For Spring Break this year we took an almost 10-day trip to one of our all-time favorite destinations. The Bainbridge Island, Washington area!! We drove like crazy for 12 hours and made the ferry we were hoping for, just in time. It was beautiful to see Seattle at night, as we floated away from it. Since our trip starts and ends with the ferry, I'll post all the ferry pics fist.
We took the ferry six times total during our trip. We LOVE the ferry! This was the Kingston ferry, which is further north.
Taking the Kingston ferry to do some epic shopping.
Ferry ride back to Seattle to spend the day in the city.
Ferry ride back to Bainbridge.
Ballet in the boat!
Flying!! Funny story. Darin and I were inside watching the kids dance on the deck at the very front of the ferry. They were crazy and dancing like there was no tomorrow! Then all of a sudden Logan lifts Ellie up like this to "fly". Darin and I both almost leaped out of our seats to run out there! Give me a heart attack!! Then Darin did it with her so I could get this pic.
Day in the city. We went to the observation deck in the Columbia building Smith Tower. A...MAZING! If you ever go to Seattle, go here...not the Space Needle. This is quite a bit higher than the Space Needle and costs much less. The views are incredible in every direction. This is the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi, FYI.
See the two ball fields?
This pic is pointing to Gas Works park, west across Lake Washington, where we were headed later in the day.
On our way down, we stopped on the 40th floor for hot chocolate. This is the HIGHEST Starbucks in the WORLD!! (And FYI, the first original Starbucks is also in Seattle at Pike's.)
Pike's Market. We love this place! Love the golden pig mascot, the fresh produce and flowers, the fish and seafood vendors, etc. Our favorite eats is Pike Place Chowder! Salmon chowder, scallops chowder, seafood bisque, and the famous clam chowder. (Yeah, I had to take oral steroids that day for my flaming allergic reaction....I'm not supposed to eat shellfish!!)
The GUM WALL!
The Seattle Great Wheel, one of the biggest ferris wheels in the USA. Fun ride with the kids. Shari and Amy just watched....because it is way overpriced. But you've got to do it once!
The Chittenden Ballard Locks. This was very cool! this is the channel where they take small boats and giant cargo ships from the saltwater ocean into the fresh water lakes on the west side of Seattle. We only saw the small lock in action. It is mind boggling that this works how it does, and that it was created 100 years ago!!
Gas Works Park. This is a park on the west side of Seattle, across the lake. Across the lake are the houses along the water filmed in the movie, "Sleepless in Seattle".
The park surrounds the fenced off gas works....the actual remains of what used to be the Seattle Gas Light Company.
These painted pipes and equipment are actual parts used in the gas company decades ago. This area is open to the public. Here are my two amazing sisters....the real reason for our trip!!
Next stop, the University of Washington campus. This is the Suzzallo library, the library that is a key location in Shari's book, The Stelladaur. It is a beautiful building from the outside. We arrived after it had closed, but Shari describes the interior like a Hogwart's library. We hope to go inside on our next trip.
We took some time to walk around a little bit of the campus and spend about an hour admiring these exquisite cheery blossoms! Couldn't get enough of them! There were lots of photographers and kids climbing trees.
We decided we liked this campus. A lot. A really lot.
This day spent in Seattle was the 24th of March. Logan's and Ellie's birthday!! But we celebrated the day before, so we could relax for their birthday dinner, cake, presents, etc. Logan chose cherry pie.
Andrew's surprise for the kids....he played Happy Birthday on the pipes!!
The kids chose grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for their birthday dinner.
And honestly, their favorite gifts came from Shari and Larry. They played a game with just Logan...which he now loves and wants. And they took a walk with just Ellie (and Andrew and Truffles). She LOVED the focused attention.
We spent one day in Port Townsend, up north.
The kids are so at home next to the water. They are happy and carefree and run and jump and twirl and explore. Makes my heart smile!
We explored the old military bunkers that are on the bluff.
We loved having Makayla spend the day with us.
Point White Dock area, on Bainbridge.
So many sand dollars!
The kids and I love to collect sea glass. This day, Ellie scored a real treasure! A complete green glass bottle. It is old for sure...it has the large indent on the bottom, and no seems in the glass.
Rock-a-way beach, on Bainbridge.
Fay Bainbridge beach.
One day during our trip, we got to show the Boone family around the island a little bit. They were in the Seattle area for spring break and took the ferry to Bainbridge for a day trip.
The just walked on the ferry, so they didn't have a car. So we piled in our van and took them to Fay Bainbridge beach and to the Grand Forest. The girls were pretty excited to have a little time together.
We loved just being at Shari and Larry's fabulous house. They are so welcoming and accommodating and we just love being in their home with them. I wish we actually had more pics with all of them...Shari, Larry, Andrew, Tracy, and Truffles.
We got to see Amy and Makayla a few times, and our last night Malachi and MariAna arrived! It was so fun to just hang out with everyone. We had Shari's homemade Cafe Rio for dinner, played games, painted nails, etc.
Shari is a VERY good cook, and we had some seriously yummy meals while staying in The Whyte House!
Ellie and Logan really loved Truffles this time. They argued about who likes her the most. And Ellie played this "run with the sheet-cape" game constantly!
Hangin' out with the fam.
Shari's guest room, looking out to the water. Aaahhh!
Darin and Bryan helping Andrew unload a car that he bought. It's something he saw, made an offer, and will fix and sell right away. Andrew is like that. He is a creative, successful businessman, with a dozen new ideas in his head. You can see one of his work trucks for KMR. This is his company he started, made it successful, and will now sell it.
Ellie went to a dance class one day at the Bainbridge Ballet Academy. Just to experience what classes are like at other studios. This is the owner, Sara Cramer, and she was also the teacher of the class Ellie joined. She has taught ballet for over 22 years and has a seriously impressive resume of her ballet study, with the best of the best. It was a good experience for Ellie. And...she loved Sara'a dog!
Dinner out at The Beach House restaurant. This is where Amy works as the manager. It was fun to see her on the job, and the food was divine! I feel bad we didn't get Makayla in the pic too! She also works here and was on duty this night. Sorry Makay!
A little time in Pouslbo. I adore this little town!
The Poulsbo Marina aquarium.
Poulsbo bakery! Love all the Danish and Norwegian pastries that are tradition on our family! And of course I bought lefsa!
This was the second brilliant rainbow we saw in this same spot, two days in a row. This is right off the Suquamish dock, just up the road from Shari's house.
Chief Seattle's grave, right in Shari's little town.
Walking at Old Man House park. This is the location of the longhouse that Chief Seattle lived in.
Fairy-dell trail hike.
Walk in Port Blakely Cemetary, with Shari and Larry, Amy and Makayla.
Me and my two Bainbridge sistas.
This old cement building always has different things painted on it. Fun to explore.
The new labyrinth at The Prayer Wheel Park.
Took the Kingston ferry to the town of Lynnwood, north of Seattle this day. They had a couple of stores that we do not have on Utah. No luck for me, at the store I was excited about. But the kids sure scored! They both used a big chunk of their own money to make these purchases.
Logan got the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon.
Shari and Ellie and I had a great time browsing around The American Girls store. That place is amazing! Ellie left with the 2014 doll of the year, Isabelle. Her fist AG doll was a gymnast, and this one is a ballerina. Perfect for Ellie girl!
Fabulous spring break trip! Wish it could last forever!
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