Standing on the shores of Lake Union in Gas Light Park, you get a true sense of Seattle’s sweeping skyline—the city often called "the jewel of the Pacific Northwest." The bustling metropolis is framed by a stunning landscape of lush forests, towering mountains, and vast stretches of both fresh and salt water. Its waterfront, on any given day, is lined with cruise ships and filled with locals and tourists taking in the views of the Puget Sound’s Elliott Bay and the open‑air stalls of Pike Place Market, with its many cafés, eateries, and attractions.
While staying in Seattle, our accommodations were at my son’s house overlooking beautiful Lake Washington, with a view of the Cascades in the far distance. The lake runs adjacent to both Seattle and Bellevue and is the second‑largest lake in the state of Washington. One fascinating aspect of Lake Washington is Mercer Island, which lies at its center. My son drove us around the perimeter of the lake to see some of the finer points of interest, though we did not cross over to Mercer Island.
First on our list of things to do was to hike Seattle’s undisputed king of the landscape, the iconic Mount Rainier, about a two‑hour drive from Lake Washington. Our destination was Paradise, located on the south side of Mount Rainier National Park at an elevation of 5,400 feet, but our first stop as we ascended from the park’s main entrance was a beautiful waterfall called Narada Falls. Upon arrival to Paradise, there were numerous hiking trails to choose between, each offering different views of the mountain and its subalpine meadows.
While traversing the steep trails, we were greeted by friendly squirrels at nearly every rock we passed on the way to Vista Point, each one expecting us to toss it a treat. Marmots scurried through the meadows and over the rocks, and we saw a mountain goat, a deer, and briefly a bear. It was a sunny, clear day on the trails, and at one point we had an excellent view of the Tatoosh Range, with distant glimpses of Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens.
At Vista Point, the view of the snow‑covered summit was unforgettably breathtaking, with numerous glaciers descending through its rocky crevices and two waterfalls, fed by melting snow, tumbling over steep cliffs at various elevations. We took our time soaking in the splendor of the mountain scene and capturing numerous photos before trekking back to the Paradise parking area.
Day two on our list was whale watching around the San Juan Islands north of Seattle. Our first stop on the way to the Anacortes marina, where we would board the Island Explorer 5, was Deception Pass Bridge, a double cantilever truss bridge. When we arrived, a thick mist was rolling through the pass and completely enveloping the bridge. The ambience was surreal as the fog drifted through the steel beams and cooled the air. It was magical, but it didn’t last long—the ocean breezes quickly carried it away. The views were stunning both beneath the bridge and from atop it.
The Anacortes marina was calm and quiet. We checked in at the boat and waited to board. The Island Explorer 5 is considered one of the best whale watching vessels anywhere, and I would agree. It had three full walk‑around outdoor viewing decks with cathedral‑style bow seating that offered ample space for taking in the sights. There were also two large indoor cabins with seating and a bar serving drinks and food. We chose the upper deck at the front of the boat. Hold onto your hats—the air currents were strong as the vessel sped through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and around the San Juan Islands.
We saw plenty of seals lounging on small rocky islands, otters rolling in the kelp beds, and various birds, including an eagle. The highlight was observing the local orca family, consisting of a mother and her two sons. The family circled an island several times on the hunt for seals as boats gathered to watch. It was mesmerizing to watch the orcas rise slowly from the water, their tall dorsal fins cutting through the surface before they disappeared again into the currents. As we observed, one of the marine biologists shared fascinating facts about the orcas and their life in the straits. While out on the water, we also had a beautiful view of Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands.
We ended the day with dinner at a popular local Italian restaurant called Nonna Luisa. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by an older gentleman called Pappa, who immediately seated us at a table despite the restaurant being crowded with happy patrons and had the server bring out a complimentary dish on the house. He was the owner and he knew my son from previous visits. Both the food and the service were top‑notch.
It was a great beginning to of our visit to the Emerald City with more to come.
