Various Ramblings
Michael Nowak
Cha-cha-changes!
Cha-cha-changes!
Various Ramblings
Michael Nowak
Seeing can mean believing.
Seeing can mean believing.

bff annual trip

Annual BFF Trip - Washington State

I recently flew to Seattle to meet my BFF Squad for a long weekend of adventure. Every year, we get together to take an adventure - a camping trip, a full on road trip, or destination adventure - to hang out and catch up. Seattle is one of my favorite places to go, mostly for the area around it, but also now for what the metro area has to offer. We explored, got the views, found the beers, and had a great time. Our Chrysler Pacifica minivan took us from the airport to a Mariners game and then onward to the Olympic Peninsula. Enjoy some photos from our trip. I already can’t wait to get back to my happy place in the northwest. This is my general take on the trip, with my views. My friends may have other opinions, which is okay.

Day 1: Seattle

  • I arrived a night earlier, because the flight was better so I settled in and got the rental minivan

    • Had a total Dad/Minivan vibe and I was okay with it

  • Our hotel for Night 1 was the Embassy Suites near T-Mobile Park

    • The hotel was perfectly located for easy food and access to the Mariners game

    • The prices were not bad, but parking is not included (pretty typical, really)

  • Tourist sites visited

    • Pike Place Market - the gum wall, various eats and drinks

    • Ghost Alley Espresso is pretty delicious for coffee

    • Discovery Park (lighthouse, beach views, and a view of Rainier)

    • Gas Works Park - very neat art and views of the city

    • Fremont Troll - classic little creeper under an overpass

    • Kerry Park - excellent views of the city and Rainier (cute neighborhood too)

  • Breweries Visited

    • Fremont Brewing - easily one of the group favorites for the trip with a wide variety and an amazing patio

    • Optimism Brewing - another instant favorite with a delicious variety and big, open space and the coolest gender neutral bathrooms I’ve ever seen

  • Had an excellent dinner at Two Doors Down (scrumptious burgers and great beers/ciders on draft) near the hotel/stadiums

  • Attended a Mariners game - was a bit sunny, but lovely

  • Ran in to my friend Fredi from Texas who was in town and spent a while catching up - such a nice surprise

  • The day was long - lots of driving, walking, drinking local beers, and sunshine so we hit the hay pretty early

Day 2: Our Venture to the Peninsula

  • We decided to find some lighthouses as part of our adventures which included beach visits to the kind of beaches that required sweatshirts (the best kind)

  • We hit up a few breweries and cider places as well

    • I shared my favorite cider place Finnriver Cidery & Farm with them and they loved it for the food and drink

    • Port Townsend Brewing for a brief sampler (excellent porter and stout)

    • Propolis Brewing was a different breed of beer and I was here for it - sours, fruity, spruce tips, SO GOOD (easily one of my new must-visists)

    • Discovery Bay Brewing - such a fun patio and tasty beers

  • We stayed in Port Angeles at the Olympic Lodge - fun story, Molly and I stayed there in 2009 with our friend Kevin on one of our road trips

  • We had dinner at the local pub Joshua’s (again, a revisit for Molly and I and pure nostalgia)

    • Definitely not as I remember it - less daylight next time

  • It was another long day of driving, beaches, beers, and sunshine

Day 3: Olympic Peninsula Exploration

  • We started the day with drive through coffee from a coffee hut - so good

    • This is an essential for coffee lovers when in the PNW

    • Iced coffee is better, always, fight me

  • Ventured around the peninsula through Forks

  • Stopped at the Tree of Life and soaked up the fog on the beach

  • Made our way to the Maple Glade Rain Forest to take in the greenery of the Quinault area

  • Had lunch at the Pacific Inn Pizza (another revisit after years)

    • I’ve not taken most of my besties here for mediocre food (at best)

  • Stopped out at Rialto Beach - nice and cold/windy!

  • Came back to town to have a beer at Barhop Brewing

    • Cheesy bread looks GOOD

  • Made the decision to go up to Hurricane Ridge

    • the views and sunset were phenomenal

    • Met some fun people who painted rocks and left them in public places

  • Dinner at McDonalds because everything was either over an hour wait or closed

    • My only gripe w/ Port Angeles

#WayBackWednesday - Cedar Breaks National Monument

In 2017 I had planned to take a solo trip to Utah with two main stops: Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. The trip went from a solo adventure to a BFF adventure and the points of interest on the “must see” list expanded just a little. I was excited, because why not share all of the beauty Utah has to offer with someone who gets me and who I hadn’t seen in months or more? We had an excellent trip and saw plenty of beauty, but the one place that stands out in my mind is Cedar Breaks National Monument. The vistas, the hike around the rim, and the drive to and from the monument are all burned into my memory. I still think of the views, over a year later. I must get back!

I arrived in SLC on Friday, as did my BFF Molly, and we spent the night in a southern suburb. Saturday came, and was spent driving and exploring the route from SLC to Bryce Canyon. We caught a sunset at BC and headed to Cedar City for the night. The original plan was to catch the sunrise at Cedar Breaks, but we got there a little after. The sun was up and the place was illuminated. We started at Point Supreme Overlook and were amazed. We hiked the trail along the rim out to Spectra Point. Standing out on Spectra Point is a moment in my brain that I’ll never forget and would never want to forget. After taking it all in, looking over the edge, and smiling a ton, we made it back to the information center.

I have never felt a rush quite like the one I felt hiking out to Spectra Point. It was exhilarating, breathtaking, and liberating all at once. I have not felt a rush like that of walking along the rim since then. Enjoy a few photos from the trip and feel free to comment/connect with questions or your stories regarding Cedar Breaks!

#WayBackWednesday - Arches!

My process for Way Back Wednesday:

  1. Create a huge list of possible ideas, become determined to pick something

  2. Forget about the list and just scroll through all of my photos until something just speaks to me

I love to plan things out, but I hate sticking to a plan. Whatever. Here are a few shots from Arches National Park this past August that stood out and whispered through the digital waves to share them again. Arches is easily one of my favorite places and I see it differently every time I visit. Enjoy this week of Way Back Wednesday that doesn’t go WAY back at all.

#WayBackWednesday - Cedar Breaks National Monument

In honor of booking my flight for the 2nd Annual BFF Adventure, I'm throwing it back to our 1st annual trip.  I originally planned a solo excursion to Utah, but my BFF Molly decided to go and now it's an annual adventure for us.  Once spot we visited last year really stuck out for me and that was Cedar Breaks National Monument.  What a breathtaking, intense, and gorgeous place to feel small.  While I don't see us getting back to Cedar Breaks, I'll always have these memories - so enjoy a few photos.

Classic sign picture

View from the rim

Spectra Point - was a bit overwhelming to feel so high above the hoodoos

What do you spy with your little eye?

This year, we'll be hitting the ground in Utah again!  Molly has not been to Arches National Park, so we'll spend the majority of our time there.  I hope to hike to Delicate Arch right away, before crowds and heat, and then hit up the rest of the park after that.  So much to do, so little time!  Where is your favorite place in Utah?  After a Saturday in Arches, what would you recommend for half a Sunday?  Comment your idea or send me an email!  As always, thanks for following along and happy trails!

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