Travel Blog Planet

There are so many great restaurants in the greater Seattle, Washington area that it’s difficult to pick one to grace with your presence. Each neighborhood has it’s own secret or not so secret treasure.

There is a little place in West Seattle that has fantastic food and spectacular views that can be enjoyed simultaneously. You may have heard of it, it’s called Salty’s and is located on Alki Beach.
The dinner menu is all about the love of steak and seafood. The menu even goes so far to say that carnivores are welcome. It’s totally my kind of place.

The dinner menu includes items such as:

The Pepper Punch which is a 16-ounce T-Bone crusted with Madagascar peppercorns and topped with Rogue River Bleu Cheese. You can add a half-pound of king crab legs or snow crab legs if you like that kind of thing.

Seafood Fritti Martini which includes fried salmon, halibut, scallops prawns and clam strips. The martini also comes with home made cocktail and tartar sauce. Seriously, my mouth is watering.

There are also crab cakes, manilla clams and local oysters on the half shell available for your pleasure.

Dinner at Salty’s on Alki can seem like it costs a pretty penny if you’re used to the chain-ish types of restaurants, but man is it worth it.

In April the special menu event is lobster and shrimp stuffed almond served with risotto simmered with olive oil, onions, garlic, and dry vermouth. It’s their take on the winter comfort food with a spring twist.

I can’t wait to visit Salty’s again. Maybe I’ll go during Seattle’s restaurant week. 112 restaurants in the Seattle are offering 3 course meals for $25  and Salty’s is one of them. Restaurant week is April 18-29, 2010 and it’s a great opportunity to try out a new place or go back to a favorite haunt.

Salty’s on Alki

Hours for dinner vary, but the last seating at night is between 8:30 and 9:30 – winter and summer respectively.

1936 Harbor Avenue. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98126
Restaurant (206) 937-1600
Catering (206) 937-1085
Fax (206) 937-1430

Photo

Let’s go BOGO. Who doesn’t love a buy one get one free lodging bargain? When it’s combined with free entrance to a U.S. National Park during the week of April 17- 25, your spring vacation is a budgetary winner. Sure, you could camp at Shenandoah or Yellowstone, but look at these bargains:

Far View Lodge

At Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado, explore the ancient cliff dwellings of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visits to Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House require a ticket on a ranger-led tour. Be sure to save some time for hiking one of the many trails or visiting the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. From your room at Far View Lodge, high on the mesa’s shoulder, the view encompasses three states and all the stars you can count in the dark, night sky. Rooms are priced at $99 with a consecutive night free. This offer is valid from April 22 – 30, 2010. And, entrance to Mesa Verde National Park is free through the end of April.

Experience Virginia’s beautiful spring with a stay at Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park. The historic resort, built in 1886, offers inspiring views of the Shenandoah Valley. But don’t spend all of your time looking out the window from the highest point on Skyline Drive — take a hike, go biking or visit one of the local wineries. Book one night for $125 and receive the second consecutive night free. Offer valid from April 18 – 29, 2010.

Kalaloch Lodge

Olympic National Park in Washington encompasses rain forests, rugged beaches and mountain splendor. Confused about what to see first? Why not split your visit into two Olympic experiences? First take in the rugged Pacific coastline from your accommodations at Kalaloch Lodge. The bird-watching paradise includes hiking, biking and beach-combing opportunities. Next, head 12 miles into the heart of Olympic National Forest for a stay at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Soak away tired muscles after an invigorating hike through an old growth rainforest. Both Kalaloch Lodge and Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort are offering accommodations priced at $157 with a second consecutive night free. This offer is valid from April 17 – 25, 2010.

Shenandoah, Mesa Verde, Olympic — I’m having a hard time deciding which National Park BOGO lodging adventure to choose. How about you?

Photos courtesy ARAMARK Parks and Destinations.

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet.

Freemont is a quirky, little neighborhood in Seattle. There you will find the Space Building, the Troll and the Freemont Rocket — and in between them all is a statue of Lenin (it’s the real deal!). Also, a great gelato shop.

Photo by Whit Honea

The Exterior of the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel

The historic Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington DC is celebrating their 85th anniversary this year, and visitors to the hotel are the ones getting a gift – a special promotional rate of $185 per night (excluding taxes) available through February 2011.

The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel 85th Anniversary package includes the following:

• Accommodations in a deluxe room
• Breakfast for two in  the on-site Cafe Promenade
• Bottle of Iron Horse Vineyards, customized signature Mayflower Renaissance 85th Anniversary Sparkling Wine
• Collection of fifteen Historic Mayflower postcards

To book the 85th anniversary package, use the code YX1 in the Corporate/Promotional code box when making your reservation online, or call 1-800-228-9290 and ask for promotional code YX1.  This package is valid Friday-Sunday through 2/2/11. Tax is excluded, and a limited number of rooms are available under this promotion.  Blackout dates do apply, and it’s not valid for large groups.

The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel is located on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC.  It’s a four diamond hotel, and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America.  Amenities include high-speed internet access, turndown service, a full-service business center, and fitness center.  This 583 room hotel offers 74 suites and 26 meeting rooms, and has three restaurants/lounges on site.

The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington
District Of Columbia 20036
1-202-347-3000

Photo credit: The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel

Fort Worden State Park lighthouse

Fort Worden State Park (and Conference Center!) is a historic 19th century military fort in Washington State. The park (and conference center!) sits on 434-acres with over two miles of Puget Sound shoreline.  Many of the original buildings from the fort still remain.

There are over 80 campsites and discounts are available for large RV groups. There is a lot to do at this beautiful state park (and conference center!).

Famous for: Being an ex-military fort and the view! Also, conference center!

Admission: Varies by accommodation selected/type of rental

Families with young kids will like: crabbing, beachcombing, bird watching, museums, hiking and biking trails

Families with teenagers will like: baseball, fire circles, kayak and bike rentals, two tennis courts, water skiing, mountain biking

Other travelers will like: Madrona MindBody Institute’s many drop-in well-being and moving arts classes featuring Nia, yoga, belly dance, pilates and more

Accommodations:  There are 35 housing units (also, barracks and dormitories) available for renting year-round. Reservations are available one year in advance. Houses range from single to six-bedroom units with living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens. All houses have fully-equipped kitchens and linen service.

Best campground in the park: Both the Beach (50 sites) and Upper (30 sites) Campgrounds are popular.  The Beach Campground offers a breathtaking view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which sounds nice.

Best months to visit for weather: June – September

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: the park is popular year-round

Nearest major cities: Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia

More info can be found at the Washington State Parks website.

Related posts:

Bellingham, Washington Inns

The Beaches of Olympic National Park

Photo courtesy of: Up to Camp Washington

Art and Soul Restaurant at the Liaison Capital Hill

The world-famous National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC is an event that not only celebrates springtime, but also the 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan.  This year, the festival is taking place from March 27th through April 11th.  Are you planning a trip to Washington, DC for the festival?  If so, consider the Cherry Blossom Getaway at the Liaison Capital Hill Affinia Hotel in Washington, DC.

The package, which starts at $199, includes the following:

• A commemorative cherry blossom branch so you won’t have to break the law to obtain your own take-home souvenir (it’s illegal to pick blossoms off the trees)
• A take-along bag full of delectable treats from Art and Soul to savor while enjoying the beautiful views at the Tidal Basin
• A box of handmade cherry blossom-inspired chocolates from Artisan Confections
• Two all-day Metro passes for easy mobility
• Guests who register with myaffinia.com can also “customize” their room with their travel preferences (such as pillow type, and other amenities)

This package is based upon availability and is offered from March 26th to April 30th.

The Liaison Capital Hill offers 343 recently renovated hotel rooms with signature Affinia beds, flat screen TVs, high-speed internet access and more.  The hotel has a seasonal rooftop pool, along with a signature restaurant – Art and Soul from celebrity chef and two-time James Beard award winner, Art Smith.

The Liaison Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
202-638-1616

Photo credit: Liaison Capital Hill

It stands like a beacon in the middle of the state of Washington, beckoning hikers and climbers from around the world. But Mount Rainier National Park has so much to offer besides the challenge of the mountain.

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

The park was the fifth national park ever established, and was designated so in 1899. About 1 million people visit the park every year to see this active volcano – don’t worry, it’s been over 150 years since the last eruption. Of those, about 10,000 attempt to make the climb to the top of the 14,410-ft tall peak, with about a 25 percent success rate.

But even at the lower altitudes, the park offers an array of scenic vistas, from glaciers to fields of wildflowers in the spring. Emmons Glacier, on the north side of Mount Rainier, is the largest glacier in the continental United States and is one of twenty-six that ring the mountain. The forests that surround the mountain are said to be over 1,000 years old and are home to countless species of wildlife, from black bears to birds. And all of these offer countless great photo opportunities.

Nearest major city: Seattle and Tacoma, Washington (both about 55 miles northwest)

Famous for: Hiking; mountain climbing; glaciers

Park Hours: Open year-round. The Longmire Museum visitors center is open year round (with the exception of certain major holidays); the rest are open seasonally.

Admission: $5/person or motorcycle for a 7-day pass; $15/vehicle for a 7-day pass.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program on summer weekends; hiking short trails like Trail of the Shadows

Families with teenagers will like: Flyfishing the Ohanapecosh River; visiting Christine Falls

Other park highlights: As mentioned previously, Mount Rainier is popular with mountain climbers, who feel compelled to take on the massive challenge of reaching the peak. Only those extremely experienced should even attempt the climb.

Easy site seeing: Take the scenic drive to the Sunrise Visitor Center, which on clear days, offers views of Mt. Rainier, Emmons glacier and many other peaks in the Cascade Mountain range from an elevation of 6,400 feet. The drive from Longmire to Paradise is also popular.

Best hotel in the park: There are two hotels within the park. The Paradise Inn is the better of the two due to its location, near to the main visitors center. If that is full, try the National Park Inn, which is older and about 10 minutes from the main visitors center. Both start at about $115/night per room.

Best campground in the park: There are four campgrounds in the park. Of them, only Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh are open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. The other two are only open July and August to handle the peak season overflow. Rates are $15/night

Other Lodging Options: Just outside the park, are a smattering of hotels, but if not staying inside the park, it’s best to seek accommodations back in Tacoma or Seattle and just make a day trip to the park.

Best months to visit for weather: Summer because the area is legendary for its deep snows that have been known to fall as early as late September.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Late May/early June or early September just after Labor Day.

Getting There:

• Flying – Most airlines service both Seattle and Tacoma
• Bus/Train – Greyhound and Amtrak service Seattle and Tacoma.

A personal vehicle is the only way to get to the park.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: Mount Rainier National Park

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• A Guide to North Cascades National Park in Washington

Olympic National Park

When our Pacific Northwest road trip brought us near our final destination of Seattle, we took a left and headed instead for Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Olympic National Park is home to tiny tidepools, enormous drift wood, rain forests, snowy peaks and stunning views. You can see a little of a lot in a day’s drive through or you can discover all the details spending days exploring this wonderland. Yes, it is wet. How do you think things grow so tall and get so green? But on the clear days, you can see across to Canada. If you can keep your eyes off of the wildlife.

Famous for:

Wilderness. To appreciate Olympic National Park you need to hike away from your car. Nearly all of the park is forest, mountains, rain forest, seashore, rivers and valleys requiring varying durations of hikes to get there.

Admission:

$15 per vehicle. $5 for motorcyles, pedestrians or cyclists (free under Age 16). Pass is good for 7 days. Additional costs for overnight wilderness stays and camping.

Families with young kids will like:

Short walks through Hoh Rain Forest or discovering tidepools along Rialto Beach.

Families with teenagers will like:

Choosing from a variety of hiking trails in the Staircase region surrounded by enormous fir trees.

Other travelers will like:

Catch & release fishing on the Quinalt River or in many other lakes, rivers and shoreline spots.

Easy site seeing:

Drive up to Hurricane Ridge to take in the snow capped peaks of mountains all around and coast below.

Best hotel in the park:

Kalaloch Lodge boasts beautiful sunset views, situated on the Pacific Ocean in the park with full amenities.

Best campground in the park:

Well that depends on where you want to be. There are 16 different campgrounds covering all regions. Mora is in the woods but near the ocean, open year round with running water and plentiful sites.

Lodging experiences:

Everything from primitive campsites to RV accommodations, cabins, and hotels. Plentiful lodging options nearby the park as well.

Best months to visit for weather:

July, August & September (unless you are looking for winter activities).

Best months to visit to avoid crowds:

June & October have less visitors with better weather.

Nearest major cities:

Port Angeles is closest, Seattle is largest.

More info from the National Park Service:

http://www.nps.gov/Olym/index.htm

Related posts:

Beaches of Olympic National Park

Rudy Beach

Rialto Beach

Kalaloch Lodge

By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

Photo credited to Molly G. @The Bumbles Blog

Often referred to as the “American Alps,” North Cascades National Park is full of mountainous peaks, rugged terrain and glaciers (over 300 of them). Early trappers and pioneers found the mountains so impassible at times that they gave them names like Damnation Peak, Mount Despair, Mount Fury, and Forbidden Peak. Even today, only one road completely bisects the park from east to west (Hwy 20) and that usually has closures during the winter months due to avalanche concerns.

North Cascades National Park

Summertime in North Cascades National Park is a different story, however. While the peaks are still snowcapped, the lower areas are full of wildflowers, animals and plenty of things to do for outdoor enthusiasts. And because the park boundaries also encompass the Ross Lake and Lake Chelen National Recreational Areas, visitors to the park have opportunities to enjoy numerous water activities, as well.

Nearest major city: Seattle and Tacoma, Washington (both about 90 miles southwest)

Famous for: Hiking; mountain climbing; glaciers; boating

Park Hours: Open year-round. The main visitors center headquarters is open year round, but the rest are only open seasonally during the warmer months.

Admission: There is no fee to visit the park.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program; fishing the Skagit River

Families with teenagers will like: Kayaking/canoeing the lakes; hiking the numerous wilderness trails

Other park highlights: The North Cascades Institute offers a family getaway package during summer weekends ($225/adults; $155 ages 3-17) that includes 2 nights lodging, 7 meals per person and days filled with classes and programs that include hiking, arts/crafts and exploration. Think of it as summer camp for the entire family.

Easy site seeing: Take the Lady of the Lake tour ($39 – $59 roundtrip) up Lake Chelen, cruising past snowcapped mountain peaks, to the hidden town of Stehekin. There are plenty of things to do there, but be sure to leave time to take a bus tour ($7/person) to Rainbow Falls, where the air is so cold the water is already crystalized by the time it cascades to the pool below.

Best hotel in the park: Within the park, there are two options for hotels. Ross Lake Lodge, on Ross Lake (of course), and the resorts and other lodging in the town of Stehekin, which is only accessible by boat or seaplane.

Best campground in the park: There are several campgrounds within the park. Try the Newhalem Creek campground ($12/night), which has sites to accommodate even large RVs. The area has plenty of hiking trails, as well as fishing opportunities due to its closeness to the Skagit River.

Other Lodging Options: Just outside the park are a smattering of hotels, but if not staying inside the park, it’s best to seek accommodations back in Tacoma or Seattle and just make a day trip to the park.

Best months to visit for weather: Late-April/May for mild weather and wildflowers in bloom; September/early-October for cooler weather and fall foliage colors

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Late May/early June or early September just after Labor Day.

Getting There:

• Flying – Most airlines service both Seattle and Tacoma
• Bus/Train – Greyhound and Amtrak service Seattle and Tacoma.

A personal vehicle is the only way to get to the park.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: North Cascades National Park

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• A Guide to Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

If you’ve never seen Peter West Carey’s photographs, prepare to be blown away.  This photographer and avid traveler shares the view from his lens on the Carey Adventures – and is about to embark on an incredible journey through Africa and Nepal with his People, Places and Patterns Project (which, incidentally, you can help fund through Kickstarter – I did!).  And what’s really cool about this project is that he is bringing his daughter, Sabrina, along for the ride.

“The inspiration came from wanting to travel more internationally with my daughter,” he says.  “The idea of taking her to Africa so she can see what life is like in a totally different part of the world was something I wanted to share with her.”

But why stop with just one child?  After the trip, Carey plans to give talks at schools, libraries and other community groups to help educate other children (and their parental units, too) about what life is like in Africa and Nepal through his photographs and stories.  Pretty cool, no?

When not traipsing the globe with his giant camera bag, Carey calls Seattle home.  And when I asked him about one of his favorite places to eat, he waxed a little poetic about Blue C Sushi.  Apparently, it’s one of Sabrina’s faves, too.

“Blue C Sushi is a conveyor belt joint but it has really great sushi,” he says.  “It’s the first place I ever took my daughter that she actually requested to go back to.”

Carey credits the fresh Pacific Northwest seafood for Blue C’s great food.  He and Sabrina both recommend the Seattle rolls – a mix of fresh Pacific Salmon, avocado and cucumber. But taste and try a little of everything – it will likely be hard not to with so many temptations going past you on the conveyor belt.

Another Blue C Sushi plus for Cary?  He likes that he can go in and grab some take-out straight from the conveyor belt and quickly be on his way.  “It’s like fast food,” he says.  “But a heck of a lot healthier.”

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Blue C Sushi
3411 Fremont Avenue
N Seattle, WA 98103
Tel:  206.633.3411
(Other locations listed on Blue C Sushi Website).

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Photo courtesy of Blue C Sushi’s Facebook Fan Page.