After years of quick visits to Seattle for girls trips with one of my best friends that lives there, I got to spend an entire month in Ballard this summer and had time to explore more deeply. As an architect, I am always interested in historic buildings and neighborhoods, interesting architecture, public art, and adaptive…
Travel
Is a One Month Home Exchange Worth It? What I Learned Living in Seattle
I just returned from a one-month home exchange, swapping my San Francisco condo for a house in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. Lately, I have been working remotely more often, and trying to build in more slow travel. As I get older I appreciate trips where I can experience a place instead of rushing through…
Whidbey Island Day Trip from Seattle: Deception Pass, Coupeville & Beaches
If you are looking for the perfect day trip from Seattle that still feels like a real escape, a Whidbey Island day trip with Deception Pass combine a ferry ride, beach time, a cute waterfront town, dramatic bridge scenery, and a forest hike. It is also dog-friendly and you can do it all without an…
One Night in Ashland, Oregon: The Best Overnight Stop on a Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip
If you are driving between Seattle and San Francisco and want an overnight stop that feels like part of the trip, one night in Ashland, Oregon is my recommendation: close to I-5, compact enough to enjoy in one evening, and full of historic architecture, creekside patios, and dog-friendly places to stay. I recently returned from…
Salt Lake City – Self Guided Downtown Walking Tour
The architecture in downtown Salt Lake City surprised me in the best way. I had passed through a couple of times before – once while road tripping with my dog and once on my way to Park City for a girls trip – but I mostly treated downtown as a quick stopover. On a recent…