![]() My husband is a big baseball fan. His favorite team is actually the NY Mets mostly due to the fact that he was raised in Conn. But, since he loves the game, we have made a few outings to Safeco Field and have really enjoyed watching the Marnier’s play. Major league sporting events can be pricey but it doesn’t have to break the bank and we’ve found a couple tricks to help make it more affordable. Tickets have been readily available through the website (www.mlb.com/mariners) apparently due to the fact that Seattle hasn’t had a winning season for a while but whether they win or loose the games are a ball (pun intended). Bleacher seats start at about $20 and pricing of course goes up from there depending on where you’d like to sit in the park. To avoid the big parking price tag (we’ve seen $40-$70), we’ve been heading to the University of Washington Link station and taking the Light Rail right to the stadium. With parking there (about $12) and link tickets ($10), the total is still considerable less than parking at the stadium (plus no traffic headaches). Is it fun to drink beer at the game? You bet! Is it expensive? You bet! We found Suds of Sultan to be our favorite spot to pick up a cold beer. You can get a normal sized 12oz. beer for $5-6 (depending on the brand). The key to a 12oz. beer (versus the 24oz. tall boys most outlets are selling) is 1) it won’t get warm before you finish, 2) you’ll get exercise restocking, 3) and, although it’s still pricey, it doesn’t feel as painful a dishing out $12.50 for a tall boy. Another trick – we bring an empty water bottle and fill it at the water fountain. Beats the $5 they are charging for a bottle of water at the stadium. Having moved here recently from a state (Montana) that didn’t have any options to see professional sports live, “take me out to the ball game” is more fun than ever!
0 Comments
![]() For this week’s adventure we went to the little fishing village on the sound…Anacortes. Our main focus was whale watching but we ended up loving the down to earth little town and all the people we met. We chose Island Adventures Whale Watching for our trip and the crew was really terrific. The boat was the brand new Explorer 5 (only 2 weeks in the water – pictured here from our trip courtesy of sister ship Explorer 4). The captain and crew were very knowledgeable and worked hard to be sure we saw not only whales on our trip but other wildlife as well including harbor seals, sea lions, and porpoises. Following the cruise, we walked around downtown and window shopped for a bit before heading up to the rooftop bar at the Majestic Inn & Spa. The spot was perfect for watching the sunset and we ended up meeting some new friends due to the cozy set up of couches and firepits. For dinner we ventured to Adrift as we had checked out the menu earlier and it looked delicious. The placed was packed which is always a good sign. The wait for a table was about 30 minutes so we opted for a couple of seats at the counter. It was the perfect spot to watch the wait crew and cooks in action while getting us very hungry for our meals. Patience prevailed and our dinner was great and worth the wait. I would suggest a reservation for sure at this hot spot. To complete the adventure, we spent the night in a cute little motel and slept in a bit the next morning. We drove through La Conner on the way home and decided that has to be an adventure soon as the downtown area was adorable. Until next week…. 9/20/2017 0 Comments The Ballard Locks - June 26, 2017![]() We stumbled upon the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (aka The Ballard Locks) on a recent exploration. We had just finished lunch and headed towards the shore and saw the sign for the locks and a botanical garden and decided to check it out. Although parking is limited we lucked out on the second drive around the lot and paid a minimal parking fee at the meter and headed in. Entrance is free and guests are welcome to walk around and explore on their own but you can also head to the visitors center to see a film and meet with a guide. The grounds were beautiful and the aromas of flowers were definitely in the air. At the ‘locks’ we weren’t immediately sure what to do but followed the metal dock walkways (and other people) and found ourselves in the middle of the locks. We were lucky to see a boat proceeding through the locks while we were there and it was really great to witness the process. In short it was a new experience that we enjoyed. The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are the Nation’s busiest with nearly 50,000 vessels/year ‘ locking through’. In addition, there are significant salmon migrations through the Locks that, in a good year, total over 500,000 salmon. The Locks are a Seattle Icon, National Historic Site and a top tourist site attracting over 1.3 million visitors/year. The Grounds are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., 365 days a year. Check out http://www. ballardlocks.org for more information and special event details including the upcoming “Dancing for a View” on July 3rd from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. ![]() Wow – what a show! Recently we experienced “a night on the town.” Downtown Seattle that is with dinner at Palomino followed by ‘Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion’ at the 5th Avenue Theater. We had a terrific evening. We made reservations for dinner, which was a good idea as the place was packed. Apparently the Palomino is a hot spot prior to shows. Our meals were delicious and the waitstaff made sure we got out in plenty of time. We arrived at the theater at 7:30 p.m. to pick up tickets at ‘will call’ and the cue was very long but moved quickly. If you can get your tickets ahead of time, I would recommend that to avoid the line. The theater is absolutely beautiful! In reviewing the program, it was built in 1926 and restored to its full glory with a grand re-opening in 1980. What a wonderful historical landmark for the city. We went to ‘opening night’ so the show started a bit late as everyone got settled and intermission was quite long as they prepared the stage for part two. Regardless of a little chaos, the show was a ball – the actors were talented, the script was funny, it flowed great and the singing was spot on. I’d say they have a hit on their hands! Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion is playing at 5th Avenue Theater through July 2nd. Check out www.5thavenue.org for more information and tickets. 9/20/2017 0 Comments Discovery Park - June 12, 2017![]() This week’s exploration takes us to Discovery Park. What a gem and it's so awesome to be so close to the hustle and bustle of the city. Discovery Park is a 534-acre natural area park operated by the Seattle Parks and Recreation. It is situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound with views of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadowlands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams. The city claims the role of Discovery Park is to provide an open space of quiet and tranquility away from the stress and activity of the city, a sanctuary for wildlife, as well as an outdoor classroom for people to learn about the natural world. After visiting, I’d definitely second that statement! We started our hike on “The Loop” trail through thick foliage without another soul in site. After about one mile, we were crossing a road and cut across to another trail and headed directly to the beach. There we discovered remnants of the old Fort Lawton and the lighthouse along with a fresh cool ocean breeze. We wished we had brought a blanket and a picnic lunch! In addition to the beach area, there is a visitor’s center, a cultural center, open spaces, and a maze of trails to keep you entertained. We’ve also discovered there is a shuttle system to the beach area although we really enjoyed the hike. Check out http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/discovery-park for more information. 9/20/2017 0 Comments Pike's Place Market - June 5, 2017My husband (Bob) and I recently became empty nesters and needed some spark in our day to day adventures. We decided that moving from somewhat rural Montana to the Woodinville area was the answer and we couldn’t be happier with the decision.
We’ve discovered that there is so much to do in this area that we can experience a new adventure just about every weekend and have set the goal to do just that. I’m certain our readers love the area for the same reasons we do but sometimes life gets in the way. We forget how much is available and how much we can do with little effort practically out our back door. So join me as we explore! Perhaps you’ll want to relive a fun memory or discover a new haunt right in your backyard. Week 1 – Pike Place Market Okay I know REALLY? Well think about it – when was the last time you ventured to Pike Place Market. I’m sure that most visitors that come to town request a trip there but do you go with them? It’s time to head downtown and check things out. I’m here to tell you that even if you don’t buy a thing, you’ll have a great afternoon checking out the vendors, people watching and sampling great products. What I’m impressed with most is the amazing seafood, fresh vegetables, and beautiful flower bouquets. I’d venture to guess you couldn’t get much fresher than these offerings. The market is open every day from 9:00am to 6:00pm and now through September 27 they are open until 7:00pm on Wednesday night. Also, mark your calendar for the MarketFront Grand Opening on Thursday, June 29 from 2:00pm-7:00pm. It’ll be a great afternoon filled with festivities, live music and bites from MarketFront vendors to help visitors explore the new public space. For more information and special events at the Pike Place Market, check out www.pikeplacemarket.org. |