Last month, here in Missouri, was filled with several brutally hot days. At least, it felt brutal as we were trying to finish up some outside work on our house before winter sets in. Anyway, my mind took me back to one August when we took a refreshingly cool road trip.
Our favorite area to explore is the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and this trip did not disappoint. So that we could get the most enjoyment in the PNW we decided to fly to Seattle, rent a car and tour the coastline. For planning purposes, keep in mind that the month of August is the best time to head to the PNW, with more sunshine and less rain than normal.
We arrived in Seattle, picked up our car and decided to do some fun touristy stuff in the city before heading out on the road. Our first stop was the iconic Space Needle. This is a “don’t miss” stop for any trip to the Seattle area. You will enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of not only the city skyline, but the Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier and the beauty of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. It was truly breathtaking.
No trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to Pike Place Market. Because we were traveling, we were unable to really take advantage of the market with its many offerings of fresh seafood, flowers, vegetables, etc. but it was truly a marvel to see. It is described as a “vibrant, historic neighborhood covering nine acres right in the middle of downtown.” That is an apt description as it is home to hundreds of businesses and residents. Having been in property management for years, I was intrigued by the fact that 500+ people live at the market.
After enjoying a dinner of the best smoked salmon alfredo, we headed out of the city towards Port Angeles for the night. The next day we explored Olympic National Park with its many deep blue lakes and beautiful rivers. Hiking, backpacking and fishing are all activities that can be enjoyed here, none of which we did as our main goal for that day was to head out on the ferry to Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. It had been many years since I had been to this beautiful city, and I was eager to see it through adult eyes.
The influence of Great Britain is visible in the architecture of Victoria. The building I remember most from traveling there as a child is the famous Empress Hotel. It was built in the early 20th century by the Canadian Pacific Railway to encourage travel across country. I remember, even as a child, being so impressed with the architecture. It was probably the biggest building I had seen in my young years, and its chateau-style spoke to my heart. I would’ve liked to book a “high tea” at the Empress where you must dress up (strict dress code), enjoy the best scones ever and get to experience a real British tea party. But it wasn’t to be, as you may remember from past blogs, my husband is more the microbrewery type. Haha!
Next on our list of things to do was to tour the breathtaking Butchart Gardens. Imagine seeing 55 acres of flower gardens! We researched its history before going and learned it had once been a limestone quarry that the Butchart family had used for cement production. When that was exhausted Mrs. Butchart decided to turn it into a lush garden with hundreds of plant varieties. You can see rose gardens, a Japanese garden, an Italian garden and more recently a Children’s Pavilion and Menagerie Carousel was added. The Gardens remain with the Butchart family, and you can see the pride they still take in continuing the legacy of Mrs. Jennie Butchart. It is truly worth making the trip to see such beauty. I hope you will see it at some point, as you will not be disappointed.
We headed back to the US to continue our tour of the PNW…but I will save that for my next blog!
Lori Herr for The Gift of Scent