19th January 2009 / 0 comments

Visiting Seattle and the San Juan Islands! (June 15-22, 2007)

This was to be our “break-in-the-backpacks” trip. It would be the first time I’d ever been traveling with something on my back instead of a nice, neat suitcase rolling along behind. Our friend Deidre decided to join us, so she willingly let herself in for a trip down memory lane as we hadn’t been back since living there from 1996-2001.

“All Things Are Connected” – Chief Seattle.
And nowhere does this seem truer than in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, North Bend, Redmond, Woodinville, Bellevue, the San Juan Islands and Friday Harbor… powerful mountains that touch the sky, the immensely deep emerald green bodies of water, and the trees – evergreens and firs with smells so fresh and pungent they are every allergy sufferers worst nightmare (so sorry Deidre!).
Visiting Seattle from Florida is a little like graduating — the road is long to get there, but once you’re there it is SO worth the trip! We came to celebrate Deidre’s birthday and celebrate we did. It was a non-stop eating and sightseeing adventure.
The typical “not-to-miss” tourist spots were Pike Place Market – flowers and fresh fish beyond any imagination; the Space Needle – incredible views and a great place to get your bearings before heading out to explore; Chateau St. Michelle Winery – that should be self-explanatory with this crowd :-); Seattle Harbor Cruise, Lake Union and Lake Washington Cruise, Washington Ferry to San Juan Island, and an Orca Whale Watch Cruise from Friday Harbor – we liked being on the water a LOT!
And of course there was the food! The Brooklyn, The Metropolitan Grill (for the real birthday celebration), 67 at the Edgewater Hotel, Icons Grill…and that was just in Seattle.

By the time we got to Friday Harbor, all we wanted was a burger or a salad! But the attraction in Friday Harbor wasn’t the food, it was the wildlife. Known for being one of the best spots to see Orca whales in their natural habitat, this visit showed us more than we hoped. On the first evening drive around the island we saw foxes, several families of deer, and a bald eagle – all before dinner! The next day’s trip on the whale watch boat we came upon pod L12. Their breaching and fish-hunting kept us entertained with ooo’s and ahhh’s most of the afternoon. Getting close to creatures that large and beautiful in their natural environment is an amazing experience!

And Seattle’s infamous rain? Yes, we got a little of it. But thanks to Cheryl’s awesome excursion planning, we were able to see Mt. Rainier in all of its glory several days in a row. On the trip to Anacortes to catch the ferry, Mt. Baker showed off against the backdrop of the Cascades. Temperatures were in the upper 50’s to 70 the entire trip – a welcome relief from the Florida heat! A visit to the Pacific Northwest – Seattle and the San Juan Islands in particular – reminds us just how incredibly beautiful this part of the world is to enjoy! Back to Tampa today. Laundry awaits and it’s time to start re-packing the backpack for Ireland. We leave for Europe on Wednesday morning!! Woo Hoo!!