Above image courtesy of Tdlucas5000

Seattle is often overlooked as a travel destination. I hazard to guess that most Canadians living on the West Coast tend to cross the border to (a) pick up some packages they ordered from Amazon from their mailbox in Blaine; (b) pick up milk, cheese, and other super hormone infused groceries in Bellingham; or (c) buy some outdated and oversized clothes from the Premium Outlet Mall in Tulalip.

Being further south than all the locations just mentioned, the number of Canadian license plates on the road virtually vanishes by the time I enter Seattle. Too bad, because Seattle has much more going for it at times than say, oh, Vancouver (yes, I said it). I’ve been staying in Seattle for at least 4 weekends a year every year for the past 5 years. I make it a point to go to Bumbershoot during the Labor Day Long Weekend, to the Capital Hill Block Party to listen to an indie pop band, and to some of the evening events held by the Seattle Art Museum.

I do enjoy the Seattle vibe – call me an undercover hipster.

So what do I do in my last 2 days in Seattle? I do all those things that are native to Seattle and cannot be found in any other city. I avoid tourist traps like the Seattle Space Needle, which we call the CN tower here in Canada, and I avoid the things that would either have a long line up (like Dim Sum at Din Tai Fung in University Village) or take a while to get to (like heading over to Portland for some tax free shopping). I’d maximize my time, and do the things that’s always made me feel connected to the city. Here are just a few things that have made it on my list.

 The Capitol Experience:

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream, Cal Anderson Park, Elliot Bay Book Company, Oddfellow’s

Image courtesy of Kieran Lynam

This is one of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon in Seattle. First, I grab a sundae at Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream and park myself with sundae in hand at Cal Anderson Park. Sometimes, I just sit there; other times, I watch the local hipsters play a game of Quidditch or bicycle polo. After polishing off the sundae, I go around the corner and spend some time at Elliot Bay Book Company, a bookstore with that iconic “feel” (like Powell’s books in Portland but much smaller). I’ll grab a coffee in their coffee shop, peruse the graphic novel section (basically, comic books for adults), and then settle into looking at some nonfiction. When happy hour rolls around, I go a few doors down to Oddfellow’s for some drinks and a quick bite. Nice relaxing afternoon, all in the span of a block or two.

The Tom Douglas Experience:

Lola’s, Dahlia Bakery

Every time I’m in Seattle, I eat at Lola’s at least twice when I first arrive and twice more before I leave. For brunch, I get the pancakes with sausage links and mascarpone. Sometimes, I’ll even get an extra pancake on the side because my wife wants a piece (and I’m unwilling to share). It’s that good. For dinner, the dish I recommend isn’t even an entree; it’s actually a side: Grandma Dot’s Spaghetti, and we actually have to get 2 (as per the sharing issue stated previously). After brunch (or before dinner), I’ll walk across the street to Dahlia Bakery for a Fig Newton and Chocolate Truffle Cookie. Before heading back across the border, I usually grab a few more cookies to savour crumb by crumb before the next time I’m in Seattle.

Homemade Fig from Dahlia Bakery

University Village Shopping Centre

The Coffee Shop of Choice: Starbucks

No, my coffee shop of choice in Seattle is not a hippy, independently owned coffee shop decorated with vintage furniture and stacks of FRAME or MARK magazines and serving artisan coffee. It’s quite the opposite: the generic-looking Starbucks franchise serving slightly burnt Pike coffee with a side of USA Today in University Village Shopping Centre. But, this Starbucks has a buzz about it that I’ve never experienced anywhere else. My guess is that the place attracts professors, students, and academics from different backgrounds. Looking at the slew of laptops that occupy the centre table, it looks like the equivalent of a Model UN but for university students. All those brain cells firing at once in such a confined space rubs off on me, and for a second, as I’m reading the newspaper, I feel as though I’m not in a Starbucks franchise but on the ground floor of a San Francisco based startup.

The Vibe:

Pike Place Market

I know I said I would avoid touristy places, but I enjoy going to Pike Place Market because I enjoy watching other tourists in town. I like watching the long line up in front of the original Starbucks store. On a clear, sunny day, I like standing at the edge of Victor Steinbrueck Park (which is directly overlooking the Alaskan Way Viaduct) and looking out onto Elliot Bay, with the big Ferris wheel and Safeco Field in the distance to my left. I like walking through the small side streets around Pike Place market and looking at all the food options available. The place has got a buzz that rubs off on you, and I like it.

For the Inner Child:

Bumbershoot, PAX, or Sakuro-Con

Spending time in Seattle for me isn’t complete without going to a festival. If you haven’t been to Bumbershoot (which takes place over the Labour Day long weekend), you need to go. A celebration of the arts, Bumbershoot is part music festival, comedy act, dance exhibition, literary expo, and fine and visual arts showcase all rolled into one. I usually check out the shows on the smaller music stages, spend some time in the Starbucks Lounge (which you can access if you’re a Gold member), and walk around looking at all the other booths, art shows, and graphic posters in between. Makes for a great day.

PAX and Sakuro-Con both have a buzz and following of their own. Growing by leaps and bounds year-over-year, both festivals remind me of what Comic Con would be like (if I ever made it to Comic Con). My favourite part of the festivals is seeing all the cosplay spill onto the streets. It certainly appeals to my inner geek.

There are some more things I would do, but that will have to wait for another blog post. What would you do in your last 2 days in Seattle? In your hometown? I’d love to know.

See our other 2 Day Series

Last 2 days in Vancouver

Last 2 days in San Francisco

The post Last 2 Days in Seattle appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

I love San Francisco. I always feel at home when I’m there. It helps the climate – the cool summers and warm winters – is similar to my home town of Vancouver , BC. It helps the city feels homey since I can walk or take transit to most places around town. And, it also helps my brother-in-law actually lives IN San Francisco (and not just the so-called “Bay Area” a.k.a. “everything else that is NOT San Francisco”) and is open to hosting a couple of squatters for 2 weeks.

So, what do I do in my last 2 days in San Francisco? I do what I set out to do in my original post titled “Last 2 Days in Vancouver”: I do all those things that are native to San Francisco and cannot be found in any other city. I avoid the tourist traps like Alcatraz, which I’ve seen many times before (in movies) and I avoid the things that would either have a long line up (like brunch at Mama’s) or take a while to get to (like going any where outside of San Francisco). I’d maximize my time, and do the things that’s always made me feel connected to the city. Here are just a few things that have made it on my list.

The Hamburger Place: Super Duper Burgers

I would eat a Super Duper hamburger for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love the basic menu of hamburgers, fries, shakes, and ice cream, and I love the fact that although the menu is basic, the food is not (hamburgers, fries can all come with your choice of toppings) Unfortunately, I need to model some restraint and good eating habits to my children (and pickles and a slice of cabbage cannot be considered a daily serving of veggies). On the plus side, Super Duper also has one of the best vegetarian patties I’ve ever eaten too. Yes, there may be better burgers elsewhere, but for what it is – a fast food restaurant serving a gourmet burger without the gourmet prices – I’m a big fan.

The Food Court: Embarcadero

When I’m not at Super Duper burgers (or perhaps right after I eat at Super Duper), I dine at the Embarcadero. With lots of selection and a nice, busy atmosphere, it’s a great place to grab a quick bite. Personally, I like to grab a sandwich from Acme Bread Company, 2 cups of Earl Grey panna cotta from Cowgirl Creamery, and finish it off with a nice drip coffee from Blue Bottle. Take my food outside and find a nice spot outside to sit in the sun while overlooking the Bay Bridge is my idea of a nice lunch. After lunch, I may just talk back up Market Street to feel the buzz of Financial District while burning off my lunch. Lucky for me, there’s a Super Duper on Market Street too.

The Homey Neighbourhood: Hayes Valley

I usually take my dog with me to San Francisco, and on most mornings, I take my dog on a walk in Hayes Valley. We’ll order an open faced breakfast burrito from Arlequin and eat it on their patio. We’ll walk up to Ritual Roasters and grab a nice cup of coffee and sit at the park while watching the bus tours drive by (and me feeling like a local). Sometimes, the Juice Shop Truck will be around and we don’t even mind paying $12 for a juice (ok, maybe that’s not a thing a local would do, but hey, I’m on vacation). If Smitten Ice Cream is open, we’ll grab a freshly made treat (they use liquid nitrogen and a ice cream machine that looks like a KitchenAid Mixer to make individual servings on the spot) and walk back towards the Civic Centre and back to what real life in San Francisco feels like.

The Scenic View: Observation Deck at the DeYoung Museum

Unless it’s the Louvre or the MOMA, I normally don’t go to museums when I’m on vacation. However, I go to the DeYoung Museum every single time. Besides the fact that it’s an awesome structure designed by rockstar architects Herzog and De Meuron (a fact you can bring up to your snooty friends in the future), the observation deck gives you a 360 degree view of San Francisco. You might not get a view of the Bay or the Golden Gate Bridge, but it’s a view of the city that is a must. Oh, and it’s free.

The Long Walk: Dolores Park to Valencia Street

This is another foodie inspired walk my wife and I do every single time we’re in San Francisco. We take the Muni along the Church line and stop right at Dolores Park and 18th Street. We walk east along 18th Street and start grabbing snacks: ice cream at Bi-Rite and pastries at Tartine. When we get to Valencia, we’ll head north a block to El Toro Taqueria for some shrimp tacos, then double back towards 18th and Valencia for some more pastries and coffee at Craftsmen and Wolves. On my own, I’ve walked down to Ritual Roasters (yeah, the same coffee label at Hayes Valley) to grab a coffee and sit with the hipsters. With my wife, after all that food, we’ll likely head back to Dolores Park to sit on the grass or we’ll continue walking to Mission Street to catch a bus back towards the Civic Centre. A note if you’re a tourist: Mission street may be rough looking for those of us from Canada, so you may want to double back to Dolores Park and take the Muni back the way you came.

The Other Scenic View: Union Square

Every city has a central location in downtown where every tourist likes to go. Union Square appears to be it for me in San Francisco. And although I’ve said I would avoid the touristy centres, I get an odd sense of oneness when I’m in the middle of the crazy crowds of Union Square during Christmas while trying to do my shopping (like everyone else). The view I enjoy so much is in the Macy’s building. The Starbucks on the 4th floor overlooks Union Square and, during Christmas holidays, it’s strangely cathartic to look down at all the activity: the crowds, the shopping, the rush, the Christmas Tree, and the ice rink. An even higher view can be achieved from the top floor of the Macy’s building, where Cheesecake Factory is located.

The Tea Spot: Samovar Tea Lounge

I come here for the tea, but mainly, I come here for the view. Overlooking Yerba Buena Gardens by the Metreon, this tea house is set back into the park and is deeply calming. I like to buy myself some Chai, sit out on their patio, and relax. You’ll soon forget that you’re actually in a park that’s in one of the busiest areas in downtown San Francisco and that is why I love this tea spot.

There are other spots I have left out that will have to be included in another post. What would you have to do in San Francisco before leaving? How about in your hometown? I would love to know.

The post Last 2 Days in San Francisco appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

What would you do in your hometown if you would be moving away forever in 2 days? My guess is, you would hit all your favourite gems and little hot spots in the city. You would eat at your favourite restaurant, sip coffee at your favourite coffee house, and sit on the steps of your favourite local landmark to watch people go by. Basically, you would go to all those small local things that couldn’t be found in any other city, and since you only had 2 days, you would have a fire under your ass to make sure you got to them all. There are just so many things to do in Vancouver.

Related post:  10 of the Best Vancouver Ramen Shops – Warning! You Will Be Hungry!

So what would I do in my last 2 days in Vancouver? Before I answer that question, here are some things that didn’t make it on my list:

• tourist traps like the Capilano Suspension bridge and Gastown;
• things that would have a long line up like Vij’s restaurant – great food and atmosphere, super busy, but no reservations?
• things that would be far to get to like Whistler-Blackcomb
• things that would take a long time to do and have a low rate of return like walking around in Stanley Park

Here’s a few of the things that would make it on my list:

The Coffee Shop: 49th Parallel Roasters/Lucky’s Donuts (Main Street)

This coffee shop serves some great coffee and also makes the best donuts in town (unofficially). Critics may balk at paying $3.50 for a donut, but let’s face it, everyone wants to know what makes a $4 donut taste better than the one you in a 6-pack from Safeway for $3.99. I’d get myself a nice cup of coffee and a Peanut Butter and Jelly Donut, find a seat by the fireplace, and sit and listen to the hipsters talk about their e-commerce business selling doggy yoga wear made of locally sourced Alpaca wool. Ahhhh, this is Vancouver.

The Tea Spot: East is East

I love myself some Chai tea. I used to brew Chai tea at home in an attempt to reverse engineer the best (again, unofficially) one in town: Darjeeling Chai Tea at East is East. Unfortunately, I could never get the right balance of spiciness and sweetness at home, and I still drive across town to grab a tea at least once a week. Yes, it’s that good. While you’re at East is East, I’d also recommend getting their Tibetan Mantu, a vegetarian dumpling dish that would convert any carnivore to vegetarianism.

The Bakery: Terra Breads

Locally, Terra Breads is a baking phenomenon. Without fail, every time my father-in-law flies into town, finding Terra Breads’ Fruit and Pecan Loaf is the first thing he inquires about (even before asking how my wife and I have been doing). Yes, Terra Breads products are sold in Whole Foods (at least in Vancouver), but go to one of their 4 locations (Olympic Village, Granville Island, Kitsilano, and Mount Pleasant) to get their full selection.

The Chinese Bakery: New Town Bakery (Chinatown)

The first thing you may notice about walking into this bakery is the large number of Chinese folk there. That’s normal. The other thing you’ll notice is the large number of non-Asians (white folk) and other Asian groups (ex. Philipinos) there too. That’s normal too and a sign that the message has gone international (or is it interracial?) that this bakery is the place to get your BBQ pork bun, apple turnovers, and coconut buns (all of which I recommend you getting). Take a number and wait patiently as you see fresh buns come out by the tray (steamed on bamboo trays still). The only thing that bugs me: Cash only.

The Scenic Walk: Yaletown to English Bay Seawall

I have a dog, and I do part of this walk everyday (when it’s not raining). Starting at the turn about at the base of Davie Street, you can walk along the seawall and catch a view of False Creek, Granville Island, David Lam Park, George Wainburn Park, and English Bay. It’s a great walk. You can also take the Aqua Bus or the False Creek Ferry at designated docking stations along the seawall and cross over to Science World, Olympic Village, or Granville Island (by the way, dogs hate getting into small ferries). Or, you can walk the entire way to English Bay and grab a bite to eat along Denman. It makes for a great way to see Vancouver.

The Casual Eatery: Bao Qi

Vietnamese beef noodle (a.k.a. pho) restaurants are as plentiful in Vancouver as MSG in Chinese food. Lucky for me, I found one of the best. What makes it the best is the broth: MSG-free, house brewed, clear, and tasty, I’m surprised people don’t pack the broth in a to-go container when they’re finished. What’s most surprising: it’s a downtown restaurant that serves exceptional food but without the exceptional prices. Note: there are no washroom facilities in Bao Qi, and you’ll need to head to Starbucks to use the one there (you’ll find pumpkin spice lattes seem to go well with pho)

The Dining Experience: L’Abbatoir

I know I said I’d avoid Gastown, but this is one restaurant I would make an exception for. L’Abbatoir is my go-to for any occasion: Valentine’s Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays. And, it’s not a tourist trap (no backpacks or fanny packs on customers in this hip establishment). It’s modern French food without the pretentious attitude or the over-the-top prices. It’s a romantic evening out with a bottle of wine and a warm, dimly lit atmosphere. It’s your get-out-of-jail-free card the next time you’re in the dog house.

There are some more things I would do, but that will have to wait for another blog post. What would you do in your last 2 days in Vancouver? In your hometown? I’d love to know.

The post Last 2 days in Vancouver appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.