HOOD TO COAST, OR

January 11, 2023

I know Larry David says you can’t say Happy New Year after January 7th but I make my own rules.
2023 started on the right foot this year with amazing humans in beautiful places.

My main squeeze of friends has started a NYD tradition of hiking in Mount Hood. At this time of year the trail is completely snowed in and unbelievably gorgeous. The hike is bit over 5 miles round trip. We take a break at the frozen lake, snack, and sip whiskey, or in the case this year, Fireball. Upon returning to the trail head we always set and have a fun bbq. It’s really just the best even though it’s cold.

The following day we headed to the coast to visit our close friends from LA that just bought a home out there! Still can’t believe they will here now and in such an awesome location. The trip was short but sweet and just perfect.

I think we can all agree that years keep passing and each one keeps getting a bit weirder than the last. Maybe it’s age but also the new norm is just not normal. Everyone is still adjusting and changing. I am not one to set resolutions but rather intentions. I would like to spend more time this year looking inward, focus on myself and self-care, resetting priorities and to work on pushing myself back into being uncomfortable. The last three years def put me in a routine that wasn’t ncessarily bad, but just too repetitive. It’s time to get weird.

Cheers to everyone in 2023. You do you!

DANNY'S 40TH // WASHINGTON & MORE

July 25, 2022

Sweet Birthday Baby turned 40. We had originally planned going up to Vancouver BC & Seattle but decided to pivot so Danny could be with our dog on his birthday - one of his wishes.

We are planning a trip to Crater Lake later this summer and just bought a new tent so we thought it would a good idea and fun for us to try out/trial run in case we needed anything for the trip. Danny found us a cute campsite located only about 40 min from home. It was the first time we have tent camped together and it was great. Steve loved it, too.

Since we are now McMenamin’s people, we also booked a night at their Kalama Harbor Lodge which sits on the side of the Columbia River. We booked a king river view room that Steve could stay in and it was literally the best. The room was so nice and having the balcony was perfect. They even gave Steve a McMenamin’s bandana! Working on our passports, we bounced around to different to their bars, restaurants and found their secret rooms. Having gone on a weeknight was a good choice as it was quiet and calm. Just what we wanted.

After getting back to Portland we had a friend’s dinner at over Danny’s favorite pizza at Assembly Brewing and then topped it all off with a shared birthday dinner with our friend Jessica at King Tide Fish & Shell.

It was a perfect week and the best way to enter into a new decade.

We love you, Danny.

10TH ANNIVERSARY // WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA

November 24, 2021

This past weekend Danny and I celebrated TEN years together! That’s a long time! Instead of just going out to dinner we thought it would be fun to explore more of the PNW and head up to Whidbey Island located in the Puget Sound (about an hour North of Seattle).

To get to the island we took the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry. I had never been on a car ferry before and it was so fun! I know this is a normal thing for locals in the area but I thought it was the coolest thing. Being off-season, we did not get stuck in any line and it was a breeze. The island is only 3.1 miles across The Sounds so about 15 min total on the ferry though I wish it were longer.

We booked a few nights at The Captain Whidbey Inn, a historic hotel nestled under the firs along Penn Cove. The interior is dim but warm filled artifacts and antiques with furniture in rich tones. The hotel is broken up into three parts: The Historic Lodge and modern cabins which face the cove or Lagoon Rooms on the other side of the property. We opted for the Lodge since it looked extremely cozy and we love a place with history. Each room has multiple windows, a plush queen bed and a vanity area with a sink. These rooms do not have private baths but their communal restrooms are lovely and very clean. Our first night we stayed in room 13 which was more of a garden view and was located directly over the front desk. Since the Lodge is from 1907 and is not very sound proof, this ended up being great as there was a wedding at the hotel that evening, which was very sweet and made the evening more lively and loving.

That evening, we made a reservation at their restaurant downstairs. Due to the wedding also happening, seating was a bit tight in the dining room so they set us up at a more private table within the lobby for us where the chess board lives and it was PERFECT! We had just enough action from the wedding while still being able to enjoy each other and have a conversation. I had read some so-so reviews about the service and food but we had a great experience (thank you again, wedding). Our waitress was wonderful and food was great, too. They made me a delicious dirty martini and the cheese board is 10/10 MUST. We also ordered their clam chowder which is also recommend, their broccoli salad, calamari and fish & chips. It was way too much food and we put ourselves into a food coma passing out before 9:30pm.

Nine hours of sleep later, we walked around the neighborhood of Coupeville while having our coffees. The area offers a lot of Victorian homes which I loved and a ton of cute shops and restaurants. And dogs, lots of dogs.

30 min North of Coupeville is the famous Deception Pass State Park which is gorgeous. There are a few hiking trails you can take as well as beach access. There are also boat tours available to view the area from the water and whale watch during migration season.
Pro Tip: If you do not have the WA Discover Pass there is a $10 park fee for day-use and their CC machine was down. If you do not have cash you could try to find parking along HWY 20 but it can be tough and watch out for passing cars.

On the way up we stopped at the roadside Shrimp Shack for lunch. We thought we’d try something different and got their Oyster Burger. I would definitely skip this and go somewhere else in the area. It did not do much for either of us and some of the other patrons were very rude and they only provide porta-potties for restrooms. (There are public bathrooms at Deception Park)

Later that afternoon when we returned to the Inn. we found out we were upgraded to a new room, 7, with water views. I highly recommend you try to squeeze in a reservation for one of these. Though the garden view was quiet and serene, the water view offers sounds of lapping waves which is incredible to sleep/wake up to if you keep your window open like we did (the heaters in these rooms are very efficient and you will likely need to crack a window anyways).

We had dinner our final night at Front Street Grill after having walked by it during the day. Once again, the staff was incredible as well as the food. We kept it smaller this time with their Crab Dip and Green Curry Muscles. It was definitely enough foe two people and would eat here again. There was also the most stunning moonrise I had ever seen which we got to enjoy from our table.

The morning of check out the skies put on a show and it was a perfect goodbye. I cannot say enough good things about this place and hotel other than it might now be one of my favorite places ever. It’s a perfect escape from busy, city life where you can slow down, read your book in peace, make sweet conversation with staff and other patrons, have great food and drinks, and sleep soundly. Pictures do not do this place justice and hope to return year after year.

Happy TEN years together, Danny. I love you forever.