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Most visitors to Orcas Island focus on Moran State Park, which is indeed beautiful, but a little further south along Olga Road you will find Obstruction Pass Park, an 80-acre recreation area....
Most visitors to Orcas Island focus on Moran State Park, which is indeed beautiful, but a little further south along Olga Road you will find Obstruction Pass Park, an 80-acre recreation area.
This is a great spot if you want to get away from the crowds, and the view of Obstruction Island from the beach is beautiful.
The park has nine hike-in (1/2 mile) camping spots and a lovely pebble beach. The campsites are first-come, first served & no fee. Primitive facilities only (vault toilets, no water).
We made this a half-day trip from our campsite at Moran, and our kids had a great time splashing in the water and collecting bits of driftwood, crab shells and sea glass (which we left on the beach, in keeping with "leave no trace" principles!).
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Yup - beautiful park, great facilities. I camped there for four days with wife & two little girls (4 & 7).
There are four camping areas within the park:
Southend - this is the most popular...
Yup - beautiful park, great facilities. I camped there for four days with wife & two little girls (4 & 7).
There are four camping areas within the park:
Southend - this is the most popular spot, primarily because it is further from the road so quieter & most of the spots are directly on the lake.
Midway - a bit further from the park entrance than North end. A few spots right on the water, but backing directly onto the main park road.
Northend - closest to park entrance, but also closest to swimming beach and other facilities (good choice for a family with kids) - sites are a bit close together, but the week we stayed occupancy was only 50% & we had deer coming to our campsite every morning.
Mountain Lake - most isolated & private. Beautiful spot along the road up to Mt. Constitution. There are a few row boats here as well, but no swimming beach (though you could certainly jump in from the dock).
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I've taken guests from out of town to Sky City, the revolving restaurant at the top of the Space Needle, a couple of times recently.
The weekend brunch at $38.50 it isn't cheap, but if you factor...
I've taken guests from out of town to Sky City, the revolving restaurant at the top of the Space Needle, a couple of times recently.
The weekend brunch at $38.50 it isn't cheap, but if you factor in free access to the Observation Deck (normally $13.50 for adults), it suddenly seems like a reasonable deal.
The food is top notch - there are brunchy options like Belgian Waffles and Eggs Benedict, but for the price Prime Rib and Grilled King Salmon seem like more appropriate choices.
Top it off with a good local wine and sit back and admire the Olympics to the west, the Cascades to the East, and watch the sea planes coming and going from Lake Union.
Definitely a great place to take guest from out of town.
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Elliot Bay Books is one of the Great Bookstores of the World.
It has a huge selection of both used and new books, magazines, literery journals, local zines and even journals and...
Elliot Bay Books is one of the Great Bookstores of the World.
It has a huge selection of both used and new books, magazines, literery journals, local zines and even journals and notebooks.
The interior maintains a sense of rough-hewn intimacy despite the impressive size of the place. Here and there odd staircases take you up to nooks and crannys off the main rooms, and in the basement there is a comfortable cafe (though the restrooms leave something to be desired) serving excellent coffee, salads and sandwiches.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the store publishes its own monthly newsletter. They also sponsor regular readings by interesting and well-known writers (sometimes both!).
Maybe not quite as comprehensive a selection as Powells in Portland, but it wins hands-down on literary atmosphere.
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Fremont Coffee is a converted old house that still feels more like a house that a coffee shop - lots of quirky rooms, mismatched furniture and lamps.
The atmosphere is laid back and funky, just...
Fremont Coffee is a converted old house that still feels more like a house that a coffee shop - lots of quirky rooms, mismatched furniture and lamps.
The atmosphere is laid back and funky, just like Fremont. There is free wi-fi, usually reliable, a modest selection of donuts and pastries, the usual coffee and milk concoctions, and an odd array of soft drinks that you've probably never heard of.
Most days you'll find a few students or writers wired-in, heads down, tapping away at their keyboards, giving the place a bit of a college-town feel.
When the weather is decent, there is a deck and also a cozy front porch where you can watch the local streetlife.
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You will feel like you just walked in off the beach in Cozumel. Seriously, it is that authentic, from the rickety metal tables and chairs to the cheap and cheerful decorations.
Service is...
You will feel like you just walked in off the beach in Cozumel. Seriously, it is that authentic, from the rickety metal tables and chairs to the cheap and cheerful decorations.
Service is cafeteria style, and all the food is hand-made in front of you, including the freshly pressed tortillas!
The carnitas (soft tacos) are to die for. The pork chops and carne asada plate are excellent. No Burritos or Chimichangas here - just no-frills, homemade Mexican goodness.
A good selection of Mexican Beers completes the experience.
A little hard to find, El Puerco Lloron is behind Pike Place Market on the stairs down to the waterfront. It's worth the effort, though.
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I often take the early morning Amtrak to Portland and this is my favorite place to kill half and hour before departure.
I love the Zeitgeist asthetic - they have the whole retro travel / art deco...
I often take the early morning Amtrak to Portland and this is my favorite place to kill half and hour before departure.
I love the Zeitgeist asthetic - they have the whole retro travel / art deco / exposed brick loft style thing going. It's the perfect place to set the mood for a train journey.
There is art for sale on the wall, a selection of newspapers, and big picture windows to watch the mixed SODO / Pioneer Square crowd wander by.
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Great atmosphere, solid coffee. This place feels like a Seattle coffee house should - quirky, unpretentious, anti-capitalist (fair trade coffee), and vaguely anarchic.
There is a comfortable...
Great atmosphere, solid coffee. This place feels like a Seattle coffee house should - quirky, unpretentious, anti-capitalist (fair trade coffee), and vaguely anarchic.
There is a comfortable underground lounge area, various pastries, doughnuts and other treats at the bar, and a couple of tables out on the street.
It's the real thing.
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