40 Before 40 #3: Visiting Seattle (and Portland)

The third checkmark on my 40 Before 40 List was #3, Visiting Seattle, Washington. I don’t generally post recommendations on things to see and do while on vacation, but I thought it was appropriate and might even be helpful in this instance.

Hubby and I started out our Pacific Northwest trip visiting friends and family outside Portland. Other than reconnecting with loved ones, the highlight for me was visiting Silver Falls State Park.

The weather was beautiful the day we visited and so the hike to South Falls was a bit crowded. We passed it and wandered on to Lower South Falls along Canyon Trail, which proved to be prettier and quieter. The return trip along Maple Ridge Trail—during which Brian and I were mostly alone—was a steep climb and a bit too much for my current energy levels but we persevered. Overall, a lovely walk in the woods.

The next day we drove north to Seattle, arriving just as rush hour began to see the locals biking, jogging, and using public transportation to make their way home and enjoy their long summer day. Via AirBNB, we arranged to stay in a cozy basement apartment in the Ballard neighborhood.

We had only one full day in town, so we crammed in as much as we could comfortably see. Among the highlights, a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass, a stop by Centennial Park to escape the summer tourists crowding downtown, and an evening stroll along Ballard Avenue with an old friend from Los Angeles.

Had we both not been on doctor-supervised diets, we would have loved to partake of Seattle’s amazing culinary and microbrew scene. We’ve vowed to return to do just that but in winter next time, when most of the tourists have gone home.

After our short visit to Seattle, we headed back to Portland to stay with friends for a few more days. It had been a busy trip already and I was a bit worn out, but we still managed to make some more mischief. Highlights include:

• Council Crest Park and its view of four nearby mountains,
• shopping along 23rd Avenue and dining at Papa Haydn,
• a sensory deprivation float at the Float Shoppe (more on that later),
• a visit to my second-favorite bookstore in the whole world, Powell’s City of Books, and
• a walk through a fabulous art show, Art in the Pearl.

If you can believe it (I can’t!), we hit several more scenic spots in our few days there, some of which you can see below:

So that’s what I did on my summer vacation. What did you do on yours?

Cheers,