In downtown Cleveland, Ohio between Prospect and Euclid Avenues, is East Fourth Street the city’s most vibrant entertainment and residential district. We were pleasantly surprised to find it within walking distance from our hotel The Holiday Inn Express Cleveland Downtown. This hotel was also a pleasant surprise and I would highly recommend it not only for its location but as a really cool place to stay. The hotel itself was converted from a 19th century […]
It’s true…CLEVELAND ROCKS! Especially on my birthday which is when we visited. I really enjoyed the ½ day we spent at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or as the locals call it The RockHall. Located on the Ohio shores of Lake Erie, the 7 levels of this amazing piece of architecture include exhibits on the roots of rock and roll (gospel, blues, rhythm & blues and folk, country and bluegrass) and the rock […]
The only meal we made reservations for prior to our trip was at The Pink Door. I was given a recommendation by a fellow meeting planner that this was a must during our visit. What makes the restaurant most interesting and intriguing is that there is no sign at all. Almost like a speakeasy, the only way to find it is by the signature “pink door”. Once inside, it’s more like a cabaret show with […]
Yes it’s a brick wall….and yes it’s full of people’s chewed gum which some might consider gross….but it’s another Seattle icon and to the best of my knowledge there isn’t another in the entire world. I really enjoyed the colorful display and some peoples creativity in spelling things out. We weren’t that artistic but did contribute. Don’t forget to bring your own gum or come with a piece all ready chewed for sticking if you’d […]
The Pike Place Market has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I love going to farmers markets back home but this goes above and beyond any I’ve been to and was a feast for the senses. The fresh cut flowers were my favorite but unfortunately we couldn’t buy any as we were not staying long enough. I’m quite sure if I lived in the area that a good portion of my paycheck […]
While in Seattle we had the privilege of staying at The Inn at the Market. A luxury boutique hotel literally across the street from Pike Place Market. It was our last stop on this amazing journey and staying here was a wonderful way to end the trip. The bed was one of the most comfortable we slept in and the bath products were dreamy. The staff was always cheerful and willing to help in […]
We planned on a quick stop at Purple Haze Lavender Farm to take some pictures as the lavender was in full bloom. We ended up spending quite a bit of time at this lovely place wandering through the fields of lavender as well as in the gift shop. Aside from the familiar marvelous lavender aroma, there was also yummy lavender flavored goodies for the palate such as ice cream, shortbread, and tea. The owners were […]
Olympic National Park is a rare jewel in America’s National Park System and is sometimes referred to as “three parks in one.” The park offers a variety of bioclimatic zones within its boundaries—high mountains with glaciers and flower-laden, sub-alpine meadows, deep river valleys draped in temperate rainforest, and wild, rugged Pacific coast. Olympic’s west side receives roughly 135 inches of precipitation each year, while the park’s drier side receives as little as 16 inches annually. […]