The Seattle Traveler

This weekend. . .
. . . get away from the city with a drive to the Columbia River Gorge, home of the Maryhill Museum where you can catch the final days of the Andy Warhol and Other Famous Faces exhibit.
The Maryhill Museum is a castle-like structure on a 6,000 acre site overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, and is home to a collection of art ranging from early 20th century European art to more current Native American art.  The setting also includes beautiful gardens and grounds.
Famous Faces features many of the diverse personalities that Warhol captured, and many of …read more

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I grew up in the Skagit Valley, and sort of took all the tulip fields for granted.  At that time there wasn’t a festival, that’s only been around for 24 years, there were just farms, and dirt, and flowers.
Today, the Skagit Valley celebrates Tulips and Spring with its annual Tulip Festival, April 1st – 30th.  While those are the festival dates, the actual bloom date of the flowers is in the hands of Mother Nature.
Although there are a wide variety of events scheduled during the month, the real highlight of the festival are the fields of tulips.  Field after field, row …read more

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I used to ride the train when I was a kid.  My parents would put my brother and I on the train and one station, and my grandparents would pick us up at another station.  It was well organized, and very easy, and I felt so grown up traveling alone. 
When I learned to drive, the train became a thing of the past.
About 10 years ago, a group of people decided to attend a conference and travel by train from Tacoma to Eugene (Oregon).  There were about 15 of us, and it was great fun.  The seating area was spacious, with …read more

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If you’ve spent any time in the greater Seattle area, or perhaps just flown into Sea-Tac International Airport, you’ve had the opportunity to see majestic Mount Rainier.  Whether it’s a clear day, and the mountain is visible for hundreds of miles, or a cloudy day, with just the very top of its 14,410 feet peeking out above the clouds, it’s a welcome and familiar sight. 
Surrounding the mountain is Mount Rainier National Park, located in southeast Pierce County, one of the many national parks within a comfortable driving distance of Seattle.
Mount Rainier National Park was established on March 2nd, 1999, as …read more

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Location:  Out the window of a plane, flying by Mount St. Helens.
Mount St. Helens, located approximately 100 miles south of Seattle, is still an active volcano.
Unlike most volcanos in the U.S., this one has actually erupted — on May 18th, 1980, making it the deadliest and most economically destructive eruption in our history.  The once snowcapped peak of the mountain is now a horseshoe shaped crater, and occasional volcanic activity still occurs.
Although off-limits for quite some time, hikers and climbers are now permitted back on the mountain.
This photo is part of my Projet 365, a year long commitment to take …read more

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Details:  Snoqualmie Falls, a 270 foot waterfall, is one of the popular natural attractions in the greater Seattle area.  The park and viewing area are free, and open 24 hours a day.  The falls are approximately 30 miles from Seattle.
 
Photo credit:  flickr
 
 
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Anyone who knows me well will find today’s post a little startling.
I’m a one holiday at a time kind of person.  I want to celebrate and enjoy a holiday, and all that it has to offer, rather than rushing through to the next.  I HATE seeing Christmas decorations in stores at Halloween time!
I NEVER thought I’d be writing about Christmas, and related holiday events, here on the blog before Thanksgiving.  But I am.  Because I realize that many of Seattle’s sights, activities and rich traditions, require advance planning and reservations.  So I’m starting my holiday writing today.  Darn it all.
The …read more

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If you’ll be doing driving while in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area, here’s a phone number to remember:  5-1-1.
That number will connect you with up-to-the-minute information about traffic, weather, driving, and road conditions. 
Via:  Flyaway Cafe
 
 

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