We were off to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta with Alki Tours. It is a 10-day celebration of launchings, races, and contests on a plateau the size of 54 football fields. After flying to Albuquerque and spending the night at the Fairfield Marriott Hotel, we drove to the Balloon Park at 5:30 a.m. October 4th. Our early departure gave us a head start on heavy traffic and got us to the Park in time to see three Dawn Patrol balloons test the winds. At 7 a.m., a balloon was launched carrying the United States flag. During the next few days, 550 balloons [View Full Entry]

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We drove down I-5 from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon where we stopped for lunch. It was July 28, 2009 and we were on a three-day trip to the Oregon Coast. We were in the midst of a heat wave. Our temperature is usually in the mid-80's at the most; today it was 108 degrees in Portland. Our Alki Tours motor coach was filled with 54 excited passengers, plus Tyson, our tour manager, and Michael, our driver. After a three-hour drive from Seattle to Portland, it was time for a lunch stop. Tyson chose a neighborhood where the streets are filled [View Full Entry]

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About 128 miles north of Seattle, Washington is the Seattle City Light Hydroelectric Project, three dams that produce one-fourth of Seattle's electricity. First, there is Gorge Dam in Newhalem. It was originally built from rocks and logs and completed in 1921. It is only 300 feet high. Next is Diablo Dam, 389 feet high, constructed in 1930. Its art deco design is still admired in the graceful arches and lamp posts. Finally, there is Ross Dam, the highest and largest dam at 540 feet tall. It was completed in 1952 and named after J. D. Ross, "the Father of City Light." [View Full Entry]

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What a perfect day for a garden tour! The sun was warm, but not hot. The breeze was soft, but not chilly. It was a perfect day to explore five gardens in the Skagit Valley near LaConner. Our first stop on Alki Tours was Sharon and Jerry Benson's Bed and Breakfast in Allen. Sharon said Jerry's uncle wanted to bulldoze the 1914 Scandinavian farmstead, but Jerry said, "Let's see what Sharon and I can do with it." They made it into one of the Northwest's Best Places to Stay. Once a working dairy farm, the gardens are filled with peonies and [View Full Entry]

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Friday Harbor was founded in 1909 and celebrates its Centennial this summer. The town has a population of 2,000, normally, and San Juan Island has a population of 8,000. During July and August, the population increases to half a million as the jazz concerts and summer arts fair swing into activity. It's a 90-minute drive from Seattle to Anacortes. Get into line for the ferry an hour early to be certain of boarding on time. As we waited for the ferry's arrival, we visited the espresso stand and souvenir store. When we sailed, the hour-long ferry ride passed quickly as we [View Full Entry]

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What a beautiful weekend for a balloon ride! The conditions were perfect: calm winds and no rain in sight. Temperature 71 degrees. The sun usually smiles on Mother's Day weekend in Walla Walla. The festival started in 1974. It is the longest-running balloon event in the Pacific Northwest. The 35th annual Balloon Stampede was held on May 8-10, 2009. Best of all, the event is free to the public. Approximately 40 balloons lifted off at the traditional site, Garrison Middle School, adjacent to the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. The event starts at 6:30 a.m. Visitors are invited to as [View Full Entry]

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Treehouse Point is located at 6922 Preston-Fall City Road S.E., Issaquah, Washington 98027. Pete Nelson began building treehouses in 1997. Today his talent takes him around the world to China, Bali, Okinawa, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, and Oregon. Treehouses in his home state of Washington are located in Seattle, Tacoma, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, and Yelm. Most of Nelson's treehouses are built at the request of wealthy sponsors at a cost of $150,000 - $180,000. At Treehouse Point in Issaquah, Nelson has a lodge and two treehouses that will develop into ten cust [View Full Entry]

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