Leavenworth’s main street reflects its modelling on a Bavarian village (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Leslie and I made the 2 hour drive from Yakima to Leavenworth a couple Saturdays ago for a family reunion. Our children were unable to attend the reunion with us this year, so we decided that we would at least take our 2 young grandsons (both are one and a half years old) with us.
We were only able to stay in Leavenworth for a few hours, with more than half that time spent enjoying dessert and visiting with our extended family in a banquet room at the Enzian Hotel. That left very little time to see the town and wander through the vast array of Bavarian shops that Leavenworth is known for.
We’ve been in Leavenworth at least once a year for as long as I can remember, and have visited the shops there every time. Skipping them this one time wouldn’t destroy the trip for us. Besides, we didn’t think the babies would be real content strolling through stores that are packed with pretty little gift items that they aren’t allowed to touch.
No, instead we decided to spend our spare minutes on the other side of Leavenworth. The side behind the town and down by the Wenatchee river. The side that I have only on rare occasions ventured into.
On the Riverfront Park Trail in Leavenworth, WA. image by Don Wilson
Leavenworth has a couple nice little nature parks with neat walking paths through them. The pathway criss-crosses the Wenatchee river over bridges to get from one park to the other.
Our walk took us through Waterfront Park, across a bridge to Blackbird Island, and across another bridge to Enchantment Park.
Our primary focus was on keeping the boys entertained while we hurriedly completed the walk through the nature trail, so we didn’t take time to fully enjoy the surroundings. I understand that Waterfront park is a popular bird-watching paradise and it is common to spot an osprey or a bald eagle there. We saw neither.
On Blackbird Island, we stopped to let the boys throw some rocks in the river. You have to let the boys be boys, you know. I’m sure this was one of the highlights of their day with Nana and Papa. The younger one gave us a bit of a surprise, as you’ll notice in the following video.
About this time, I received a phone call from my dad, who was with some family members at Krystall’s restaurant. They were sitting down for lunch and wanted us to join them. That led to a hurried walk through Enchantment Park without really noticing anything about it. Through research, I learned that they have a playground, baseball field, soccer field, and trails for hiking and biking.
It’s quite an asset for Leavenworth to have this nice little sanctuary so close, yet isolated from the busy traffic and tourism of downtown Leavenworth. Though the town was packed, as it always seems to be, the parks were quiet and peaceful with a limited number of people. It seems to me it’s a nice little getaway.
CYakima, WA, from Lookout Point (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Yakima may not be the first place that comes to mind while planning a trip, but they have so much to offer.
I’ve lived in the Yakima Valley my entire life. Most of what this valley has to offer, I take for granted. In fact, when we have guests from outside this area who ask about things they should see while here, I’ve had difficulty coming up with suggestions. I had to stop and think a bit to come up with my thoughts for this web page.
While researching the topic, I found this short video by the Chamber of Commerce. It a promo video that gives a quick overview of a number of things to see and do in the Yakima Valley.
Whenever I’ve taken week long vacations with my family to some of the Worldmark resorts, of which we are members, we try to balance our activities with some good old-fashioned relaxation. We want to see some sites and do some activities, but we don’t want to try to cram too much into a short period of time.
Typically we restrict ourselves to one activity per day, during our vacation. The rest of the time, we spend at our condo eating, swimming, playing board games, watching movies, and then eating some more. That way, we don’t return home from our vacation more worn out than when we left.
This list is what I might line up as our daily activities if I were a visitor to the area.
Water Recreation
One of the most popular activities for Yakima residents in the summer is to float the Yakima River Canyon. Every summer, thousands of people spend the day relaxing and partying as they casually drift down the river on their rafts.
For those who prefer excitement over relaxation, you may wish to try your hands at white water rafting on the Tieton River when the flows from the Rimrock reservoir begin to increase in the late summer and early fall months. During this time, this stretch becomes the fastest white water rafting in the state.
Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre in Yakima, Washington (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Capitol Theatre is a historic building that continues to offer concerts, broadway shows, and a variety of performances throughout the year. It may be hit-and-miss as to whether or not they have something playing during your trip to Yakima, but if they do, it would be one of the activities you should consider.
When I was young, the Capitol Theatre was being used as a movie theater. At one point, the building caught fire and was badly damaged. It sat vacant for quite some time before a group came in and renovated the building. They’ve done a fabulous job and the theater has continued to operate in it’s current fashion ever since. It is a great asset for the community of Yakima.
Wine Tours
I’m really not even a wine drinker, but I’ve added this to the list because the winery business plays such a strong role in the Central Washington agricultural scene. I’ve been to a number of the winery’s in the valley and find the business to be very fascinating.
The Yakima Wine Association provides a list of suggested wine tours that are recommended. I could probably get away with driving myself around to the various locations, but for some others, it may be recommended that you enlist a limo or a bus to assist you on your tour. Stay safe.
Museums
Yakima Valley Museum (Photo credit: Frank Fujimoto)
The Yakima Valley Museum is located in Franklin Park on Tieton Drive to the west of downtown Yakima.
I had driven by the museum probably a hundred times without ever stopping to go through it. Recently, I joined a group from my workplace that held a social event in one of the meeting rooms inside the museum. We were allowed to wander around the museum while we were there. I was completely surprised as to how much history they housed there.
The Yakima Valley Museum is the best and most interesting place to go for learning about the history and culture of the area.
Recreational Sports
All year round there are a number of sport tournaments and events being held in Yakima. From the high school district volleyball and basketball tournaments that are held in the Sun Dome in the fall and winter, to the baseball at Kiwanis Park, to the Hot Shots 3 on 3 basketball tournament held in the middle of Yakima Avenue in the summer, there are sporting events for everyone all year ’round.
As I write this post, the city is preparing for the Pirate’s Plunder Adventure Race. This obstacle course will require extreme strength and endurance in the contestants. This October 5, 2013 event is just one example of the quality recreational events held in this area.
Old West
Toppenish is a half an hour south of Yakima, along the I-82 corridor. It’s a small town where the west still lives. It also just happens to be the town that I was born in.
Shortly after I graduated from high school and moved away from this little town, they began a couple new initiatives. They adopted an “old west” theme, and they started painting murals around the town. In fact, every June, they hold an event that they call Mural in a Day where a number of artists band together to paint a new mural.
Today, nearly every business in town sports an old west look and as you walk around the town, you can find more than 70 spectacular murals painted in various locations.
On top of all that, they have a number of fascinating museums, including the Rail & Steam Museum, the American Hop Museum, and the Yakama Nation Cultural Center.
Produce
It hardly makes any sense at all to come to the Yakima Valley and not pick up some locally grown produce. Many people come to Yakima from around the state just to stock up on the local delights for canning or just eating good fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Yakima Farmer’s Market is open in downtown Yakima every Sunday from early May through late October is a great place to find your produce, local crafts, and much more.
The Birchfield Manor has served guests from all around the world. Some of their guests have even traveled hundreds of miles for the sole purpose of dining here. Only the finest dining establishments can claim to be a destination for travelers, and the Birchfield can legitimately make that claim.
When I was still a teenager, like so many my age, I could barely rub 2 nickels together. The Birchfield Manor was hardly a place I could afford to frequent. Though not outrageously expensive, they are a business and thus have to produce some profit. They use the best ingredients, provide first class service, and surround you with beautiful and comfortable decor. They have to charge prices that cover their overhead, and given my circumstances at the time, seemed quite lofty.
Fortunately for me, I worked for a restaurant whose owner had become a personal friend of Wil and Sandy Massett who, at that time, owned the Birchfield Manor. Because of that relationship, my boss occasionally held events for his restaurant staff at the Birchfield Manor. What a privilege it was for me to be able to frequent an establishment that held such class and style.
Around that time, I save up my nickels for awhile and was able to take a special young lady to the Birchfield for dinner one evening. During the meal, I presented her with a promise ring and expressed my wishes to her that we would save ourselves for one another.
That young lady and I have now been happily married for more than 30 years.
The Food at Birchfield Manor
As far as the food goes, I must say that I’ve not ever had anything there that I didn’t like. Even though they have served some dishes to me that just didn’t sound all that good, and I was sure that they wouldn’t be that pleasant, I’ve always enjoyed every bite. One time, they served me something called gespacho…..really? C’mon, now….cold tomato soup? I don’t even like tomatoes…unless they’re cooked into something like spaghetti sauce. As it turns out, the way they prepared it was quite tasty.
Certain Items on the menu really get my chops watering. My all-time favorite is their fresh filet of salmon in a puff pastry with wine sauce. You owe it to yourself to try that. Or, for the red meat crowd, you can’t go wrong with their filet mignon.
Birchfield Manor’s Service Quality
Let me tell you a brief story that describes the type of service that you will receive at the Birchfield Manor.
One time, my wife and I were dining at the Birchfield with another couple who were friends of ours. Near the end of the meal, the server came to our table and asked if we would like coffee or tea. My friend blurted out that he would like some hot chocolate. The server offered up that they could provide that for us and brought us what turned out to be the best tasting hot chocolate that I’ve had anywhere, still to this day.
Approximately one year later, my wife and I were at the Birchfield Manor once again. We happened to recognize that we had the same server as the year before, but we had not been there anytime between that evening and this one.
When it came to the part of the dinner that the server offers coffee or tea, the server started to make those offerings, but suddenly stopped himself and the proclaimed, “Wait! You want hot chocolate, don’t you.”
Bed and Breakfast at the Birchfield Manor
My wife and I have even spent a night at the bed and breakfast. That may seem a little silly, since we live within 5 miles of their property.
It was on one of our wedding anniversary dates that we wanted to make a little special. We decided to splurge for our special occasion, but we didn’t have enough time to be able to leave town. So, we found a babysitter to watch after the kids (Grandma and Grandpa), and drove down the road to the Birchfield Manor. As it turned out, this was as nice a vacation as any other we could have taken.
The setting is quiet and comfortable. Their swimming pool was cool and refreshing – just right for relaxing in the hot summer evening. Their grounds were immaculate. The rooms were plush, yet homey.
We stayed in one of the upstairs rooms in the main farmhouse. The new addition that they call the cottage had been built not long before our stay. It was quite a bit more spendy, and a little too much for our budget at the time, so we did what we were able to do.
I don’t remember much about the specifics of our breakfast – it was a long time ago, and being our anniversary, I had other things on my mind. What I do remember was that for part of the breakfast, they served some homemade granola. I had never cared much for granola, but this breakfast at the Birchfield changed all that.
My Recomendation
I suppose I’ve made it very apparent that the Birchfield Manor holds a special place in my heart. They’ve been very hospitable to my wife and I over the years and have added a touch of class to our dining experiences. I can add my strongest endorsement to this establishment. Whether for dinner or for a stay at the bed and breakfast, try it. I’m sure you’ll like it. It isn’t the cheapest place around, but it’s well worth every penny.
4th of July fireworks (2013) at Birch Bay, WA (Photo credit: WXRob)
During our short stay, the tide was low and there was about 1/4 mile of exposed beach. People were out playing in the sand all over the place. Many people appeared to be digging for clams.
We took a peaceful walk along the sidewalk, looking for interesting shops or restaurants. Quite frankly, we didn’t find anything along the main road that we were overly enthused about. We did, however, find a nice little flea market sort of setup in the park. It was worth taking an hour to peruse the vendor’s wares.
While we were visiting Birch Bay, I’m just glad we didn’t see anything like the people who recorded this video experienced.
I sure wouldn’t want to be here during a tsunami! This place would disappear.
Stacked on the onramps, Traffic jam, after a day of work, 2 hours of traffic to get home, Seattle, Washington, USA (Photo credit: Wonderlane)
I just experienced what may have been my most horrendous driving experience of my entire life.
We were traveling from our home in Yakima, to a family member’s wedding near Lynden, Washington. It was a Friday afternoon drive. I mapped out our trip for the shortest distance on the best freeways.
Online mapping suggested just over 4 hours for the trip. We left at 1:00 p.m. and the wedding was to start at 7:00.
I admit poor planning. The 2 hours to drive the 135 miles to the beginning of the metropolitan area and the point were we exit I-90 and head north on I-405, and awhile later on I-5, would put us in the heaviest traffic at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.
Still, I had no idea what we were about to encounter.
After the 135 miles in 2 hours I just mentioned (which included a brief stop in North Bend), we endured stop and go traffic for the next 45 miles through about Marysville (which included a brief stop every 50 feet).
Suddenly, the 3 hour time cushion we had left for ourselves seemed rather insignificant.
We made it to the Lynden area with just enough time to hurriedly register at our reserved condo and change into our wedding duds. We arrived at the church about 10 minutes late. Fortunately, this wedding was typical to most I’ve been to and started a little late. We arrived just as the groom was greeting the guests from the front of the church.
My cousin’s wedding was lovely. It was very relaxing to sit quietly in the back pew of the church listening to encouraging words and soft music. That was just what the doctor ordered after after our miserable experience driving up the I-5 corridor.
My recommendation – avoid metro area freeways during rush hour.
I feel compelled to stop at a coffee shop frequently while traveling. They offer so much variety and interesting decor and concepts.
At Long Beach Coffee Roasters, we found a strange mix of new age, antique, and home town cafe.
The free Wi-Fi was the main attraction for us. Internet access was a bit of a problem around the area, so we came here mostly to spend some time catching up with our emails and facebook connections.
My mocha was satisfactory, though not quite as sweet as I prefer. I think the coffee was good, but a little exotic and unusual for my taste.
The barista with the blue hair was very chatty with the local guests that entered the shop. As and outsider, I didn’t feel quite as welcomed as other guests seemed to be, so I suspect they are most comfortable with their regular customers.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad experience and it served our purposes.
A cousin’s wedding in Lynden, WA area later this summer will take us to the northwest corner of the state. We’ve booked one night at the Worldmark Birch Bay for our accomodations while there.
A quick online search for things to see and do in the Birch Bay area brought me to their Chamber of Commerce website and revealed some options for us, but we’ll have to be pretty selective due to the limited amount of time we will be there and the time occupied by our primary reason for being there in the first place.
United States side of the Peace Arch monument. Blaine, Washington, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Blaine, WA is nearby and I wouldn’t mind stopping in to see the Peace Arch State Park. The only problem is that the park is situated between the US and Canadian border stations. It seems that I would need my passport updated in order to enter the park. Time is too short to get that taken care of before the trip, so I’ll just have to enjoy the photos that others have taken.
Another option would be to stop by the Blaine Marine Park where we could take a ride on the Plover Foot Ferry. Ok, probably not, due to our time constraints, but we may take part of the 2 mile waterfront walk around to the marina and enjoy a little bird watching and the views of the San Juan Islands, or looking the other direction, a view of Mt Baker.
Birch Bay has a public market open on weekends through the summer. There is something about a public market that is intriguing to me. It might be the entrepreneurship represented by each of the vendors. I usually end up spending most of my time quizzing the vendors about their businesses. Anyway, it usually don’t cost anything to walk through the market to look around.
Because I enjoy perusing a museum, the Drayton Harbor Maritime Museum might be a place to stop in for a look-see. It would take us out onto the Semiahmoo Spit and it houses a restored sailing boat among their collection. I think access to the museum requires a ride on the Plover Foot Ferry, so again, time may be a constraint to visiting the museum on this trip.
If we had kids with us, I’m sure they would want to go to the Birch Bay Waterslides water park. Besides the Northwest Washington Fair, the water park is probably Birch Bay’s premier tourist attraction and draws over 60,000 paid guests each year.
Due to the time element, I may bypass all the local sight-seeing this trip and just leave early the next morning and make the return home over the North Cascades Highway. It is one of the most beautiful mountain passes I’ve ever experienced, but it’s been awhile since I’ve taken that route.
I had seen photos of Cottage Bakery on Pinterest before our trip, so I suspected that it was a highlight to a number of people’s vacation. I’ve never shied away from checking out a local bakery, so I figured that I owed it to myself and to my readers to make my own evaluation of this one.
While on a walk by my lonesome, I decided to stop by.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in the shop was that I would have to wait in line to see what they have in their pastry counter. I’m really not the patient sort, but in this case, having to wait in line meant that the product was in demand. That’s a good thing.
I purchased a small selection from the pastry counter and took them “to go” back to my condo to share with the family. We sampled their fruit turnovers, a cream cheese butterhorn, and something they call a blueberry race track. Later we went back as a group to try a few more items, including their muffins.
Everything we consumed from this shop was very tasty. I would have to say that Cottage Bakery will be a regular stop on every trip we make to Long Beach.
At the recommendation of one of the Long Beach locals, we stopped in at the Lost Roo restaurant for fish and chips. While there, members of our party sampled crab cakes and clam chowder, in addition to the fish and chips.
No one in our group were the least bit disappointed with the experience. The food was tasty and plentiful. The service was prompt and friendly. The decor and surroundings were clean and comfortable. The prices were reasonable – even for our frugal style.
I enjoy dipping my fish in barbeque sauce. During the meal, I asked for some BBQ for dipping. The waitress, seemingly apologetic, commented that their barbeque sauce is made with blueberries and wanted to know if that would be all right. “Hello!” Of course it’s all right. Who wouldn’t want to try some blueberry barbeque sauce?
The Lost Roo will definitely be a restaurant that we will return to on our next trip to Long Beach.
If you aren’t looking for Olebob’s, you will likely miss it.
Olebob’s is the kind of place that one would drive right by and not even notice as someplace that they might wish to stop. It’s located along the port of Ilwaco in the midst of several seafood packing houses.
Whenever I am looking for a place to eat during one of my vacation trips, I try to find locals who will confide in me where they like to eat. I avoid the trendy tourist focused restaurants and instead attempt to find where the “real” people eat.
Olebob’s came on one of those recommendations. I asked where to go for the best seafood. I was told that if you want Clam Chowder you should go to Captain Bob’s Chowder House, located next to Marsh’s Free Museum. If you want fish and chips, you should go to the Lost Roo. If you want crab cakes, you should find Olebob’s.
The short trip to Ilwaco was well worth it. We easily located Olebob’s Galley Cafe nestled in behind their seafood market. We found casual accomodations and a relaxed family atmosphere. We placed our order at the counter and sat at a table for a short wait for our food.
The food arrived quickly and was hot and tasty. The crab cakes were scrumptious as were the fish tacos that I ordered. Our only disappointment was that the portion sizes were on the small side. None in our group walked away from the table completely satisfied and full. For the prices, we anticipated more food, but on the other hand, it’s fresh seafood. Maybe our expectations were wrong.
Still, for the quality of the food, I would definitely go back.
