Tacoma's Wharf

Sometimes I forget how big Tacoma is... I could literally take you to a new place each day and share with you years of cool places to frequent. One things gets in the way of that...Haha work!!! It's no secret the waterfront is getting a facelift, from extending the trails to adding in some pretty awesome places to hang. 

 What I love most, is that this portion of Tacoma has been around as long as the city has been in existence dating back to the 1800's. From an old mining town to a path with panoramic views of the Commencement Bay, with food and recreation along the way. 

Just below the hill from my house lays this beautiful area, Fallyn and I decided to go check out the new haps down at Point Ruston.  Which is BOOMING with new restaurants, shopping, and events

. 

SUMMER MUST DO AT POINT RUSTON:

- Four Words... Farrelli's Roof Top Deck 

- Grab a scoop at Ice Cream Socials New location (it opened Wednesday and its BIG! hopefully this relieves some wait time at the 6th ave location...it's sooo good I don't mind the wait HAHA

- Play date at the Spray Park/ Play Ground
open 12pm-10pm, they also have a colorful LED fountain light show from dusk-10pm
This will be the closest thing I get to Disneys California Adventures World Of Color till November!!!! 

- Rent Bikes or Surreys and cruise alongside the water.  

- Grand Plaza - which has a mural being painted that looks smokin good!!! This space holds special events such as Summer Concerts, free and family friendly. They say this space will also home  a ice rink during the holiday season!

Well that's my Local Summer Bucket-list! Go check out the new digs at Point Ruston! Enjoy!!!

Look Out For The Next Postcard From The PNW!!!

Brittney 

City Of Dreams

Port Townsend is a small town full of history. Presumed to be what Seattle is today. It didn't quite make it to that expectation. The town homes the most beautiful Victorian buildings I have ever seen and sits above the Puget Sound.

We go to Port Townsend once a year, and every time I pester Anthony about staying the night. If you've learned anything about Anthony at this point, you know he's consistent with his "No's" 

It's about an hour and forty-five minute drive from Tacoma. The drive is beautiful crossing the hood canal bridge, awesome views of the Olympic Mountains, and driving alongside the Chimacum Valley. -We have a thing for Valleys.

We arrived around 10:30 downtown, the streets are lined with boutiques and good eats. You could easily spend an afternoon here.

Favorite Eats: Waterfront Pizza

Favorite Espresso: Ground to Perfection Espresso

The architecture is breathtaking. If you love a good background for your photos. You will find one every step you take!

Once we finished downtown we headed up the hill to Fort Worden. I will never forget the first time Anthony took me here, it was in the beginning of our relationship and it's one of my favorite memories of us.

Fort Worden was once a military base. It has evolved into a state park. You are able to go down for the day, camp, or attend events in the park. You will need a Discovery Pass or 10.00 for park entry.

The old bunkers are our favorite part. Consisting of maze like tunnels that are dark and a little creepy
- every young kids hide and seek dream.
 You are able to walk through the bunkers, with multiply staircases to chose from that will lead you to the top, where it overlooks high above the  Puget Sound. There are also paths that lead down to the beach.  Besides Battery Kinzie which is the bunker directly on the water there are numerous others up on the hillside, with trails that lead to each one. We let Fallyn direct us through the forest trails and we got lost... no biggie, we got to see everything.  HAHA

I highly recommend Port Townsend and Fort Worden for your next day trip. If you have any questions on this spectacular destination you can comment or email me at:

brittneydolce@gmail.com

Look out for the next Postcard From The PNW

Brittney

Hey You Guys -Sloth

Keeping with the movie inspired theme this week, I take you to Astoria, Oregon for Throwback Thursday! Little under a three hour drive from Tacoma. You will arrive at the 4.1 mile Astoria-Meglar Bridge which welcomes you to Astoria, Oregon.

A perfect place to take a day trip, Astoria is a cute town full of history. My type of history: Pop Culture. Multiple movies have been filmed there. One In particular the treasure hunt classic, The Goonies. Released in 1985 -WHOOP WHOOP- the year I was born.  

Growing up The Goonies was one of mine as well as Anthony's favorite films. Of course we had to share it with Fallyn who fell in love with it immediately. In 2015, thirty years after the release, I had my heart set on going down to Astoria and taking a picture in front of the famous Goon Dock Home protrayed in the film. The house on average had anywhere from 1200-1500 visitors a day. It is located in a cute neighborhood painted with Goonies influences on every corner. 

I GOT MY PICTURE!!! - another cross off on my PNW BUCKETLIST!!!

A few weeks later the owner of the home, covered the house with blue tarps. After YEARS of welcoming fans, and even giving tours, the owners had enough, not all the visitors were respectful of the owners property. That was two years ago, the house is still not accessible to the public.  

There is still plenty for the Goonies enthusiast to checkout in Astoria. The Goondocks website -LINK- is a great resource of all things Goonies go check them out!!! 

Look out for the next Postcard From The PNW!!!

Brittney

Throwback Thursday: Ruby Beach

The 101 drive is beautiful and has a ton of places to stop and see along the way.  One in particular I picked to share with you today is Ruby Beach.  The first time Anthony and I took the 101 drive we almost missed this hidden piece of land.  A little under a 3 hour drive from Tacoma, you will arrive at a gravel road, which takes you to a parking lot with a restroom facility -at this point you will probably need it if you haven't stopped yet! Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash. 

You will enter a trail near the parking lot that will take you down to the beach. The view from the top is is breathtaking. A panoramic picture of the Pacific Ocean with a maze of driftwood along the shore and the tall sea stacks that line the coast

Once at the bottom of the trail you will have to climb over large pieces of driftwood that lay welcoming you. Once crossed you will find yourself on a rocky beach that will lead you to the tall sea stacks. If your not familiar with sea stacks, they are similar to an island, that have been eroded over the years off the cliff sides. Which is fascinating to me! You are able to walk through them and admire the tall structures that once were attached to the land.  

Ruby Beach is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to in Washington. They say it is named after the Ruby like crystal that are found in the beaches sand.  You will have to go check it out!!! 

Look out for the next Postcard From The PNW 

Brittney

What's Growing On...

This weeks Around Tacoma Tuesday.  I bring you to Tacoma's Stadium District, more specifically Wrights Park where you will find The W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. Opening in 1908, this glass domed, Victorian style conservatory holds plants from all over the world.  

The admission is free, but a suggested donation of 3.00 is appreciated. As you walk in you feel like you have been transformed to a different land.  Throughout you will find exotic tropical plants and seasonal flower displays.  Hidden within this secret garden is a pond filled with Koi Fish. Of course this was the highlight for Fallyn and I'm sure many other kids.  

 

On the way out make sure to stop at the gift shop! Occasionally they will have extra flowers for sale -exhibit quality- along with some unique yard ornaments.  The Conservatory will be going through structural upgrades as well as adding space, for more displays. I can't wait to check it out when it's all done! 

If you haven't yet, go check out The Botanical Conservatory!!!

Make sure to head over to Instagram: Brit_pnw tomorows the last day to enter the GIVEAWAY for a  Washington State Necklace!

Look out for the next Postcard From The PNW!!!

Brittney

Throwback Thursday: Westport, Bestport

Throwback Thursday: Westport 

A couple of months ago we decided to head out to the ocean. If you haven't been to a Washington beach before, they are not your average sunny day, hot weather beach adventure. Of course it was April, not beach weather yet but still an amazing day trip location.  

A two hour drive and one stop for coffee later, we arrived at Westport.  We pulled into Westhaven State Park where we like to park, they do require a Discovery Pass, or a small fee that you can pay with a card.  The parking lot was empty, not a soul in site.  Usually the lot is packed, you will see surfers carrying their boards down the paths, kids running with kites, smoke from campfires that are neighbored by sand castles.  Not the case today.  It was deserted. It was eerily beautiful.  

Of course this adventure we brought Gabby, fur friends are allowed.  She kept me company while Fallyn and Anthony braved the icy cold water of the Pacific Ocean. While they were in the water chasing the waves or running from them, haha. gabby and I sat on the beach and watched, this is the moment it hit me I need to start documenting our travels -hence this blog.  

As soon as the water became to cold for them, we decided to explore the beach. Fallyn has been to Westport with Anthony's mom -she wrote the book on adventuring- So she was excited to show us their favorite spots to explore.  One of them being The Grand Canyon of Westport.  

We built up an appetite exploring so we headed to get some food.  Across from the marina is a row of buildings in which you can find gift shops, ice cream shops, a candy store as well as restaurants. We did stop at Granny Hazel's Candy and Gifts Shop,  before we went to lunch.  They have a bulk candy area where Fallyn and I went nuts! Anthony kept telling us, not to much.  Haha yea right! If your a licorice fan like me, they have an amazing selection. The couple that own it are very sweet. If you ever go to Westport make sure to stop by and visit,  their wonderful to chat with.  

A couple of weeks before we went to Westport I read an article on must eat places in Washington. On it was Bennetts Fish Shack! Located across from the marina amongst the row of shops, I was beyond excited to try it.  It's a smaller restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is full of fresh caught items. Fallyn of course got the chicken strips.  Anthony and I split the fish -battered cod- and chips as well as a bowl of clam chowder. We were glad we shared they have huge portions, and probably the best French fries I have ever had.  The clam chowder was sooooooo good, we will definitely be going back to Bennetts Fish Shack for this, except next time I'm getting my own bowl. 

  If you haven't been to Westport yet add it to your PNW day trip list!!!

Make sure you head over to my Instagram to enter my Washington State Necklace Giveaway!!!

Instagram: Brit_pnw 

Look out for the next Postcard From The PNW 

Brittney

High Tide, Low Tide - Take Me Back To Nisqually

This Memorial weekend we decided to stay close to home and go on an adventure we have been wanting to cross off our bucket list. The Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.  When I say we I mean me.  Anthony has been there before when he was younger and knew Fallyn and I would love it.

The Wildlife Refuge is a large piece of land set aside to help preserve the wildlife. No pets are allowed in the Refuge so they won't disturb the animals or land.   There is a $3.00 cash fee to enter the Wildlife Refuge.  We learned the hard way.  We only had two dollars cash with no ATM in site.  A fellow Wildlife Refuge traveler let us know there is a gas station on the corner with an ATM.  We headed back to the car hoping to scrounge up a dollar worth of change. When the same guy came up behind us with a dollar.  Thank you generous traveler, your greatly appreciated.  

So we started our journey, we were able to see geese with newborn babies, seals, crabs, fish and about a dozen blue herons.  The Wildlife was fun to see but my favorite part was the scenery. The Wildlife Refuge has created multiply flat trails, great for kids. Consisting of raised boardwalks and gravel paths. Whether the tide is high and you feel like your walking on water, or low and see the waters muddy floor, you will be in awe of the boardwalk structures they have created.

Along the path you will come across two huge white barns. Prior to becoming a Wildlife Refuge it was farmland. They decided to keep these two beautiful rare gems in rememberance of the lands history. 

 

The Wildlife Refuge is definitely a must see place in the PNW

For Memorial Day I wanted to announce my next GIVEAWAY! One lucky person will win my statement piece I never take off. My Washington Necklace!!! It is perfect for the PNW enthusiast!!!

Wednesday I will be posting a photo on Instagram on how to enter!!! Be on the look out!

Instagram:  Brit_PNW

Look out for the next Postcard From The PNW!!!

Brittney