Staying at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel

A few months, I fulfilled a dream of mine: staying overnight at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. I spent a few days online making sure I got the best deal and the type of room I wanted. Since I am a resident of the state, I got 20% off my room. That savings lead me to upgrade the room I was originally thinking. I went with the executive suite. It was amazing.


Upon arriving, I was greeted by my name; every time after, I would be greeted by my name, and when I called room service, they answered with my name. It was such a nice touch. I wanted to really immerse myself in the experience of enjoying the room, so once I checked in, I didn't leave. I made the splurge to have a wonderful meal from room service. I'd never had room service before, and I loved every minute! The food was perfection.


I did not want my stay to end. Would I go back? Heck yes!

Tulip Festival

Every April in a neighboring county is the Tulip Festival. It's in Skagit County, which is about an hour north of Seattle, WA. It's a big thing here. There are fields covered in yellow and red tulips. They are gorgeous! You have to get there early April to see them before they're cut for sale.

In the middle of the month, the town of Mount Vernon always has a street fair on the weekend in the middle of the month. It's so much fun. So many booths! So many things to try! I never tire of it.

One of the artists created some work during the fair.

Yes, it was a Paint-a-Person booth. This was set up by this really cool arty story (see below). The store has fun nostalgic items on one side and serious art supplies on the other. It's a magical place. Truly.

If you're in the Puget Sound area in spring, be sure to check out the festival. It's huge and amazing. Spring is a great time out here. I'm in love with my home. 

Seattle Spots to See

Monday, I went on another excursion to Seattle, one of my favorite cities. I went mostly for the photography I would take, but I also stopped at the Seattle Art Museum. Mostly, I stayed at the touristy places like Pike Place Market. If you're in Seattle, here are some of my favorite places in downtown.

You can't go to Seattle and not visit Pike Place Market. I recommend going during the week in the morning as it won't be as busy. The vendors tend to close up around 4 P.M. There are stores and individual stall since it also has a great farmers market. While there, be sure to check out the Wall of Gum. The original Starbucks is here; it is on the small alley right across from the farmers market. You can find it by the original Starbuck sign that hangs down.

While you're at the Market, a few shops from the Starbucks is a little bit of Heaven called Le Panier. It is a glorious French bakery. The macaroons are the reason I go here. They are scrumptious. There is always a line, but it is worth it. You should get a macaroon in each flavor. I don't have a favorite since they're all so wonderful.

Another gem in the Market is Market Spice. This place is famous for their Cinnamon-Orange tea, which I'm drinking at the moment. Oh my word that tea is good. The store has several other types of tea, spices, and tools of the trade. To find this store, look for the fish being thrown (which is another famous part of the Market).

The Market is wonderful. You can spend hours there. No need to worry about food or restrooms as there are plenty of both. For parking, I recommend parking in the Target garage and walking the couple of blocks to it. Much cheaper than the Market parking lot.

Trip for One

Being a Navy wife, I find a lot of time by myself for months on end. Sometimes it can be good, and sometimes it can be bad. My husband has a rotating schedule of so many months and home and so many months at sea. During his deployment, I take an overnight trip by myself. This past time, I stayed in Seattle. I have overnighted in the downtown area during a deployment, but this time I stayed in a different neighborhood and in a bed and breakfast. My destination was the University District of Seattle. It's close to the downtown area, about fifteen minutes or so by car, and home to the University of Washington.

Upon first arriving at the city, I went shopping in the downtown area while I waited for the time to check in to my B&B. The shopping area I chose is close to the convention center and the swanky shops. I haven't been there before, so it was nice to explore. I discovered the Cheesecake Factory was there, so I popped in for a treat.

A goal of going to the downtown area was to see the Seattle Public Library. During library school and then as a librarian, I'd heard great things about the downtown branch of SPL. I knew I had to visit, especially after learning that the library offers a coffee shop and gift shop. Needless to say, I loaded up on bibliophile materials. You can see the main floor in the pictured above. There are eleven floors, including one with soundproof music rooms! I know!

Another library I visited, pictured above, was the main library at UW. This image is of the reading room. How gorgeous and inspiring is this? Now, you might be wondering why I am visiting a university. Sure, I already have my Bachelor's and Master's degrees (you need a Master's to be a librarian, in case you're wanting to pursue that path), but I am starting to consider the possibility of attaining a doctorate in the field. The University of Washington is number three in the country for library school, so this was a great place to start my research. Plus, I have a thing for universities. It is my goal in life to work at a university. 

My exploration of the U District expanded from the campus to the surrounding streets. The area is a collection of unique shops and restaurants that can be easily explored on foot. Plus, the campus is so gorgeous and features a great museum, so you'll have plenty to do for the day.

I chose  The Chambered Nautilus Bed and Breakfast to stay for two nights. It was lovely. The people who work there are very helpful - such as showing the easy routes to get to places, and great places to eat - and the setting was so beautiful. Even though I was in the city, I felt completely removed from everything. I would love to take my husband there one day. The breakfasts are amazing. I had been wanting to stay there for months, and I loved every minute of it.

On my way home, I took afternoon tea at the Georgian Restaurant in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Yes, that hotel. It was exquisite. I made reservations, and when I arrived and throughout my experience, I was always called Mrs. Green. I loved pretending I was rich. The tea service was wonderful and very filling. If you're in Seattle, you must try this. This was one of my best experiences.

Seattle: The Republic of Fremont

One of the many fun things about Seattle is seeing all of the many neighborhoods in and around the city. I recently spent a day in Fremont. This area has a high opinion of itself; for one, it tried to secede from Seattle. If you want to experience a fun side to Seattle, this is the place for you.

On your trip, you will encounter a troll under a bridge, a statue Vladimir Lenin brought from Czechoslovakia, a sign post that points to the major points of interest in the neighborhood and the world, and a rocket from the Cold War. Each Sunday, the street market opens up. It has both an indoor and an outdoor shopping area. If you're looking for something old, unique, or both, you must visit the market. This one vendor I saw had photographs of people from the 1930s and 1940s. I couldn't help but think that buying a picture would be remembering the nameless faces for someone.

This area is artsy and eclectic. I enjoyed my day here. 

The Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge

Dinosaur topiaries!

Lenin's Statue (notice the flames around him; the statue was found after the 1989 Revolution)

Cold War rocket

Signpost of the Center of the Universe

Sunday Market

Unique finds at the market

Exploring a New Island

I love to travel and explore new places. Living in Puget Sound, WA, there are so many different areas to see. I have always wanted to live here ever since I was a little girl and knew that Seattle got a lot of rain. Last week, my husband and I left our island and traveled to San Juan Island. We found a great B&B, Inn to the Woods to stay for two nights. It was wonderful. If you go, I highly recommend Inn to the Woods. The B&B is about four or so miles outside of the town of Friday Harbor and is surrounded by trees and overlooks a lake. It is so peaceful, and the innkeeper is very hospitable. And an amazing cook! Now I'm hungry.

Friday Harbor is a small town. It's quaint with many unique shops and restaurants. During January, many shops close down, so keep that in mind when traveling. The other side of the island has another town, but we didn't go there. So, what is there to do other than eat, sleep, and shop? Whale watching! Orcas are always around, so you might see one of the pods. You can either take a boat or kayak. The island also has a lot of hiking and camping and a large zipline area. This is a fun, laid-back place with only two national chains: Ace Hardware and Wells Fargo. Very nice. Explore the many farms and vineyards. It's a great place to escape.

Take the ferry to get here.

One of at least two bookstores.

Looking down the "main drag."

A gardening shop.

Ferry price is a round-trip ticket, so don't panic like we did.

British Camp

Hiking at the British Camp

Travel Love: Port Townsend

I love visiting different towns and cities, even if I've been there a few times already. That's the great thing about Washington state: there's so much to see and do. 

Port Townsend is on the Olympic Pennisula. It is one of two Victorian towns in the U.S. on the National Historic Registry. It's a beautiful seaside town. For me to get there, I have to take a ferry, which is a lot of fun. 

The historic district is right on the water, so I just walk onto the ferry then walk around town. The marina has a store that lets you bud your own kayak. 

The shops are very unique and quaint. 

There is a tea and spice store that makes me want to cook, and I hate to cook. Anything you want, they pretty much have. I reccomend the Early Grey creme tea. 

Many stores feature unique bath and body products. 

The latest addition is a Steampunk store. Poet Townsend is a must when you visit Washington state. 

My Love: Seattle

I absolutely adore the Emerald City, Seattle. Of the cities I've visited, it's either number two or number three of my favorites, depending on my mood. Number one is London; Seattle is in competition with Paris. A few weeks ago, I stayed in Seattle, but couldn't take any pictures since my husband had it while on deployment. Now, I have an iPhone!! That means better pictures and more posts. 

Today in Seattle, we did the touristy things. After shopping at REI's flagship, we walked toward Pike Market. It was a beautiful day, perfect for walking. On the way, we past by the Fifty Shades of Grey condo building, Escala. 

After arriving at the Market, we explored it all. Tip: try to avoid it on the weekends. 

You do get to hear a lot of musicians. Some are good. Some aren't. You should see the gum wall. Yes, a wall of gum. What makes it worth it is the large collection of artwork on the other walls by it. 

I really love all of the fresh flowers. If we didn't live two hours away, I would always get them. 

I  finally got to see the little original Starbucks on our way to the ferris wheel. The wheel should be on everyone's list; it offers some of the best views. 

We ended our fin with delicious French macaroons from Le Panier at Pike Market. 

The truly is a wonderful city.