First – Brunch

A couple of hours later, Patti picked me up and we were headed to brunch at the Screen Door; we had breakfast cocktails to drink and plans to make! Screen Door is a southern focused restaurant and serves brunch every day. Yes, every day. I know you agree that brunch is the best meal of the week so this is genius! The food is amazing and the restaurant has great energy. It involves a bit of a wait on the weekends, but is worth it.

Hotel Roulette

First on the agenda was to find a hotel. We knew we wanted to stay downtown and we each have favorites (Peggy is a Kimpton Hotel person, Patti favors StayPineapple) but decided to let Hotwire decide for us. And the selection for a 4.5 star Boutique Hotel in downtown Portland for $89/night…drum roll please…Dossier.

sister side note (ssn): this is a great way to get a luxury hotel without spending luxury dollars or points – you just have to be wiling to do it the day of and take what they give you!

Wandering Downtown Portland

After checking in, we strolled around downtown, did a little shopping, had a few drinks and just enjoyed the afternoon. If you haven’t been before, give yourself plenty of time to just take in the vibe. Portland is full of murals, statues, and street art. Plus, the architecture is magnificent.

ssn: If you are into architecture, consider a city tour, history tour or even a ghost tour. There are lots of great choices on Trip Advisor (our personal choice).

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Finding Some Food & Drinks

All that wandering, plus a little drizzle made us a little thirsty so we made a few stops…you know, for research purposes.

• First was Dar Salam, a Middle Eastern restaurant with interesting cocktails such as a Beet Margarita and a Cardamom Gimlet. They have a buffet for lunch, and amazing colorful décor.
• Also, stopped into Fogo de Chao so I could introduce Patti to my new obsession, Cachaça. We had delicious passion fruit Caipirinhas and a nice chat with the owner.
• Patti saved her favorite pick for our last stop before getting ready for dinner. Barlow. Crazy cool place! In addition to traditional cocktails, to experimental creations made by the bartenders. We had unique and beautiful cocktails, were entertained by talented bartenders, and met the sweetest couple from LA who were celebrating her obtaining US Citizenship! Now that’s something to celebrate!

After drinks and touristing, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. I was super exicted to take Patti to my favorite Portland hot spot, Toro Bravo!

ssn: After all that hype, Toro Bravo Restaurant Group has permanently closed. We are heartbroken.

Portland, Day 2

Day 2 started like all mornings should start, with mimosas in our room! We had a very busy day ahead and made a weak attempt at planning and getting organized. The best part of the day was sure to be brunch with my college besties! We chose Tasty N Alder, part of the same restaurant group as Toro Bravo.

ssn: We again have found that Tasty N Alder has permanently closed.

After checking in with the hostess for the wait (expected, and well worth it), we went for coffee and a walk.

Across the street was a place called Never Coffee! I love coffee, I mean LOVE, so I get pretty skeptical about trying new places. This was a full-on experience! Cute little coffee shop with pastel decor, and their own specialty menu of coffee and tea, using a local coffee roaster. I had an “Oregon” with Cascade Hops, Dulce de Leche and Jacobsen Sea Salt. It was so good! Patti had a “Yuzu & Salt” with notes of yuzu fruit, sansho pepper, burned sugar and coconut cream (the burned sugar really came through in a lovely way)

More Wandering

With coffees in hand, we walked down to the famous Powell’s Books to kill some time. This is always a must see for visitors! Powell’s consistently hits all lists of things to do in Portland, with good reason. Powell’s is the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. It stretches the full city block; there is every book you could ever want under this roof.

Back to Brunch

Our table was ready so we headed back. Brunch was fabulous and made even better because it was shared with my best friends in the world! My besties are Portland natives and graciously met us to enjoy a whirlwind of food and hilarious chatter!

The food was served family style so we got to enjoy all the “tasty” selections! They have a wide range of options from sweet dishes (we all shared some of Auntie Paula’s French Toast as an appetizer to symbolize bringing in the Lunar New Year with sweetness), boards & sandwiches, small plates, big full-plate options with unique twists like a breakfast Bim Bop or Korean Fried Chicken and steaks.

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ssn: Don’t miss out on the breakfast cocktails, they are not just your average mimosas!

St. Johns & Cathedral Park

After brunch we drove up to St. Johns neighborhood to get some pictures of the famous St. John’s Bridge and Cathedral Park. It did not disappoint…gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Chinatown

After a quick stop by my Alma Mater, University of Portland (Go Pilots!), we needed to head to Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year! Old Town Chinatown is the oldest Portland neighborhood and is an eclectic mix of old and new, shopping and dining, arts and entertainment. We were just winging it but were sure we would happen upon the festivities!

ssn: We missed the entire Dragon dance and parade. Be sure to always verify schedules, haha.

We stopped in to the Society hotel for a couple of drinks on the rooftop patio so we could check out the happenings from above.

ssn: there was a couple obnoxiously making out in one corner *awkward* and a group of 20-somethings pretentiously discussing the shortcomings of cities in Italy <eye roll>

More Walking Sights Downtown

This is also where you’ll find Voodoo doughnuts. Yes they are famous; yes, they are popular; yes, they are fun (who doesn’t giggle at a Cock-n-balls) but to us, they are not even in the top few best donuts in Portland. A little over-hyped and not worth waiting in line, but if you feel you must then you should!

From there, we walked to the waterfront to continue enjoying the beautiful weather. Portland has a fabulous waterfront park along the Willamette River where they frequently hold music festivals and events, there is the Maritime Museum and River Boat cruises. One of the coolest things to do March through December is the Portland Saturday Market – the largest, continually operating open-air arts and crafts market in the country – fabulous artists, great food, performers, homemade goods and products.

Then, after a fantastic dinner at Frank’s Noodle House (long noodles for long life!), where Frank himself makes homemade noodles, sadly, we had to prepare ourselves to leave early the next morning. Our spontaneous, sisbehaving weekend was quick but full of fun!