You can’t run errands when you’re in Seattle until you stop at Starbucks first!
Washington travel
McMenamins Mill Creek, Washington Pub and soccer
Sher and I had a wonderful Friday evening out with our daughter, son-in-law and of course our 8 year old grandson. The evening started out with his first soccer game of the season at the local YMCA. What fun, especially since his team won their opener by a score of 5 to 2.
Afterwards we went to a very nice pub, McMenamins Mill Creek. This is what it is, from their website: “McMenamins has been a neighborhood gathering spot throughout Oregon and Washington since 1983. We handcraft our own beer, wine, cider, spirits and coffee. We offer an eclectic mix of pubs, historic hotels, movie theaters, concert venues, spas, events, onsite shopping and just pure fun—join in!”
Well stocked bar
Our grandson wanted a dish of ice cream, Sher wanted a seasonal/fall apple drink, the kids had favorite brews they liked, and I was as yet undecided. Oh, those pretzels were delicious.
Sher enjoyed her seasonal libation, Autumn Apple
Two orders of the warm pretzels and hot cheese
I took a large drink of RC as soon as the glass hit the table!
Well, once we got seated I learned that this pub had Royal Crown Cola on tap. Yes, on tap! RC Cola is my absolute favorite soft drink, and to find it on tap was just an extra treat. Our waiter brought me a refill as soon as he saw my glass was getting empty.
Fun decor over our booth
We had a wonderful time on an evening of watching our grandson playing soccer followed by a relaxing time in the pub enjoying pretzels, ice cream and drinks with family. It doesn’t get any better.
Flying to Seattle
We finished a fun filled visit with family in Ohio, both Columbus and Cleveland area, and then it was off to Seattle for more family good times.
The airport is nearby
The John Glenn Columbus International Airport was our departure airport. It was not at all crowded, and we had no waiting to get through the security check point. This time we did not have to open any bags, nor did we have to put computers or other devices separately on those trays.
ID label was missing from this statue
Fresh chilled salads in this machine
They like their history filled time capsules in this airport!
A time capsule for 2029
This sealed 1981, no open date listed
We flew Alaska Airlines non-stop from Columbus to Seattle.
Taxiing to takeoff
Airborne, heading West
Our flight departed early and arrived early. It was reasonably smooth, although the landing was a bit harsh. We are ready for Seattle and our family here. We’ll keep you posted on some of the things we’re planning.
WWII Gun Emplacements still overlook Puget Sound
The Army had plans in place to upgrade the Puget Sound harbor defenses when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The attack prompted a feverish scramble to implement those WWII plans.
Fort Ebey was constructed from 1942 to 1944. It overlooked the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the open Pacific Ocean. It was the first of a series of defensive positions that also included forts Casey, Worden and Flagler, also on Puget Sound.
Date on the main bunker entrance
Historic Fort Ebey State Park on Widbey Island is home to the remains of Battery 248 of the Coast Artillery Regiment of the Washington National Guard. The guns are gone, having been melted down for scrap at the end of the war. What remains, however, are the two circular gun emplacements and the supporting large concrete bunker where ammunition, powder bags, and other equipment was stored.
Forward observation post facing Puget Sound
In front of the bunker towards the edge of the steep cliff you will see the forward observation bunker. A narrow slit provided a panoramic view of the waters. No ships could enter the Sound without being spotted.
One of the remaining two gun turret foundations
The main armament of the fort was provided by two guns on swivel turrets. These guns fired a 108 pound shell with a range of 15 miles. The 26 man gun crews could fire a round every 12 seconds.
Take a step back in time with a visit to Fort Ebey State Park. Walk where the artillerymen walked. Explore the bunker. Stand near the forward observation position and imagine being on the lookout for enemy ships trying to invade the Puget Sound. More information about Fort Ebey State Park may be found at the park website.
October is pumpkin picking time
A tiny fraction of the pumpkin picking area available.
Hay ride to the pumpkin patch! (That is the kids zip line on the right.)
What a variety!
A U-Pick-It pumpkin farm in the Snohomish Valley north of Seattle. It provides a fun outdoor activity for young and old alike. This area has several farms offering pumpkin patches, corn mazes and Halloween spooky stuff too.
Beautiful Snoqualmie Falls
One of the most popular attractions in the Seattle area is the Snoqualmie Falls, a 269 foot single drop waterfall. The falls are near the town of Snoqualmie, which also offers interesting attractions to tourists and locals alike.
View from the observation deck
The area became an active logging site in the 1870’s with logs actually floated over the falls. In 1889 a railroad was built, opening the logging trade further. The town of Snoqualmie was platted in 1889 as well, and by the 1890’s Charles Baker had constructed an underground hydroelectric plant at the falls. Some of the original generators still function today.
It is very easy to gain access to the falls. Free parking is available, and an easy walk on the pedestrian bridge leads to the concrete paths to observation decks. If you prefer, for $7.00 you can park next to the gift shop next to the observation decks.
Beautiful scenery from the deck
Salish Lodge, note the wedding tent
The Salish Lodge and Spa offers high end accommodations, spa, and dining. Many use the striking views as a place for weddings. It overlooks the river, the generating plant and the top of the falls.
We just liked this photo
The walk to the observation decks is easy with only a couple of places with widely spaced steps. There were quite a few people enjoying the sights, but we felt comfortable and not crowded. The layout was very nice, and all of the paved paths and safety fencing was kept in excellent condition. It is easy to see why Snoqualmie Falls is one of Washington state’s most popular scenic attractions.
Skip Rock Distillery Snohomish
One of the last places we took in before our return to Indiana was a local distillery in Snohomish. The Skip Rock Distillery is known for its premium quality liquors. Their diverse product line includes two kinds of potato vodka, three award-winning rums, several whiskeys and an assortment of fruit liqueurs.
The street view
Some of Skip Rock’s award winners
The tasting room in downtown Snohomish is just off of the 1st Street main shopping area. The old brick building houses the street level shop and the actual working distillery. Our host told us that a remodeling project is coming, which will include a full cocktail bar.
Tasting menu
Six flights ready
Our son-in-law’s parents have also joined us and all of us visited the tasting room. We all had a flight of four samples. It was quite the experience having samples of everything from fruit liqueurs to gin to potato vodka.
Where it all happens
All thoroughly enjoyed the new tastes to our palates. In addition to tasting we did among us purchase some of the fruit liqueurs. These small local distillers are such a treat for several reasons. Normally, like Skip Rock, they produce premium products. In addition these small local businesses are the lifeblood of the town’s economy. We enjoy supporting local businesses. Here is Skip Rock’s website.
A fun wine and beer walk
We had a most enjoyable wine and beer walk at the Mill Creek Town Center this evening. There were 10 stations, most had three wine samples, a couple had different samples of beer.
The Mill Creek Town Center is an upscale shopping and entertainment area. It includes restaurants, shops, banks and art galleries.

Anthony’s HomePort Everett, a detailed look
Here we go again with another follow-up post about a delightful restaurant we visited recently. We posted a double picture of a part of our meal at Anthony’s HomePort Everett, one of a large chain of Pacific Northwest based fine dining places.
On this rainy day the exposed decks were covered
We picked a rainy somewhat dreary day, but we still enjoyed getting a table that overlooked the Everett waterfront. We were seated within a few minutes of our arrival without reservations. It was enjoyable watching the surprising number of boats out on the water running in the rain.
Getting a whiff of the fresh baked bread!
Ground pepper being added to the chowder
We started with a loaf of freshly baked, still warm sourdough bread. Don’t have to tell anybody how good that bread was! I had to try a cup of Anthony’s Award-winning clam chowder with potato and bacon. Topped with freshly ground pepper and oyster crackers, this appetizer was clearly worthy of awards.
Fettuccine pasta specially prepared for Sher
Sher ordered the vegetarian version of the Oregon Fettuccine. In place of the shrimp, Chef Joe added additional vegetables to the fresh pasta, tomatoes, zucchini and
fresh herbs in the garlic cream sauce with Parmesan cheese. Delicious!
Three perfectly fried pieces of fish
A unique lettuce bowl of ginger slaw
Don’t have to tell you what I ordered, do I? (If you’ve been following us, you probably know. If not, well here goes.) I ordered the fresh caught panko crusted cod fish and chips with ginger slaw. Oh yes it was delicious. The three pieces of fish were especially tasty, with the fried panko crust so good. It’s going to be hard to say which Pacific Northwest Fish and Chips is my favorite.
One bite left on the first of three
Very tasty and potent Pomegranate Drop cocktail
We spotted an interesting drink on a table nearby. Our server told us this was a Pomegranate Drop. It’s a cocktail made with pomegranate juice, vodka, orange liqueur and lemon juice. A very tasty drink indeed. We were glad we “discovered” the Pomegranate Drop. Our experience at Anthony’s HomePort Everett was a highlight on what some call a typical Seattle area rainy day.
The fisherman and the flight
We went down the street from Anthony’s where we just had lunch and we spotted the statue of a fisherman and then we went to Scuttlebutts brewery and ordered a flight.
Roadtirement 