SEATTLE and POULSBO, WA

Just arrived home from our 12 day trip to Seattle and Victoria.  Every day was filled with fun...and even some surprises.


SCOTT'S SCOOBY-DOO BIRTHDAY PARTY

It was chilly in the northwest (especially at night) so we dug out our turtlenecks, sweats and jeans -- clothing not usually in the closets of Floridians -- but we went this time of year to celebrate son Scott's 50th birthday.

Scott -- our birthday boy -- in his super sexy sport jacket.

It was a 60's theme party -- Scooby Doo -- and there were lots of hippie costumes.  Mary K wore tights with a short skirt, psychedelic shirt and pleather biker's vest....she fit right in.  Peggy wore a 50's poodle skirt and matching blue beret....a little early for the 60's but the genuine poodle skirt was a real find at our local Goodwill.  Couldn't resist. 

Dick was quite the ladies' man in his flamingo pink jacket and crazy hat and we loved the Beatles vintage t-shirt (all more Goodwill finds).  No....he doesn't wear the pink jacket at the country club but I'll bet someone else did.

The party took place at Scott and Kristi's beautiful home in Kingston with a breathtaking view of Puget Sound.

Jack Hanson showing the back of the house with all the windows looking out over Puget Sound.

The Grub Hut pulled in their food truck and served hamburgers, hot dogs and salads during the party -- everything was delish!

Lots of people, loads of beer and wine and Scooby snacks -- a perfect party-time!

Daughter-in-law Kristi with the two of us. (She's the cute one in the center.)

Mary K and I noticed that grandson Jack had been "eyeing" Grandpa Dick's pink jacket and we told Jack to just ask him for it.  Jack politely approached Grandpa who gladly handed over his jacket -- it felt a little like the Master's Ceremony.

And, graciously, Aunt Mary K couldn't resist giving her genuine pleather vest to Jack's friend.

Unfortunately, we think Jack actually LIKES the pink jacket and wore it for several days after the party.  Go, Jack!  Did I mention that he was able to skip his first year at the University of Washington and entered as a sophomore math major.  This year, he jumped from junior to senior year.....yes, he's bright even if he likes the pink sport jacket.....just wish I'd put a pocket protector in the breast pocket  for him.

POULSBO INN

We stayed again at the Poulsbo Inn on the Kitsap Peninsula.  This seems to be our "home away from home" after staying here so many years.  It's perfect for 3 people -- separate living room with TV and sofa bed; kitchen with stove, microwave, refrigerator and even a dishwasher; and a bedroom with 2 queen beds and another TV.  We were able to cook a little bit and never got in each other's way.

The Breakfast Room at the Poulsbo Inn

CLEARWATER CASINO & RESORT

Even though we rented a car, it was great getting picked up by the free shuttle from the Clearwater Casino, a few miles away.  Each of us could come and go as we pleased, with a shuttle leaving for the Poulsbo Inn every hour.  It also picks up people from the Bainbridge Ferry and delivers them back to the ferry again.  A real plus.  Drivers Kim and Bob were very personable and we never forgot to tip.

The Casino has vastly remodeled with new hotel rooms and a large gaming room with giant TV's and a stage for live music.  Mary K and I really enjoyed the band, Wild Child -- 2 gals sang songs from our era -- Jefferson Airplane, Heart, Pat Benatar.  The menu in this venue is extensive and we filled up on yummy appetizers.

WASHINGTON HUSKIE/STANFORD GAME

Dick, his son Scott and wife Kristi along with grandson Jack were able to go to the Washington/Stanford game Friday night -- what a game!  44-6  Huskies!  Go Dawgs!  It was a thrill for all of them, especially for Dick who is known to wear all of his Huskie gear here in Florida on game days.

BAINBRIDGE FERRY

On Sunday, Mary K and I packed a small bag so that we'd be ready to head off for Victoria, B.C., Canada early Monday morning.  First, we boarded the Bainbridge Ferry to Seattle.....

This ferry deserves a section of its own.  To walk on and off the ferry is a real bargain and a wonderful ride.  Have your cameras ready for beautiful pictures of the Seattle waterfront.

This neat model of the ferry is inside the Bainbridge terminal.

Early Monday morning we arrived at the Seattle waterfront and took a cab to our fabulous ship leaving from Seattle -- The Clipper.  (See the section of our blog covering the Clipper and Victoria.)



Back to POULSBO

When we arrived back in Seattle from fabulous Victoria, we decided to spend some time in the quaint little town of Poulsbo and the first thing we did was stop at the Green Light Diner for breakfast.

 

One of Mary K's favorite places in Poulsbo is the Licorice Shrine (which is hidden inside a small market).  She fills up on all types of licorice and happily "donates" her money to the shrine god.

Peggy loves Sluy's Bakery....just look at that window full of goodies!

We happened to be in Poulsbo on "Ladies Night Out".  Poulsbo does it right -- and it's all on behalf of a domestic abuse charity.  Many of the shops had an array of food including tiny cupcakes, cheese and crackers, salmon dip, candy, cookies and wine -- right up our alley.

There was a special tent set up for the event and volunteers were selling swag bags for $5.00.  Each of ours included a cute coin purse, a neat pair of earrings, a pen and several tickets for raffles.  Other people found gift certificates in their bags....scarves and hand-crafted goods.

Lots of shops had special sales for Ladies Night and we, of course, sniffed out the sales.  We both found bargains at a cute boutique called Flika.

Poulsbo has a wonderful little downtown with a Scandinavian influence and it's fun to stroll.

We're used to seeing pretty flowering baskets up and down the main street of Poulsbo....brrrr....too cold this time of year!

Peggy is well-hidden standing in front of this mural painted on the side of a building in Poulsbo.

PIKE PLACE MARKET

Of course we always go to Pike Place Market when we're in Seattle so it was back on the Bainbridge Ferry and then a long, hilly walk to the Market.  Alaskan Way (the street running from the Ferry along the shoreline has lots of construction and the sidewalk is closed off in several places. 

We walked along Alaskan Way as far as we could and discovered a few neat shops.

And, of course, lots of photo ops....who can't resist a scary clown?

We also found Ye Old Curiosity Shop with lots of unusual things......

and FUDGE!  Buy a pound and get 1/4 pound free.

Lots more souvenir shops before you get to the Aquarium

Once you get to the Aquarium, you can't go any further due to construction without crossing the street and following the group to the step climb.  Be prepared to climb lots of steps on your walk.

At the top of this long flight of stairs, there's an elevator that will take you inside the Market.  Yay!

Our first stop is always the Daily Dozen Donut booth....mini HOT donuts....be sure to buy a dozen for yourself!

Here's my very own bagful!  Wowzer!

Once we had our donuts we walked out of the Market (temporarily, of course), turned right at the street, and went down a few shops to the Lilly Coffee Shop.  Delicious coffee -- it's Seattle!! -- and a little table to enjoy our coffee and donuts and people watch.

Back to the main street we went, bypassing the market for now -- and walked north to Post Alley.  We had  two main goals on this street.....the chowder shop and cheese curds!

This is about the shortest line we saw at the chowder shop....Mary K's the one at the end!

Next stop in Post Alley was the shop with fabulous macaroni and cheese and CHEESE CURDS!

Please note:  A few are missing!  Sorry!

We kept walking past the Market and discovered a shop selling only umbrellas -- umbrellas that are works of art!  This lovely shop is Bella Umbrella and the salesgal was a delight!

Heading back to the shoreline, past the Market, was the first street "statue" we saw.....

                                      Mary K almost tripped over him.

We also walked past a cute little coffee shop with outdoor tables...couldn't resist sitting at one of them.....it was Sisters Cafe and the tabletop had a hand painted Eiffel Tower on it (Paris is our next trip next month!).

We finally came to our next goal...the World Market.  We don't have one in our town and always love looking at the merchandise.  This time, we each bought a cloth shopping bag for 99 cents!  Yes, skip the $5.99 to $15.99 shopping totes you see along the way and go to World Market.

World Market is hidden away but next to a little park....look for the upside-down umbrella street sculpture (on the right).


Another neat item Peggy found was the hand-waving Queen Elizabeth -- it's solar powered.  She saw one of these in Victoria at the Empress Hotel but they were sold-out.  This one will stand next to a teapot in Peggy's kitchen garden window.

         The solar panel is on top of her handbag.   Very clever.



Back to Pike Place Market we went after taking a break in a nice little park along the shoreline.

While we were sitting in this park, it was really uplifting to see a young couple, in their late teens, offering free sandwiches and bottles of water to a few homeless people who had gathered in the park.  A beautiful gesture.  And the food was graciously accepted.


And here are some pictures of the beautiful flowers, fruits and veggies in the Market.

         

Walking back to the ferry, we passed this little funky shop......

We were pooped and didn't go in....let us know if you've been there!  Next time we'll find out about the Ugly Baby and especially LaRu!

Final stop for us was at Ivar's for fish and chips.

Mary K watching the kids feed leftover French fries to the seagulls.

And then it was back to the Bainbridge Ferry and photos of the beautiful Seattle skyline.

BOSTON (The Cradle of Liberty)!


My son, Tommy, called one day and said..."It's time for you to visit.  I want to show you around one of my favorite cities, Boston, first and then on to New York!"   No further persuasion needed!  We were on a plane to Boston as soon as we arranged our flights and accommodations!

As you know, when we travel, we travel well and always work at getting the best deals.  So, I took a little extra time to secure the most economical, yet excellent accommodations!  As you also know, we never back down from trying something different and actually look forward to the unique, out of the ordinary, top-notch, and just plain fun vacations!

Since we are both retired, we can travel anytime.  A plus for securing the least expensive flights.  We will be flying into Boston and staying there a few days.  Then Tommy will drive us back to his stomping grounds in the New York area, where we'll visit for another week.  So, a one-way flight to Boston and one-way from Newark..

Here's a flight tip.....I've often found that, even when flying to and from the same destination, you can see a savings by booking two one-ways rather than  one round-trip.  So, always check your options.

Boston accommodations were easy.  Since Tommy had his car, we could avoid the high  Boston city hotel prices.   (Actually, even without a car, planning around public transportation, you can save substantially on suburban hotels.)  After some research, I booked us at the Double Tree Hilton in Bedford Glen, a short drive from Boston.  The price was right, and the accommodations and hospitality were on spot!

Tommy picked us up at airport.  We booked early flights so we could take advantage of most of the day in Boston.  Our first stop....Double Tree to drop off our bags and head right out to experience Boston!

This is my first visit to Boston...I must say, I was even more impressed than I expected.  I was looking forward to the history, the architecture, the Freedom Trail.  Tommy loves this city and I could immediately see why!  Add to the awe-inspired feeling of actually standing here in this site of  our country's history, touching the buildings and walking the streets of our forefathers who shaped our country!  Now, add the food (wow!), the fun vibe and the natural beauty...that's Boston!

We've planned almost 3 days to experience virtually all of Boston (mostly walking!), with a side trip to Cambridge and the awesome Harvard campus!   Here we go!  .....

Anxious to take in all of  Boston in our 2 days stay, our first stop...the North End also known as Little Italy)...Boston's oldest residential neighborhood.  Brick streets and historic architecture, includng The Paul Revere House...  Built in 1680, occupied by Paul Revere and his family from 1770 to 1800.  It was amazing to walk these 300+ year old streets and imagine a time when they bustled with horse and buggies, children in knickers and bonnets, pushing barrel rings with sticks, ladies in long cropped day dresses  and gentlemen in waistcoats and top hats.

Paul Revere's home

The period shops in this neighborhood are delightful!  I couldn't resist Polcari's Coffee Shop. ....a marvelous collection of spices, teas, coffees, jams, candies and so much more than simply coffee!  I was in heaven!  A tough decision, but I finally chose some unique specialty spices, raspberry jam and ginger syrup!

We couldn't miss a quick trip through the Boston Public Markets...a glorious menagerie of over 40 vendors offering fresh locally sourced groceries, fruits and vegetables, plus an array of various foods and desserts!

Tommy had told us about the delicious Boston lobster rolls and promised to introduce our appetites to the best lobster rolls at his favorite Boston seafood restaurant...Neptune Oyster!  We hurried across the street, hoping to get in front of the waiting line (no reservations taken).  The line begins forming before the daily doors open, so it's imperative to arrive early. We weren't about to miss the opportunity, so we hustled to get our "10th in line" spot and, happily, just made the first seating!   Jeff, the manager, warmly welcomed us as we entered this surprisingly small, but bustling Neptune Oyster Restaurant.

We promptly ordered oysters, choosing from a menu of 18, with different origins, descriptions and prices.   Tom and Tommy gave their hearty approval!  I'm not a fan of oysters so my taste buds patiently waited for the famous lobster roll I had heard about so often!  Amazing...huge platters of  lobster rolls arrived!  Oh my gosh!  They were absolutely delicious!... Chunks and chunks of sweet lobster, overflowing in a soft flavorful roll, with warm drawn butter!  Thank you, Tommy, for this marvelous seafood introduction!  ;

What do you do after a full, satisfying meal?  That's right, folks!  Walk it off!  And what better way and more meaningful walk than Boston's Freedom Trail!  A beautiful day...and 2 1/2 miles of history...Old State House, King's Chapel, Park Street Church, Old South Meeting House, Irish Famine Memorial, Massachusetts State House, Beacon Hill and it's majestic residences along Beacon Street.  A stop at the "original" Cheers Bar on Beacon Hill and rest stops at the glorious Public Garden and Frog Pond in Boston Common.

We ended our Freedom Trail walk at Faneuil

Hall Marketplace...a festive montage of shops, bars, eateries and entertainment!

 Our first stop after a long walk....margaritas and salsa and chips at Mija Cantina & Tequila Bar.  A super place setting for street entertainment and people watching!

Next, a look around The Quincy Building...an awesome mid-1800's building housing more eateries and shops.

A short drive to our hotel for the evening. after a very full and fun first day in Boston!

Day 2 - Planning our second day and final full day in Boston, we decide to make a stop in Cambridge and walk the beautiful and surprisingly widespread campus of iconic Harvard University.

A look around Tory Row and on to Boston.

We chose our lunch eatery wisely....Pomodoro...a lovely small, bright and friendly Italian Restaurant.  Terrific food, sangria, friendly atmosphere and ambiance!

Back to the North End and famous Mike's Pastry, renowned Italian Bake Shop.  Always a line, we were happy to wait to order  cannoli, biscotti, cream puffs and an array of yummy bake goods!

Looking forward to an evening of Boston's delicious food, great atmosphere, libations and, of course, music!

Tommy has chosen another of his favorite restaurants....Gaslight Brasserie du Coin, an old world, French style atmosphere with Bohemian chic flair.  A scrumptious meal, a good wine and on to our search for jazz/blues at it's finest.

We find just what we're looking for at The Beehive...funky and fun...known as one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world!  We head up to the balcony.   Here's a tip:  There are lots of tables on the main level (most always taken through reservations and only a few have a good view of the stage).  To sit at these tables, you must order dinner.  Well, we just had dinner, so we checked out the bar area upstairs.and found the very best table in the house!  Right at the balcony, directly overlooking the band, we had the best front row seats!  Enjoying the super band, Void Union, Beehive's Honey Brews and a small selection of appetizers. it was the perfect farewell to the Boston beginning of our East Coast vacation!