For those of you that have been here a while, you might remember our monthly recaps from our 12 months of travel. We put that series on hold when our travels went on hold due to the pandemic, but we figured it would be fun to bring it up as a way to recap of our six months living in Seattle. You can find all 12 recaps on this page.
We are still not flying at all while our county is in the “extremely high risk” on this website, that doesn’t mean we’ve just been in our new apartment for 180 days. We’ve been taking advantage of the incredible outdoor activities in the PNW and getting out to explore as much as possible.
Trips Taken
- The Entire Pacific Coast Highway for our move from San Diego to Seattle
- Leavenworth Weekend with Justin’s Parents
- Whidbey Island (Steph went with girlfriends)
- Anacortes
- Bellingham
- Oregon Coast
- Olympic Peninsula
- Plus one LOOOOOOONG road trip through WA, ID, MT, ND and MN
Transportation Methods
- Lots of road trips, very little weekday driving
- Kayaks (we bought these and LOVE THEM)
- Lime electric bikes and scooters
- 1 Uber Ride which we will avoid going forward because they are more expensive than taking a helicopter
- Ferries
- One Hay Ride
- Lots of walking
Some Standout Meals
Justin:
Legendary Pretzel at the Rheinhaus in Leavenworth when my folks were in town. This pretzel had such a wonderfully fluffed (but not dry) interior and that “just right” hardness on the exterior that was artistically coated in in a not-too-oozy butter. Served alongside a small vat of beer cheese, it was the perfect snack to wash down with a couple German pints.
Sage Against the Machine. I’ve been bitching and moaning about not finding a quality pulled pork substitute since I went veg back in 2012! But here, in a park converted from an old mill in the town of Bellingham, a vegan food truck proved that our little oinking friends deserve complete peace and existence away from the slaughterhouse with their offering of a BBQ jackfruit sandwich. I’d offer this tasty morsel up against any meat enthusiast’s best shredded pig.
Backyard Salmon. This was a situation of taking quality community over complicated recipes. A friend of ours invited us to our first backyard BBQ in a while. And he pulled out all of the stops! Grilled wild caught salmon, hand mashed garlic potatoes and a smattering of other tossed veggies. Sometimes the best meals are remembered for the good time you had, and not because of the dish you ate. That said, Matthew certainly killed it on the grill.
Steph:
I don’t know about anyone else, but I have been riding a strange roller coaster with food the last year. I’ll go through a week or two where I’m excited to cook everything and plan out meals or try new restaurants. And then just as quickly, I’ll swing to the opposite where nothing sounds good, I don’t want to be anywhere near my kitchen and I can’t decide on any food. I don’t know if it’s a weird pandemic side effect or what. But, there are a few things that I’ve completely fallen in love with here.
Since we moved here, I’ve found a few dumpling spots that provide me with the comfort food that I fell for in Eastern Europe.
I am also super happy with our neighborhood spots. We have a few pizza places we love (mainly Pagliacci and Frelard), a Mexican spot that doesn’t disappoint and a pie bar that offers up slices of Humble Crumble (a mix of apples and berries) with a giant scoop of Ice Cream. Having a couple of safe bets is wonderful.
Our Peak
Since we have moved, there have been some things that have surprised us in a pleasant way. Instead of picking just one peak for the last six months, we’ll make it a little more general.
Justin:
Where do I begin? I love the mountains in all directions. Rainer revealed itself to me on my second morning in town and I literally wept with joy by myself on Alki Beach. I could see the snow covered Olympics across the Puget Sound and couldn’t believe we had arrived.
The temperature has been great. The windows can stay open all the time in the summer.
I love that our neighborhood has everything we need without any of the national chains.
Steph:
I saw a Puffin in real life for the first time and it reminded me that I live somewhere with all kinds of new (to me) wildlife. While I haven’t seen any Orcas yet, I’ve gotten to hang out with marmots and all kinds of marine wildlife that I’m not used to. New plants, new animals and being surrounded by mountains and water… it’s pretty much my perfect situation.
In addition to the nature, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how many different neighborhoods are in Seattle. Each one has its own vibe and we have been having lots fun Sunday strolls exploring different areas. There are so many places within a two hour drive too, so we have no shortage of spots to explore. We spend most of our time in Fremont, Ballard and Wallingford, but that’s just because it’s walking distance for us.
Finally, GETTING VACCINATED against Covid. It helped relieve a couple of the lingering symptoms we were experiencing from having Covid back in January. Getting to hug family and friends for the first time in a over a year this Summer was pretty damn memorable.
Our Pit
Similar to our peaks, there are also a few things that have surprised us so far about living here that aren’t as cheery and magical.
Justin:
Where is all the rain I was promised? We had a near record streak of sunny days this summer without rain. All I want is the gray and the gloom which everyone assures me will be coming soon.
One thing I underestimated, despite being warned by friends who live here, is the amount of people on the roads and at the places you want to visit. Everyone warned us about the traffic which has lived up to the reputation, but if you aren’t the first person to the trailhead, you run the risk of not finding a parking spot to get out and hike at most of the locations within an hour of Seattle.
I suspect it isn’t just hiking, but most outdoor activities. It just means it’s imperative to get up early and get at it. It’s difficult to be spontaneous and just wing it here. There are not many last minute campsites or hotels because people here prioritize and plan out their adventures in advance.
Steph:
I was not prepared for the damn hills. Mountains, sure. I figured I’d be climbing some mountains, but every day when I leave our apartment? I have to decide if I want to climb the hill first and have a downhill walk home or the opposite. It’s getting a little easier after a few months of this, but be warned if you come visit. I guess it’s worth it for the views though…
Favorite Hike So Far
Justin: The trail at the end of the Mt Baker Scenic Highway to Artist’s Point.
Steph: Everything in Olympic National Park. The moss covered trees and beautiful turquoise waters paired with the views from these mountains is just incredible.
We Can’t Wait to Explore…
Justin: Mount Rainier National Park, Mount St. Helens, East Cascades, Tri-Cities area, Hood River, Alaska
Steph: CANADA, Oregon Mountains, San Juan Islands, and more of Olympic National Park
We Can’t Wait to Get Back to…
Obviously, we want to see our friends and family in Minnesota, New York and Colorado. There have been babies born, weddings have happened and we just miss being able to easily pop home for a weekend. But, because those are obvious choices – these are places we love thinking about.
Justin:
Everywhere we’ve visited in Washington, but in a different season.
Steph:
San Diego. I miss our quarantine family there and our neighbors. It’s strange because we spent less time there than anywhere else we’ve lived, but with COVID, it felt like years and we dove headfirst into relationships with an entire family. Also, I want to escape to Palm Springs this winter when I need a break from the rain.
What I Miss about Traveling
Justin:
The unexpected and spontaneity of life on the road. When we were traveling, the options were limitless to where we could go and what we could see. Now, it’s back to scheduling around vacation days and navigating a global pandemic.
Steph:
I miss the constant feeling that I might never be back here. I really learned how to live in the moment and I lost some of that with Covid quarantines. Now, I’m less willing to wait in line or get uncomfortable for something because I know I can circle back in the future.
I miss airports, trains and all the places where I used to just watch the world go by. Sitting at the local coffee shop here still allows me to watch the world pass by, but I’ve started to recognize all the main characters and it makes me miss the constantly changing scenes at different travel hubs.
What We Love Most about Having a Home Base
Justin:
As weird as this is, this answer is the opposite of above. If I want to stay on the couch for the day and eat nacho cheese Doritos, I can do that in my own apartment, on my own couch with my own blankets. It doesn’t happen often, but the option is there.
I also love having a job where people are dependent on me to contribute. Being a nomad is great, but contributing to society is rewarding and it’s good to have that back. Plus, a steady paycheck is a nice change of pace.
Steph:
We have stability that includes decent insurance, a primary care physician, a dentist and we are members of our local co-op. Daily chores are easy and simple, which is opposite from traveling and moving around every few days.
Another thing I love is being able to make plans with new, local friends for a few months in the future. We have tickets to the John Mayer concert for March with another couple and the fact that we are able to plan for the future is pretty fantastic.
And finally, plants. We have house plants again and it’s wonderful. We’ve successfully kept six plants alive for six months. We have a cozy corner of the couch that backs up to the windows and is surrounded by greenery and it’s the best place in the apartment to sit with a book and read.
What is the most PNW thing you’ve adopted so far?
Justin:
Mariners hat, an affection for Sasquatch and an Oru kayak.
Steph:
Stocks with socks – Birkenstocks that is. While camping this summer, I found myself constantly just sliding on my sandals and as ridiculous as it looks, its so convenient and comfortable. This is the pair that I own and they were one of the best purchases I’ve made in the last six months.
We have all the pictures organized and ready to post, so stay tuned for more in depth recaps of our adventures here so far.
