Seattle TravelGram

My husband and I recently went to Zihuatanejo -Ixtapa Mexico and without a doubt this was our favorite vacation ever. We had a solid week of perfect weather. It was between 80-85 degrees 24 hours a day and the water temperature was 85 degrees. AHHH!

We went snorkeling and saw hundreds of multi-colored tropical fish, ate really great and very inexpensive food, read loads of books, walked up and down white sand beaches and thoroughly enjoyed every minute we were there.

 The town of Zihuatanejo is a fishing village where you’ll see the fishermen bringing in their catch of the day to sell right on the beach. We learned that early morning or later in the afternoon were the best times for us to take long walks through town (no cruise ship crowds).

Dennis and I have been to Mexico several times and each trip we’ve visited a new area. We have always had a wondeful time but we are definitely going back to Zihuatanejo as soon as we get more Alaska Airline miles saved up.

Crew racing is a huge sport around the Seattle area and this weekend kicked it off in grand style. The Windermere Cup starts off the official opening day for boating season. Thousands of fans lined the Montlake Cut to cheer on the University of Washington’s Husky mens and womes crew teams.

Channel Lodge

Just a 40 minute drive north of Seattle is the wonderful charming town of LaConner. To get there we headed north on I5 and just a few miles north of the Mt. Vernon exit we headed due West into some of the most picturesque farmland in the Northwest. We drove along the tulip fields and stopped at Roozengaarden Display Garden where the perfectly landscaped acres are open to the public for viewing.

The historic town of LaConner is home to wonderful galleries, small unique stores and a wide variety of dining choices. Visitors form all over the country come to stroll and shop. There is also whale watching adventures where you can go out into Puget Sound in hopes of finding the Killer Whales that live here year round.

My husband and I stayed at the charming  Channel Lodge right in downtown LaConner overlooking the Swinomish Channel and the Rainbow Bridge. Our suite was warm and cozy with a fireplace, seating area, huge soaking tub, free wireless Internet, a private balcony, and added to this was a delicious homemade Continental breakfast. LaConner Channel Lodge is on of the participants in the 2010 Seattle TourSaver.

If you need more of a good reason to visit, on May 14th seven of La Conner’s great restaurants will participate in their first “Taste of La Conner”. For $25 you will  be able to choose from 5 tastes. Each location will feature a local ingredient and show off thier delicious specialties.

We had a fantastic spring tour of Mount Rainier with EverGreen Escapes. EverGreen Escapes in one of the 2010 partners in the Seattle TourSaver.

Seattle Skyline. Photo by JasonHooverPhotography.com

We took a great helicopter flightseeing tour from Boeing Field over downtown, past the Space Needle and Snoqualmie Falls. Awesome!

Dennis and Nola Palmer get "Sublime" ready to transit the Chittenden Locks. Photo: Scott McMurren

Nola and Dennis Palmer took me for a brief boat trip on their sailboat “Sublime”. We motored from the boat yard on Lake Union, through Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks to Puget Sound. From there, we motored north to Shilshole Bay Marina. The locks are fascinating! Check out the video! Great day for a boat ride!

Whoa. Great sail on the Washington ferries around Puget Sound. Above, coming in for a soft landing at Mukilteo aboard the m/v Cathlamet. First, from the Seattle terminal over to Bainbridge Island. Then, up to Poulsbo and over the Hood Canal floating bridge. I had time for a cup of coffee at “Better Living Through Coffee” in downtown Pt. Townsend before catching the ferry over to Whidbey Island. From there, it was a scenic drive over to Clinton to catch the quick ferry to Mukilteo. From there, it was a 25 mile drive back to the Homewood Suites. One great road trip=one great ferry system. Watch the video!

Honestly, we love these guys at Kenmore Air. Above, the “Metrosexual” Turbo Otter (DHC-3) pulls into Victoria’s Inner Harbour after a flight from South Lake Union.  Fly to Friday Harbor, Port Angeles or dozens of other destinations around the San Juan Islands and British Columbia.

Now, you can earn Alaska Airlines miles when you fly with Kenmore Air. Under the new agreement, you get 250 miles for each segment. Earn double miles (500 miles per segment) between now and May 31. You have to register at Alaskaair.com to qualify.

Plus, there is a 2-for-1 ticket in the Seattle TourSaver for flightseeing around Seattle with Kenmore Air. Love it! Watch the video!

Oh–we had a nice visit to the Homewood Suites on Pike Street. Mind you, there are a couple of Homewood Suites in downtown Seattle. One is over on Western Avenue near the Seattle P-I building. Our home-away-from-home is just upstream from the Washington State Convention Center on Pike Street (MAP). We dubbed our experience “My Suite Life” ’cause everything was included: daily hot breakfast, free dinner/beer/wine reception four nights per week, free wi-fi…the works. Check out the video–and be the first on your block to enjoy “My Suite Life”!

The keeper’s quarters at the Point No Point lighthouse on Puget Sound are available as a vacation rental.  The quarters sleep up to six people and has a full kitchen.  Check out the video.