Taste of Summer: Washington
One of the greatest things I’ve managed as my kids have gotten older is the fact that they still like to be on vacation with us. I thought there would come a time where we’re no longer “cool” and family vacations would be out the window.
I mean, I did raise them to love travel. I suppose if that’s your starting point, ongoing vacations sounds great no matter how they arise.
Living in the middle of the continent means that you enjoy visiting the coasts. While we have a plethora of lakes, it is not the same as ocean front views. This is how our Washington trip arose.
Where we stayed
Bremerton
Puget Sound is a tiny masterpiece of nature in my opinion. Getting the chance to stay in Bremerton on one of its many inlets was a joy. The view every morning and every sunset was absolutely breathtaking.
As our family of 7 often does, we rented an Airbnb here. The house was one of my favorite places we’ve stayed, and if you can find a reservation in the area (or honestly, on any of the islands nearby like Bainbridge or Whidbey) it’s the place to be.
There’s a little complexity getting there, as you have to ferry across. The upside: the kids and I got all of our steps in lapping the upper deck of the boat and had our fair share of Mount Rainier viewing.
Ronald/Roslyn
We happened across this area only because I was looking for somewhere “out of the city”, but still somewhat close to Snoqualmie Falls. It was a happy accident.
Roslyn, itself, has a sort of cowboy charm. There’s a weekly farmer’s market, tucked down one of the alleyways between old buildings. There’s a theater that looks like it might have once been a saloon. There’s an actual saloon.
We rented another Airbnb here in Ronald. There are smaller developments of mountain homes around that area, and I think often have rentals accessible for vacation. The house and the area were quaint and quiet. Just be aware that you may, as we did, have to deal with a bear warning. Nothing dangerous, if you mind yourself, but there was a furry visitor about.
Along the way
Because we gained two hours back going west, we landed in Seattle pretty early in the day. This allowed us time to tour Pike Place Market for a few hours before catching the ferry to Bremerton.
There is a reason it is an icon amongst US tourist stops. It really is unlike other places you’ll see. There are tons of curated shops, and even better, some great niche places to eat.
Again, we were early, so the kids opted for the breakfast of champions: coffee and ice cream.
Hellenika Ice Cream
More gelato-esque than regular ice cream, this place is a gem. We had a sampling of flavors across the seven of us, and all were a hit. My personal fave was the honey macadamia. I will eat honey with, or on, just about everything. This spoke my language.
Flagship Starbucks
I feel like Seattle Starbucks is sort of like ordering Guiness in the UK. It just tastes better. Our kids are fans of their “fun” coffees, anyway, and it was a must see. As a basic, black coffee fan, though, I really thought their Pike’s Place roast tasted better than I remember. Considering I am a local coffee drinker around Minneapolis, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised.
Market Seafood
Lastly, you’re at one of the most famous fish markets in the world. It essentially requires that you leave with some of the fresh fare. Our Airbnb had a fully equipped kitchen and an outdoor grill, so we grabbed some shrimp, salmon and crab and cooked it up for our first night in Washington. Worth every penny and as delightful as expected.
Where (else) we ate
I feel like this trip was heavily breakfast-focused for us. With a plan to hike or travel around, we needed options to fill up in the morning and last us most of the day.
Lone Star Donuts (Silverdale)
Okay, not the healthiest way to start (again, breakfast of champions), but this shop in Silverdale, only a short drive from where we were staying, became a fast favorite. The wall of donut flavors you walk into begs to be sampled. We definitely visited more than one morning while there and usually bought an assorted box of treats that everyone could taste test.
Brunch at Salish Lodge
This was a family nostalgia stop for me. My grandparents took my mom and her siblings there for brunch when she was a child and my parents took my sister and I on a family vacation when I was in high school. I felt the need to carry on the tradition for a 3rd generation.
They have a Country Breakfast that is four courses (you will end up sharing with others; it’s a ton of food), and all scratch made. The hot cocoa is an experience. The view overlooks Snoqualmie Falls and is unbeatable. Brunch is somehow elegant and cozy all at the same time, and a memory that I hope my kids also pass on someday.
Day Trips
From Bremerton, we took a day trip to Port Townsend. It’s a little over an hour drive, but a great spot to do some shopping, have a bite to eat and catch a whale watching tour.
Salish Grill
After wandering the shops on Water Street, we headed out to the pier to grab a late lunch. Salish Grill screams waterfront restaurant and has the food to show for it. I adore a good fish and chips bite. Theirs is fantastic.
Whale watching
From the pier, we had made reservations for a whale watching boat tour. Honestly, this is still the part of the trip the kids talk about most. We were lucky enough to kill the motor and float, as a school of orca swam right up next to us. We also had fun trailing a humpback through the bay. Though we didn’t get a full view of it, it did show off the impressive tailfin every few minutes.
From Ronald, we drove further up into the mountains to Leavenworth. While the kids were big fans of whale watching, I think this was my favorite stop. The town is like a tiny German village, and has fully committed to Christmas year-round.
Larch Brunch Company
I often scour locations for good local recommendations, and this spot’s reputation preceded its awesome food. With a changing brunch menu on the weekends, and a great laid back atmosphere, it was the perfect stop for our whole family. The chicken and waffles was the clear winner of our table.
Kris Kringl
3 floors of Christmas decorations. 12 months out of the year. I spent entirely too much time exploring all of them. I have developed a tradition of buying a new Christmas ornament on every trip we take. It’s my chosen souvenir. Small, packable and each Christmas it serves as a memory of all the places we’ve been together.
Hike the day away
We have developed a love for hiking on family trips, and this vacation offered a ton of opportunity.
Gold Creek Trail hike
This wonderful trail is tucked back in the woods about 20 minutes from the port of Bremerton. It’s a simple out and back, largely flat, and offering a quiet, shaded, relaxing couple of miles. We saw few others out on the trail, so it also allowed some walk and talk time as a family.
Snow Lake Trail
The view (at every turn) is absolutely incredible. But be warned: the trail is almost entirely vertical. As a novice at reading All Trails, I’m not sure my family will forgive me for not sharing the same warning with them. Water will be your friend, as will a good pair of walking/hiking shoes.
There is, literally, a gorgeous glacial lake at the top. Which is your reward for completing the hike. We hiked on a toasty day, and many were taking an ice cold dip upon arrival.
Franklin Falls/Snoqualmie Pass
After Snow Lake, this was a much easier jaunt. The falls are lovely, and if you walk down the river, you can find some great rock outcroppings to wander. My youngest is a particular fan of climbing around, so he had a blast.
A few planning notes
There were some specific pieces of the trip that I would advise mapping out before you go.
- Salish Lodge brunch: Space is limited, and brunch is between certain hours. I would call ahead for a reservation, to make sure you can lock in your table.
- Whale watching: I would definitely advise making a reservation ahead. Our tour was full. There are also a variety of tours from different ports, so planning the one closest to your stay will be key.
- Ferry schedule: Good to have this mapped out if you stay on the islands. Coordinating departure and arrival times to any activities you have planned is helpful.
The highlight of our week was to experience a little bit of everything: the ocean, the mountains, good hikes, great eats and some cozy family time. As people who spend a good chunk of winter indoors (it’s absurdly cold here in Jan/Feb, folks), our summers are a treasure. Getting outside and exploring new places together is a treat.
Washington got us outside to check all the boxes. Of course, the kids have their “next up” list:
- Maine
- Alaska
- Wyoming/Yellowstone
- California/Redwood National Park
As their personal travel advisor, I approve.
