Sunshine and Banana Pancakes

Maybe because I grew up with a hunger to see the world, traveling with my kids has always been a high priority for me. Rather than toys or electronics, presents and rewards often came in the form of a trip; Disneyland for earning Straight A's (well, any excuse for Disneyland, really...) birthday concert tickets to shows in Portland, school clothes shopping in Phoenix, and for this trip, Eastern Washington. 

My son graduated from high school this spring and rather than the traditional cash, I went with my traditional gift of travel. We took a long weekend to fly to Seattle, then drive over to see Jack Johnson and the Avett Brothers perform at the Gorge Amphitheatre. 

Located roughly 150 miles east of Seattle, the Gorge opened in 1985 and is considered one of the premiere concert venues in the country. With sweeping views of the Columbia River and the Columbia Gorge Canyon, you're not only treated to amazing concerts, but equally amazing scenery all around. 

I’d been to the Gorge once before, but it had been a good 20 years so I was just as excited as if I’d never been. I remembered it as being incredibly beautiful, fun and mellow. This kind of trip fit my son to a “T” so  I got on StubHub and found tickets for a fairly reasonable price.

We flew out of Anchorage Thursday night. As a retired airline employee, I still get a number of free travel passes each year, as do my family members. Flying on passes, or nonrevving, as those versed in airline lingo call it, means you need to give yourself time to potentially get bumped off a flight or two (or sometimes 10) before you make it to your destination. We managed to make the second flight we tried, which was great luck considering summer in Alaska is the heart of tourist season and flights are usually very full.

I’d researched Seattle hotels earlier in the month and for whatever reason, downtown Seattle was off the chain expensive. In my search, I stumbled upon a Hilton hotel under $200 in nearby Bellevue. We decided to spend Friday exploring Bellevue since none of us had ever spent time there, and I knew it would make for an easy exit onto I-90 the next day.

Bellevue is one of the prettiest towns I’ve seen in a long time. Clean, quiet, with tree-lined streets and a decidedly upper-crust feel, we enjoyed walking around their small “Old Town” district (really just a couple blocks) and had breakfast at Gilbert's on Main, a nice local restaurant with some of the best raspberry jam I’ve ever had. I could barely finish my breakfast, with its ginormous dinner-plate pancakes!

Our favorite area was their downtown park, a green oasis nestled between office buildings, a mall and busy streets. We purchased a to-go lunch and spend the afternoon picnicking and people watching.

Yes, that's me, being a professional model....

The Hilton, wasn't a terrible hotel by any means, but it wasn’t anything special either. $200 is still a lot of money to me, and it's a little disappointing when the hotel falls short.  Good location and a decent pool, but overall kind of rundown and in need of a facelift. It was fine for one night though, and we were well-rested when we set out to see good ol' Jack Johnson the next day.

Driving through Snoqualmie pass in the summer is a delight (winter is another story entirely, I’ve done both, trust me.) We made our way through what was fairly minimal traffic, passing huge green mist-filled trees on either side of us which eventually broke away into sunny flat eastern plains. We passed the Wild Horses Monument on our way (which I wish we'd had time to stop at) and traveled alongside the mighty Columbia river.

Funny how quick the weather changes as you come through the pass.

I’d insisted on getting a hotel room in Ellensburg Saturday night. B was very much against this, said he had no problem driving back to Seattle after the concert. But I could not see the point in risking that picturesque drive turning treacherous by attempting it in the dead of night. And because I waited a bit too long to book a hotel, losing out on rooms in Quincy, which is right next to the Gorge, or the nearby Cave B Estate Winery and Inn which I guess sells out before you can blink, we ended up at the Ellensburg Econolodge:

It might look reminiscent of the Bates Motel (according to B anyway!) but don't be too quick to judge. The front desk manager was incredibly professional, kind and helpful. The motel was full but he let us check in early, thanks to an efficient cleaning staff, and the rooms, while definitely Econolodge chic, were clean and had everything we needed. We checked in, dropped our luggage and continued east. It was a long drive, but so worth it. 

Finally, the Gorge.

I'd made sure to get us pretty close to the stage, and Jack didn't disappoint. We danced and sang along as that eastern Washington heat blasted, eventually cooling into a lovely summer evening with stars lighting the night sky.

After an uneventful, but not especially comfortable night (it is an Econolodge and the beds are cheap hotel beds...) we headed back toward Seattle. The original plan was to go to a baseball game. It was B's birthday and he's a pretty big sports fan, so it seemed like the perfect way to spend our last day. Time was kind of slipping away from us though, and the last thing we wanted was to be rushed. B, being the birthday boy, chose to skip the game and we headed to the last, and best, hotel; the lovely, magical  Cedarbrook Lodge. 

Located less than five minutes from SeaTac airport, this little oasis is a hidden gem that is easy to miss. The rates can be a little higher than comparable hotels, like the nearby Doubletree, but in this case, you really get what you pay for. 

Their restaurant, The Copperleaf, features farm-to-table dining that is consistently rated five-star.

The grounds have koi ponds, fountains and green lawns.

Really, you'd never know you were at an airport hotel (okay there is the occasional plane flying over, but I barely noticed it!) They also have a nice bar area with an outdoor patio, a spa with complimentary bath salts that you can mix yourself, and best of all, each wing has a kitchen area with free candy, water, chips, yogurt and cheese. Snacks for days people, for days.

We napped and noshed around the hotel for a bit, then hopped the Link Light Rail downtown. The Link travels right into the heart of Seattle, removing the obstacles of rental cars and parking. And it's usually less expensive to stay near the airport as opposed to one of the downtown hotels, so you can save money in a myriad of ways by making use of it!

It wouldn't be a visit to Seattle without stopping in at  Pike Place Market.  In addition to the usual fish-flinging and fresh produce, there are mazes of shops buried deep underground.

 

My kids were both fascinated by this magic shop when they were little. It always makes me smile to see it.

We wandered downtown for awhile, just enjoying the nice weather and the sights of the city.

 

Dinner was at the Brooklyn, a Seattle landmark with some of the best oysters in town (I'm taking B's word for this, as I don't actually eat oysters, the slime just grosses me out...)

 

 

My son, a much more adventurous eater than me, even tried his first oyster. He said it was "fine" which is 18-year-old speak for "good".

 And we had to stop in at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on our way back to the hotel...

I had a hard time deciding, so we went with a little of everything. Yes, I'll admit it, the chocolate covered twinkie was mine. It was delicious, I tell you!

We closed out the trip with some relaxation and wine on the patio at Cedarbrook.

Yep, there it is, the cheesy love selfie pic!

Weekend getaways can be a fun way to unwind from the daily grind. We love taking long weekends away and it's really not hard to fit it into your schedule, while still managing to relax. If you check fares regularly, you can get tickets for next to nothing, and sometimes you can find last-minute specials. Concerts can be a great way to spend a weekend, or you can explore a city you've never been to! Take your time planning, look for events and things to do in adjacent areas so you can drive and enjoy the scenery without feeling too rushed, and try to carve out those quiet moments that we all need. 

And most importantly for this soon to be empty-nesting mom, those long weekends can give you some much-needed family time. My time with my son is precious to me, moreso now that I know he will soon be venturing out into the world on his own, making his own memories and planning his own trips. But I hope he will remember his mom dancing to Jack Johnson, laughing with him, showing him what's really important as we go through this life. Because those memories will last much longer than the latest iPhone. 

Nightcaps in Napa

Since B and I have each traveled extensively on our own, it isn't always easy for us to find a spot to vacation that is also completely new to both of us.  We decided to take one of our long weekend trips to Napa, a place we'd never explored individually and really wanted to enjoy together. We flew into Sacramento and rented a car. It's a pretty easy drive from there, less than two hours.

Napa is B&B and country inn central, so we didn't want to stay at your cookie-cutter, boring hotel. We chose this darling inn, Hennessey House. It was centrally located, an easy walk to the main part of town, and the rooms were all Victorian themed - so quaint! The staff and owners were very pleasant and the daily breakfast was amazing!

The town itself is well-laid out, walkable and pretty much has a wine tasting on every corner, how can anyone not like that?!

 

There are also restaurants on every corner, everything from casual to fine dining to all the nuances in between. We had dinner one night at ZuZu, a Spanish inspired restaurant with amazing tapas and a truly lovely atmosphere. We had scallops and some delicious octopus.  Sadly, this was the last time I ate octopus. As much as I loved it, I love cute little live octopus (octopi?) more. How can I be expected to eat octopus after watching YouTube videos about how adorable they are? I'll still eat scallops though. There don't seem to be any baby scallop videos out there so I can remain ignorant of any potential cuteness.

 

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the wine tour and tasting we did at Jarvis Winery. Founded by William and Leticia Jarvis, the winery is contained in a cave, which was built by Jarvis and is an architectural wonder. With 45,000 feet of space, the cave keeps all the wine-making facilities self-contained and includes not only a tasting room, but a natural spring that flows into a river channel in the floor!

The winery focuses mainly on red wines, but also makes chardonnay. We enjoyed a lovely tasting and  B bought a very nice (ie; expensive) bottle of wine that he said we'd open when we sold our first screenplay. It's still sitting in the closet of our downstairs bedroom, but we have hope! Someday, Hollywood, we're comin' for ya!

We finished the day off by exploring the grounds, which are every bit as stunning as the caves and winery itself.

  

 

Because I'm impossible to be around if I don't get some kind of exercise (and because of all that delicious food and wine!) we spent an afternoon hiking at nearby Skyline Park. This was a really nice area, lots of great trails, perfect weather, a great way to get out and explore some of the natural beauty of the Napa Valley. 

 

 

  And of course, it wouldn't be a vacation for us if we didn't do at least one cheesy love selfie!

The only mishap was our attempt to go on a bike ride. 

We thought we could bike out of town and hit some bike trails. We forgot that we weren't home in Anchorage, which boasts an almost endless network of biking paths all around the city (you really can bike just about anywhere up here, at least in the summer!) and means you almost never have to take your life in your hands by riding on the street. Not so in Napa. Despite the mean bike rental guy who got angry because I didn't put my kickstand up properly (sorry dude I didn't know there was a kickstand protocol!) we tried to rent bikes. We got about three blocks away, my heart in my mouth as we navigated traffic, when B got a flat tire. He immediately saw this as a sign that we should NOT be renting bikes, and we cut it short and went and had more wine instead. Have I mentioned  I love this guy? 

Romantic, fun, wine-soaked Napa is a dream of a getaway and a place worthy of exploring. Whether you want to strengthen bonds with your partner with a weekend escape, or have a classy and stylish girls weekend,  Napa finds its way into your heart, as well as your wine glass! 

Getaway to LA

Los Angeles has long been one of my favorite weekend getaways. Just a short hop from Anchorage to LAX on Alaska Airline’s daily nonstop flight, we try to go at least a few times a year. It's a nice way to break up those long Alaskan winters and get a quick infusion of vitamin D. We also have friends and family there, and we love being able to catch up with them on a regular basis.

My guy, B (with a little nudging from me) decided a long weekend away for my birthday would make a great gift. To save on airfare, we were able to use one of our annual companion tickets from our Alaska Airlines Visa cards. If you don’t utilize this great resource I highly recommend it; qualify for a card and you not only accrue miles with Alaska Air and get 25,000 miles right out of the gate (good for one round-trip domestic ticket) you also get a companion ticket each year. Companion tickets allow you to buy one ticket and get a second one for a mere $100. It’s a great deal and since we each have an Alaska Airlines Visa card, we get to utilize this perk twice a year! 

Because we saved money on airfare, we decided to splurge a bit elsewhere (I mean, it’s my birthday, right?!) We spent our first couple nights at one of our favorite boutique hotels, Petit Ermitage. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood in the heart of West Hollywood and blending perfectly with the other condo and apartment complexes, you'd never know it was a hotel. Until you step inside.

Walk through their front doors and you are immediately transported to a faraway land with the most whimsical décor, nicest staff and best amenities. Our favorite spot is the rooftop pool, which has a Moroccan feel and encourages decadent lounging all day long. There is an excellent restaurant on the rooftop as well, where we got some great meals poolside (oh yes, avocado toast, we love you!) and drinks that just kept flowing.

Fast forward to evening, and you can enjoy outdoor fireplaces, fluffy blankets from the staff and occasional live music. Of course, this all comes with a fairly high price tag, but it is well worth every penny!

Yeah, we are super cheesy in love, I know....

We did duck out one night to one of my favorite landmarks, the Chateau Marmont, which oozes old Hollywood and is a great place for celebrity sightings. I get really excited about seeing celebs, although oddly enough, I almost never recognize them. I argued with B extensively on one of our Hawaii trips that Owen Wilson was NOT sitting across from us (he was...) but I still love the idea of seeing them so...

No one famous (except maybe us, someday!) but we had fun anyway!

After our two-day hideaway at Petit, we moved on to Venice. Venice has a vibe that just... speaks to me. A little crazy, a little eclectic, a little exotic and beneath it all, a bit of an underbelly. I like places that have some grit under the sparkle and aren’t too sanitized. The area has become very gentrified and you’re more likely to see young hipsters than hippies, but I can still go on a morning run down the to boardwalk and nod hello to the wild and crazy folk that make Venice real. And I need real.

B still feels the Bern....

We chose a cute little one-bedroom via AirBnB, which was on a surprisingly quiet street and very affordable (much needed after dropping paper all over the Petit!) I’ve had really good luck using AirBnB or VRBO, both of which offer up private homes and rooms for vacation rentals. AirBnB is less expensive, but sometimes VRBO’s rentals are a bit more established and seem to consist of more people who do vacation rentals for a living as opposed to renting space in their own residence. But both sites are worth checking out and their rentals go worldwide (we are definitely using AirBnB when we go to Europe this fall!)

We went wandering on Abbot Kinney Blvd, dubbed the "coolest street in America." Like the rest of Venice, it’s been totally gentrified and is a bit slicker than the laid back Venice of the old days, but there are still a ton of shops, art galleries and restaurants to explore. 

We met up with friends one night and had dinner at Hal's Bar and Grill,  which is right on Abbot Kinney and features market-fresh food prepared with simple perfection. Try Hal's penne pasta for an entree! The front and center location also provided plenty of people watching in between lively conversation and a great meal.

Later, we walked over to the Venice Canal District. Built in 1905 by Abbot Kinney himself, the idea was to recreate the look and feel of Venice, Italy. I haven't been to the real Venice yet (spoiler alert, this is happening in October!) but I think it definitely gives one the romantic feel of those Venice gondolas.

This is a must-see if you’re spending any time in the Venice area. Truly a lovely and serene spot.

Of course, going down to the beach is a must, and we made sure to spend some time there. Then we made our way back to Abbot Kinney for drinks and apps at The Tasting Kitchen. I wanted to go here because I heard the food was amazing, and because I heard sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might see a celebrity or two.  As I said, I’m easily impressed and possibly the worst groupie ever when it comes to celebs, so that promise alone was enough to get me there. While we didn’t see anyone famous (or maybe we did and I just didn't recognize them!) the food did live up to the reviews – it was amazing. The atmosphere was good, a little loud but it was a weekend so that’s to be expected. The server was pleasant and knowledgeable.

 

Toward the end of our trip, we made a detour over to Griffith Park. With more than 4,000 acres of land, Griffith Park has tons of hiking trails, as well as the famed hike to the Hollywood sign. 

It is also home to  Griffith Observatory, which takes you away to the real stars, and is always free to visit. 

 

And if you don’t want to hike or visit the observatory, at least go for the sunset.

I always feel like I leave a little part of my heart in California when I fly home, and I know that B does for sure, since he’s from there and a part of his heart lives in Cali no matter what. There are those who aren’t a fan of this busy, beachy, place, but for me, it’s a place I return to again and again for "just another day of sun".