The Pacific Northwest is home. I was born in Washington, attended college in Oregon, and returned to Washington to raise my family. This is where we spend an overwhelming majority of our time. However, it is difficult to ‘play tourist’ the same way you would when exploring places that are unfamiliar. Therefore, this blog represents a handful of highlights that we have experienced in Washington. I have modeled the blog after the state’s Department of Natural Resources map. It is organized into six separate regions: Northwest (Everett-Bellingham), South Puget Sound (Seattle Metro), Olympic (Grays Harbor-Port Angeles), Pacific Cascade (Olympia-Vancouver-Long Beach) Northeast (Spokane), and the Southeast (Yakima-Tri-Cities)

———- NORTHWEST (Bellingham, Everett) ———-

FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: I am proud to say I grew up in the town of Snohomish. It is located fifteen minutes east of Everett and depending on traffic fifty minutes northeast of Seattle. Personally, I consider the town a hidden northwest gem. My friends, family, and athletics (I was a 3-sport athlete) as a whole played a huge role in shaping who I am as an adult. I have many fond memories of growing up. Unfortunately, my parents moved a couple years following my high school graduation. As a result, I rarely get back.

When visiting you would be remiss if you didn’t make time to wander 1st Street, which is the epicenter of the town. It earned the nickname “Antique Capital of the Northwest”. Obviously I am biased, but there is no better place to spend a leisurely afternoon window shopping than Snohomish.

Bellingham, the far northern corner of the state, is known for it’s natural beauty and outdoor activities. It sits on the shores of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands and is merely twenty miles to the Canadian border. While we typically don’t spend a lot of time in this area. However, every time we do visit we ask ourselves why we don’t come here more. In 2023 we went whale watching with San Juan Cruises. We left from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, were served a lovely lunch, and then attempted to view Orca Whales. We only had a handful of sightings, but had a great time being out on the water.

RESTAURANTS: In Snohomish, we recommend eating at Pilchuck Drive In, The Cabbage Path, Jake’s Cafe, or the Maltby Cafe. Growing up my absolute favorite place to eat was Alfy’s Pizza. Sadly, I believe they are no longer located in Snohomish. In Bellingham we have only eaten at Nikki’s Bella Marina. It is located right on the water, has an overwhelming amount of menu options, and for dessert we ordered a fried Twinky.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: Everett, a 20 minute drive from Snohomish, is home to the single A minor league baseball team of the Seattle Mariners, the Everett Aquasox. It was always a good time at Everett Memorial Stadium. My dad was the official scorekeeper for twenty-five years, and family friend Tom was the public address announcer. So many good memories at the ballpark.

When you are in the moment you rarely comprehend how lucky you are. Looking back, I definitely understand how fortunate I was. Spending those dog days of summer around the park with my Dad played a huge role in developing my love for the game of baseball.

———- SOUTH PUGET SOUND (Olympia, Seattle, Tacoma) ———-

FAVORITE CITY AND EXPERIENCES: We would consider the city of Seattle one of the prettiest in the country. When it is sunny (I joke that it is only sunny roughly 12 days a year) you would be hard pressed to find a prettier city in America. Below are views of the city from Kerry Park.

Highlights from our time exploring Seattle include tourist destinations such as the newly remodeled Space Needle, sauntering through the unique Pike Place Market, and taking pictures in front of the iconic 1st Starbucks and the Gum Wall. Any trip to Seattle should start with the iconic Space Needle.

Jill and I have visited the observation deck three times, Bailey twice, and Maddie once. Our most recent visit came in October of 2021 where we were able to witness the revolving floor on the first deck and the newly remodeled wall of plexiglass on the second deck.

For a guy that doesn’t like heights it took me awhile to get comfortable being out on the observation deck on the top floor. The bottom floor comes complete with a revolving deck as well as a floor made of glass. Truthfully, I never felt entirely comfortable looking through the glass floor while standing over 600 feet above the ground. However, it was a very unique feature and made for some amazing views. The girls, who are much more daring than I, absolutely loved it! Whether you are shopping for something specific, or just looking to window show, Pike Place Market is a must do Seattle experience.

When we visit we enjoy attempting to take the perfect picture in front of the iconic sign, watching salmon be thrown from one end of the fish market to another, and simply wandering through the market.

No two trips ever seem to be the same. Specific locations I suggest visiting are the gum wall (alley decorated with chewed gum stuck on the brick walls) and the very first Starbucks.

The Seattle Waterfront is another fun location to visit. We would suggest taking the Ferry across Elliott Bay to Bainbridge Island. Day or night, the views of the skyline are absolutely beautiful. We typically ferry across the bay, get ice cream at the terminal on the other side, and then return to Seattle. Our family has done this on at least four separate occasions and the views never disappoint. The Great Wheel was added to the Waterfront in 2012. It is located on pier #57 and is a great way to see the skyline.

West Seattle, specifically Alki Point, is an area of Seattle we have only recently spent any time. Yet every time we visit we comment that we should come here more. The beach is inviting, there are multiple water activities (including renting kayaks), and a 4 mile long walking/bike path. Plus the real draw is the spectacular view of the Seattle skyline.

In the spring of 2026, we rented bikes at Alki and road up and down the bike path. Yes, the rental store had regular bikes – we chose these!

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: One of our favorite places to enjoy a sunny day in Seattle is at the Hiram Chittenden Locks located in Ballard. The Locks connect Lake Washington with Shilshore Bay and the Puget Sound; sailboats, yachts, and fishing boats of all sizes travel through here 24/7.

Renting kayaks or canoes on Lake Washington is a great way to spend an adventurous Saturday. Boats travel through the Montlake Cut, the views of the homes and mountains on the lake are spectacular, and you feel like you can look directly into Husky Stadium.

While we haven’t spent a ton of time in Fremont, a must do is the 18-foot Fremont Troll sculpture under the Aurora Bridge. You are free to walk on the troll and it is a great picture opportunity.

The Sky View Observatory at Columbia Center offers unmatched views of downtown Seattle. The observatory is on the 73rd floor (902 feet above the ground) and offers unparalleled views of Mt. Rainier, the Seattle skyline (including the Space Needle), the Olympic Mountains, Bellevue, and Mt. Baker. Construction was completed in 1985 and is the tallest observatory in the Pacific Northwest. In the summer of 2022 we watched the Blue Angels, which were performing for Sea Fair, from the observation deck.

There are only a handful of Starbucks Reserve stores in the world (Chicago, Tokyo, New York City, Milan, Shanghai, and Seattle). The Starbucks website advertises these locations offer rare coffee beans from around the world, unique drinks, and experimental brewing methods. The Reserve in Seattle is located on Capital Hill and we have visited multiple times. If you are a coffee lover, this is a must visit.

Snoqualmie Falls, located thirty-five minutes east of Seattle, is one of the most popular attractions in the state. The falls are twice as tall as Niagara Falls and were featured in the television series, Twin Peaks.

Lastly, my wife treated me to a scenic Seaplane Tour of Seattle one year for my birthday. The flight took off and landed from Lake Washington and the views of Seattle were unbelievable. This is definitely a unique way to view the city and one of my favorite Seattle experiences.

In Tacoma, Point Defiance Park is a beautiful place to explore. With over 700 acres there is something for everyone; a bike path, rose garden, hiking trails, and beaches. There is also a Zoo and Aquarium within the park.

RESTAURANTS: While there is no shortage of places to eat in and around Pike Place, our go-to’s are The Athenian for breakfast or brunch, Pike Brewing Company for lunch and/or a pint, and Ivar’s on the Waterfront for a seafood dinner.

The Athenian was used in a scene from the movie “Sleepless in Seattle” and comes with amazing views of the waterfront.

Also, there are signs above the bar stools where actors Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner sat in the movie. We also enjoy Pike Place Chowder House, Piroshky Piroshky, Lowell’s, Sound View Cafe, and Cafe Campagne. The Pink Door is also located in Pike Place and is a fun Italian Restaurant, albeit difficult to find, but definitely worth a visit.

Other famous and fun places to eat in Seattle are Dicks Drive-In for hamburgers, the Biscuit Bitch for a breakfast sandwich, and Top Pot for donuts. In reality, you cannot go wrong as there are so many unique and quality places to eat.

We stumbled upon Wilmot’s Ghost, which serves pizza and other fair you would find in Rome. The ambiance of the building itself is worth a visit.

Salty’s on Alki is a fantastic dinner spot. The restaurant opened in 1985 and specializes in seafood. While the food is good, the view is great. If you are looking for a restaurant with a view in Seattle, hands down this is it.

While we haven’t spent nearly as much time in Tacoma, our favorite restaurants are E9 Firehouse Gastropub, The Champ Bar, and the Cliff House.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: Our three favorite athletic teams are the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, and all things University of Washington.

While I grew up watching games inside at the King Dome, both Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park, are fantastic venues to take in games.

Husky Stadium, located on the shores of Lake Washington, is touted as the “Greatest Setting in College Football” – I would definitely agree.

The top four athletic events I have attended in Seattle are: 1) The 2004 Mariner game where Ichiro Suzuki broke Major League baseballs all time single season hit record. In that same game future Hall of Famer, Edgar Martinez recorded the last hit of his career. 2) I attended the last game in “old” Husky Stadium in 2011 and the first game in “new” Husky Stadium in 2013. 3) The NFC title football game, Seahawks vs. Packers where the Seahawks miraculously came from behind to win 27-24, and 4) the entire week of MLB All-Star game festivities, including the Major League draft, in 2023.

Concerts at T-Mobile Field (Mariners) or Lumen Field (Seahawks), are absolutely electric venues. We have seen Tom Petty, Ed Sheeran (twice), the Red Hot Chill Peppers, Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, the Lumineers, and Taylor Swift. A Seattle Stadium concert never disappoints.

———- OLYMPIC REGION (Port Townsend, Sequim) ———-

FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: Port Townsend, located on Admiralty Inlet directly across from Whidbey Island, is one of my favorite northwest destinations. This sleepy little beach town located on beautiful Puget Sound is great for exploring Water Street, the collection of unique book stores and restaurants, relaxing at Chetzemoka Park, or wandering through the bunkers of Fort Warden. This town is definitely worth the three hour trip (drive & ferry) from Seattle. Additionally, we watched the movie ‘Air’ at the Rose Theater. The theater originally opened in 1907 and has been wonderfully restored.

The Olympic Game Farm in Sequim, is a drive through animal park. Animals that call this park home are Tibetan Yaks, Kodiak Bears, Elk, Deer, and Buffalo.

What makes this park super exciting is that you are allowed to feed the animals bread. While we weren’t sure what to expect as we drove through the park we were amazed as we rolled down our windows, stuck out a piece of bread, and watched these massive animals come right up to our car. In an attempt to eat as much bread as possible, some animals poked their heads right into the car. We haven’t laughed this hard in a long time!

Also in Sequim is the Dungeness Spit. The spit is a narrow sandy beach that extends roughly five miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We spent a frigid spring day exploring here.

RESTAURANTS: Two of our favorite eateries to visit in Port Townsend are Water Street Pizza and Elevated Ice Cream. Nearly every visit we stop at at least one of these destinations. We have also stopped at Fat Smitty’s and even added a dollar bill to the ceiling.

———- PACIFIC CASCADE REGION (Long Beach, Vancouver, Stevenson) ———-

In 2001 Jill and I graduated from Linfield College, the world was our oyster, and we told ourselves we could go anywhere. The first job offer came from Kelso, and therefore we made the decision to start our lives together in the twin cities of Kelso/Longview. Our family has many wonderful memories from our time there including the birth of our two daughters.

FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: Long Beach & Illwaco are two Southwest Washington beach towns we enjoy slipping away to. Long Beach boasts that their peninsula is the longest continuous sandy beach in the United States; it is 28 miles long. Additionally the town maintains the Discovery Trail (named after Lewis & Clark and their Corps of Discovery) and Boardwalk that winds along the coast from Ilwaco to the northern most city limit of Long Beach.

We enjoy Marsh’s Musuem and seeing Jake the Alligator man, the Funland Family Fun Center, and taking pictures with the self proclaimed World’s Largest Frying Pan. A highlight for our family was riding horses on the seemingly never ending sandy beach.

Ilwaco is the home of the North Head Lighthouse located on Cape Disappointment. This wooded area on the bluff also has multiple hiking trails. You can hike all the way from the bluff to the beach. It is steep and will take some time, but the payoff is a beautiful (fairly secluded) beach.

The small Columbia River gorge town of Stevenson is located roughly 45 minutes east of Vancouver. It is the home of the Skamania Lodge, which is set on nearly 200 acres of wooded acres full of hiking trails, a golf course, and three restaurants.

It is also the home of outdoor adventures such as zip lining and axe throwing. When we visited in 2021 the zip line was unfortunately closed for the winter. However, the whole family was able to sign up for an hour of axe throwing.

You would be hard pressed to find another setting that offers more quintessential Pacific Northwest beauty than Skamania Lodge.

An added bonus is the fact that it is located a mere two miles east of the famed Bridge of the Gods. The bridge was built in 1920 and spawns the Columbia River effectively connecting Stevenson, WA to Cascade Locks, OR.

RESTAURANTS: In Long Beach, we enjoy Scoopers, The Pickle Fish, and The Lost Roo. On a clear day, the views from the Pickled Fish are gorgeous. In Stevenson we typically lounge around the lodge. However, we have enjoyed dinner at the Red Bluff Taphouse located right off highway 14 in downtown. The McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge, in downtown Kalama, is a unique, and a little bit eccentric restaurant located right on the Columbia River. Above the restaurant are 40 guest rooms as well as a couple of hidden rooms. This area is expanding and is a fun place to go for a night out and a walk along the river front.

ADVENTURE(S): In 2017 twelve year old Bailey came up with the idea to climb Mt. St Helens. After a full year of training Jill, Bailey, my Mom (Raelyn), and I climbed Mt. St. Helens in October of 2018.

This was the 2nd time for both Jill and I. While my whole body was sore for a couple of days afterwards, I would definitely say it was worth it. Hands down it is one of the best hiking adventures I have ever been on. Highlights were the lava field boulders, the views above the clouds, and looking into the crater from the summit. I couldn’t be prouder of my 60+ year old mom who made the journey with us.

Also located on Mt St Helens is the Lower / Middle / Upper Lewis River Falls.

This can be as long or as short of a hike as you wish. Over 8 miles of trails wind along the Lewis River and there are multiple parking lots at the designated waterfalls. I believe we hiked around 4 miles and saw the lower and middle falls.

Another favorite PNW hike is Beacon Rock State Park. It is located an hour east of Portland along the Gorge. The hike is just 2 miles round trip but you feel like you are walking straight up a mountain. The hike is fairly easy but the views are amazing.

Lastly Moulton Falls, roughly 30 minutes from La Center, is where we have hiked the most. Bailey and I have explored multiple trails in this area. There are multiple waterfalls, abandoned railroad tracks, a 60 foot bridge over a canyon, and various hiking trails. This area is absolutely beautiful!

———- NORTHEAST REGION (Spokane) ———-

FAVORITE CITIES & EXPERIENCES: Spokane is located six hours from our home. As a result I didn’t grow up spending much time over there. However since my daughter decided to attend Eastern Washington University, we have spent a lot more time in this region of late. Nearly all of our trips seem to center around Riverfront Park. There are miles of paved paths around the river which flows through downtown. Our favorite locations to visit are the massive radio flyer wagon, that is a children’s slide, and the billy goat garbage disposal.

Spokane Falls is located on the west side of the park and is advertised as the “largest urban waterfall in the United States.”

There are multiple downtown Davenport Hotel locations. We have stayed at the historic and classy Davenport Hotel, as well as the practical Steam Plant Hotel. Both met our needs, but man we sure did enjoy the elegant and timeless Davenport.

RESTAURANTS: Restaurants we have eaten at and would recommend are, Steam Plant Restaurant and Brew Pub, Clinkerdagger, Steelhead Bar & Grille, The Satellite Diner and Lounge, Purgatory Craft Beer and Whiskey, The Peacock Room Lounge, The People’s Waffle, Molly’s Family Restaurant, The Rusty Moose and the Baby Bar. While these were our favorites, there are many fine establishments in downtown Spokane. Just be aware of your surroundings as the homeless population has ballooned of late. In Cheney, we have eaten at the Farmhouse Cafe, Barrelhouse Pub and Pizza, and The Mason Jar.

Grand Coulee Dam, two hours west of Spokane, is the most powerful dam in the United States. It was completed in 1942 and provides power to eight states and Canada. In the summer you can watch a free 30-minute laser light show dance off the concrete.

We drove to Grand Coulee from Spokane. On the way we drove through Govan, a town now listed as a ghost town. While I am not up on Govan’s history or why the town is now deserted, I did enjoy exploring the old school house in the middle of a field.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: The fall of 2024 was my first Eastern Eagle football game.

It was parents weekend and my wife and I traveled to Cheney to visit my daughter. Saturday we attended the game vs UC Davis – the Eagles lost, but we had a blast.

I have also attended baseball games at Gonzaga as well as Washington State. It was cold, but both facilities are first class. Gonzaga’s campus is strategically located adjacent to the Spokane River and is connected to Riverfront Park. In the spring of 2023 Bailey and a friend attended a 1st round March Madness (college basketball) game at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

Both baseball games were on cold spring days, but the facilities were beautiful. The fall of 2025 was my first Washington State football game. It was the season opener and the Cougars played the Vandals of Idaho. The two campuses are only nine miles apart so there is a bit of a rivalry. However, the game wasn’t overly exciting. The weather however was perfect and we enjoyed our Martin Stadium experience on the Palouse.

We spent Mother’s Day Weekend in Spokane in 2026. While the purpose was to get the family all together to celebrate Mom, we found our way to a baseball game. The Spokane Indians are the ‘A’ affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and play at Avista Stadium. The stadium opened in 1958 and therefore has a historic feel. We had a great night of baseball.

———- SOUTHEAST REGION (Yakima, Tri-Cities, Walla-Walla) ———-

FAVORITE CITIES & EXPERIENCES: My parents, as well as my sister, have relocated to West Valley of Yakima. Plus, the WIAA has recently made a push to host more of their state events at the Sundome in Yakima. Therefore over the course of the last decade or so, I have spent more time in and around Yakima than ever before.

RESTAURANTS: When we get together we tend to go out to eat. Our favorite Yakima restaurants are: Miner Burger, Major Burger, Second Street Grill, The Yakima Steak Company, and Nino’s Mexican Gill. Minor Burger is truly something special; huge portions, above average burger, and a massive dining hall. When in Yakima, this is an establishment you have to experience at least once. When my daughters were in middle school they found Sip on 1st Espresso on Instagram. We tried it in the summer of 2021 and enjoyed ourselves. They specialize in fruity, fancy, over the top tik-tok worthy drinks.

For the most part, the only time we have spent in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, & Richland) has revolved around travel somewhere else. As a result we have experienced very little of this area. However, places we have eaten and would recommend are the Ice Harbor Brewery Company and Porter’s Real Barbeque.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: My oldest daughter played golf in high school. In the winter of her Junior year, we played the Apple Tree Golf Course. We learned 1) we aren’t very good golfers, and 2) this is a fantastic course. The highlight was attempting to drive onto a green shaped like an apple surrounded by water.

The Gorge Amphitheater, nine miles from the town of George, is a one of a kind outdoor concert venue. We have only attended one concert here, but man we would like to return. Because it is in the middle of nowhere it presents some travel challenges. However, all challenges are worth overcoming to have the opportunity to sit outside, listen to your favorite band, and enjoy the amazing view of the Columbia River and the Gorge. Washington’s official state waterfall is Palouse Falls. The state park is located an hour and 20 minutes northeast of the Tri-Cities. There is nothing else around it, in fact we drove a couple of miles on a gravel road before finally arriving. However, it is worth it as the views are spectacular.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• Olympic National Forest
• Walla Walla
• Mt. Rainier National Park
• San Juan Islands
• Mt Vernon Tulip Festival