A Week in the PNW | My Trip to Washington State
Hello from the West Coast! Even though I have spent almost half my life in New Hampshire now, the west coast still has a large chunk of my heart, so I am so happy to be back this way for the season!
I started off my summer adventure in California with a week long detour to the Pacific-Northwest where my parents and I visited with my brother Alexander, his wife India, and their lovable dog Shasta. It is always a blast when we are with them, and it was fun to run about the northwest of Washington before their move down to CA.
We enjoyed fun activities such as going out on the lake in their boat and tubing, skate surfing along the ocean walk in Bellingham, getting baked goods all about town, and visiting the beautiful, nearby islands!
We went back to the San Juan Islands, a place I love so much! We took the ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, a tiny town with little shops, coffee shops, and even a chocolate shop! We stopped at Crow’s Nest Coffee Shop for frappuccinos and lemonade, a place I highly recommend for a delicious and refreshing treat. Our lunch spot was at Herb’s Tavern, and anyone going should hands down order the burger! After a little shopping and some chocolate, we drove out of town to see some lighthouses.
Our first stop was at Cattle Point Lighthouse. On this part of the island there are so many beautiful rolling hills, farmland, and bluffs. We enjoyed a small hike to the lighthouse, and even saw a grey whale from the hilltop!
We then drove to Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the other side of the island. This side of the island feels more like a rainforest, with moss hanging off of trees, and lush green everywhere. The lighthouse here sits on a rocky spot that reminds me of the coast of Maine! From this spot we saw a small pod of orcas across the water between us and Vancouver Island. It was my first time seeing orcas in the wild, and it was amazing!
A new spot we visited on the trip was Whidbey Island. We had been to Whidbey in the past, but had never ventured down or really explored it at all. What a beautiful place! We did an easy hike on the Bluff Trail at Ebey’s Landing. That hike was incredible, and it felt like we were along the coast in Northern California. I am already dying to go back and do more of the hike!
After the Bluff Trail we headed 10 minutes up the road to the Captain Whidbey, a little inn sitting on the waters edge, which is home to a lovely restaurant. We were seated in their beautiful booth seating up against a paneled wall, with views out to the water. I ordered the gnocchi, and everyone agreed all the food was delicious! We topped it all off with a flourless chocolate cake slice for the table, and headed home with bellies full, and wishing we didn’t have to leave the next morning.
We awoke bright and early the next morning to catch a flight to CA, and that is where I will be living for the next 3 months. I was sorry to say goodbye to beautiful, lush green Washington, but am excited for the California road ahead! Stay tuned for more travel guides to some amazing spots in CA!
