Eat. Do. See.

Try the Coastal Kitchen for Fresh Oysters or "Blunch" on Capitol Hill… The Coastal Kitchen in Capitol Hill East. When you think of inland  Seattle restaurants, your first thought may not be  fresh, local seafood, but the  Coastal Kitchen at 429 15th Ave. East  is sure to surprise you.  This popular restaurant is dedicated to  serving our favorite local cuisine.  The Coastal Kitchen describes itself  as having a  “seafood-centric” attitude and is committed to  sustainably-raised and wild-caught fish.   That’s what we like to hear around the Northwest. We’ll go out of our way for conscientious purveyors of deliciously fresh seafood.  And the Coastal Kitchen delivers on our lust for everything sea-related. The Oyster Bar at The Coastal Kitchen.  The newest addition to this comfortable restaurant is the stunning Oyster Bar with its distinctive menu items featuring fresh seafood sourced from local waters and around the country,

The Seattle Center House has received a much-needed facelift and you will hardly recognize her… The New Seattle Center Armory As a kid, in the years following the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, the Center House was one of my favorite places to visit. The original food court was filled with exciting temptations from the cutting edge Orange Julius to the ever-popular MacDonald’s. But over the past 50 years, time had taken its toll on the good, old Food Circus. The choices had become flat and predictable. It was uninspiring to wander through the food court and see that the once original and vibrant heart of the Seattle Center had become a pale version of its former self. The Food Circus is now The Seattle Center Armory... I was thrilled to hear that the Center House Food Circus was getting a facelift. Not only a facelift, but a name change as well. The first floor of the Seattle Center House – the former Food Circus -- is now called the “Seattle Center Armory” after i

A Diverse and Plentiful Garden Experience  When you think of Point Defiance Park in Tacoma , you probably picture elephants, sharks and polar bears -- and for good reason. Point Defiance boasts a world-class zoo and aquarium that are well worth a good long visit. The 29-acre zoological park is the number 2 tourist destination in Pierce County, Washington, second only to Mount Rainier, and attracts over 700,000 visitors a year. (We’ll save a more detailed look at the wonderful zoo and aquarium for another post.)  This post will introduce you to Point Defiance Park's magnificent display of gardens.  The Iris Garden at Point Defiance Park Welcome to Eight Unique and Beautifully Designed Gardens... Did you know that the 700-acre Point Defiance Park, which offers spectacular views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, is also the home of eight beautifully designed gardens that will be at the height of their blooming season throughout the next few mo

 The MUST-SEE -- Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit... Art Glass Display at Chihuly's Garden and Glass Exhibit As I sit down to write this post, I already know I will run out of superlatives before I am finished. But I will do my best… If you live in the Pacific Northwest and have not heard of Chihuly, I will assume your domicile is under a rock somewhere. If you are planning a visit to Seattle or the surrounding area and have not heard of Dale Chihuly, it is a little more understandable… but not much.  I believe it is safe to say that  Dale Chihuly , native son of Tacoma, Washington, is one of the most influential contemporary glass artists to ever walk the earth, and we are fortunate enough to have access to an unbelievably amazing (superlative numbers one and two) exhibition of his work located prestigiously in the Seattle Center. Chihuly Art Glass and the Space Needle I had visited the Glass Museum in Tacoma – amazing, yes. I have watched many