Blogs from Mount Vernon, Washington, United States, North America

This year's trip, our third time in China, will start with a few days in Beijing, then to Chongqing for the marriage celebration of our son, Jacob, and daughter-in-law, Lynn, then to southern Yunnan to see where Pu'er tea comes from and to visit the semi-tropical area close to the Burmese border, and finally back through Chongqing to Beijing and home. Our good friends Karen and Jim from San Juan Island will be travelling with us for their first visit to China and the first major expedition of their retirement years. The initial few days in Beijing will be a test of our China savvy as we try to show Karen and Jim the sights without the benefit of Jacob as our guide and interpreter. The reception in Chongqing, with lots of Lynn's extended family members ... read more

Forty of us caught the Talgo (European) Amtrak train from Seattle to Bellingham on April 8, 2010 with Alki Tours. It was a cloudy day, but the cumulus clouds promised spring was coming. We zoomed past the Edmonds Ferry Terminal and the Everett Naval Base, through fields of hops and cabbage, and stopped briefly in Mount Vernon. Our destination was Bellingham where we arrived an hour later and explored the Cruise Terminal in Old Town Fairhaven. Our driver, Ariel, had our motor coach waiting for us and off we went to brunch at Chuckanut Manor. Our coach was too large to negotiate the curves of Chuckanut Drive, so we took I-5 to the Bow Hill exit, drove through Blanchard, and turned right onto Chuckanut Drive. Chuckanut Manor Bed and Breakfast is owned and operated by Pat ... read more

Did you ever watch the Wizard of Oz and in that scene where Dorothy et al are running through the endless red poppy fields trying to reach the Emerald City think "I wish I could do that!" Same here! Well we finally made it to the tulip festival (fittingly, a few hours north of Seattle, our own "Emerald City"). I've been wanting to visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival with Andras for years. Not only does the area transform into a photographers dream, but acres upon acres of wildly colored flower fields cannot manifest any feelings other than happiness. Last year the rare April snow delayed the bloom and our work schedules prevented us from leaving the city and this year the weather almost threatened to do the same thing, but during the last few days ... read more

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2007 North America » United States » Washington » Mount Vernon By carnellesApril 14th 2007EricOn a whim, took the drive up to Skagit Valley today. It rained on the way up. Lunch stop at Porterhouse in Mount Vernon, and voila, sunshine. The tulips were beautiful, probably at their peak this weekend. It was the first time either my Mom or I had been up there for the festival. Stopped at Deception Pass on the way back (and of course encountered more rain on the way back). These are just a couple of the pictures (they... read more