Within 4 hours reach

Mount Rainier National Park

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Which National Park is most beautiful?  Well, that is a tough one as they all have something unique that makes them spectacular.  Mount Rainier National Park is one of those.  On this day, the beauty of this mountain and park shined!  The park is a 2-1/2 to 3 hour drive from the Seattle area.  There are different routes and stops to make, like Paradise on the west side, Sunrise on the east, and more.  This trip was limited to Paradise, so that is what I will be making note of.  It is best to get there earlier in the day as parking tends to fill up during the summer months.  But don’t worry, there are shuttles and other options as people come and go.  The new visitor center is a nice stop and the Paradise Inn was recently renovated.  You can go just to visit the Inn and walk the trails at Paradise or you can go for an all-day hike…like Comet Falls, Mowich Lake, or the Wonderland Trail which encircles the park.  Mount Rainier is also known as prime training grounds for mountain climbers.  You may want to stay the night, whether it be at the Paradise Inn, lodging in or outside the park, or maybe you like to camp…it has that too!  I have camped at both Cougar Rock and White River Campgrounds.  It is fun to look out for the numerous wild flowers depending on the time of year you go.  Normally, the snow levels are high enough that you wouldn’t reach snow, even at 6800′, but this year, and here it is mid-late August, there is still a heavy snow pack on much of the trail system.  Oh, and in the wintertime, there is snowshoeing.  The only wildlife seen this time were the insects (but it isn’t that bad).  Wear and/or bring the sunscreen and bug spray.  The waterfalls were rushing.  On the way “down the mountain” stops were made at both Narada Falls  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada_Falls and Christine Falls  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Falls.  Both of these allow for a quick walk/short visit.

A nice stop on the way…or way out on SR 706 in Ashford, WA, is the Ashford Creek Pottery/Gallery.  You will find photography, prints, jewelry, pottery, books and more.  http://www.ashfordcreekpottery.com/

“…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings.”  – John Muir, conservationist, 1889.  You will find much of what you need to know at the Mount Rainier National Park site:  http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

Mystic Sea Charters… cruise in the Northwest

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Hi!  This has got to be one of the best Northwest experiences ever!  Hellams Vineyard in La Conner, WA hosts 2-3 wine and dinner cruises each summer.  This cruise was on a beautiful evening in July with the pouring of Barrister Winery wines.  Mystic Sea Charters takes us on a tour via the vessel Mystic Sea http://mysticseacharters.com/index.php  So fabulous!  The cruise started out in La Conner, moving down the Swinomish Channel to Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass, and then a stop in the waters of Bowman Bay for dinner.  Have you had the opportunity of boating under the Deception Pass bridge?  Give it a try.  This particular tour was approximately three hours in length.  Enjoy the outside deck or choose the protection of the elements inside.  Beauty abounds!  Glistening waters, tree-lined rocky cliffs, beaches, bald eagles, and sea lions were seen.  The hunt was on at one point with a bald eagle chasing a seagull… he was ready for dinner.  A sunset was observed.  The crew is great and the captain has a fun sense of humor.  Make new friends.  The Mystic Sea is based out of Anacortes and is known for their whale watching excursions.  Book a custom trip or join in on an already scheduled charter.  Check out the Mystic Sea Charters website for more information or the Hellams Vineyard site for their wine cruise schedule. http://hellamsvineyard.com/  When the weather is this flawless, this experience is one of the best out there! 

A few notes on the wine being served – Barrister Winery is located in a 100 year-old brick building on West Railroad Ave in Spokane, WA (in the Davenport Arts District).  The winemakers, Michael and Greg specialize in making limited edition red wines.  On the boat cruise, the guests enjoyed some of these limited varieties as they are sold mainly at the winery and specialty wine shops – these include Sauvignon Blanc from Klipsun Vineyard, Merlot, and the very limited Cabernet Sauvignon from Bacchus Vineyard.  These along with the award-winning Cabernet Franc and Rough Justice were served.  Do you see the law theme here?  http://www.barristerwinery.com/index.asp

On a side note, I wanted to mention Morgan and Deena at the La Conner Channel Lodge for their tried and true hospitality.  The Channel Lodge is a beautiful place to stay right on the water in downtown La Conner. http://www.laconnerlodging.com/.

La Conner in July… and Rosario Beach

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A good time was had in La Conner this July as the sun was shining, a nice breeze, blue skies, and a glistening channel was experienced.   I was able to walk through town and check out the shops…which doesn’t take too long.

Stay – La Conner Channel Lodge – a very nice stay!  Most rooms in this hotel are located on the Swinomish Channel.  Enjoy your veranda on a summer day.  Read a book or magazine with your favorite beverage.  A nice spread is served for breakfast…cereals, breads with spreads, cheese and ham, fruit, and top it off with coffee or juice.  Complimentary wine tasting takes place on Friday and Saturday afternoons accompanied by a piano.  And now, the Lodge Retreat, spa services!  http://www.laconnerlodging.com/  Great service.

Eat – Seeds Bistro and Bar –  Yum.  The seating options abound…the front deck, at the bar, in the dining room or on the patio out back.  The fare consists of burgers, salads, soup, starters, sandwiches and comfort foods too!   Much of the quality products are purchased from Skagit Valley farms and Northwest growers whenever possible.  I enjoyed the Retro Iceberg Wedge – iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, gorgonzola crumbles, peppered bacon, and served with gorgonzola dressing on the side…and I ask for it to be cut up for me, instead of it being served as a wedge.  Oh, and the homemade bread, my goodness…delicious, soft, and warm.  The Two Beers Brewery Immulsion Amber hit the spot too.  Seeds serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.   http://www.seedsbistro.com/    Note: the pictures located on the site doesn’t do the food justice…check out the pic here instead.  🙂

La Conner Thai Restaurant  –  if you like Thai, you should like this.  The Phad Thai (with Chicken) was satisfying as was the cashew stir fry.

Enjoy – A stop at the Berry Barn is a must…love the Marionberry pie, and on a 4th of July weekend, it makes the meal extra special.  They of course have old-fashioned apple too.  http://www.funattheberrybarn.com/info.php   Although Roozengarde isn’t blooming with tulips, we made a stop and enjoyed visiting the gift shop and walking the grounds.  http://www.tulipfestival.org/   I was not able to make it to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival this year, but was happy to see that the official print for this year was created by local Camano Island artist John Ebner.  Really nice.  http://www.johnebner.com/  Snow Goose Produce Market, always a must-see.  This time, we purchased rustic Northwest bread.  A bit cool this morning for ice cream.  http://snowgooseproducemarket.com/  Stop by Plug Ugly for antique and other maritime and fishing gear – available for purchase!   Hellams Vineyard is the place to go for a great selection of wine and a good time.  A quality experience…a great place to gather with friends and family.  A plate of fine cheese, meat and olives can be purchased.  And if you would like to enjoy the deck with the view of the Channel, purchase a glass of wine (or a bottle) or beer and enjoy the afternoon.  The sun broke through and blue skies were in view.   I had the utmost fortune of meeting up with family friends that I had not seen since I was a child, and it was a perfect meeting spot for this.  Good food, wine, and conversation (with Frank Sinatra heard overhead).  http://www.hellamsvineyard.com/

Rosario Beach – lovely!  A great place for a picnic and for enjoying Northwest beauty.  Volunteers were on hand to teach us about the  rocky shores of Rosario Beach… the plants and animals that live within the tide pools here.  To protect the inhabitants of certain areas, it was suggested that we follow a rope trail and yes, we were still able to see the treasures that abound…hermit crabs, red rock crab, kelp, rockweed, chitons, and more.

See July 2010 post for more on La Conner and Deception Pass area.

Winthrop 2011

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This is the second entry for this kind of trip….check out my June 2010 post, you won’t want to skip it!  As there are tips for the trip!  www.winthropwashington.com/ 

Stay – Hotel Rio Vista –  accommodating staff, convenient location, outstanding housekeeping , on the river (room with a view).  The deluxe king rooms are open and relaxing.  Ladies take note…the sink and vanity are in the main room as part of the kitchenette.  http://hotelriovista.com/

Eat – Rocking Horse Bakery serves freshly baked artisan breads and bagels, pastries, scones, muffins, and specialty cakes, pies and cookies. For lunch, try a “made-from-scratch” soup, sandwich, salad or pizza.  Many are made daily and feature local ingredients. And if you are a lover of coffee, they serve 100% organic, fair trade coffee and espresso roasted locally in Winthrop by Backcountry Coffee Roasters.  Try the tasty croissant filled with asagio cheese and bacon.  http://www.rockinghorsebakery.com/

Carlos 1800 – Here’s to the Globo!  The chips (warm and salty) are a favorite and the fish and carne asada tacos won’t disappoint.  Not a big fan of the rice and beans though.  The manager is upbeat and friendly.  With all the margaritas they serve, an additional bartender may be needed on weekends.  I found that others may have had slow service.  http://carlos1800.com/

Sheri’s Sweet Shop – my annual scoop of  Moose Tracks in a cup – yum!  The raspberry truffle and homemade blackberry were good as well.

Shop –  Winthrop Mountain Sports carries a wide variety (and high quality) recreational goods and apparel.  This time, I purchased a pair of fuzzy slippers and flip-flops (the high-end kind).  I always want to try on clothes here, but normally do not have the time or am not in the mood…one of these days.  Other shops I have taken a liking to: the Winthrop information/visitor center (stop by, say Hi!, sign their guest book, and offer a donation), chat with the gentleman at Glassworks,  and stop in at Aspen Grove, Habitat, and Inside Out Home & Garden.

Attraction – Winthrop Wine Festival – a nice selection of wineries with live music in an open park setting; this makes for an enjoyable and relaxing Saturday afternoon.  Beebe Springs Natural Area – this 180-acre area just opened last month and is a planned stream restoration project for increased spawning and rearing of endangered steelhead.  I noticed the birds really enjoy it!  It includes wildlife-viewing facilities, park benches, interpretive signs, walking trails, and fabulous American Indian sculptures that welcome you.  Beebe Springs lies along Highway 97 south of Chelan on the Lake Entiat reservoir of the Columbia River, adjacent to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)’s Chelan Fish Hatchery north of Chelan.  Parts of the path and viewing area is currently covered with part of the Columbia River (see pic below)…but sure to recede soon as summer is upon us, hopefully.  A parking permit is suggested (actually required, but I must say, as this is right along the main highway, it is a nice place for travelers to visit, and it is unlikely that many of them may have this permit), as we did not.  Stop and take a walk!

Bellingham, WA 2011

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Bellingham, located about an 1-1/2 – 2 hours north of Seattle, is a nice getaway within 4 hours reach…whether it be a day trip or making a weekend of it, a nice time can be had here.  This trip consisted of a girls weekend.  The itinerary included:

  • Milagro Mexican Grill
  • Shopping in Fairhaven – fave stops included Artwood, A lot of Flowers, Gallery West, Three French Hens, 12th Street Shoes, and others…
  • Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting at Drizzle
  • Wine tasting at Purple Smile  http://www.purplesmilewines.com/  A must stop!
  • Hotel Bellwether   http://www.hotelbellwether.com/
  • Hearthfire Grill…not the greatest experience as our server (in the bar) was horrible, food could have been better
  • Starbucks
  • Bistro on Magnolia Street  – really good!  http://www.bistromagnolia.com/

Wine tasting at Purple Smile was most fun.  It’s a great stop on a Saturday afternoon, whether it is to have a day out with friends or meet some new ones…whether it be a person or wine.   You can pay/taste by the glass, a taste of 7 different featured wines or a separate tasting of 3 specialty wines.  A great selection can be found here… Washington wines and other.  I really liked the cement style high tables and other touches that made the shop inviting.  Wick was a great host.  On this day, I had a glass of O.S. Rose, a dry rose that aimed to please.

Hotel Bellwether was a nice place to stay.  Near a nice spa, dining, and right on the water.   Note:  they only have two rooms available with multiple beds, so not so convenient if there is a group event.

Bistro on Magnolia Street has a bistro vibe…is that possible?  Entertainment on Sunday mornings for brunch.  Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and brunch on the weekends.  Scrambles are served with hashbrown casserole and bread farm toast.  A variety of options abound:  Smoked Salmon Hash, Magnolia BLT, Biscuits & Gravy, Blue Scramble, Frites, Cobb Salad, Green Bowl, Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Calamari Sandwich, Flat Iron Steak Frites, North African Vegetable Stew, and more.  The entrees at dinner are served with a seasonal vegetable and garlic mashers.  Prices range from $4 – 32, with brunch options under $13.  Improvement needed:  speed in the kitchen and the ability to split up checks for a larger group.  Hey…looks like they have happy hour too!

See my May 2010 Post for a more info.

Happy One Year Anniversary!

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This is the one year anniversary of this blog!  Happy Anniversary to www.within4hoursreach.com !  I have enjoyed sharing the pictures and some of the experiences of the past year.  I hope that you may have found a suggestion or two and that you may have tried one of the fun outings within four hours reach!

All the best to you and to an adventurous 2011!  -D

On a side note…and I wish I was attending – try out the 1st annual Top Taco Truck Challenge this coming Saturday, April 30th at Discovery Park Center lawn, South Lake Union – 12 p.m.  http://www.1077theend.com/pages/9596625.php

Salish Lodge

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The Salish Lodge is one of the most majestic and relaxing lodges to experience in the Puget Sound area….or within 4 hours reach anyway.  The Salish Lodge is located in Snoqualmie, WA which is approx. 40 minutes east of Seattle.  It sits above the raging and wonderous Snoqualmie Falls.  This experience was all of the S’s….stay, satisfying, spa, scallops, Stellar, and more…

The first European settlers discovered the falls in 1851 and began running wagons from Seattle along logging roads to open up the natural wonder to the rest of society.  The first lodge was built in 1919 as a food and rest stop for travelers.  The present day Salish Dining Room showcases the lodges’ original fireplace where you can feast on their traditional Country Breakfast that’s been the talk of the many area towns for generations.  Today, make no mistake about it…this is a place for luxury.

We had the pleasure to dine in front of this fireplace for our 4-5 course chef’s dinner…see our recommended/fine selections below:

  • Local Farm Lettuces
  • Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly
  • Halibut Cheek
  • Yuzu Poached Prawns
  • Scallops with Salish Alderwood Smoked Salt
  • Grilled Sturgeon as the Auction Block Catch of the Day
  • Braised Beef Shortrib
  • Cheese Pairing…three delectible choices served with whole grain bread and a vanilla bean-apple compote
  • Creamsicle…frozen heirloom orange curd, creme fraiche ice creams, amaretto cookie crumb, herb garden thyme-canilla foam, huckleberry coulis…so yummy!

Service was excellent, a true fine dining experience with the change of silverware between courses.  Shout out’s needed for Donna C. and Tim.  The fire keeper was certainly an expert at this as well.

Prior to the evening dinner, a duet massage was enjoyed.  A therapeutic massage for two in the fireside room.   This was one of the most relaxing and best massages I have had…the pressure, the crackle of the fire, and I especially liked the hot stones used.  Katie is highly recommended.  Afterwards, a dip in the soaking and mineral pools, sauna, all the while sipping on refreshing citrus water.  The spa area is meant to be silent and tranquil.  It was not as tranquil as it could have been this particular afternoon due to the many people getting spa treatments/taking advantage of the service this day.

And in the Attic, a Falls Cosmo and Lavender Sapphire Collins.  The morning breakfast was also a treat – a Poinsettia, Salish Infused Mary, Sumatra-Putrarimbun french press service, the Railroad Avenue breakfast as well as the Vanilla and Spice Infused Waffles.  Great service by the hostess’, Ricardo, and manager Brian.  Shout out’s to Blake at check-in and the valet.  We will certainly be back.

Check out the beautiful country store located in the Salish Lodge as well.

Overall, a really wonderful experience, a relaxing and highly rated getaway.  http://www.salishlodge.com/

You can come for all of the above or al la carte, as both the spa and restaurant can be experienced without a stay at the lodge. The restaurant is a must for all foodies, whether for dinner or the incredible breakfast.  While you are there for any of these reasons… make sure you walk around the paths to take in the breathtaking views of Snoqualmie Falls from different areas of the park – you will not be disappointed!  www.snoqualmiefalls.com

Walla Walla…Whitehouse-Crawford

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OMG!  Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant in Walla Walla, WA served up one of the most appetizing, flavorful meals I have experienced.  Yum!   The high tressled ceilings, open kitchen, warming fireplace, brick walls, and windows showcasing wine barrels from a local winery make for a warming ambiance.  It is suitable for a couple wanting a romantic evening, a business dinner or a group gathering.   We brought in our own local bottle of wine but also enjoyed a 1/4 bottle of Perrier Jouet (as it was Valentine’s weekend).  The appetizers chosen were crispy fried sweet onions and Vietnamese style deep-fried calamari with ginger and two dipping sauces.  The entree of choice was the House made spaghetti with Dungeness crab, fennel, and pancetta.  Absolutely delicious!  The flavors lingered.  Also, a bite was had of my Valentine’s Wagyu beef tenderloin steak with red wine sauce, mushrooms sauteed in foie gras butter and mashed potatoes.  The beef was incredibly tender and flavorful (medium-rare).  David P served us with professionalism and a quick wit.  Would love to tell you about the dessert, but was way to full and satisfied to indulge.  If traveling to Walla Walla this is one of the must go to dinner spots, you may also have the desire and time to try their six course chefs prix fix dinner, I hear it is wonderful. The Whitehouse-Crawford building used to be a mill and furniture factory…check out the history portion of the website.  http://www.whitehousecrawford.com/

Things to Do in the Northwest

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If you are wondering what is going on this weekend around the Puget Sound or your community,  check out the NW Weekend section of The Seattle Times every Thursday.  Parts of this section can also be found at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/?from=stnvpg1 

NW Weekend has a variety of sections to tempt you… Best Bets, Weekend Highlight, Getting in Gear, and a detailed section called Datebook.  In Datebook, you will find various community events such as Animal Events, Benefits, Biking, Dance, Fairs/Festivals, Food Events, Hobbies, Museum Events, Sports, Performance…and the like.  There is always one main story showcased as well – this week it is Monte Cristo and Maples…Autumn Treasures of the Mountain Loop.

If I was to head off to one of the events this weekend…I think I might choose Issaquah Salmon Days  http://www.salmondays.org/  Enjoy!