Welcome to Pacific Northwest and Beyond !
Pacific Northwest and Beyond is a Pacific Northwest and Travel blog with a small, locally-focused events calendar and local routes.
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Washington State
Three Washington State Spots to Soothe Your Hobbit Soul
Pining for the Shire? Here are a few places to visit to quell your hobbity cravings in Washington State without visiting Middle Earth (or at least New Zealand).
British Columbia
In the Trees: Your PNW Treehouse Bucket List
We visited the Nelson Treehouse Company’s B&B Treehouse point, along with a couple of other in-the-tree locations (the Forest House, Free Spirit Spheres, and -- at least in spirit -- the treehouse at Doe Bay) in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s a lowdown on getting high (up in the trees at least) along with a listing of other treehouses in the PNW you can rent.
Fairs and Festivals
The Art Cars of the Seattle Fremont Fair
Every year strange creations on wheels show up at the Fremont Fair in June. Here are favorite Seattle art cars from the 2018 event.
King County
A Damn Fine Piece of Pie: Where to Eat...
This post was written before the COVID-19 outbreak, but I decided to let it run for Pi day as scheduled. In Seattle, we're eating our Pie on Pi Day at home in Seattle -- but when things pick back up these are some great places to go. Put them on your calendar for PIE day, which is January 23. Whether it's Pi Day (in March) or Pie Day (in January) you're likely to see a lot of posts about pie. But any day is a good day for Pie. So we're weighing in on our favorite go-to pie spots in Seattle and western Washington State.
Japan
Visiting the Gion Kyoto Starbucks
I'm from Seattle, where there seems to be a Starbucks on every corner. So when travel, I tend keep away. But I'm glad I ended up going into the Gion Starbucks in Kyoto -- it's a different world than your average Starbucks.
This is Home!
Pacific Northwest and Beyond started out as a local blog. No! Wait! A travel blog. No! Both!
Ultimately, it's a blog about places -- primarily in the Pacific Northwest and. sometimes, beyond. About ways to explore those places -- by foot, bike. About local events and things to do and routes.
COVID-19 made a bit change for us, as it did for everyone, and it will likely permanently change the way I travel. Luckily, I live in a beautiful area of the world that I look forward to getting back out and exploring.
Pacific Northwest
King County
The Drone Video of the Capitol Hill Black Lives...
An photographer took an overhead drone photo of the Black Lives Matter mural in Seattle's CHAZ. I thought it was worth a post.
Cycling
Snoqualmie Bike Ride: Remlinger and Back
I cycled this route years ago, and intended to write about it at that time. A few things may have changed since then, but it remains a good cycling route with a good stop at Remlinger Farms at the mid-point (when they reopen), This route is also my first go-round with adding route sharing capacity. If you have a route you'd like to share with readers, you can do it!
Seattle Vintage
Seattle as it Will Never Be: Remembering Pompeii on...
This "Seattle Vintage" post is husband's recollection of a funny short film from the 1970s which followed archaeologists excavating the remains of the ancient city of Seattle after an eruption of Mount Rainier. This is mixed in with my own memories of the now-long-gone Seattle Center Fun Forest.
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Bainbridge Island
Halls Hill Lookout: Bainbridge Island’s Mosaic Labyrinth
This beautiful mosaic labyrinth sits on a wooded park overlooking the water on Bainbridge Island, WA.
Washington State
Three Washington State Spots to Soothe Your Hobbit Soul
Pining for the Shire? Here are a few places to visit to quell your hobbity cravings in Washington State without visiting Middle Earth (or at least New Zealand).
Bookstores
Books and Boats! The unique beauty of Venice’s Libreria...
Read more about this beautiful and unique Venice bookstore that has its books in gondolas and other boats due to Venice's rising water level.
Paddling
Thule Hullavator Demo and Review
I guess the Thule Hullavator is like an elevator, only for your hull (of your kayak). I've used the Hullavator for a few years now -- overall it's a nice piece of gear and lets me schlep my kayak around solo. But it does have a few drawbacks as well. Here's what I think, with a video demo.
British Columbia
In the Trees: Your PNW Treehouse Bucket List
We visited the Nelson Treehouse Company’s B&B Treehouse point, along with a couple of other in-the-tree locations (the Forest House, Free Spirit Spheres, and -- at least in spirit -- the treehouse at Doe Bay) in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s a lowdown on getting high (up in the trees at least) along with a listing of other treehouses in the PNW you can rent.
Fairs and Festivals
The Art Cars of the Seattle Fremont Fair
Every year strange creations on wheels show up at the Fremont Fair in June. Here are favorite Seattle art cars from the 2018 event.
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Travel
Europe
48 Hours in Santiago de Compostela: See, Do, Eat
Santiago de Compostela is a fascinating town with a rich history visited each year by the many pilgrims who come to walk the Camino de Santiago.
Here are the best things to do if you have 48 hours to spend in this Spanish town.
Here are the best things to do if you have 48 hours to spend in this Spanish town.
Europe
Marie Antoinette. Peasant.
On the grounds of Versailles, away from the palace, and away from her house on the grounds, Marie Antoinette had a rustic village and farm constructed where she could get away from palace life and pretend to be a peasant. Here's more about this interesting area of Versailles, that I actually enjoyed visiting more than the Hall of Mirrors.
Armchair Travels
Traveling the World…Virtually
When you're stuck at home one way to possibly assuage your travel lust is to go on some virtual tours. Plenty are available on your laptop or desktop and, if you're lucky enough to be staying home with a VR headset, you can heighten the escapism with plenty of 360 degree videos and adventures. Here are some of my favorites.
Freshly Blogged
Europe
48 Hours in Santiago de Compostela: See, Do, Eat
Santiago de Compostela is a fascinating town with a rich history visited each year by the many pilgrims who come to walk the Camino de Santiago.
Here are the best things to do if you have 48 hours to spend in this Spanish town.
Here are the best things to do if you have 48 hours to spend in this Spanish town.
King County
The Drone Video of the Capitol Hill Black Lives...
An photographer took an overhead drone photo of the Black Lives Matter mural in Seattle's CHAZ. I thought it was worth a post.
Camping and Hiking
A Lesson in Hammock Camping
I got a lesson in hammock camping from some avid hammock campers. Here's what I found out: what you need as well as some things to consider.
Cycling
Snoqualmie Bike Ride: Remlinger and Back
I cycled this route years ago, and intended to write about it at that time. A few things may have changed since then, but it remains a good cycling route with a good stop at Remlinger Farms at the mid-point (when they reopen), This route is also my first go-round with adding route sharing capacity. If you have a route you'd like to share with readers, you can do it!
Seattle Vintage
Seattle as it Will Never Be: Remembering Pompeii on...
This "Seattle Vintage" post is husband's recollection of a funny short film from the 1970s which followed archaeologists excavating the remains of the ancient city of Seattle after an eruption of Mount Rainier. This is mixed in with my own memories of the now-long-gone Seattle Center Fun Forest.
Europe
Marie Antoinette. Peasant.
On the grounds of Versailles, away from the palace, and away from her house on the grounds, Marie Antoinette had a rustic village and farm constructed where she could get away from palace life and pretend to be a peasant. Here's more about this interesting area of Versailles, that I actually enjoyed visiting more than the Hall of Mirrors.