tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167851009365656702024-03-05T12:36:02.704-08:00Caviar & CampfiresAmeteur reviews of the Pacific Northwest's restaurants, wines and campgrounds.Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-23915321970117571632009-08-13T13:30:00.000-07:002009-08-13T15:07:30.554-07:00Orcas Island | West Beach ResortLast weekend, Mike and I headed once again to our all-time favorite camping spot that <a href="http://caviarandcampfires.blogspot.com/2008/09/west-beach-resort-on-orcas-island.html">we discovered last year</a> - West Beach Resort on Orcas Island.<br /><br />If I've said it again, I'll say it 1,000 times over - this is one of the best places we've ever camped! How can you beat a private campground that offers private docks, beaches, tables and chairs that overlook the water and sunset, kayaking, crabbing, fishing, a community hot tub, a little store with homemade waffle cones, ice cream and espresso, games to rent, clean facilities, etc. Plus, all on the charming little artistic island of Orcas! The experience is fabulously relaxing and romantic. Every time we come back, we feel like our relationship has been rejuvenated.<br /><br />Mike took a half day on Friday, so we could head across the ferry a little early. It's a trek to get to the ferry from Seattle! (All the up to exit 230 on I-5, which is nearly to Bellingham) So, leaving during rush hour is not an option unless you want to get into the campground past 11 p.m. We were able to take the 5:30 ferry without missing it. Ferry rides in Washington, no matter how many times you've done them, are always a treat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZZ3g2amAfdZpI6IurmTQCFKmoM4LiU_BzBdkmZquODZGWrnnO6Pcpi74qoazEK6W-aJT06mgc2IRHbA8hEOnE3E2JsqsWwprqlPzcaXoITkVhLCWwEHIT3mI589diaURED0Vhezk4x-S/s1600-h/DSCN0377.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZZ3g2amAfdZpI6IurmTQCFKmoM4LiU_BzBdkmZquODZGWrnnO6Pcpi74qoazEK6W-aJT06mgc2IRHbA8hEOnE3E2JsqsWwprqlPzcaXoITkVhLCWwEHIT3mI589diaURED0Vhezk4x-S/s400/DSCN0377.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369551506805072146" border="0" /></a>We landed on Orcas Island around 7 o'clock (The ferry ride is 50 minutes), and drove to the west side of the island and our campground, West Beach Resort.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXR2ikHdLJGXXzmEgybrLg6bibQz-2ulZfdl0khlMkPfGeXL6K3JMrD2hq3XGq9FsY20BiqZ7zD-2cajxJteGPdN0arv_emFWia59ejgPJY5_xr1snBlX2VCc1PeNxflIrwteqz5VGlgO/s1600-h/DSCN0454.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXR2ikHdLJGXXzmEgybrLg6bibQz-2ulZfdl0khlMkPfGeXL6K3JMrD2hq3XGq9FsY20BiqZ7zD-2cajxJteGPdN0arv_emFWia59ejgPJY5_xr1snBlX2VCc1PeNxflIrwteqz5VGlgO/s400/DSCN0454.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369554991930365650" border="0" /></a>When you enter the resort, there's a little sign that will greet you:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfGcs5GGlQatNmzbcGtbmDSisnNWCh-RbiPsx4OwweMGIC6oC-XlTyO5-JF8ACCoI9udKEnfV_zSBUSdTtMcFNFKsi4wrHqJyttc1ZQSmHzV1-Zex44O4BEl57I64f1n5MrPx2PYDYRDq/s1600-h/DSCN0397.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfGcs5GGlQatNmzbcGtbmDSisnNWCh-RbiPsx4OwweMGIC6oC-XlTyO5-JF8ACCoI9udKEnfV_zSBUSdTtMcFNFKsi4wrHqJyttc1ZQSmHzV1-Zex44O4BEl57I64f1n5MrPx2PYDYRDq/s400/DSCN0397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369552059249460210" border="0" /></a>I love this because it's SO true! It's time to slow down when you're on Orcas Island - time to relax, shut off your phone and just enjoy the scenery and each others' company!<br /><br />Of course, the minute we got there, Mike put his crab pot into the water. One of Mike's favorite part about Orcas Island and camping at West Beach is the ability to crab! Just be sure to pay attention to the times you can crab - I believe it's not allowed Sunday-Wednesday. Mike bought a crab pot last year, so it was quick and easy to drop it in before we set up our campsite and made dinner!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSJ3Cg-XjlaR5YCxe6V3kESlauSju0WaFZBLgyB_gp8fsQhoEDwaxiKe4VVKqUgYTk0L3nbPBoMj6ffXaR10qItKKwC354flszzYyzHymCq5KolHRlaEBeVppzXc0zdSZXhSiUEs2jtlb/s1600-h/DSCN0412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSJ3Cg-XjlaR5YCxe6V3kESlauSju0WaFZBLgyB_gp8fsQhoEDwaxiKe4VVKqUgYTk0L3nbPBoMj6ffXaR10qItKKwC354flszzYyzHymCq5KolHRlaEBeVppzXc0zdSZXhSiUEs2jtlb/s400/DSCN0412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369553014767558866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSeWZu8pVfk7twm6TlmPrGS8P_yeG0X6fm-yYclYuRWfd6LmJ3EnpupOEKkT845t4Dfyk9C-pYsVpT-E7Cd1BusHOLx56SXDLA2k7tYZnn1BcBxzNiRBlp0cEZyetas0U4gYFHbj4qbe2/s1600-h/DSCN0425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSeWZu8pVfk7twm6TlmPrGS8P_yeG0X6fm-yYclYuRWfd6LmJ3EnpupOEKkT845t4Dfyk9C-pYsVpT-E7Cd1BusHOLx56SXDLA2k7tYZnn1BcBxzNiRBlp0cEZyetas0U4gYFHbj4qbe2/s400/DSCN0425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369553010763525074" border="0" /></a>Before we left on our trip, I threw some chicken skewers from Safeway (only $6) in a bag of a quick marinade I made up - 1/4 cup of olive oil, splash of water, tablespoon of crushed garlic from a jar and some generous sprinkles of lemon pepper. It's quick, easy and a tasty alternative to plain camping dinners like hot dogs or hamburgers!<br /><br />The next day, we started with none other than a breakfast of BACON. (No camp trip of ours is complete with it).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd_ea0br6-m44oYAx9TzVv96K5jQVUFFIT-lyQ-L9D3Mj-aks_dFwQPAcF7pkA7YgGao8caht75Bc9fFsVxn0eMoPwXiqnwiKOWT_EEdT7ZfRiL2w3Uzu3c-qGRTXz-70F2wxLe1-zoSQ/s1600-h/DSCN0429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd_ea0br6-m44oYAx9TzVv96K5jQVUFFIT-lyQ-L9D3Mj-aks_dFwQPAcF7pkA7YgGao8caht75Bc9fFsVxn0eMoPwXiqnwiKOWT_EEdT7ZfRiL2w3Uzu3c-qGRTXz-70F2wxLe1-zoSQ/s400/DSCN0429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369554721190679186" border="0" /></a>We knew we wanted to head into the town of Eastsound for the farmer's market. Turns out, we were on Orcas for the Library Festival and Storyfest - so there were tons of booths with arts, crafts, produce, yummy food and even entertainment! We shopped through the festival and town a little bit before sharing a loaded baked potato, probably some of the best barbecue I've had, and a piece of blueberry-peach pie ala mode! We went into a neat little shop called Aesthetica where I bought a little jar of <a href="http://www.1000markets.com/products/58042">chile pepper verde-infused sugar from Orcas Alchemy</a>. The shop owner let us taste it and said it was great on salmon, so I bought it right away! I can't wait to try it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03EIQSN5xEAiWOepLQyu4bKvUUFljLLcDPDyVwdcJGE7KNPaUD8-HDX6g38SgSyLtQSPSRnDF_PO1gYmK6rHpD0_o82DAVMcNP05v-D9KZHptYknJ9SDEiPKc8R5I3xA8N0Xr5iIU4XUB/s1600-h/DSCN0437.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03EIQSN5xEAiWOepLQyu4bKvUUFljLLcDPDyVwdcJGE7KNPaUD8-HDX6g38SgSyLtQSPSRnDF_PO1gYmK6rHpD0_o82DAVMcNP05v-D9KZHptYknJ9SDEiPKc8R5I3xA8N0Xr5iIU4XUB/s400/DSCN0437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369554714905564962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EAS_duJbAdc97wKKkTZfrJ2ziIOBwaHH4ydeMD_Zf0CS1Br8gc7sqOGmUQeyIvvPj1AZV3RRCPwpOuSuAdsL23PyZP83tiiJSsBiwAA55oeztVyj-AwyxONpKEfdsaOZuRfylht7gv1o/s1600-h/DSCN0440.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EAS_duJbAdc97wKKkTZfrJ2ziIOBwaHH4ydeMD_Zf0CS1Br8gc7sqOGmUQeyIvvPj1AZV3RRCPwpOuSuAdsL23PyZP83tiiJSsBiwAA55oeztVyj-AwyxONpKEfdsaOZuRfylht7gv1o/s400/DSCN0440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369554704797949250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd02xwUbvZjrZJKlaomPzFg7QR_xuTRTJz2hgt0OnHmvbfRU7wuWixMvegCebWZf94Tg8iO_gTs271WhsoyPiCvwFKlPG37K3BD06smtFu5kDbvYNaerynPpLVX5BPPdUGEGiCvnJCUbZ8/s1600-h/DSCN0446.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd02xwUbvZjrZJKlaomPzFg7QR_xuTRTJz2hgt0OnHmvbfRU7wuWixMvegCebWZf94Tg8iO_gTs271WhsoyPiCvwFKlPG37K3BD06smtFu5kDbvYNaerynPpLVX5BPPdUGEGiCvnJCUbZ8/s400/DSCN0446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369554695321072978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigajh4HsSm5oOTcKF4JP1BlDV5KKZ4BW6u9CYkDa1NKWjFbHw7qJJK9efarfV9nJFcdAYjeKTC5MhFq27SN9t07jS40LJS4DYbf_dCKGq-42VK4ucclUy8QCEG4ZBSoVOD7rYhWIzf8TJ6/s1600-h/Orcas_Alchemy-159_display.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigajh4HsSm5oOTcKF4JP1BlDV5KKZ4BW6u9CYkDa1NKWjFbHw7qJJK9efarfV9nJFcdAYjeKTC5MhFq27SN9t07jS40LJS4DYbf_dCKGq-42VK4ucclUy8QCEG4ZBSoVOD7rYhWIzf8TJ6/s320/Orcas_Alchemy-159_display.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369568442431729234" border="0" /></a>After exploring town, we headed to a little wine tasting spot called Country Corner Wine Tasting where we were able to taste some of the wines made on Lopez Island - another island in the San Juans. I, of course, bought a bottle to take home with us for a special occasion. Then we were back to the campsite to head out on a bike ride! Orcas Island is known as a great spot for bike riding. Personally, Mike and I think it's a bit hilly... it'd kill us to ride around the whole island. Perhaps we're amateurs. But that's okay. We managed a small one-hour bike ride and stumbled across the island cemetery! It was morbidly interesting to look through the tombstones as we played the game, "Find the oldest gravestone." Perhaps this is why we're great for each other?<br /><br />We finished up the day with a dip in the hot tub and some crab for dinner that Mike caught! A guy was nice enough to take Mike out in his homemade wood kayak, so he could drop his pots off somewhere other than the dock. (We've had problems with our crab pots being raided on the dock). It was a gourmet crab feast!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThtxBj5YyhzktvrSNcLtJ1QJ7F0xJaR3J60abCNxjVEVA08fiPcBdho_JKYOUE1GvgHyrqtXZXUuj8MQ1XKtt3XOIbL6FRA4WEdPEAEYO2BtfDTORhVM5m890DAVwKQWaUgGJiMptECT7/s1600-h/DSCN0538.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThtxBj5YyhzktvrSNcLtJ1QJ7F0xJaR3J60abCNxjVEVA08fiPcBdho_JKYOUE1GvgHyrqtXZXUuj8MQ1XKtt3XOIbL6FRA4WEdPEAEYO2BtfDTORhVM5m890DAVwKQWaUgGJiMptECT7/s400/DSCN0538.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559020643343634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-VowARjceK7Y0rLa20BQ61D5Rco9aiJe0bF_Ko0IAIbCrA7HF4H3pDcS7Nw4XRVvtxioyH95DbZ_pE1P63HITFIZ5z3sxwCj_e8ud9NG-iRwDXuVltnwmJR563EhtCnD1m69NbHGl76J/s1600-h/DSCN0540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-VowARjceK7Y0rLa20BQ61D5Rco9aiJe0bF_Ko0IAIbCrA7HF4H3pDcS7Nw4XRVvtxioyH95DbZ_pE1P63HITFIZ5z3sxwCj_e8ud9NG-iRwDXuVltnwmJR563EhtCnD1m69NbHGl76J/s400/DSCN0540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559025863217058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFR_1HYYuk4nvGiHUiAGZSjm7VGw9Bgn2plxY174oPxZwSoPlLnYuJVyIu3vMkVrek0SsjbcyIZNn8NA9HYS5dphVqFJD3NZSaI0KeMr1ZQn1G89Td8OOtnvnDnnWLV82aSJfts5IH1Hy/s1600-h/DSCN0551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFR_1HYYuk4nvGiHUiAGZSjm7VGw9Bgn2plxY174oPxZwSoPlLnYuJVyIu3vMkVrek0SsjbcyIZNn8NA9HYS5dphVqFJD3NZSaI0KeMr1ZQn1G89Td8OOtnvnDnnWLV82aSJfts5IH1Hy/s400/DSCN0551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559034046235698" border="0" /></a>While Mike was out checking his crab pots in the kayak, I was able to catch the most beautiful sunset in the entire world! Seriously...there's something about a sunset that just makes you glad to be alive!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lxpwL1O6gMRXo5ARmRCcPAOEg-WYUjKJVUjiod9JqM8d1M4Ey8IFXFAtzPe8ZbIinA3UrLKADlWAlNWp353vlURdVV0lC5g6imgbpjW1PS6wJ9agxnbbCyVcI1pQWTGzmVWMBgULPcjm/s1600-h/DSCN0465.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lxpwL1O6gMRXo5ARmRCcPAOEg-WYUjKJVUjiod9JqM8d1M4Ey8IFXFAtzPe8ZbIinA3UrLKADlWAlNWp353vlURdVV0lC5g6imgbpjW1PS6wJ9agxnbbCyVcI1pQWTGzmVWMBgULPcjm/s400/DSCN0465.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559775512647570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uIDOxKYkXfz3XitoM15FXsJoeAvLs58b1t3MNI2vf669xkrQqsgQWjvZ79NCRMVg-wVYGiYPFNDXSCmwig6avDKEUMva3puqpcoZRsXe85zjH-kGqMQ-NLbwWLSqRZf6YwHvMsahS_sE/s1600-h/DSCN0456.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uIDOxKYkXfz3XitoM15FXsJoeAvLs58b1t3MNI2vf669xkrQqsgQWjvZ79NCRMVg-wVYGiYPFNDXSCmwig6avDKEUMva3puqpcoZRsXe85zjH-kGqMQ-NLbwWLSqRZf6YwHvMsahS_sE/s400/DSCN0456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559764498316594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NaZ_2VYyKtFcpYgo9Ct6fzK2L1qegLT633mapajzOXx_QS8O7e-4S0zHA4IJNArcU8H571DVi3tfmirlwfURSr_CwmlJZpRCmoYg71VJwDF2Tu1xnQ9JqKzQvg50W-WyUwiMZVumGFAP/s1600-h/DSCN0469.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NaZ_2VYyKtFcpYgo9Ct6fzK2L1qegLT633mapajzOXx_QS8O7e-4S0zHA4IJNArcU8H571DVi3tfmirlwfURSr_CwmlJZpRCmoYg71VJwDF2Tu1xnQ9JqKzQvg50W-WyUwiMZVumGFAP/s400/DSCN0469.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559756152786482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffKLN39k23y9RyuUqspewG2keVO6KcMhNvVq6AWEDyzcr057eizMreLuBykcbkgTjSCiWARwhdf3fPuLpc7k19A0j_d68jT6pm2BjTCpsfq18CA3PY6Nmt-lJPEX5mSZCaLNP17mrRJSn/s1600-h/DSCN0492.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffKLN39k23y9RyuUqspewG2keVO6KcMhNvVq6AWEDyzcr057eizMreLuBykcbkgTjSCiWARwhdf3fPuLpc7k19A0j_d68jT6pm2BjTCpsfq18CA3PY6Nmt-lJPEX5mSZCaLNP17mrRJSn/s400/DSCN0492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369559737437220162" border="0" /></a>In the morning, we had to check out of the campsite at 11 a.m., and we wanted to go to Rosario Resort since we missed it last time we went to Orcas. The ferry was leaving at 1:30 or 4:30, so we went to see if we'd miss the 1:30 ferry. Turns out the ferry traffic isn't any better than Labor Day weekend. They said we'd have to get in line for the 4:30 at noon or we'd miss it! But the ferry guy said the 7 p.m. ferry is never full. We decided to scrap waiting in the ferry line for four hours, and chose to kill seven hours exploring the island a little more. After all, it cost us $55 to take the ferry over there! We made a pact-we'd stop at every little kitschy place there was to look at local art, and we'd try to head back to <a href="http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Moran">Moran State Park</a> for a bit and Rosario Resort. Turns out it was the best idea!<br /><br />There is a super great little house on the left hand side of the road away from the ferry terminal. I believe it's the first you run across, advertising homemade pottery. But it's a huge collection of art from artists all over the island and more than worth stopping to look at!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG3MlCLnlEWLXBAX8Uzxer_YgeplzVoH9wNLVOgMTLyUOoCdlj9Sim54V_ekc7Pso0OA2E-gkLpYqsxDkRdgVvqoYjfk7m7Cih0U8bolKwEWKWYrnf3HmPFtniKQtLmy80ZdF-GBkRl5-/s1600-h/DSCN0567.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG3MlCLnlEWLXBAX8Uzxer_YgeplzVoH9wNLVOgMTLyUOoCdlj9Sim54V_ekc7Pso0OA2E-gkLpYqsxDkRdgVvqoYjfk7m7Cih0U8bolKwEWKWYrnf3HmPFtniKQtLmy80ZdF-GBkRl5-/s400/DSCN0567.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369563707033692258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvQ0w1RtiuNvZ_cAi5EWAGfxT_HZYm9Rj_sRR3sKhJ7PLygfWcF5chtiyt5IjqL3sotg-XnjJW6KDP6uxgNuGslNJcJJ56byxcMRcpvm8XRuhRUJdFxIiXKY8EZ_Nf2XSGxdor7M0vaI0/s1600-h/DSCN0570.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvQ0w1RtiuNvZ_cAi5EWAGfxT_HZYm9Rj_sRR3sKhJ7PLygfWcF5chtiyt5IjqL3sotg-XnjJW6KDP6uxgNuGslNJcJJ56byxcMRcpvm8XRuhRUJdFxIiXKY8EZ_Nf2XSGxdor7M0vaI0/s400/DSCN0570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369563698476455634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBWtGygoVLNCfgiuVHnuhHDWi2cX2_6kiZlWCCJYGRlWylTHGQwFCAsO8w5xor3fixJfwsitLqTJkjMoIxb1QeOVAhlpvpX7NGwvX1AZQgS2b0SAnz_CCsxfxWnKn1LGOunnQ6x-zqQzp/s1600-h/DSCN0573.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBWtGygoVLNCfgiuVHnuhHDWi2cX2_6kiZlWCCJYGRlWylTHGQwFCAsO8w5xor3fixJfwsitLqTJkjMoIxb1QeOVAhlpvpX7NGwvX1AZQgS2b0SAnz_CCsxfxWnKn1LGOunnQ6x-zqQzp/s400/DSCN0573.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369563692036979826" border="0" /></a>Next we drove to <a href="http://www.rosarioresort.com/">Rosario Resort</a> and stopped at <a href="http://www.rosarioresort.com/pdf/Cascade_Bay_Grill_Menu.pdf">Cascade Bay Grill</a> in the marina for some fish n' chips that were extremely fabulous! Some of the best fish n' chips I've had in a long time... the batter for the fish was just right!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyK43SU8FQ74jghvUwkX4DMHCXciIaBnmMbQADvNmFQZ8aoAdIymdL3xEJJM0uOXHqSzBCtnmk6itbbnHI2LpYR47S8_cjNLh2Ava_jWo0KfVJdWQwOI1_qlnvPdMrGEJqZQNNZzhNvWB/s1600-h/DSCN0585.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyK43SU8FQ74jghvUwkX4DMHCXciIaBnmMbQADvNmFQZ8aoAdIymdL3xEJJM0uOXHqSzBCtnmk6itbbnHI2LpYR47S8_cjNLh2Ava_jWo0KfVJdWQwOI1_qlnvPdMrGEJqZQNNZzhNvWB/s400/DSCN0585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369564201709595858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm5gvCgm0eaA_Uln3ju8MJNxcxBcbFcKnL11XPiSLx9Mgfmq6DE9AK9drE7njSU0nz5nKWWSpJu6upbNPDKtFBlpQAitNGRje1qh5vVP88MdHah1UiO71uDbZdYVG4VJ1OSiDKOtHOvy4/s1600-h/DSCN0591.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm5gvCgm0eaA_Uln3ju8MJNxcxBcbFcKnL11XPiSLx9Mgfmq6DE9AK9drE7njSU0nz5nKWWSpJu6upbNPDKtFBlpQAitNGRje1qh5vVP88MdHah1UiO71uDbZdYVG4VJ1OSiDKOtHOvy4/s400/DSCN0591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369564186602747426" border="0" /></a>We decided against touring Rosario Resort because of the $5 fee (we're not cheap, we had just spent SO much money on the weekend by then), headed to Moran State Park to stretch out on a blanket so I could read and Mike could fish, and wrapped our weekend up with a homemade waffle cone packed with yummy ice cream from West Beach Resort.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh0CuY78mt8HnSJG0vj43QViQTwHeZsT1D-DSspk2J7FRxRQPunOXdyUhtR0db5AXw8u7pBUxpuaERnjtuQCI4CP5ekto6vdpUuLt80yIVnSG3ZoduwtyV1rqAzKCcsgita3ViOJNW40P/s1600-h/DSCN0598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh0CuY78mt8HnSJG0vj43QViQTwHeZsT1D-DSspk2J7FRxRQPunOXdyUhtR0db5AXw8u7pBUxpuaERnjtuQCI4CP5ekto6vdpUuLt80yIVnSG3ZoduwtyV1rqAzKCcsgita3ViOJNW40P/s400/DSCN0598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369564182251744114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKPvME-h6-XXWy4LE2C44JqJ5bxvLUdvuqhhGyccLBpxDoWCg6bffzY45jd02Q0gI-VQV-Vj-VWfLN-oVnzGWvO-vL2cEZMaZ0zAPRtFyE96KTALdjceM_OKlRR6Zl_gXLQBrT3BztiRF/s1600-h/DSCN0562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKPvME-h6-XXWy4LE2C44JqJ5bxvLUdvuqhhGyccLBpxDoWCg6bffzY45jd02Q0gI-VQV-Vj-VWfLN-oVnzGWvO-vL2cEZMaZ0zAPRtFyE96KTALdjceM_OKlRR6Zl_gXLQBrT3BztiRF/s400/DSCN0562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369564173166869970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back!</span></span> We already have! Orcas Island is such a welcome little break from the fast-pace of city life. You can't help but to sit back and relax, enjoying the sites and tastes of the island. If you don't make it to West Beach Resort, there are tons of little B&Bs, hotels or other camping spots to check out. The easiest and largest is Moran State Park. But leave with lots of time, the trek and ferry ride makes it worthy of at least a three-day weekend!</blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-69665281742482716572009-08-03T12:49:00.000-07:002009-08-13T13:27:17.794-07:00Camping in the Olympic National ForestSeafair weekend is the best weekend in Seattle. That is, if you have a boat. Unfortunately, Mike and I were unable to find a boat to mooch off someone, so we decided to head out of town for a camping trip with some friends instead. Best to make the most out of our summer!<br /><br />Mike's friend Brian used to be the neighbor of my college girlfriend Kristen. These two are the reason Mike and I met, and also the friends we headed out of town to camp with for the weekend. For this trip, we brought Caden again. Brian wanted to camp in the Olympic National Forest, so we agreed and packed up the car to follow him on adventure.<br /><br />We drove across the Tacoma narrow bridge, down US Highway 101 toward Sequim, the Dungeness Valley, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles and the Hood Canal. Don't worry - we managed to cover it ALL to tell you about here!<br /><br />You can drive down Highway 101 or you can take the Edmonds-Kingston or Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry to Kitsap county. All these routes will get you to the same area! Driving adds 60 miles to the trip if you're coming from Seattle, but the ferry has looong waits in the summer, so pick your poison!<br /><br />A popular spot in this area is the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and the 5.5-mile Dungeness Spit. We stopped in this area at a campground, which I think was the Sequim Bay State Park, but we didn't like the openness and feel to the campground, so we continued on. Plus, it was cold next to the beach! After driving for at least an hour through the woods and twisty forest roads (seriously, I thought we were going to get lost and die in the woods), we finally came upon the Dungeness Forks Campground. Turns out we took a super big roundabout way to get there, and it's actually easily accessible from Highway 101. Reminder: don't follow boys' idea to trek through the woods and find "a remote spot." Luckily we put the kibosh on that idea, and they agreed to head to an actual campground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDej_jWqEDyYTigs-3MSITQJ_z-E2QexAkgPKm7rvIjHb9eN_T5DpLl9UO4cIne1qGxpQuk_0ddO_5CIVMB5suM-Tqpu1j-UQVHDsGS-cm6VcHpkt18jttxybhSzBVoDlT32ZDX1ik-F9/s1600-h/3783908081_df2d0fc5e4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDej_jWqEDyYTigs-3MSITQJ_z-E2QexAkgPKm7rvIjHb9eN_T5DpLl9UO4cIne1qGxpQuk_0ddO_5CIVMB5suM-Tqpu1j-UQVHDsGS-cm6VcHpkt18jttxybhSzBVoDlT32ZDX1ik-F9/s400/3783908081_df2d0fc5e4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369545747103379698" border="0" /></a>Dungeness Forks Campground is super nice! We found a vacant spot (at 4:30 p.m. on a Saturday) right next to the river! The campground is at the confluence of the Dungeness and Gray Wolf Rivers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN_Tzvw_eqJpWbR0E8MYzBXkHxgDbSQlKzIzhRFTPIIKrxjVQkTWHneVP5d_GeYMFw7QmF7mBkainwnTraPYU4GmT53VxtfwKhjgWSVTrh4lm0NhoBDzvAtxlxkwwDkyH3lWWyAWk3DcO/s1600-h/3784689278_ce10b0f689.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN_Tzvw_eqJpWbR0E8MYzBXkHxgDbSQlKzIzhRFTPIIKrxjVQkTWHneVP5d_GeYMFw7QmF7mBkainwnTraPYU4GmT53VxtfwKhjgWSVTrh4lm0NhoBDzvAtxlxkwwDkyH3lWWyAWk3DcO/s400/3784689278_ce10b0f689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369545757535815186" border="0" /></a>Our spot was so large, it would have fit atleast four tents! And we had a large, awesome tree in the middle to provide some shade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm_UvVW3l7iDh0hAIsJsdAAevpfH60Hd5m80YBHaTnN2Yl8Ms-vzHOoUw5JSNuaZ6KJ46nIK-aa2k_7eqVVykKovBQflsE471kE57f0iQ8BZA8D3CPJwZvse4rHyubuBsUE-N4C2Oe77p/s1600-h/3784689288_f0a4180f8d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm_UvVW3l7iDh0hAIsJsdAAevpfH60Hd5m80YBHaTnN2Yl8Ms-vzHOoUw5JSNuaZ6KJ46nIK-aa2k_7eqVVykKovBQflsE471kE57f0iQ8BZA8D3CPJwZvse4rHyubuBsUE-N4C2Oe77p/s400/3784689288_f0a4180f8d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369545761256914834" border="0" /></a>I loved the proximity of the river and the size of the campground... also because the campground is so small and the sites so large, there is tons of privacy from camping neighbors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHE7CHU2AeC3oOCyM7zw7ueppTt1zGs3XBSPBy373mnzpT69mDEhmQxTUlBaSdvaWaGSPBerQXtbLRWWEC1HUvSOtBQ4CX9y8i-Cxl0vvI3MNGjYsMEjzPct73p0JZJifLj6-S-3VhkOG/s1600-h/3784712306_30e0c308df.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHE7CHU2AeC3oOCyM7zw7ueppTt1zGs3XBSPBy373mnzpT69mDEhmQxTUlBaSdvaWaGSPBerQXtbLRWWEC1HUvSOtBQ4CX9y8i-Cxl0vvI3MNGjYsMEjzPct73p0JZJifLj6-S-3VhkOG/s400/3784712306_30e0c308df.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369546421678550754" border="0" /></a>The facilities are less-than-awesome though. Just a one-room bathroom, without a light, and more of a Porta Potty type toilet in the middle. YUCK! The campground only has nine spots, but it's not reservable, so I don't think it gets a lot of traffic! My only big complaint would be the amount of bugs since we were right next to the river. Bring your bug spray! And lots of it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YpymeLEUNzXrH0uvz_X2B_Hxq8hwRrYdRPfaFu0I_WUoFRm4JuN_XEQmqhJW_kZYqsJFTML6meAHhqMwjeXluQoA3dJrYNcd0Do2dJntN6hjXnGUupOCG4Bsyu0FYIFnjPl06Ynm3kBQ/s1600-h/3784689290_d00c208979.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YpymeLEUNzXrH0uvz_X2B_Hxq8hwRrYdRPfaFu0I_WUoFRm4JuN_XEQmqhJW_kZYqsJFTML6meAHhqMwjeXluQoA3dJrYNcd0Do2dJntN6hjXnGUupOCG4Bsyu0FYIFnjPl06Ynm3kBQ/s400/3784689290_d00c208979.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369546412991188210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRJvCu-fjboTHrsfMmLT-HW-yK1iJVKFG3_XB-TR4zX9COTjPqnuQRKb88eGrD4CJj7waLMP714bU0xKFCBh6bKD_8Kr-RJMtbvohtdBX1YlRXwoMTNeaAp8gMM4njbe5TxvBkQCK0nQt/s1600-h/3784712318_f4233f9e8a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRJvCu-fjboTHrsfMmLT-HW-yK1iJVKFG3_XB-TR4zX9COTjPqnuQRKb88eGrD4CJj7waLMP714bU0xKFCBh6bKD_8Kr-RJMtbvohtdBX1YlRXwoMTNeaAp8gMM4njbe5TxvBkQCK0nQt/s400/3784712318_f4233f9e8a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369546428617408770" border="0" /></a>The next day we headed back and stopped off in the Olympic National Park to head up to Hurricane Ridge- the entrance is just past the heart of Port Angeles. Hurricane Ridge is a huge lookout point in the Olympic National Park - the view is beautiful! The park has tons of hiking, scenery and camping options - just bring cash cause it costs $10 to enter!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WmfM2Wg9PMw-5Kr8XE86q9h5mpFpJLrYIYyiOn8-UF5D0TQj1Qe4yiwLbeUurxg7k-_N8dznuQGyncMIIXjZDkRKExCKMIcu1xay1L6rB78QyxNLzp9nN0C7BScwpMEUqgJGSUXFkNlS/s1600-h/3783908073_82e36fba9d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WmfM2Wg9PMw-5Kr8XE86q9h5mpFpJLrYIYyiOn8-UF5D0TQj1Qe4yiwLbeUurxg7k-_N8dznuQGyncMIIXjZDkRKExCKMIcu1xay1L6rB78QyxNLzp9nN0C7BScwpMEUqgJGSUXFkNlS/s400/3783908073_82e36fba9d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369545738610883346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uiBCFgi9KSaZN4WYAisW4mZsoRtRoBxTzHxyuKEpaWoA9Z4EvP07Q_MJ0t-g2G4R-h7TBEiAQI3v68Pne4RBQZ_paHtHKJrxmr1Zjq4yzKixXmTXGHGb2Bwc4q6iDoAQ1wzs0m1QmSg_/s1600-h/3783908063_def8c638c5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uiBCFgi9KSaZN4WYAisW4mZsoRtRoBxTzHxyuKEpaWoA9Z4EvP07Q_MJ0t-g2G4R-h7TBEiAQI3v68Pne4RBQZ_paHtHKJrxmr1Zjq4yzKixXmTXGHGb2Bwc4q6iDoAQ1wzs0m1QmSg_/s400/3783908063_def8c638c5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369545734774604994" border="0" /></a>After checking out the Olympic National Park, we headed back down Highway 101 to catch the ferry back instead of driving over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Turns out we missed the turn somewhere, so accidentally had to drive ALL the way down Highway 101 to Olympia then back up I-5 to Seattle. We probably added atleast a couple hours plus weekend traffic to our trip, but I was secretly happy we were able to take the drive through the Hood Canal. (Don't tell Mike). The little waterfront towns, seafood shacks and scenery was SO charming! Hoodsport is one of my favorite little places on the Hood Canal... it'd be great to have a summer home in the area. Or at least know someone who does some day! We stopped at a little oyster and seafood shack to check out the goods before making our way back home. (Slowly but surely).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kcFwc4wVRqX1iLuRluOH9yh55dSPiJzUtwtg76oRkZ2O2vYzBuAzHwei7OZZ5kW132cgja51OPjHnznluWDvK-CPN-PDzftP05QY4FGYa1fnEjHdlp0gOmtVZSNNVZA0LBfjCyDCSLgD/s1600-h/3784719948_d5c3999781.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kcFwc4wVRqX1iLuRluOH9yh55dSPiJzUtwtg76oRkZ2O2vYzBuAzHwei7OZZ5kW132cgja51OPjHnznluWDvK-CPN-PDzftP05QY4FGYa1fnEjHdlp0gOmtVZSNNVZA0LBfjCyDCSLgD/s400/3784719948_d5c3999781.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369546440735027202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Probably go back. </span></span>This area has SO much to offer - and so many campgrounds to explore, I don't feel like we saw the half of it! The hiking in Hood Canal is also abundant. A couple years ago I headed to Lena Lake with a friend, and I'd like to do that again. With so many options and sites, we'd definitely recommend the area. The cooler temps and waterfront options are a welcome change to hot and dry Eastern Washington! </blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-62104285131589266492009-07-27T12:21:00.000-07:002009-08-13T12:48:34.617-07:00Floating the Snoqualmie RiverOn Sunday Mike and I gathered a group of friends to float the Snoqualmie River. We had it on our calendar to float a river for more than a month - it was something I had done with a group of people the summer after my senior year of college, but I've yet to do it since. We knew there was a ton or rivers to float in the area, but we were a little skeptical about which one would be the best length and time. (If you go too late in the day, you run the risk of being in the water still when it's dark. The perfect float time is between 4-6 hours, in my opinion).<br /><br />We decided to float the Snoqualmie since it's near Mike's house (just up the Redmond-Fall City Road). The night before, we bought the appropriate beverages and tied a cooler to a single-person floaty with rope. It's essential to have a cooler, and don't forget snacks and water! It's a long day in the river if you're hungry and dehydrated. We tried to research how long it would take, and where to park, but there was minimum information besides one blog we found that talked about how floating from the top to Fall City was only an hour and a half! We wanted a way longer float, so after parking down Fish Hatchery Road (near the top of the river/below the Snoqualmie Falls. Follow it until you see a parking lot with cars), Mike and another friend we were with drove the cars down and struggled to find a place past Falls City where we could all jump out.<br /><br />Turns out the float from the top to Fall City is more around 4-5 hours, so you don't need to park past Fall City at all. Everyone who was floating (and there's a lot. It's a popular spot in the summer) was getting out at Fall City. Next time we'll just do that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbSwGw8ZX9p1kDkcmcCk0aZkFst3pf-04fbxobq5OAhaRBKvutWjLzcAJw0BZaMw-IvDRxRfFDDwHr8CU9m_DMJ8gNTnEfUVObG_QGEklP5ujzQIePQ9HSQP4u4WpSk7NmAdcXF6KDGxe/s1600-h/P7260152.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbSwGw8ZX9p1kDkcmcCk0aZkFst3pf-04fbxobq5OAhaRBKvutWjLzcAJw0BZaMw-IvDRxRfFDDwHr8CU9m_DMJ8gNTnEfUVObG_QGEklP5ujzQIePQ9HSQP4u4WpSk7NmAdcXF6KDGxe/s400/P7260152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369537046494313730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_EIowQZiEYqbv5jNbd0Rzl1zoxEaQ3usWH6FrDUWsbjYFnisnlZmHvLCTY5djSDfe9TSXrQJTA0VolfRsdZLi9kQRNCZWEEWN2elzRtnuBvm29O4KxdPAfZ1qOMYjHnjhNSAvIxo6mA5/s1600-h/P7260098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_EIowQZiEYqbv5jNbd0Rzl1zoxEaQ3usWH6FrDUWsbjYFnisnlZmHvLCTY5djSDfe9TSXrQJTA0VolfRsdZLi9kQRNCZWEEWN2elzRtnuBvm29O4KxdPAfZ1qOMYjHnjhNSAvIxo6mA5/s400/P7260098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369537054742733234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiZ0DXlSdA1ZRtjo9PFCyDZyFBydNpTcIg2GfGBVf5BascEBQvRXrQBpAAQFwW7LZkJF-mc1tbN5VD8MZO42Mr-VW_AsgQh4kOXCGroGBR9us3yKKhEVqEz1SRs371vDhbZb3wpjwhwWf/s1600-h/P7260094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiZ0DXlSdA1ZRtjo9PFCyDZyFBydNpTcIg2GfGBVf5BascEBQvRXrQBpAAQFwW7LZkJF-mc1tbN5VD8MZO42Mr-VW_AsgQh4kOXCGroGBR9us3yKKhEVqEz1SRs371vDhbZb3wpjwhwWf/s400/P7260094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369537060151808610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7NHn_pxFVp6zFZF39dvnsuEjxEwVE67M5QkLyzZnzAojv53r8hggpE3DpIGll0fQ484RJu9KpZARpNb7gCY5k3sOa9l-w_gzwZO8DLLSIrzdc7CWRWZqMXkSdN1qgU6Hxks475WjBfee/s1600-h/P7260147.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7NHn_pxFVp6zFZF39dvnsuEjxEwVE67M5QkLyzZnzAojv53r8hggpE3DpIGll0fQ484RJu9KpZARpNb7gCY5k3sOa9l-w_gzwZO8DLLSIrzdc7CWRWZqMXkSdN1qgU6Hxks475WjBfee/s400/P7260147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369537068004858546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Final Verdict: Most definitely go back.</span> The drive was quick and easy, and the river was a perfect speed and length for a great day of floating in 90-degree weather with friends! When it's that hot in Seattle, the best way to spend it is in the water all day with laughter, food and drinks! </blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-52407213389916095822009-07-17T16:15:00.000-07:002009-08-13T12:49:08.615-07:00Belltown Wine WalkThis week, Mike and I headed to the Belltown Wine Walk - a new wine event that some of the restaurants and bars in Belltown are doing on the second Tuesday of every month, from 5 - 9 p.m.<br /><br />I first heard about it on Twitter - and quickly gathered my boyfriend's approval for a night of $5 tastings in the neighborhood just down from my house in Queen Anne. Because of traffic, Mike was a little late to my house after work, so we didn't get started until 7 p.m.<br /><br />While the list of places participating in the wine walk are as such (starting in order from North to South)...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanwinecafe.com/">Urban Wine Cafe</a>: Corner of 2nd & Denny<br /><a href="http://www.thelocalvine.com/">Local Vine</a>; Second Avenue [ 2nd & Vine Street ]<br /><a href="http://www.seattlecellars.com/">Seattle Cellars</a>: <span>2505 </span>2nd Ave # 102 [Between Vine & Wall]<br /><a href="http://www.elgaucho.com/">El Gaucho</a>: 6:20 - 7:00: 2505 First Avenue [On First, between Vine & Wall ]<br /><a href="http://www.branzinoseattle.com/">Branzino</a>: 2429 2nd Ave [Between Wall & Battery]<br /><a href="http://www.robroyseattle.com/">Rob Roy</a>: 5:40-6:20: 2323 2nd Avenue [Between Battery & Bell]<br /><a href="http://www.jewelboxtheater.com/">Rendezvous</a>: 5:00 - 5:40: 2322 2nd Ave<br /><br />...we decided to skip the Urban Wine Cafe since it was quite a bit further distance to the other bars, and we just wanted to park and walk. We first hit up The Local Vine, which is great wine bar we've been to a couple times before. The Local Vine had <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://www.hedgescellars.com/ourwines/cms.php">CMS from Hedges Winery</a> as their tasting for white wine. CMS is a blend of Chardonnay, Marsanne and Sauv Blanc. The wine was quite versatile and mellow - it probably could have been paired with a number of summertime dishes. The Local Vine paired it with </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">a thyme & ginger polenta with carrot frisee salad.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ddufJaMwm9IpkqDShhp4Z8AoBxlw1s6TQu5zgeQrnZ7FEj6GvFOVHY9MHWMpXAZBXwMkCo4g7c2rn72TCsM_tWf5j0ZCNJENngtuNIzOHflRjcnfKSS-OsU5RWuASfeko_OLM0zNbFzX/s1600-h/IMG00276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ddufJaMwm9IpkqDShhp4Z8AoBxlw1s6TQu5zgeQrnZ7FEj6GvFOVHY9MHWMpXAZBXwMkCo4g7c2rn72TCsM_tWf5j0ZCNJENngtuNIzOHflRjcnfKSS-OsU5RWuASfeko_OLM0zNbFzX/s400/IMG00276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359575943031147266" border="0" /></a>We thought the dish and pairing was quite impressive! The bartender told us that The Local Vine chooses a new wine and food pairing each week - and for only $5 for both! Five bucks for both a full-sized glass of wine and a small plate is more than worth my time!<br /><br />From TLV, we moved onto Seattle Cellars, but were kinda surprised to see that it closed at 7 p.m. We had read the wine walk went from 5 to 9 p.m., and there was no word that one of the places closed early! Sort of a bummer, but we'll have to remember that if we do it again.<br /><br />So, we continued onto Branzino, which is what I was most excited about. Branzino is the restaurant of <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/bio/ashley-merriman">Chef Ashley Merriman, one of the two Seattle chefs chosen to be on Top Chef 6</a>! I cannot describe how excited I am to watch local chefs. We sat at the bar at Branzino and were given the choice of a white or red for our wine walk tasting. We chose the white - a chardonnay from <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://www.airfieldwines.com/">Airfield Estates</a>, a winery in Yakima. Branzino didn't have a dish for the pairing, which we were more than a little disappointed about. But, we decided to split a bar plate anyway. We ordered the crispy meatballs with creamy polenta. </span></span><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfM8bUdckUWsC70QtHN-zmir8nMJcfMqYeRPyjsXNkpijLMBDRfUebdhaQQOPtAikqLK5uNeC9ddeiufkw4Q60h69e2p_H4UUyRX4OO4HS60mYiqTVEdjAm1592hc7ny2P-FfwYEXeC_q/s1600-h/IMG00277.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfM8bUdckUWsC70QtHN-zmir8nMJcfMqYeRPyjsXNkpijLMBDRfUebdhaQQOPtAikqLK5uNeC9ddeiufkw4Q60h69e2p_H4UUyRX4OO4HS60mYiqTVEdjAm1592hc7ny2P-FfwYEXeC_q/s400/IMG00277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359577280014711778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic! The lighting was dim.<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Two dishes of polenta for us! (I'm kind of a polenta fan). We both agreed that we enjoyed the polenta at TLV a little better, but that says nothing about our thoughts on Branzino! We want to go back to try it out for the full-meal dinner! While we were at the bar, I was able to watch Ashley Merriman in action and even went up to her before we left, to personally congratulate her on her Top Chef placement. I'm such a dork! But it's like a local celebrity! I love that show!<br /><br />From there, we only had time for one more stop - Rob Roy, formally known as Viceroy. Rob Roy didn't have a food pairing either, but they did have complimentary Goldfish crackers! Ha! We dug right in! The white wine they offered was <a href="http://www.cleanslatewine.com/clean_slate.html">a Riesling from Clean Slate wineries</a>. (Come to find out, it's won Best Riesling at the 2007 San Francisco International Wine Festival). It was <span style="font-style: italic;">GOOD</span>. We definitely gave it the vote for Best Wine of the night. I will probably try to seek it out in a grocery store. For overall experience and money value though, The Local Vine gets our vote x 1,000!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Probably go back. </span></span>We might hit up the Belltown Wine Walk again, but this time we'll try to go to the places we skipped. I imagine El Gaucho will have a great pairing! We'll most definitely go back to TLV for the $5 wine walk deal, but will probably pass on the other two places we went. We were expecting more of a tasting experience, not just a $5 glass of wine. Overall though, it was something fun and different to do on a Tuesday.</blockquote></div></div>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-16451662927693751362009-07-08T17:32:00.000-07:002009-07-17T16:14:57.921-07:00The ParagonGenerally, Mike and I love to check out new places in Seattle. We think it's much better to try something<span style="font-style: italic;"> new </span>rather than go to the same ole places over and over. However, there are a few places that we'll sneak back to time and time again, and one of those places is <a href="http://www.paragonseattle.com/">The Paragon</a> on top of Queen Anne hill.<br /><br />We've been to The Paragon for breakfast <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>dinner, and every time it doesn't fail to impress. The food is always yummy and high quality, especially their brunch, which is served from 11:30-3 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 - 3 p.m. on Sundays. Mike and I are HUGE breakfast fans. Unfortunately for my waistline, and our wallets, it's hard for us to go a weekend without snagging eggs and bacon at a local jaunt. While we've been to handfuls of Seattle breakfast hot spots, we continuously go back to The Paragon - their bacon is some of the best in the city, their portions are HUGE and their food is just plain yummy. How can you argue with this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP9TfU-AyYsMxMNzC7viXbfmFmuPsQVcAnEEo_nrpEOY6dsiuLoYoRL2JkaE32UmFJNHGGPkE-RDOK_xlLsJpmqce7GMF94VocNa2Ki-vmtjQbUOD5G6Ugsxm8uqgJ06mlUluZnpakSVP/s1600-h/P7050053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP9TfU-AyYsMxMNzC7viXbfmFmuPsQVcAnEEo_nrpEOY6dsiuLoYoRL2JkaE32UmFJNHGGPkE-RDOK_xlLsJpmqce7GMF94VocNa2Ki-vmtjQbUOD5G6Ugsxm8uqgJ06mlUluZnpakSVP/s400/P7050053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359569838888068226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Eggs Benedict - a personal favorite of ours</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0DgaM3RW-MMMcsn7z4Om892w7CSYIP8NOlIPMAXq8TG2vcLSEPB7P8WG4On76aAHuW14vrgMFT8CGhCFL7-nQE22l3YKnL9VySMmDEHBpNgbgtoOuvhMUtVYhn1ak5GkQEd_2Hr6lGx7/s1600-h/P7050051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0DgaM3RW-MMMcsn7z4Om892w7CSYIP8NOlIPMAXq8TG2vcLSEPB7P8WG4On76aAHuW14vrgMFT8CGhCFL7-nQE22l3YKnL9VySMmDEHBpNgbgtoOuvhMUtVYhn1ak5GkQEd_2Hr6lGx7/s400/P7050051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359569770556072514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The "Scramble Special" - Jalapenos, bacon, tomatoes and onions</span></span><br /><br /></div>Dinner tends to be a little bit more on the spendy side, but The Paragon is a great date night destination - the atmosphere is a little swanky, they have great drinks and there's live music five days a week. (Plus, the bread you get before your meal is to.die.for! It is warm and melty with a little Asiago cheese inside).<br /><br />The Paragon even just revamped their happy hour, which they're calling Tini Time. Classic martinis such as a Lemon Drop or Cosmopolitan are only $5, and their food menu boasts $7 treats such as fried green tomatoes, beef short ribs, Mongolian chicken, corn fritters and calamari. We'll be checking out happy hour soon - it's our goal to try out new spots, but we like to support the local spots too!<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back!</span> We already have! </blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Where:</span></span> The Paragon<br /><span class="street-address">2125 Queen Anne Ave N</span><br /><span class="locality">Seattle</span>, <span class="region">WA</span> <span class="postal-code">98109</span><br /> <span id="bizPhone" class="tel">(206) 283-4548</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" href="http://www.paragonseattle.com/">Web site</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Category:</span></span> New American<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Neighborhood:</span> </span>Upper Queen Anne<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Atmosphere:</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Swanky casual</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Price range:</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </span>Dinner: $13-24. Breakfast: $9-15<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Service:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>It tends to be a little slow. Don't go starving for breakfast! Each time we have kinda waited around a long time for our breakfast to be served, but we still think it's worth it!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Cool features:</span> Live music five days a week!Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-71287475864906660032009-06-26T16:13:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:29:36.062-07:00El Gaucho Happy HourTuesday, Mike and I went to see The Hangover at <a href="http://www.thebigpicture.net/">Big Picture</a> in Belltown and decided to finally check out El Gaucho's happy hour. <a href="http://www.elgaucho.com/elgaucho/index.htm">El Gaucho</a> is upstairs from Big Picture, so it makes a perfect pre-movie spot. (Black Bottle, across the street is also a really great option. You can read a review of <a href="http://blackbottleseattle.com/">Black Bottle</a> and Big Picture at <a href="http://www.brettandmandydatenight.com/2009/06/big-black-bottle.html">Seattle Date Night!</a>). El Gaucho is one of Seattle's famous and SUPER spendy steakhouses. It opened in the 1950s and used to be a speakeasy. Neither of us have been before - to tell you the truth, I thought it was a Mexican restaurant for the first 25 years of my life. (Embarrassing to admit). While the price is generally out of our league for a casual date night, I've heard the happy hour is great.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg3zCLKotsuTB1LEx-7eEXXr7qpbBaW-wxFmKFTyS_OQIYdH3xYNEZUnWd5PEpwXMpt4uG5CjTzAijbDSAZe6gaRZ9yXiMZaXf3t3p4GhyrU-PyRSmZMRY8zvlebMboaKJ7lgbol3Kwnu/s1600-h/2718452949_59b0d01bc2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg3zCLKotsuTB1LEx-7eEXXr7qpbBaW-wxFmKFTyS_OQIYdH3xYNEZUnWd5PEpwXMpt4uG5CjTzAijbDSAZe6gaRZ9yXiMZaXf3t3p4GhyrU-PyRSmZMRY8zvlebMboaKJ7lgbol3Kwnu/s400/2718452949_59b0d01bc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351795516627180626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">[via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/valerie_c/2718452949/">valerie's picture playground</a>]</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When we walked in, we were shocked with how dark it was! The atmosphere is swanky mcswankerson. It's definitely an "Old Boys" restaurant - a place to smoke cigars in the cigar room, sip expensive Brandy and order a manly steak. Not usually our scene. As we sat down, I realized the very loud jazz music was actually coming from a live pianist behind us. "Gosh, if I had to work in this dark bar and listen to jazz music all day, I'd shoot myself," Mike said. If that gives you an idea of the atmosphere. Haha.<br /></div></div><br />For happy hour, the "bar bites" are half off, specialty cocktails are $6, Bud Light bottles are $3 and house wine is $5. Bar menu can be found <a href="http://www.elgaucho.com/elgaucho/images/menus_seattle/bar.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4eKg68kaNHOZcwiGDzgmLEmKkbnumiLK5M_kgs_Uj3Xer0zX4WF8iWZmV2S1h4NsTALtchGdaRc_TU5nrm5l1_98XfTD2ptA9bJkKgTBGMHJK3vsITlXlRuZoyRgnouX5SBrqv7IASw2/s1600-h/2293230509_682d2a422c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4eKg68kaNHOZcwiGDzgmLEmKkbnumiLK5M_kgs_Uj3Xer0zX4WF8iWZmV2S1h4NsTALtchGdaRc_TU5nrm5l1_98XfTD2ptA9bJkKgTBGMHJK3vsITlXlRuZoyRgnouX5SBrqv7IASw2/s400/2293230509_682d2a422c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351795511432698818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">[via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/78814475@N00/2293230509/">Corazonita</a>]<br /><br /></span></div>After glancing at the menu, we were super glad we were there for happy hour - the prices on the menu for "bar bites" were $19, $15, $14 and other super high prices. I ordered the Mac n' Coastal Cheddar Cheese, $6 half-off price, and Mike ordered the 410 Burger, $7.50 half-off price. Now - the reason I've been using quotes around bar bites is because these are not bites! They're <span style="font-style: italic;">huge </span>meals! The price of them paid off tremendously for the size. Mike's burger was the size of his head and stuffed with 1/2 pound Certified Angus Beef® Prime top sirloin! I wish I wouldn't have forgotten my camera. When I asked him if it was the best burger he'd ever had, he said, "Pretty close," but the size was actually too big to make it just perfect. It ended up being tasty, but a little messy. His plate also had a side of the best mashed potatoes I've had! They rivaled my grandmother's for sure! My mac and cheese was absolutely sinful. I've never ordered mac and cheese at a restaurant, so I decided to live a little. This mac and cheese is made with an imported English Coastal Cheddar, baked in a personal-sized casserole dish with breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. YUM.<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Probably Go Back.</span></span> I don't think we'll make this a summertime place - it's just too dark and gloomy in there. But the proximity of it to Big Picture and the happy hour value for the amazing food makes it a great option for a wintertime retreat, which is also a more acceptable season to eat carbs with a side of carbs for dinner. I doubt we'll make it for the full meal deal unless it's a very special occasion. (Wink, wink, Mike). </blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Where:</span></span> El Gaucho<br /><span class="adr"><span class="street-address">2505 1st Ave</span><br /> <span class="locality">Seattle</span>, <span class="region">WA 98121</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></span><br /><span class="phone tel">(206) 728-1337</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" href="http://www.elgaucho.com/elgaucho/index.htm">Web site</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Category:</span></span> Steakhouses<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Neighborhood:</span> </span>Belltown (Also Tacoma and Bellevue locations)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Atmosphere:</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fancy schmancy - don't show up in flip flops</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Price range:</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </span>Happy hour = $3 - $9, Dinner = $27 - $135<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Service:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>An aquaintance of mine was the bartendar, surprisingly, so I'm a little partial on the service. But it's very, very formal. A lot of "sirs" and suits.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Cool features:</span> Live piano music, cigar bar, dancing in the <a href="http://www.elgaucho.com/elgaucho/_seattle/pampas.htm">Pampas Room</a>.Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-23204032258978445752009-06-15T21:29:00.000-07:002009-06-25T11:32:28.174-07:00Wish-Poosh Campground, Wenatchee National Forest and Salmon Le SacOf the camping trips Mike and I have been on already this summer, (<a href="http://caviarandcampfires.blogspot.com/2009/05/osoyoos-lake-state-park.html">Osoyoos Lake</a> and <a href="http://caviarandcampfires.blogspot.com/2009/06/lake-entiat.html">Lake Entiat</a>), we've yet to bring Caden along with us. After taking him on our camping trip to <a href="http://caviarandcampfires.blogspot.com/2009/05/yakima-wine-country.html">Yakima Statesman Park</a> last summer, all he talked about during the winter was going camping. Our friends, Kristen and Emery were dying to go camping too, so we decided to go along with them and take Caden for his first trip of the summer. Because we had driven long distances two times in three weeks, we wanted to choose a place that was closer to Seattle, yet still in Eastern Washington so we could chase the sun.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx3CN7yO6XdUKDjYpGoaE3fZ6QZBa0Qrc0JO7uWgTiTM0c9FoDLVM9uarP4MJkXzt3JNS8AlocKPSpeBvzBeovQeCPIQVM6aErlEkfU_xDpC8fWZpOwaN8Z9Uqb8rsm4wYyznM6AvL2_B/s1600-h/P6130431.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx3CN7yO6XdUKDjYpGoaE3fZ6QZBa0Qrc0JO7uWgTiTM0c9FoDLVM9uarP4MJkXzt3JNS8AlocKPSpeBvzBeovQeCPIQVM6aErlEkfU_xDpC8fWZpOwaN8Z9Uqb8rsm4wYyznM6AvL2_B/s400/P6130431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351133856177077090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Caden loves sleeping in his own tent!</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span></div>We did something we've yet to do - instead of searching frantically for a free spot at a state park, we pulled out Mike's copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Out-Washington-Places-Outdoors/dp/1570612749"><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Out Washington | A Best Places Guide to the Outdoors: Camping, Biking, Lodging, Hiking... and all outdoor activities</span></a> by Ron C. Judd (phew, that's some title!) Wow. I recommend this book 100 times over. I think we've abandoned our use of state parks for good. Well, maybe not for good... but it was great to find a ton of campsites that we never even heard of, and some of them were even free!<br /><br />We headed to the area of Washington accessible by Highway 903/Salmon Le Sac road. If you take exit 80 off I-90, toward the tiny town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roslyn,_Washington">Roslyn</a>, there's a whole slew of beautiful, woodsy campsites in the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/">Wenatchee National Forest</a>, along lakes and rivers - and it's only an hour and a half away from Seattle! We chose the first campsite that came along, <a href="http://www.publiclands.org/explore/site.php?search=YES&back=Search%20Results&id=4936">Wish Poosh</a>, after driving through and loving the spacious campsites. This place is perfect if you want a little privacy. The sites are large, and include picnic tables, a fire pit and even a BBQ grill! The bathrooms are clean, a little bit primitave without a shower, but it's still nice to have bathroom facilities. The campground is super woodsy, which was a change for us because we usually find ourselves in deep Eastern Washington where the trees are scarce and you're always left waking up at 5 a.m. to the blazing sun. It was nice to have the shade of the trees, to say the least. The campground has 17 tent sites and 22 RV sites that aren't reservable, but we didn't have a problem when we arrived around 8 p.m. on Friday night; plenty of sites were still available. The campground is located along Cle Elum Lake, a reservoir that was full to the brim and hard to float or swim in. Apparently it drains as the summer goes on, and there's a great big sandy beach along the shore. We were sad to miss it because the lake was a little unusable without a boat.<br /><br />The next morning, the weather was a little cool (the area is not as warm as Lake Chelan, Wenatchee, or further down Highway 2 and I-90) so we went on an adventure drive, further down Salmon Le Sac Road to check out the handful of other campsites that the book mentioned. The drive is gorgeous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQswTBjxZKcNGNXuD-s7AzFOEqPlIclh6Hkk6x6WM4QdvuFltSppZpAZbHgPsnCiVQNOSoO2n-w9LpGfh1Zos7MimzaQCUwD75vPAH9hudfo5sn-O22X0zJrWY1qUA0joCNEYf0sjwGjf6/s1600-h/P6130446.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQswTBjxZKcNGNXuD-s7AzFOEqPlIclh6Hkk6x6WM4QdvuFltSppZpAZbHgPsnCiVQNOSoO2n-w9LpGfh1Zos7MimzaQCUwD75vPAH9hudfo5sn-O22X0zJrWY1qUA0joCNEYf0sjwGjf6/s400/P6130446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134180099559458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPN8CI0woUpIV3kOQr_t0GUNN82p_V-T65yPHwZ8yFrETHyDObb52ZU9vVK8rRrFfz5fTUys4EuawuPJGfxVpQiK6RXifd5EZkr1NqVP8QnsgFT_MutuV3oLuaiU2ks2oe3by0JufsDR3/s1600-h/P6130439.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPN8CI0woUpIV3kOQr_t0GUNN82p_V-T65yPHwZ8yFrETHyDObb52ZU9vVK8rRrFfz5fTUys4EuawuPJGfxVpQiK6RXifd5EZkr1NqVP8QnsgFT_MutuV3oLuaiU2ks2oe3by0JufsDR3/s400/P6130439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134001875525362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYysu9t1_fsaTSLIDjO9PuOL2t4o7PiSKWJtzqMwCMu8s7l6oeEUuLmd9_etYr3XxeP9ElbZ5wb00uUG-d6f9Wik9GcsBT3UyPEATAKn4oBBupYeyETPdF1-BC5CWXNZ2iG8tUKMpFuki/s1600-h/P6130442.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYysu9t1_fsaTSLIDjO9PuOL2t4o7PiSKWJtzqMwCMu8s7l6oeEUuLmd9_etYr3XxeP9ElbZ5wb00uUG-d6f9Wik9GcsBT3UyPEATAKn4oBBupYeyETPdF1-BC5CWXNZ2iG8tUKMpFuki/s400/P6130442.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134075173454530" border="0" /></a>A little further up the road is Cle Elum River campsite and Red Mountain campsite (free!) along the Cle Elum River. Both of these are approximately 12 miles north of Roslyn. We also drove approximately 10 miles down a road to Cooper River, and Owhi campsite, which was gorgeous, and even further past Salmon Le Sac to Scatter Creek and Fish Lake. The road to these campsites is super rough and the area is really primitive. There is the occasional bathroom, but the road is steep, rocky and hard to drive if you don't have a SUV, Subaru, etc. (All campsites are free, and it's approximately 30 miles north of downtown Roslyn).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhRbpuyRrH-PrwTfa5D0kG-mZlPFsew-aZsnhC8ZXvIEv4OAX5zJO9jyT0OPCbCDs9NWlGNMK23FJalObK-R_QCTUC6Qya9WeMMRAaHhVA8JzWb4Ocbc8sDTG3nyAsyvtnkl70-IyxHQh/s1600-h/P6130444.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhRbpuyRrH-PrwTfa5D0kG-mZlPFsew-aZsnhC8ZXvIEv4OAX5zJO9jyT0OPCbCDs9NWlGNMK23FJalObK-R_QCTUC6Qya9WeMMRAaHhVA8JzWb4Ocbc8sDTG3nyAsyvtnkl70-IyxHQh/s400/P6130444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351135065325365362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">An outhouse we found out there - complete with the crescent moon!<br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were shocked to see the occasional houses out there - talk about a remote cabin! The scenery is really breathtaking, however. Mountains, streams, waterfalls down the side of the hills, little purple and yellow mountain flowers. We couldn't stop taking pictures!<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx0dZGa3g96_l4dUlruG8vg01hdmK14ZG5-z8GLUfQ3Su6zlM8fKxBcRm1KkF30u0YimZ-_xdah7B_ji-HhQZW6L-vI831EIh70h-9_FrK7YFiP5C97hfnItdU2y3C6M6HyonYDv1SrYm/s1600-h/P6130449.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx0dZGa3g96_l4dUlruG8vg01hdmK14ZG5-z8GLUfQ3Su6zlM8fKxBcRm1KkF30u0YimZ-_xdah7B_ji-HhQZW6L-vI831EIh70h-9_FrK7YFiP5C97hfnItdU2y3C6M6HyonYDv1SrYm/s400/P6130449.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134279056105058" border="0" /></a>All of these campsites are so private and remote, they'd be great for big camping parties with friends that are often inappropriate at state parks because of the families and park rangers that don't tolerate the noise. We kept seeing signs everywhere with posted paper plates of people having big camp parties. SO fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAK9U1A7RYBMABozTiENk7Y2_GtrbSCHWGAh2QBWaJgcIUZUn-zhlgSAJvXw7Jf_RQ88RqIV3oKI7kd7IMSNbB8YGYxNesFLX5SNATUZE7cNUQSFSaTU0myLHt8eL8nW0jJOK-dY5kPEA/s1600-h/P6130454.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAK9U1A7RYBMABozTiENk7Y2_GtrbSCHWGAh2QBWaJgcIUZUn-zhlgSAJvXw7Jf_RQ88RqIV3oKI7kd7IMSNbB8YGYxNesFLX5SNATUZE7cNUQSFSaTU0myLHt8eL8nW0jJOK-dY5kPEA/s400/P6130454.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134411328480290" border="0" /></a>After our drive and a late lunch, the weather turned for the worse, and we were caught in a torrential downpour and thunder/lightning storm! It sort of sucked. I haven't been camping in the rain in forever. All the more reason to wait to camp in this area until the dead middle of summer. We all tried to make the best of it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0x9Las7wDDiMNXBMCG-9PdvdYahHQTqg9vG-ewCZkmqBI9o2lQS9exr59q0258sz7yolYwClrkBupm81V7SxbeFPk1exDkwCqfI6SNMU1ddasjDwnnGmH4pNa0aGioZsYtucVFzFTwDtE/s1600-h/P6130457.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0x9Las7wDDiMNXBMCG-9PdvdYahHQTqg9vG-ewCZkmqBI9o2lQS9exr59q0258sz7yolYwClrkBupm81V7SxbeFPk1exDkwCqfI6SNMU1ddasjDwnnGmH4pNa0aGioZsYtucVFzFTwDtE/s400/P6130457.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134544373721554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCAl50rIyQe492XhgBlND8rWxyjTpkjTMMUIxsi8NW86gXgEfAV50HfMC_2GIsD8xTNJ7srs_WdBvE_vhD6G9YjqlQFDJBV3RDRlSoUnL6D8Xu3cb_kApFgpYeBk7mkdwX-t7urPVU4IH/s1600-h/P6130458.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCAl50rIyQe492XhgBlND8rWxyjTpkjTMMUIxsi8NW86gXgEfAV50HfMC_2GIsD8xTNJ7srs_WdBvE_vhD6G9YjqlQFDJBV3RDRlSoUnL6D8Xu3cb_kApFgpYeBk7mkdwX-t7urPVU4IH/s400/P6130458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134669881584354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jiffy popcorn and marshmallows, oh my God!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQARTKnygAYS4zsgkzcKKNhyZbldTswqR8KatzJPr7dm5QYwxeHK5qYqw9rueYR-QW-2J2F-Sg49-ZMOJCgTcwTXpXtnFCD8sBIGjNQ6DMaof-9l9KgltkSj8YB_73-wB2zYBbjHOPtelu/s1600-h/P6130468.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQARTKnygAYS4zsgkzcKKNhyZbldTswqR8KatzJPr7dm5QYwxeHK5qYqw9rueYR-QW-2J2F-Sg49-ZMOJCgTcwTXpXtnFCD8sBIGjNQ6DMaof-9l9KgltkSj8YB_73-wB2zYBbjHOPtelu/s400/P6130468.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351134764268689906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hiding out underneath the tarp...</span><br /></span></div><br />We put up tarps and the boys were frantically digging moats to keep the water out of the campfire, but once the campfire was flooded, the campsite muddy and the rain relentless, we decided to pack up early and head back.<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back. </span></span>This camping area is too close to Seattle and offers too many options to explore to not head back again! Plus, it was a welcome change to camp in the woods with the shade of the Evergreen trees. Next time, we'll wait until the weather guarantees summer heat, and we can enjoy the water!</blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-4939901433932387642009-06-08T12:44:00.000-07:002009-06-23T13:43:57.167-07:00Lake Entiat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcR2JqJLc21SYU_mwIOk9Jt4uVWX1j2tqMeU6KHNDbh-eYgIJ5XIWiBoOak3Yh2wmdT5evNLrmd0EeCovseyUS7FWT3_UPJhcsH4Yqcnz6au46MR2RSbeogVjDZ2MrmhllJmxF88l-no/s1600-h/P6060413.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcR2JqJLc21SYU_mwIOk9Jt4uVWX1j2tqMeU6KHNDbh-eYgIJ5XIWiBoOak3Yh2wmdT5evNLrmd0EeCovseyUS7FWT3_UPJhcsH4Yqcnz6au46MR2RSbeogVjDZ2MrmhllJmxF88l-no/s400/P6060413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350625148624431314" border="0" /></a>This past weekend, Mike's work hosted a work camping trip at his boss' waterfront house on Lake Entiat. Located just outside of Lake Chelan, Entiat is actually a reservoir formed above the Rocky Reach Dam. As I said before, Lake Chelan is one of our favorite places to camp - the weather is always nice, and it's home to Chelan Wine Country. Lake Entiat is a close second. Because Lake Chelan is often booked and jam packed during the summer, Lake Entiat is a great alternative with the same weather and recreational gems.<br /><br />Although we stayed at a private cabin, I've been to <a href="http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Lincoln%20Rock">Lincoln Rock State Park</a> a couple times, which is on Lake Entiat and an awesome state park. And here's a little extra treat - on Alt 97, the highway that takes you to Lake Entiat, Lincoln Rock State Park and Lake Chelan, there's a little bar on the right-hand side of the highway (traveling toward Chelan) called The Log Cabin. Here, you'll find more than 99 bottles of beer - and a great little game you can play. The bar offers a list of all their beers that you can keep there for as long as it takes to finish. Each time you try a new beer off the list, they check your name off, and when you're done with all 99, you get a mug engraved with your name and a number, which signifies which number person you are to complete the challenge!<br /><br />After camping on the grass of his bosses lake house, we left the cabin in search of a breakfast joint. (Bacon, bacon!) Entiat is a very, very small town with virtually zero restaurants (at least that we could find). But we did find the most incredible little bakery with breakfast sandwiches that you must check out if you're in the area! It's called <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=entiat+valley+pastry+and+coffee+hosue&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=5941745606835126129">Entiat Valley Pastry & Coffee House</a>, and it's one of those little, hidden family-owned places that are a must go! They have pastries that are made every single morning - cream cheese danishes, lemon scones with little white chocolate chips, warm out of the oven and DE-vine. Mike and I picked up two breakfast sandwiches, which come on homemade bread. We were both impressed.<br /><br />Because Lake Entiat is near Chelan, we were able to drive into Chelan during the day to hit up <a href="http://www.slidewaters.com/#">Slide Waters</a>, the small water park in the town. I don't care if you're 6, 14, 25 or 42 - this place is FUN! There aren't too many slides, but it's worth a couple hours and the minimal $17 fee to get some relief from the sun. We loved the slide where you could race each other down (I won every time. Neener, neener), and the slide where we could race down in a two person inner tube. So fun! <span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Probably go back.</span></span> We're always finding ourselves in this area of the state. The weather and watersports are hard to stay away from - and the drives are also relaxing and beautiful, with great fruit stands to stop at along the way! And we'll most definitely make an effort to go back to Entiat Valley Pastry!</blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-60503217551122651512009-06-02T09:22:00.000-07:002009-06-02T11:29:02.400-07:00Mashiko sushiMike and I don't get out to West Seattle too often - sometimes it feels like it's another planet - but when we do, I always find myself saying, "I would love to live out here when I'm older." The scenery is breathtaking, the beach is um, awesome and the restaurant/bar scene has always treated us well. Last night we strapped on our rollerblades for the first time this summer. Alki is a great place to rollerblade, bike ride or walk. If you park immediately off to the right as soon as you get off at Harbor Avenue, it's a good distance to the end of Alki Avenue and back. We spent 50 minutes rollerblading it - and if you're not from Seattle - Alki/West Seattle is where all the postcard pictures are taken of the Seattle skyline. It's breathtaking. (Except, you'll notice the Space Needle way off to the left. Postcards usually Photoshop it into the middle. Lol)<br /><div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtima4hu92pItMc_nAb-FD-jY8cAtKvw0qzTv7WFT2gC8-Qgl0iCNtxm7eDYZQTjdcJ9S2xb87RsyAAzxURI-fCMpFAHZy9pK1lp3-8CW5_L2FG5hwN2MeAmCFeu69_METgf0Y8fDMgZj2/s1600-h/Seattle-Panorama_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342785008872301650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 138px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtima4hu92pItMc_nAb-FD-jY8cAtKvw0qzTv7WFT2gC8-Qgl0iCNtxm7eDYZQTjdcJ9S2xb87RsyAAzxURI-fCMpFAHZy9pK1lp3-8CW5_L2FG5hwN2MeAmCFeu69_METgf0Y8fDMgZj2/s400/Seattle-Panorama_small.jpg" border="0" /></a> After burning 415 calories (!!!) we were in dire need of some food. We headed up to California Avenue to <a href="http://www.sushiwhore.com/">Mashiko sushi </a>- the number one sushi place in West Seattle, <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/fn/1/57/36/Seattle/Sushi-restaurants/West-Seattle">according to UrbanSpoon</a>. From the outside, the restaurant looks like a little hole in the wall, but on the inside it's cozy with funky little touches. Read: humor is rampant in this place. When you walk in, there's a saltwater fish tank, a ledge with every different type of Magic 8 ball you can think of, and a sign that says, "Please wait to be seated (unless you're illiterate)." We were led to our seats underneath a string of colored lamps, and on the ledge of the sushi bar were kitchsy toys and a little bowl of homemade buttons for the taking with funky sayings like, "I love spicy tuna," "Soy sauce is not a beverage," and "Shut up and eat." </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MhyTlQ9Yi1TokyJfO813uDf0t8SOJHU_Fby4GjaVaITGF63lL98lmNVA528rNkR3IThsbqiK_5uw7uJH1hP__d3E-TWr00-XTRuw69WlqRCRoqvDQPzIujIcq9ZDo-P6UsTpwprYjFwo/s1600-h/Mashiko1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342787679548125442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 343px; height: 275px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MhyTlQ9Yi1TokyJfO813uDf0t8SOJHU_Fby4GjaVaITGF63lL98lmNVA528rNkR3IThsbqiK_5uw7uJH1hP__d3E-TWr00-XTRuw69WlqRCRoqvDQPzIujIcq9ZDo-P6UsTpwprYjFwo/s400/Mashiko1.jpg" border="0" /></a> We were sat at the sushi bar, and the service was amazing. Our order was taken, and our rolls created immediately. In the span of a couple minutes, a waiter brought us a bowl of Asian crunchy snacks, cucumber water (!!!) and hot towels to wipe off our hands. Three little things that made me change from, "Uh, this place is cool," to "Um, this place is amazing." The menu includes appetizers, salads, sushi rice bowls, hand rolls, Japanese dishes, nigiri, sashimi, traditional rolls (seaweed on outside), American style rolls (rice on outside), etc. etc. What I love best about the menu was the GLOSSARY on the front page. I'm always wondering what ingredients like shiso are, so that was a great touch.<br /></p><p>We ordered three rolls: The Red Violin (tuna, avocado, cilantro & spicy garlic sauce), Limeade (shiso, tempura asparagus w/ salmon & lime on top) and Cajun Tempura Shrimp (tempura shrimp, Cajun spice, spicy mayo & cucumber). We were able to watch our sushi chef make our rolls in front of us, and were actually probably on their Web cam at the time since it's live <a href="http://www.sushiwhore.com/Seattle_sushi_bar_webcam.html">on their Web site </a>during business hours!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeJQo_iQ4fHyq3uShvHV1R_KlskMkOLAYEbev3VeCRB9g6LLViRCwtpv6SYbjIQ06ciXUAwgDbYtAL8izrjzDY830o9HlNL3QO09x0wRax3vq2J1HgUQk4qS7D1EWC9AZIyxFNvWzLSwY/s1600-h/Mashiko3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342790810534699474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 343px; height: 275px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeJQo_iQ4fHyq3uShvHV1R_KlskMkOLAYEbev3VeCRB9g6LLViRCwtpv6SYbjIQ06ciXUAwgDbYtAL8izrjzDY830o9HlNL3QO09x0wRax3vq2J1HgUQk4qS7D1EWC9AZIyxFNvWzLSwY/s400/Mashiko3.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPrnATiss6bFu54SlXJmK0UsR_kU9ctGvWugirFcUk-znU5ZSNm_H-E8g-siaz-00BGGB_PQpsxmcON5IQn9MWK4B6KzGm355fTUCHu1s7kihLqN55WJJZIubDd9xibsAxAkzS9sRrO4s/s1600-h/Mashiko2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPrnATiss6bFu54SlXJmK0UsR_kU9ctGvWugirFcUk-znU5ZSNm_H-E8g-siaz-00BGGB_PQpsxmcON5IQn9MWK4B6KzGm355fTUCHu1s7kihLqN55WJJZIubDd9xibsAxAkzS9sRrO4s/s400/Mashiko2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342792770778453730" border="0" /></a></p>The sushi = awesome! We both agreed that the Cajun Tempura Shrimp roll was the best. The Cajun seasoning they sprinkled on top added a great kick to the sushi, and I think we'll try it at home when making our own sushi rolls. As we ate, I asked the sushi chefs questions about the rolls they were making - it was great to put a visual to all the rolls on the menu, and super informative for our still-new sushi loving minds. We recommend sitting at the sushi bar next time you go to a Japanese restaurant!<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back. </span></span>We were beyond impressed with this place. When our bill came, it was accompanied with a comment card. We gave the highest marks to all categories - food, atmosphere, service. And we wrote, "We'll be back!" which is something to be said since more often than not West Seattle is too far of a trek for us, but Mashiko might change that. And next time, I want to check out this supposed "most amazing bathroom in Seattle" that I missed this time. (Luxury heated toilets with bidets, showers and a dryer? Crazy!)</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Where:</span></span> Mashiko sushi<br />4725 California Ave SW<br />Seattle, WA 98116<br />(206) 935-4339<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" href="http://www.sushiwhore.com/">Web site</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Category:</span></span> Japanese - Sushi<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Neighborhood:</span> </span>West Seattle<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Atmosphere:</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Funky, eclectic and casual</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Price range:</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </span>$4 (hand rolls, nigiri) -$14 (Detailed rolls)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Service:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>Great! We loved the service at the sushi bar. Staff was great with water refills and brought the check swiftly, which is always something that annoys me when it takes forever.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Cool features:</span> Cucumber water, gummy candies when you leave, buttons with funny phrases to take, luxury toilets. </div>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-93607111915929422009-05-27T16:41:00.000-07:002009-05-28T14:45:21.156-07:00The SignatureLast night we walked down to lower Queen Anne (LQA) to check out <a href="http://thesignaturerestaurant.homestead.com/">The Signature</a> – the restaurant that replaced one of my favorites, Moxie. It’s super disappointing to have a great restaurant replaced by yet another Asian restaurant on Queen Anne, since that’s the majority of the cuisine there already.<br /><br />The Signature was recently mentioned on a Queen Anne blog that I read as a new pho place. The menu included the usual small and large bowls of pho – but for $8, $9, respectively, which is a couple more bucks than the usual bowl of pho goes for. The wine was overpriced too – all glasses were $8. The menu included a long list of “small plates,” in addition to salads, signature dishes, pho, stir fries and grilled skewers. We eyed the short ribs made with a honey sauce, but opted for rare beef pho for Mike, a mango salad for me and chicken wings with a sweet chili sauce for an appetizer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe-0f4d7YgcaX1zAd6nD5SZABfvG3poD3gjP3n-f433rXZrZcUsgg8wOiiZFGN_UliYClpgR-FNL1G_UYEFxRgq4NCoNO4Xk2Lvzyc8ATRl81ZpyKMrDbL1FJAgJLjgvOqUXujgbGfWsX/s1600-h/April+09+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe-0f4d7YgcaX1zAd6nD5SZABfvG3poD3gjP3n-f433rXZrZcUsgg8wOiiZFGN_UliYClpgR-FNL1G_UYEFxRgq4NCoNO4Xk2Lvzyc8ATRl81ZpyKMrDbL1FJAgJLjgvOqUXujgbGfWsX/s320/April+09+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340655833618077234" border="0" /></a><br />We thought the broth in the pho was super flavorful, despite the lack of sauces that were brought out to accompany it. (The best part, usually). The chicken wings were kinda just okay, and used only to slurp up the sweet chili sauce, which is kinda like whatever a highly addictive substance would be. Crack, perhaps. My mango salad was super pretty, but I was a little disappointed. For $9, it was a tiny bowl with only four small shrimps and a mango cut into matchsticks. Hardly very filling, but quite light and refreshing for a sunny night. Before I ordered it, I asked the waiter what the dressing was like, and he responded, “It doesn’t have one. It doesn’t need it though; it’s that good!” I thought, “Yeah right,” but was surprised that he was completely right – the herbs and seasonings were amazing. It was tasty; but it wasn't the size I expected for a dinner salad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IMiXMy4nfo5qowJrPEyAKkt78r2e7eQMQzxbhLazd-N9JEn3OTNBnpOPYFMDQEJVoz8xuscy7J2igudVyM0kmfvHxrFKrsjDsbdm0eCFJTC0wfyukqyL-7RfSW0xc4Ik7GXiHBitIG7C/s1600-h/April+09+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IMiXMy4nfo5qowJrPEyAKkt78r2e7eQMQzxbhLazd-N9JEn3OTNBnpOPYFMDQEJVoz8xuscy7J2igudVyM0kmfvHxrFKrsjDsbdm0eCFJTC0wfyukqyL-7RfSW0xc4Ik7GXiHBitIG7C/s320/April+09+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340655791412063346" border="0" /></a><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Final Verdict: Won’t go back.</span> We felt the menu was overpriced, and while the food was good and the presentation even better, it didn’t stand out far enough ahead to warrant the price. Even if they’re shooting for a “classier” feel to the Asian restaurant options, lower Queen Anne really needs some inexpensive options. And with the abundant pho choices around, we’d rather opt for the inexpensive options such as $6 <a href="http://www.thanbrothers.com/index.html">Pho Than Brothers</a>, which is hard to beat.</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Where:</span></span> The Signature<br />530 1st Ave N<br />Seattle, WA 98109<br />(206) 283-6614<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" href="http://thesignaturerestaurant.homestead.com/">Web site</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Category:</span></span> Vietnamese<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Neighborhood:</span> </span>Queen Anne<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Atmosphere:</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </span>Casual classy<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Price range:</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </span>$8-$11<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Service:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>Meh. It seemed like they were understaffed. Dishes were left lying on surrounding tables, but it could have been cause we were in the bar.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Cool features:</span> Open till 2 a.m. with a new outdoor patio!Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-64021965482097811712009-05-25T20:34:00.000-07:002009-05-28T14:42:58.945-07:00Old School BBQ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1F9rh0wlzTVVjMMivkjVUMOsuvJ79YueF72Mkx7MRAuyDofPpspjRo61n-PHblmtKnhZ_NE5CS7jQX09WN4o0yuby9_G4MGZp4yfSwp_zDq3A7AnH1LDtO7Ga5TF9fl6do8DzJbqlIs4/s1600-h/18190001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1F9rh0wlzTVVjMMivkjVUMOsuvJ79YueF72Mkx7MRAuyDofPpspjRo61n-PHblmtKnhZ_NE5CS7jQX09WN4o0yuby9_G4MGZp4yfSwp_zDq3A7AnH1LDtO7Ga5TF9fl6do8DzJbqlIs4/s400/18190001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340991939837807202" border="0" /></a>Last summer, we were driving home from Chelan and decided to stop by (just for fun) the Reptile Zoo, which is located on the side of Highway 2, right after Sultan if you’re coming home from Eastern Washington. The Reptile Zoo is ultra bizarre – just a bunch of glass cases with highly poisonous reptiles. Nothing too much to talk about there. Might be exciting if you’re 4 years old, but otherwise, not so much. But there is something worth stopping at the Reptile Zoo for – the Old School BBQ, which is a barbecue place located within a school bus in the parking lot of the zoo.<br /><br />Old School BBQ is amazing. The couple who runs it is southern, if that tells you anything. It’s a Texas-style barbeque place where everything is cooked outside on the smoker, using mesquite. For all pulled-pork sandwiches fans (I would choose a PP sandwich as my last, dying meal) – this is something not to miss. We stopped by again on our way back from Osoyoos Lake, and were continuously impressed. The woman who takes your order is one of the warmest, friendliest people. And she’ll go out of her way to accommodate her customers – last time they took a personal check of mine because I didn’t have cash (they don’t take credit cards) and this time, they offered up their phone number and told us to call ahead of time if we wanted them to stay open for us later than 7 p.m. if we were running late. Now that’s customer service!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOINEhHn3dwXNKb6jf7v2Qk4XYg5IEkkwBcQ-TAbwUN9Pa72UP42FLT8ZXspBRscKgU_PXr1MLxtGWHfvYYwIgTFhPG8_lDhMie6WgGH0n3XL7ukki1GG77d3Hjm3Wq5uKkE9tTdE92Fg/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOINEhHn3dwXNKb6jf7v2Qk4XYg5IEkkwBcQ-TAbwUN9Pa72UP42FLT8ZXspBRscKgU_PXr1MLxtGWHfvYYwIgTFhPG8_lDhMie6WgGH0n3XL7ukki1GG77d3Hjm3Wq5uKkE9tTdE92Fg/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340991796563699314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">[<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/svensk/sets/72157614934712262/">pgsvensk</a>]</span><br /><br /></div>We’ve both ordered the pulled-pork, which is fabulous. This time around, they were out of pulled-pork, so we had to order the tri-tip, which was incredibly soft and flavorful steak sandwich, slathered in barbecue sauce. The only thing we’d criticize is that the sides are just okay – both the potato salad and coleslaw lacked flavor and needed salt. But the barbecue sandwiches are more than worth it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVfHnh80n0B0hPl_8xu42U19zxCpxvhTSZOcfLZxAUrax4xQKjGTSuxebiGyBncNn9337uZh-k0MGdwLH6CKQPxlJrNJX-kuExKK4APZ-g8Q5e4_A5yj3T72em74Xd_hdYlri06_KnajI/s1600-h/l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVfHnh80n0B0hPl_8xu42U19zxCpxvhTSZOcfLZxAUrax4xQKjGTSuxebiGyBncNn9337uZh-k0MGdwLH6CKQPxlJrNJX-kuExKK4APZ-g8Q5e4_A5yj3T72em74Xd_hdYlri06_KnajI/s400/l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340991837359211778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">[<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/svensk/sets/72157614934712262/">pgsvensk</a>]</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back.</span></span> This place has become a tradition every time we’re crossing over Highway 2 – we don’t miss it! It’s that good! We’ve heard the brisket is to-die-for, so I think that’ll be the next thing we try out.</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Where:</span> Old School BBQ<br />22715-B Highway 2<br />Monroe, WA 98272<br />(425) 367-1045<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Category:</span> Barbecue<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Atmosphere:</span> Casual, outdoor picnic tables.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Price range:</span> $8-$10<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Service:</span> Outstanding.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Cool features: </span>A second yellow school bus that acts as a dining room for guests!Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-65280145127743019862009-05-25T17:24:00.000-07:002009-05-28T15:11:16.586-07:00Osoyoos Lake State Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOdcJwOqzOGI6O9T35JBK-8pCH4OS2kGB3T1XadtYOXoOdKJTQM7apUsjgj3wLP6tiqvC3BoLrxxxyQgtZ3y3bNq54PB3SEj3g__uecTt3byuP51yKuFEJVemLEW-5LumFGFC-31NuOOF/s1600-h/18190006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOdcJwOqzOGI6O9T35JBK-8pCH4OS2kGB3T1XadtYOXoOdKJTQM7apUsjgj3wLP6tiqvC3BoLrxxxyQgtZ3y3bNq54PB3SEj3g__uecTt3byuP51yKuFEJVemLEW-5LumFGFC-31NuOOF/s320/18190006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340669958022693634" border="0" /></a>Because we didn’t get tickets to Sasquatch this year before it sold out, we decided to camp wherever space was still available for Memorial Day weekend. (Washington State campgrounds book quick!) Luckily, there wasn’t much decision necessary since <a href="http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Osoyoos%20Lake">Osoyoos Lake State Park</a> was the only place with available campsites when we searched two days before the weekend started! We booked right away and packed for a weekend in Okanogan County.<br /><br />Osoyoos Lake is supposedly the warmest lake in Canada, and a little portion of it sticks out over the Canadian border, right near Oroville, Washington. From Seattle, it is approximately a five-hour drive, across Highway 2 to Lake Chelan, then north for another two hours. The State campground there is small, with 80-something campsites. A lot of them are in broad daylight, and it is HOT. Gloriously, sometimes scorching, hot. Some of the best spots to snag at the campground, if you have a choice, are sites 1-11 since they are along a wall of trees for shade. Shade is key. We were only able to sleep in past 5:30 A.M. because of our makeshift shade wall we created from Mike's Jeep. We were impressed with how clean the campground was – the bathrooms are practically brand new, and each campsite features a picnic table and fire pit. The lake is located within a daytime park, and has a roped area for swimming, in addition to a dock for boat launching.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEGMA23C4r1izeNqTNEKuladG-qRzhNijeIOV9j7Isb08aDYcwTWihmuXxwDVGYtlCBKJTQ1U8g-_XbfwnXGX5E6hXc6a9dlpfvbiHxtLv-44sgM8mwt542oR0YY2o0c53xVGN3-N7JdS/s1600-h/Osoyoos-Lake.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEGMA23C4r1izeNqTNEKuladG-qRzhNijeIOV9j7Isb08aDYcwTWihmuXxwDVGYtlCBKJTQ1U8g-_XbfwnXGX5E6hXc6a9dlpfvbiHxtLv-44sgM8mwt542oR0YY2o0c53xVGN3-N7JdS/s320/Osoyoos-Lake.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341000786556046146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte1t2hUmK4tPT59WQYGPdaSspHGg56lxSA2MhbgarjwAubxqCRjP8wZFe2L9pGtXSnKmSsqB_KyiH2GujthG8p6RCQmKnrc1CcQoCF1Iz4ZbKt9yP3WtbOMftdUFtEV015ulk0ffd1CVY/s1600-h/18190008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte1t2hUmK4tPT59WQYGPdaSspHGg56lxSA2MhbgarjwAubxqCRjP8wZFe2L9pGtXSnKmSsqB_KyiH2GujthG8p6RCQmKnrc1CcQoCF1Iz4ZbKt9yP3WtbOMftdUFtEV015ulk0ffd1CVY/s320/18190008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340668909818550978" border="0" /></a>One of the greatest things about the campground is that it’s located right next to a gas station and across the street from a huge store called Prince’s, which had everything you could possibly think of. The location of these two places obviously made the campground not very remote, but it sure made it convenient! We picked up a really awesome two-person inner tube raft that had mesh in the bottom (so you could get some relief from the heat) and a cooler in the middle! It’s like we were floating on our own personal island, which we certainly needed in the heat. We also ran there when the sun burnt our lips into cracked and dry deserts, we needed floss after our steak dinner, and we wanted coffee in the A.M. (Hey – it’s hard to totally leave the comforts of home!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnhq4e2N0S2cLalYcPl1i8wjNJrF3DOzSUfWzilxTYrViMTcjLOS4i-gOENgrHo2NLM6oQo2fdAPjSLJe0yi2rXylAy54Pa2Uz3CNWzaA_sr-TMySP2DP-XZ73H4f3kReFkS0YgaaoWjo/s1600-h/18190018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnhq4e2N0S2cLalYcPl1i8wjNJrF3DOzSUfWzilxTYrViMTcjLOS4i-gOENgrHo2NLM6oQo2fdAPjSLJe0yi2rXylAy54Pa2Uz3CNWzaA_sr-TMySP2DP-XZ73H4f3kReFkS0YgaaoWjo/s320/18190018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340669021129217570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCsP12sYX-qVUco3dJqMnw_dStjvI5x-Cm2-jjriQJmJGcfXQoNHvfl4zpmvqq_2S1v-RJOiisigdTXc5qX5jHJ9zeYacmxOXpbAP86jJ8_QFmRIbYHFebioEEzWQf2YjLyguVvUcPdw2/s1600-h/18190010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCsP12sYX-qVUco3dJqMnw_dStjvI5x-Cm2-jjriQJmJGcfXQoNHvfl4zpmvqq_2S1v-RJOiisigdTXc5qX5jHJ9zeYacmxOXpbAP86jJ8_QFmRIbYHFebioEEzWQf2YjLyguVvUcPdw2/s320/18190010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340669072565558050" border="0" /></a>Another great feature of the campground – it’s in Okanogan Wine Country! We brought our bikes, and were able to bike into town to taste test at two wine-tasting rooms, <a href="http://okanoganwine.com/">Okanogan Estate & Vineyards</a> (free tasting) and <a href="http://www.lakecrestwinery.com/">Lake Crest Winery</a> ($2.50 for tasting). If you travel over the border (I forgot my passport), you’ll find 60+ wineries, and supposedly this really neat little adventure place called <a href="http://www.rattlesnakecanyon.ca/">Rattlesnake Canyon</a> that has mini golf, rides and an ice cream place with 48 flavors. If we go back, we’re definitely bringing our passports with us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhclDcbV4CeDIhvK0EPyA0mvnU92Dh9Ocyuv7lsqzoi9iY-rRxoDfVIXJxrZYer8r4iUt9u4KXZqSC_2_c3OWF_NhwoGO14Q-PTKfOg4de1yVlVLc4g7OiOfnraJdMtaFKgiuzVkKVVtpF/s1600-h/18190022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhclDcbV4CeDIhvK0EPyA0mvnU92Dh9Ocyuv7lsqzoi9iY-rRxoDfVIXJxrZYer8r4iUt9u4KXZqSC_2_c3OWF_NhwoGO14Q-PTKfOg4de1yVlVLc4g7OiOfnraJdMtaFKgiuzVkKVVtpF/s320/18190022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340669143361968946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3CgSfLimoecTF5z2ajrVTbr4fk49ZE8BoIym5SfR1szVlvtwfjlRXbOF4rWYNYX6s6eoyrPYQw40F1OSaAXXDvBibP78eWIJoRRZh5mv11MVgRnKvb6W1c7_QVMqQS_2zdu9U7Cg8YNF/s1600-h/18190025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3CgSfLimoecTF5z2ajrVTbr4fk49ZE8BoIym5SfR1szVlvtwfjlRXbOF4rWYNYX6s6eoyrPYQw40F1OSaAXXDvBibP78eWIJoRRZh5mv11MVgRnKvb6W1c7_QVMqQS_2zdu9U7Cg8YNF/s320/18190025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340669200668406802" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >We love corn on the cob with butter and Lawry's seasoning!</span><br /></div><br />Another little recommendation - if you're driving toward Oroville, or out of Oroville, there's a great little diner called Shannon's Place in Tonasket, Wash. It is a family-run place, with excellent sandwiches and salads. I ordered a bacon-cheddar baked potato, and Mike enjoyed a roast beef sandwich dip. They even offer ice cream, espresso and breakfasts on Sundays, and they're outdoor patio is fantastic, with all-you-can-drink ice tea! (My fav).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzQFar4MryATcVwOx-39OsNQLtJI6L7OVCRvj3JMahw5xaE7fdl_TyEO97zMWZAIFw0A-mZw7P8r5veaI650Lpyxm3KEOetZlc7GzO-ZyHfePNywGvS9XeTgm9fDuZ26qvDbpir2Rh7OG/s1600-h/18190002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzQFar4MryATcVwOx-39OsNQLtJI6L7OVCRvj3JMahw5xaE7fdl_TyEO97zMWZAIFw0A-mZw7P8r5veaI650Lpyxm3KEOetZlc7GzO-ZyHfePNywGvS9XeTgm9fDuZ26qvDbpir2Rh7OG/s400/18190002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340998868582182578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final verdict: Probably go back.</span></span> The weather was awesome; you can’t beat living in a bathing suit all weekend! The campground was clean and convenient. Overall, we liked the location, and while the drive was quite long, we’d head back to check out the Canadian side of things!</blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-26139124630022360522009-02-06T10:32:00.000-08:002009-05-29T11:25:08.729-07:00Moshi Moshi<a href="http://moshiseattle.com/index.htm">Moshi Moshi</a> - a new sushi restaurant - opened in Ballard in February. I got wind of it via <a href="http://www.dailycandy.com/">Daily Candy</a>, and then discovered my friend worked there. Mike and I love sushi a whole lot, so we decided to check it out. Unfortunately, my friend was working the night we chose to go (so no deals), but it was still a really great experience. I had heard about the 50-foot LED cherry tree that the owners imported from Japan to put in the middle of the store. I had no idea how lovely it would make the place. It really sets the whole mood - twinkling lights from the tree are the centerpiece for every seat in the place. It has the best atmosphere of any restaurant in Seattle, hands down, in all the places we've been.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj0Gjdr_L4JUh4M8G8628tdsPT61FjEIVyj8KZGmSc_Lbwwua3gl-BGhO4A0Udp7esjOb36q9uRe8qSwTBvKU9kVZXAXlprDfp_lWMCzoWQ-_v6LSfYCKSMaAQfzMbrHcDy8CzmHLydFo/s1600-h/moshi2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj0Gjdr_L4JUh4M8G8628tdsPT61FjEIVyj8KZGmSc_Lbwwua3gl-BGhO4A0Udp7esjOb36q9uRe8qSwTBvKU9kVZXAXlprDfp_lWMCzoWQ-_v6LSfYCKSMaAQfzMbrHcDy8CzmHLydFo/s400/moshi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341310739538812370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">[<a href="http://www.myballard.com/2009/02/05/moshi-moshi-plans-to-open-tonight/">my ballard</a>]</span><br /><br /></div>The menu offered tons of options too - inexpensive, cheaper rolls and some really interesting rolls that were a little more expensive. Great for any budget. The thing I love the most about sushi is that you can keep your dinner bill down, and leave feeling full, but not overstuffed. We tried the Yasai roll for $6 - you get to pick two of the following: shiitake, spinach, sweet squash, carrot, or cucumber with shiso. We opted for sweet squash and shiitake, which was pretty simple, but tasty. The roll was a little on the sweeter side. The fancy roll we chose was the spicy crab - shrimp tempura, cucumber and avocado topped with seared spicy crab for $13.00. It was amazing. I love spicy sushi! Moshi Moshi uses a lot of pickled plum and shiso in their rolls, which the waitress was nice to explain to us is a Japanese herb since I'm a little green with some of the terms.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirowMG-HE8DivGJ8D-Ogtq2lKiFWkZOKRmHSFCnkwy71sG2nllr8TcZtuEFn746BlWEMi-Z7BBvN7VwslFX1VTRmDrP6XGz_yJRaVrt3PZYKoKb22hGTSYbL_FM2U1IPQV2Hg1pa-z9hJ/s1600-h/spider+roll.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirowMG-HE8DivGJ8D-Ogtq2lKiFWkZOKRmHSFCnkwy71sG2nllr8TcZtuEFn746BlWEMi-Z7BBvN7VwslFX1VTRmDrP6XGz_yJRaVrt3PZYKoKb22hGTSYbL_FM2U1IPQV2Hg1pa-z9hJ/s400/spider+roll.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341311577488958818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">[<a href="http://seattlefoodgeek.com/?s=moshi+moshi&x=0&y=0">seattle food geek</a>]</span></div><br />We finished off our meal with their molten chocolate cake with green tea whip cream - DEvine!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Probably go back. </span></span>The prices, atomsphere, service and food were all spot on, but there are so many sushi restaurants to explore! If we do go back, it will most likely be for their Industry nights on Monday. (Discounted drinks and food).</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Where:</span></span> Moshi Moshi<br />5324 Ballard Ave<br />Seattle, WA 98107<br />(206) 971-7424<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);" href="http://moshiseattle.com/">Web site</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Category:</span></span> Sushi<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Neighborhood:</span> </span>Ballard<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Atmosphere:</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </span>Lovely date atmosphere, warm colors on the walls and simple wood tables.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Price range:</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </span>$3.50 for simple rolls, up to $14 for fancier rolls.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Service:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>Great! We thought they made our roll wrong, so they sent over a fresh roll right away, even though we were mistaken.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Cool features:</span> The 50-food LED cherry tree. I've never seen anything like it. It lights up the entire restaurant.Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-40520109287847611022008-09-13T11:29:00.000-07:002009-05-29T12:42:01.630-07:00Lake Chelan State ParkWe love, love, love this campground! I went for the first time the summer before Mike and I met, on a last-minute trip because a spot opened at the campground. This year, a big end of summer bash was planned with a lot of my high school and college friends, and extended friends of theirs. In total, six campsites along the waterfront were reserved for a late September trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit33AapOC4_wkhnzSlK5liguZi27fGJLAvipvjUHaAbSxS4D1Nbv8ejQ697waQjqCkpj8GEgulSkSbUjAqP6fKlgbN-sgBe3f1QhQv-mbW2cYRtLZzbbWoFhXbduArCEjjdySesld4gU13/s1600-h/n658490792_196999_5743.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341321668072183250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit33AapOC4_wkhnzSlK5liguZi27fGJLAvipvjUHaAbSxS4D1Nbv8ejQ697waQjqCkpj8GEgulSkSbUjAqP6fKlgbN-sgBe3f1QhQv-mbW2cYRtLZzbbWoFhXbduArCEjjdySesld4gU13/s400/n658490792_196999_5743.jpg" border="0" /></a>The greatest thing about <a href="http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Lake%20Chelan">Lake Chelan State Park</a> is that a lot of the campgrounds are directly on the water, and private! You have to walk down to the sites, but there are paths, and it's not too bad. Then, your campsite is basically in front of the water, like your own private lake! It's the next best thing to owning your own cabin on Lake Chelan. Both times we've gone, we've had an anchored raft in front of the campsite or parked jet skis and just come and go as we please.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mS88j6L4pJ3zSI8pPWzReezhDYODETRVsq6Wpx0CRZE9C5uMXNrR8abkahU0Rg6alDU1UhfRNl2PJ38MidGDt8yBzKWxVbN8lNdT7sS2Nzd_fgTgUSDOF3ylQS66jejDwTGS_ICwa4zQ/s1600-h/n658490792_197001_6209.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341321854561066898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mS88j6L4pJ3zSI8pPWzReezhDYODETRVsq6Wpx0CRZE9C5uMXNrR8abkahU0Rg6alDU1UhfRNl2PJ38MidGDt8yBzKWxVbN8lNdT7sS2Nzd_fgTgUSDOF3ylQS66jejDwTGS_ICwa4zQ/s400/n658490792_197001_6209.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lake Chelan is also SUPER hot, which allows for a lot of water fun and makes it a great place to go in late September. The park is super popular and usually booked all summer - we had to prebook last March for a late September trip - to September might be the only time you can snag a spot on the beach loop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqSs8grVH4V4DsqQKpLnuJzsOppU8z2kyJqNwxrELTBrQn_EfZXOk00S5r_bkPfFFQzQpet8S8IcTN3_L4hFvhRQy_iFUBxYOxvxKobpJBEJShO6KlGBbswajh_oSYXu9iRubdUVPQjbz/s1600-h/n658490792_197000_5973.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341321744929497138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqSs8grVH4V4DsqQKpLnuJzsOppU8z2kyJqNwxrELTBrQn_EfZXOk00S5r_bkPfFFQzQpet8S8IcTN3_L4hFvhRQy_iFUBxYOxvxKobpJBEJShO6KlGBbswajh_oSYXu9iRubdUVPQjbz/s400/n658490792_197000_5973.jpg" border="0" /></a>To reserve a beachfront site, be sure you book sites 36 - 71. Site 36 is the best, in our opinion, because it's on the end, large and private. The only problem with the campground is that the park rangers tend to be really strict, even when music is on rather low. We were told on a number of times to turn down the music or to keep our voices down.<br /><br />The campground also has a little store with ice cream, shaved ice and other camping necessities if you forgot something. The campground is a little bit out of the town of Chelan - 30 minutes or so - so it's not quite as easy to pick something up if you forgot it. The town has a lot of surrounding wineries, which we've yet to check out, but it's on our list!<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back.</span></span> It's hard to beat the heat coupled with a campsite right on the water. Plus, this kind of privacy and seclusion is rare in a Washington State Park. I wouldn't be so inclined to camp there if we couldn't get a waterfront spot. But next time we go back, we'll hopefully explore Chelan Wine Country!</blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-27478605401296929272008-09-03T09:30:00.000-07:002009-05-29T12:45:15.470-07:00West Beach Resort on Orcas IslandMike and I spend Labor Day weekend in the most lovely, relaxing way - on an Orcas Island camping trip. I've had an itch to ride the ferry and camp in the San Juan's; it's been approximately 13 years since I've been to Orcas Island, specifically. So, I Googled "camping Orcas Island," discovered the cutest little place called <a href="http://www.westbeachresort.com/">West Beach Resort</a> and reserved a spot for Labor Day weekend. From Seattle, we drove north to exit 230 (almost clear the way to Bellingham, my old college stomping grounds!) to catch the ferry to Orcas Island.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGx9IQ9V1mrCEoYQvdpa9lkHQiJnRVCcnzbXseSe5JWKzScqfq17yFt4N45-g1Th8jfJWHeW7n-9mVLySX54tX8OJDIiviRp1qfbZb9aMbJnMh4EZnpUWfo34GJxeY_6m-Tygdx6jD_eSj/s1600-h/292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341294157087713250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; HEIGHT: 209px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGx9IQ9V1mrCEoYQvdpa9lkHQiJnRVCcnzbXseSe5JWKzScqfq17yFt4N45-g1Th8jfJWHeW7n-9mVLySX54tX8OJDIiviRp1qfbZb9aMbJnMh4EZnpUWfo34GJxeY_6m-Tygdx6jD_eSj/s400/292.JPG" border="0" /></a>After an hour and a half ferry ride, we pulled into the campground around 7 p.m. and were met with a sign that pretty much summed up the weekend:<br /><blockquote><p align="center">Slow Down You're on West Beach Time </p></blockquote><div>From there, our weekend followed their recommended leisurely time schedule. It's amazing what you can fit into a day when you don't have errands to run, haircuts to get, laundry to wash, birthday and grad parties to attend, work to finish, cars to wash and oil to change, groceries to purchase and meals to cook...We spent our first evening with drinks, a sunset on the beach and an evening dip in the hot tub that had a view of the water. How great is it to go camping somewhere that has a hot tub! And it wasn't crowded either! West Beach Resort also has a private beach and a looong dock that has a place to moor boats and picnic tables with umbrellas for playing games or watching the sunset. (You can rent games from the little store, which also features homemade waffle cones and ice cream, espresso, grocery items, and crab pots and fishing rentals and purchases.)<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mJE5Xu0-PSbHjCXCgCbT8R6WGakZT8lhRSnr58VQHC-dGA0_UcTOyUFzdtOprBGTYQSzgcV5DTlfCf6j96rOXF-BgbfXj45o2Fw-Az4oMFF8dLKksyD1mUHFgurVTyymQuZWH3ARGVKd/s1600-h/294.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341293435703696610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mJE5Xu0-PSbHjCXCgCbT8R6WGakZT8lhRSnr58VQHC-dGA0_UcTOyUFzdtOprBGTYQSzgcV5DTlfCf6j96rOXF-BgbfXj45o2Fw-Az4oMFF8dLKksyD1mUHFgurVTyymQuZWH3ARGVKd/s400/294.JPG" border="0" /></a>The campground has regular, tent camping, or you can also reserve a canvas tent or a cabin on the beach... it's also a very family friendly place and had a neat bonfire pit off the dock, with benches for everyone at the campsite to enjoy. We saw some people playing guitar there the second night.</div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday we woke up bright and early (hard to avoid when sleeping in a tent), ordered lattes at the little dockside store and bought a crab pot to throw over the side of the dock.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cHBtfWD38f0/SL69EYjSH_I/AAAAAAAABaY/Qn1N57oRbzI/s1600-h/302.JPG"></a> Mike was like a kid in a candy store with his crab pot. I swear he checked it every hour, on the hour, all weekend long. One night, he checked his crab pots and the crabs that was there earlier were gone! We talked to some people that said to beware of people who rob crab pots, so there's a word of caution. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7MNQ1E2dLy5VejZuz7JB2FKdPfib75awM2U8sSlJmMRyykrHWFHolEeg7odZhO9tkppu0rJF1oml2nAGTMaWbCEDQ2eoCwVH9GUgNt95zRPsxfIkvGFxXTihg8VXG5drSoO3oTOLoFSy/s1600-h/302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341293498933205058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7MNQ1E2dLy5VejZuz7JB2FKdPfib75awM2U8sSlJmMRyykrHWFHolEeg7odZhO9tkppu0rJF1oml2nAGTMaWbCEDQ2eoCwVH9GUgNt95zRPsxfIkvGFxXTihg8VXG5drSoO3oTOLoFSy/s400/302.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqYGFC2kNJjNXi-vYPu2cYlA6FRNFbLGtj8Zmncv81cEJjYeFxwDcpofSVWDbUuWyAOUQ5ESi55hvGSA4Ccmoyi7I0y6_ti9a7B3CcYkdKJMYdjtY9XeYBAFWwbjbZDQ2oay5kqr-LPY8/s1600-h/310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341293668173961026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 227px; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqYGFC2kNJjNXi-vYPu2cYlA6FRNFbLGtj8Zmncv81cEJjYeFxwDcpofSVWDbUuWyAOUQ5ESi55hvGSA4Ccmoyi7I0y6_ti9a7B3CcYkdKJMYdjtY9XeYBAFWwbjbZDQ2oay5kqr-LPY8/s400/310.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>From there, we explored Orcas Island, which is so beautiful! I'm amazed at how underdeveloped it is - tons of trees, parks, dirt roads, waterfront views and funky beach houses with property. The weather was perfect, sunny and crisp...Orcas Island doesn't get as hot as Eastern Washington, but we do recommend going in the heart of summer so you get some sun and warmth. The island is actually quite large, with a number of small little port towns. We drove through Moran State Park, hiked a little through the woods, then up to Mt. Constitution to the stone tower built there sometime in the 1930s. The views are amazing, and definitely worth a picture op.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhASAsIkGIwTh1jZSZSxEAkJLNSx_tMpUnnOk5a7yNce0m-yXd3izCsBi5auL1CCOiVEQgw-2DHhGYYtJZYFySHGb1lr60wd1QWljd_C1bXj1xltykjUlNKvc4Hz33PFxIfOLzeViOr2Z/s1600-h/304.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341293744962562546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhASAsIkGIwTh1jZSZSxEAkJLNSx_tMpUnnOk5a7yNce0m-yXd3izCsBi5auL1CCOiVEQgw-2DHhGYYtJZYFySHGb1lr60wd1QWljd_C1bXj1xltykjUlNKvc4Hz33PFxIfOLzeViOr2Z/s400/304.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRdvHCaAP9ZLXL-BUEg-kfCqmyrfBlR-RDK3LUxTzsu6yMCTY7iWNSxFSc4VYJS6vN4gBRseW-nQ2Vki0RIMrG0hXutPt3O4POzkGIj-OlZtjGCuKQhgt4MSNW6-jWpUVdlA8Dqt3vZPs/s1600-h/306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341294240461504098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRdvHCaAP9ZLXL-BUEg-kfCqmyrfBlR-RDK3LUxTzsu6yMCTY7iWNSxFSc4VYJS6vN4gBRseW-nQ2Vki0RIMrG0hXutPt3O4POzkGIj-OlZtjGCuKQhgt4MSNW6-jWpUVdlA8Dqt3vZPs/s400/306.JPG" border="0" /></a>You can also camp in Moran State Park, which is amazing in of itself - most of it was built by the <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html">Civilian Conservation Corps</a> (CCC) and features approximately 5,000 acres, with 30 miles of hiking trails. The CCC was formed by Franklin D. Roosevelt during The Depression to put men back to work, improve the economy and preserve the nation's parks. There are really neat pictures and a detailed history of this time period to read inside the stone tower. </div><br /><div>From Moran State Park, we drove to <a href="http://www.deerharbor.org/">Deer Harbor</a> and ate lunch at the Deer Harbor Cafe before we headed to Obstruction Pass State Park to hike some more, walk on the beach and look through tide pools. The Deer Harbor Cafe was super yummy and quaint. They had homemade items such as lasagna and potato salad, and a little outdoor patio. It is also right next to a small park and a dock, so you can take your lunch and enjoy it next to the water.</div><br /><div>We then spent the rest of our Sunday night with a couple games of Battleship and Yahtzee and another hot tub swim before heading out the next day. Unfortunately, Labor Day weekend is one of the more popular weekends to head to Orcas Island, so we were warned that sometimes you have to wait eight hours for a ferry - and might not get back until the next day. Yikes. We did have to wait four hours in line, but luckily you can sit out in the park next to the ferry and there are a lot of places to eat, shop and explore while you're waiting. </div><div><blockquote><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Final Verdict: Most definitely go back.</span></strong> We absolutely loved this private<br />campground, and it's features - hot tub, store, crabbing, kayaking - and the<br />natural beauty of Orcas Island and it's laidback style. The island is perfect<br />for bike riding, so we'll probably take our bikes next time. In fact, we love<br />this place so much, we're thinking of making it a yearly tradition. It's that<br />highly recommended!<br /></blockquote></div></div></div>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-67701378797008725052008-08-11T16:28:00.000-07:002009-08-13T15:23:38.905-07:00Yakima Wine Country & Yakima Sportsman State Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cHBtfWD38f0/SKB5GSRzMyI/AAAAAAAABUo/ZnKLyic-iYE/s1600-h/Picture+029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cHBtfWD38f0/SKB5GSRzMyI/AAAAAAAABUo/ZnKLyic-iYE/s200/Picture+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233315915897189154" border="0" /></a>Mike and I toured the Yakima Valley wine country a little bit this weekend while camping at the <a href="http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Yakima%20Sportsman">Yakima Sportsman State Park</a>. Again, it was a last-minute trip, and since no other campgrounds were available, we settled on camping in Yakima and immediately planned our wine touring route...Yakima has an average of 300 days of sun! <span style="font-style: italic;">300 DAYS OF SUN!</span> We figured wine and sun couldn't be all that bad.<br /><br />We set up camp late Friday night at the state park. When we arrived, we were a little shocked to discover that the campground is basically in the middle of town! And it's not next to a body of water! Not impressed. Most of the campsites were open, with very little privacy and very little to keep yourself entertained. We had to venture way outside the campground to find entertainment. It felt really weird cause it was like we were visiting Yakima, but in a campground, not in a hotel. And Yakima isn't the nicest town to visit - the town is really small, and mostly run down. But, after a little breakfast the next morning and swimming at the Yakima public pool (with a huge water slide), we headed down Highway 82 at last to the clusters of wineries located on the <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.rattlesnakehills.com/index.html">Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail</a></span>. (The real attraction to Yakima, in my opinion).<br /><br />Our first stop, <a href="http://www.maisondepadgettwinery.com/">Maison de Padgett Winery</a>, had tacky labels and extremely sweet wines, however, I was most impressed by the winemaker's story... after working in the Costco warehouse for 15 years, he decided to purchase a small winery in Yakima and learned in five months how to make wine. (See! It <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>possible!) We cringed a bit at the coffee-flavored sweet port, decided against buying any bottles, took some pictures in their beautiful gardens and headed on our way...<br /><br />The next stop was nothing more than a little house, but by far my favorite place--<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.paradisosdelsol.com/">Paradisos de Sol</a></span>. Their wine philosophy was "Sip, sip, bite, dump." The "bite" included a small snack they had to accompany their wines... artichoke and crab dip to accompany two white wines, bleu ribbon dip to accompany three of their reds, flaming pears to accompany a dessert wine and my favorite--a pairing of roasted marshmallow with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botrytis_cinerea">Botrytis Riesling</a>, the rarest form of wine in the world!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cHBtfWD38f0/SKB6KZ47XVI/AAAAAAAABVQ/Ca5dBCHud2s/s1600-h/Picture+039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cHBtfWD38f0/SKB6KZ47XVI/AAAAAAAABVQ/Ca5dBCHud2s/s320/Picture+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233317086171454802" border="0" /></a>Next we moved on to <a href="http://www.silverlakewinery.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SilverLake Winery</span></a> (also located in Woodinville), where the gentlemen pouring our wine did us well. We ended up sampling at least 10 different wines. Because we told him we were new, he let us try the differences between a red - the same wine made in a barrel and a steel cast, and a white - same wine, but one made in a barrel and a steel cast. Then he also used a "smelling kit" to teach us how to pick the flavors out of a wine, which is my new goal. I struggled with picking blueberry out of a Chenin Blanc, but I just about flew to the moon when I finally smelled the "apricot" listed in a riesling at the next winery...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Verdict: Won't go back. </span></span>We loved the wine tasting, and would stop there again, but the state park was one of the worst we've seen. We'd rather camp somewhere with a little more privacy and a lake or river to swim in! </blockquote>Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-23202634668778906402008-06-01T19:07:00.000-07:002009-05-29T12:40:30.949-07:00About the authors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7szqnomnvW3bEEZycCTXwwL7R6kmbi8DRwLcg4EeA-cL0rYWsgLQlnq_VVkvzXKrUbR6uLRNHkzQVRXVHcffS6mjRk_ClMerLfX6xb2cJkZ2ZAk6Shejz6OiwXwpqnVvCFvQSmf1G8EQQ/s1600-h/n658490792_858379_7471.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340921167321744098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7szqnomnvW3bEEZycCTXwwL7R6kmbi8DRwLcg4EeA-cL0rYWsgLQlnq_VVkvzXKrUbR6uLRNHkzQVRXVHcffS6mjRk_ClMerLfX6xb2cJkZ2ZAk6Shejz6OiwXwpqnVvCFvQSmf1G8EQQ/s400/n658490792_858379_7471.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mike and Jeanna started dating in late 2007, before Mike took off on his very last fishing trip to the Bering Sea. He was gone for three lonely months as Jeanna pined and suffered alone in Seattle, realizing that she really enjoyed his company and wanted him around all the time. Luckily, there isn't a woman to be had (with hair and teeth) in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, so Mike came willingly and faithfully back to Jeanna without risk of an Eskimo snagging his affection. (Phew)<br /><br />Their first summer together, they discovered they both really liked to camp. Every weekend was a whirlwind - to Yakima, Sunland, Chelan, Mason Lake, Orcas Island - they perfected packing up the car in an efficient manner and leaving the city for a weekend of sun and relaxation. Mike became really good at long, extended drives and making bacon on the camp stove. Jeanna became really good at reading US Weekly with her feet up in the window, napping while Mike drove the extended distances, and eating his bacon from the camp stove. (What a pair).<br /><br />In the grey Seattle winters, Mike and Jeanna love to hit-up local, Seattle restaurants, always in search of the best sushi or happy hour and the tastiest glass of white wine. When they're home, they're grilling on Jeanna's all-time awesome $25 Craigslist-special, George Foreman electric grill (a girl's dream grill - no propane or charcoal), picking up something to make for dinner at Trader Joe's or sipping a wine they purchased from Metropolitan Market.<br /><br />If you asked Jeanna what she loves best about her boyfriend, she'd tell you his blue eyes and his easy-going demeanor. If you asked Mike what he loves best about his girlfriend, he'd tell you she's fun to be around and she has a "great smile." They'd both say they love how the other likes to go anywhere, do anything and experience new things. (The adventure, if you will).<br /><br />They're here to review some of their adventures for you...<br /><br />Jeanna will be doing all the writing for the site, but the experiences, comments and photos are those from both Mike and Jeanna. This site will have only the most recent review posted on the home page, but you can read through more reviews by clicking <span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,0);font-size:130%;" >Older Post</span> at the bottom of the site, or by searching through the categories listed in the sidebar. You can read all restaurant reviews by clicking Caviar, or all campground reviews by clicking Campfires. You can also search by rating or type of cuisine.<br /><br />Thanks for reading!Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416785100936565670.post-78558169316406399812008-06-01T18:47:00.000-07:002009-05-29T12:40:16.247-07:00About this blogIt came about on a raft. A raft floating Osoyoos Lake on a camping trip, Memorial Day weekend 2009.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> I like this place a lot. Way better than Yakima Sportsman State park.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> Me too. Good job on the find, babe.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> Thanks. (Sips Miller Lite from cooler, feels really cool herself).<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> You know what we should do?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> No...what?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> We should start our own Web site - Mike and Jeanna's Great Adventures. And we could review all the campgrounds we go to...post pictures...and recommendations, like the best campsite to reserve - like those ones over there, in the shade, that we wish we were staying in.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> (Slowly melting in the 85-degree sunshine) And all the restaurants we're always going to!<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> Yeah.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> We're always reviewing every place we go to... what a great idea! We need a jazzier blog title though.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> Like what?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> Hrm. What about Crudettes & Campfires. You know, sort of like a play on the fancier side of the restaurants we go to in Seattle, and then the campgrounds we travel to in the spring and summer.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> What's a crudette?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> You don't know what a crudette is?! It's like a crispy cracker or bread thing. Kinda fancy. I think it's French.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> Never heard of it.<br />(Turns out Jeanna had never heard of it either cause it's actually crudité, which is a traditional French appetizers comprised of slices or whole raw vegetables, which are dipped).<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> Well, what's something that starts with C, kinda fancy food-related?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> ???<br /><br />*Later that day, at a wine tasting shop, looking through the trinkets for sale...*<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Jeanna:</span> Look. This is super neat. It's a wheel that pairs every kind of food you eat, with a wine. I need one of these... (Reads through wheel) Pork, lamb, fish... looks like Sauv Blanc goes with a lot. Sweet. There's even sides... sushi! mashed potatoes! ... and caviar. Wait CAVIAR! Caviar and Campfires!<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Mike:</span> There it is - Caviar & Campfires<br /><br />And so our amateur review blog on the Pacific Northwest's restaurants, wines and campgrounds was born.Mike & Jeannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11886464411734787749noreply@blogger.com0