Tag: Exploration

YouTube Discovery: “What to do with ONE DAY in Seattle!”

Carl Setzer

Friday my son spent the afternoon and evening bulldozed by some virus. Yesterday the wretched microbes fought with my wife. Last night they came for me. Today’s itinerary thus changed to drinking tea while couch surfing with YouTube.

The best part of such (I always look for the positives)? Discovering new talent. Today I found Claire McAdams, photographer and explorer. Her journey through China a few months ago charmed me. I enjoy her energy and quirky sensibilities.

Back in October she posted a video of a day on Seattle (I expect her actual visit here occurred in summer, though. Anyway, I inserted the video below for your convenience and edification).

I liked her choices for her Seattle excursion:

Pike Place Market including:

  • The gum wall
  • Food tour (she didn’t mention which tour company she used. There are plenty of options, though).

Underground Tour

Cupcake Royale

Seattle Center

Kerry Park

Dim Tai Fung. They opted for Bellevue, though Pacific Place is significantly closer to Pike Place.

Now, as a life-long Seattleite, what suggestions do I offer?

Hmmm…

Favorite Foods at Pike Place:

And Seattle Center:

I like her venue choices with some additions. If you like music, add MPop. And the Wing Luke Museum offers great insight into the Asian Pacific American experience. If nothing else, their Bruce Lee exhibit garnered high praise.

So, Seattle fans, what recommendations come to mind? And check out her video.

Exploring Mukilteo

Carl Setzer

Though quite grey, yesterday was rather dry. A friend who has been interested in exploring local trails called us, so off my son and went, with two dogs in tow.

A Mukilteo resident, she takes her dogs regularly to the Japanese Gulch Dog Park, where I’ve never been. First, though, we briefly hike around the gulch. The recent rain did leave the smaller trails muddy, but not that challenging. The trail we took from the dog park was pretty clear. A few water laden bushes drooped over the trail, and there some very narrow spots on the trail, but it was quite straightforward. Not accessible in a wheelchair, though. Some of the bridges over small streams were rather creative in their design, and materials chosen, like several narrow boards that are a bit slick. When we got on the larger trails, made of pressed gravel, the going was quite easy.  

After a short hike, we let the dogs go into the dog park.  The dogs played reasonably well with the others. The other dog owners were friendly and respectful. It’s a very neat part of Mukilteo.

Hungry, we opted to walk down the hill to grab fish and chips at Ivar’s, ate dinner at the park by the lighthouse, then grabbed ice cream at Diamond Knot before walking back up to the van. Got there just before an evening squall dumped quite a bit of rain. Nice timing!

Though not far from Lynnwood, I didn’t go up to Mukilteo much growing up. As a teen, we’d head up there every do often during the summer. Not too much has changed there. It’s still a fun spot to park and just hang out. With Ivar’s fish bar right there, it’s pretty convenient. Paying for parking down by the beach is a but of a bummer, parking up top and walking down is easy enough.

I’ve many memories of Mukilteo, from The Pit, a sinkhole that worked great for four wheeling, to the woods where Harbour Pointe is now. It’s changed so very much over the years, yet it delights me so see these elements stay the same.

Continuing the Exploration

Carl Setzer

My life orbits South Snohomish County, especially Lynnwood. This is where we settled at 10, where I graduated high-school, and now where I raise my son. Several decades of my life right here. I get out, we do “things”, and yet there always remains some place new. So many places, nearby, where my feet have not ventured. For instance, I’ve yet to do more than sail through the San Juans. I’ve never been off the ferry. Never! Perplexes many friends.

With so many opportunities in my proverbial backyard, my interest and fascination with this area grows. Thus, I continue my explorations. And with a new addition. I want to experience some place new, some place I’ve never been before. Whether a new town, new site, new restaurant, new park; I want to make a deliberate choice to seek out new stuff and do new things. Not to discount the stuff I already love, but to add a deeper richness to my knowledge of the area.

Some random ideas: a day trip to the San Juans (actually getting off the ferry), the parks on Whidbey, hikes in the Cascades, and (my favorite) and tour of local burger places (like Dicks, Win’s in Bellingham, Ray’s in Everett, Burger Mill in Marysville, etc…).