A Visit to "The Jewel of the Pacific Northwest"--Pike Place Market's "The Pink Door"

Seattle’s Pike Place Market is one of the most concentrated, high‑energy culinary ecosystems in the U.S.—a place where century‑old food traditions, immigrant kitchens, artisanal producers, and Pacific Northwest seafood all collide within a few dense blocks. At its core, the market is a living, breathing dining district: more than seventy‑five restaurants and stalls, multiple international food corridors, and iconic purveyors whose reputations stretch far beyond Seattle. After a full day of walking and taking in all this splendor, it was time to enjoy one of its dining icons on Post Alley, The Pink Door.

Walking down Post Alley from Stewart Street, if you were looking for a sign marking its location, you would not find one. A simple metal pink door marks the entrance—thus the name. The restaurant is a theatrical space, known for its Italian‑American dishes and cabaret energy. It offers cabaret shows and trapeze performances, along with a stunning terrace with a view of Elliott Bay. It was Seattle’s most‑booked restaurant in July 2026.

We checked in with the hostess stationed just outside the entrance, then stepped through the pink door and descended the staircase. Cabaret music rolled through the high‑ceilinged dining room with piano chords pulsing beneath the singer’s velvet voice, filling the space with a kind of theatrical electricity. The main seating area was already packed, a warm blur of conversation and candlelight. We were guided past the restaurant’s well‑stocked bar, its bottles gleaming in the low light, and out to the terrace. Evening had settled over Elliott Bay; the sky was clear, and the atmosphere in the seating area was comfortably relaxed—perfect for dining outdoors. We were a party of five, ready to savor the night.

Menus were placed on the table, and the server welcomed us before taking our opening cocktail orders. My daughter ordered a Watermelon Margarita with tequila, freshly pressed watermelon, triple sec, and lime.

After she delivered our drinks, the next consideration was the appetizers—Antipasti on the menu. The table chose two: Bruschetta—grilled ciabatta topped with organic summer tomatoes, hand‑torn basil, olive oil, and Sicilian sea salt—and Arancini—fried rice balls stuffed with caciocavallo, mozzarella, and a spicy Calabrian chili sauce. We clinked our glasses, and with that small ceremony, our visit to The Pink Door felt officially underway.

In short order, the generous, shareable Antipasti arrived and were divided among us. There were six pieces of each, perfect for our party of five, with one left over for the lucky claimant. Lighthearted conversation and laughter drifted around the table as we sipped our cocktails and enjoyed the perfectly prepared dishes. The Arancini was superb, and the Bruschetta equally so.

It was now time to order our main course. The server moved around the table with practiced ease. My daughter was on my tab. The rest of our group's tab was split between my son and his friend. My daughter chose Pappardelle al Ragù Bolognese—a slow‑simmered meat sauce finished with Parmigiano‑Reggiano. I opted for Rigatoni and Mama’s Meatballs, served with marinara and fresh basil. Both dishes came from the Pasta and Risotto section of the menu. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed her Pappardelle al Ragù Bolognese, and I savored every delicious forkful of Rigatoni and Mama’s Meatballs. We closed out the evening with a final round of drinks. I ordered the classic Old Fashioned.

Our server, Francesca, was courteous and professional throughout the evening. Each dish was delivered promptly by her and the supporting staff, and used plates were cleared efficiently to prepare for the arrival of each course.

By the end of the evening, it was clear why The Pink Door holds such a cherished place in Seattle’s dining landscape. From the moment we stepped through its unmarked entrance to the final forkfuls of pasta on the terrace, the restaurant delivered not just a meal but a performance—cabaret music drifting through the rafters and attentive service that kept the night moving with effortless grace. The food was exceptional, the atmosphere electric yet inviting, and the view of Elliott Bay unforgettable. For anyone visiting The Emerald City, The Pink Door offers an experience that lingers long after the last glass is raised. It deserves your utmost consideration.

A Visit to "The Jewel of the Pacific Northwest"--Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park, Deception Pass Bridge, and a Whale Watching Tour

Standing on the shores of Lake Union in Gas Works 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 golden-mantled ground squirrels and yellow pine chipmunks 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. When an orca rests, one half of their brain sleeps while the other remains awake. 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.

The Cascade Mountains and the Iron Goat Trail in Stevens Pass near Seattle--A Great Hike

Just outside Seattle rises the iconic Mount Rainier, dominating the city’s panorama. To its south stands Mount St. Helens. These two peaks are part of the Cascade Range and the Ring of Fire, which stretches from British Columbia to California. The range earned its name from European explorers, inspired by its many waterfalls. Together, volcanic activity and abundant forests make the Cascades a dramatic landscape of fire and ice—an ideal setting for challenging hiking trails.

One such trail is the Iron Goat Trail, located in Stevens Pass near Gold Bar. Its name comes from the Great Northern Railway’s corporate symbol: a mountain goat standing on a rock. Built along the former railway grade, the Iron Goat Trail officially opened to hikers on October 2, 1993. There are three trailheads: the Scenic, the Martin Creek, and the Wellington. We chose the Martin Creek. The Martin Creek Trailhead consists of an Upper Grade Trail and a Lower Grade Trail totaling 6 miles, both with a gentle 2.2 percent incline. The trail marks the site of one of America’s most tragic train disasters—the 1910 Wellington Disaster.

In the early 1900s, the Great Northern Railway constructed a system of tunnels and massive concrete snow sheds through the mountains of Stevens Pass, connecting the route to Seattle. In the winter of 1910, Washington State’s Cascade Mountain Range was struck by an unusually long blizzard. Previous clear-cutting and forest fires had stripped the slopes above the tracks, creating ideal conditions for an avalanche.

On March 1, 1910, following the nine-day blizzard, rain and an electrical storm besieged the Seattle Express No. 25 and the Fast Mail No. 27 trains, which had been forced to stop en route to Seattle. The winds, thunder, and lightning threatened the stability of the varied layers of snow on the mountainside. Either thunder or lightning triggered a break in the integrity of the heavy top slab of snow; as the weaker layers below gave way, the enormous slab began to slide down the slope, carrying everything in its path. The avalanche hurled both trains 150 feet down into the Tye River Valley, where the cars were buried in snow and debris. Ninety-six people died—thirty-five passengers and sixty-one railroad employees.

The Iron Goat Trail commemorates the construction of the railway and memorializes the disaster that occurred on its mountainside. Retaining walls, culverts, bridges, and waterbars were built, along with spur trails connecting the upper and lower paths, making this history accessible to intrepid hikers and their cameras. You can walk alongside the aging, massive two-mile-long concrete walls where thick-timbered snow sheds once covered the tracks, shielding trains from falling rocks and debris. Connecting these sections of wall, long tunnels were blasted through the mountain to allow trains to pass. You can stand at the tunnel openings, feel the exiting cool air, peer into the darkness, and wonder what remains inside. For your safety, however, entering the tunnels is strongly discouraged—bears and pumas inhabit the mountains.

The scenery along the Iron Goat Trail is stunning, the history intriguing, and the hike challenging—especially the spur near the Windy Mountain Tunnel, where the trail narrows and steep drop-offs demand caution. As you walk, stay alert: remnants of the avalanche, old buildings, and fragments of train cars lie hidden among the rocks and underbrush that has grown since 1910. A parking area with facilities and a museum marks the beginning of your journey. Enjoy the rugged beauty of Stevens Pass and the majestic Cascades near Seattle.

Iron Goat Trail - Martin Creek Trailhead

Directions:

Take Highway 2 toward Stevens Pass, to milepost 55. Turn left onto the Old Cascade Highway. At the junction with FR 6710, take a sharp left onto FR 6710. In 1.4 miles reach the trailhead.

The Beautiful And Majestic Mount Rainier--Hiking The Skyline Trail Above Paradise

For the people who live in and around Seattle, its presence is unmistakable and its influence inescapable. It towers over its surrounding landscape and fills everyone living in its shadow with fascination and wonder each and everyday. In a cloudless sky, it is the first thing you see as you look toward the rising morning sun and the last as the day's light fades away below the Pacific horizon. This dazzling landmark is the beautiful and majestic Mount Rainier.

Majestic Mount Rainier soars almost 3 miles (14,410 feet) above sea level. It is located 59 miles south-southeast of Seattle in the Mount Rainier National Park. Each year almost two million visitors come to Mount Rainier National Park to admire the volcano and its glaciers, alpine meadows, and forested ridges. However, the volcano's beauty is deceptive. U.S. Geological Survey research shows that Mount Rainier is one of our Nation's most dangerous volcanoes.

Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano currently at rest between eruptions, is the highest peak in the Cascade Range. Its edifice, capped by snow and 25 glaciers, has been built up by untold eruptions over the past 500,000 years. It last erupted in 1894-95, when small summit explosions were reported by observers in Seattle and Tacoma. Mount Rainier's next eruption might be of similar or larger size and could produce volcanic ash, lava flows, and avalanches of intensely hot rock and volcanic gases, called "pyroclastic flows."

The mountain was originally named Tahoma or "Great Snowy Peak" by the Yakima Indians. Captain George Vancouver renamed it after Admiral Peter Rainier of the British Navy during a scouting expedition on May 7, 1792. This name was hotly contested for over 100 years, because Americans felt it shouldn't be named after a British officer who had never even been to the U.S. An alliance of tribal members have moved forward with a proposal to restore an original name to this Northwest landmark, but a long bureaucratic process stands in its way. A Mount Rainier spokesman says the agency doesn't currently have a position and may not take one.

Mount Rainier's summit has an average high temperature of 33 degrees and an average low of 15 degrees in July, the month we visited. There is no mistaking when you enter Mount Rainier National Park--the Nisqually Entrance--a large log constructed sign marks the entrance where you pay a $30 fee which grants unlimited entry for one vehicle and passengers for seven consecutive days. Our planned destination was Paradise at approximately 5400 feet where there is a visitor center, the Paradise Inn, the Paradise Ranger Station and the 1920-built Guide House. Most of the parks 10,000-plus annual summit bound climbers begin their arduous and rewarding quest from this location. In 2015, 10,025 climbers made the attempt and only 4,888 were successful. It is also in Paradise where you will find some of the parks most popular hiking trails.

Before arriving at Paradise, we made a couple of stops along the way. The first stop was at Kautz Creek Trail for a beautiful view of Mount Rainier through the areas tall fir trees and the second at Narada Falls--a 176 foot falls located a mile from the Paradise area. After walking a descending path below the road, you are treated to a beautiful misty rainbow at its base where it plunges into a crystal clear pool.

The weather at Paradise was about 70 degrees and clear skies--perfect for climbing and viewing. With numerous trails to choose from, we selected the Skyline and Golden Gate Trails which ultimately took us to Panorama Point--a 4 mile trek with an 1700 foot elevation gain. Averaging 643 inches of snowfall per year, the trails were still covered with snow this early July. We walked over large slippery snow fields and climbed narrow, rocky ledges overlooking high cliffs with streams gushing past our feet. Along the way, we saw wild flower covered meadows and mountain goats clinging to rocky outcroppings. We were treated to stunning views of the summit and the sparkling Nisqually Glacier with numerous waterfalls crashing down its steep, craggy cliffs.



When we finally arrived at Panorama Point after hours of picture taking and gazing, we were standing above the cloud ladened peaks of the surrounding Tatoosh mountain range with Mount Adams shining in the sun far in the distance. Wispy clouds floated below us on the mountainscape from where we came. We took pictures and soaked in the inspirational and breathtaking scenes. In the meantime, a thick mist rolled in and covered the summit, which was no longer visible. It was time to leave. The mountain makes its own weather and we were about to experience that phenomenon.


As we descended the rocky trail, thick clouds began to surround us and visibility became almost zero. At this point, I had hiked ahead of Jared, my son, and Frank. I could no longer see them. The markers identifying the trails had disappeared and I lost my way on the snow fields looking for the foot tracks left by earlier climbers on our way up. I was becoming concerned. While on the snow, I came across an animal dressed in a coat of golden fur. Later, I would learn it was a marmot.

For a while, I appeared to be lost on the mountain, but luckily I found my way back onto the lower trails and the parking area where I waited for Jared and Frank. It was an exciting ending to a fantastic adventure with a lesson learned; you have to pay attention to the mountain because it changes in a blink of an eye.

For the strong, experienced hikers, who are prepared with the right clothing and equipment, route-finding skills, know their limits and when to turn around when conditions are unfavorable, the next stop from Panorama Point would be Camp Muir at 10,188 feet accessed via a junction across Pebble Creek--Camp Muir is the gateway to the south side of the summit by way of the Gibraltar Route.

Hiking the trails of Paradise on Mount Rainier is the ultimate and rewarding experience. It challenges you, inspires you, and humbles you. The beauty and splendor is unforgettable. Photographs capture a snippet in time, but it is an experience that can only be fully appreciated with your own eyes. If you are feeling a little whimsical, take a slide down one of the snow fields, climbers call it glissading. I appreciatively thank Jared and Frank for taking me on this rare and awe inspiring excursion on Mount Rainier.

Zip Lining On Camano Island North Of Seattle With Canopy Tours NW--Stimulating Fun

Zip lining is one of those must-do bucket list experiences. To soar through the air high above the ground, taking in views reserved only for butterflies and birds, is stimulating and down right fun, and northwest Washington is the ideal place to do it with its lush rain forests and big trees. Canopy Tours Northwest provides all of that.

A little over an hour drive north of Seattle between Whidbey Island and the mainland of Snohomish County is Camano Island. The island, approximately 18 miles long, seven miles across at its widest point and less than one mile at its narrowest, has a total area of 39.8 square miles. It is connected to the mainland, two miles west of Stanwood, by the Mark C. Clark Memorial Bridge across West Pass and Davis Slough, which is dry at low tides.

Inhabited by Indians for hundreds of years, the first settlers came to Camano Island in 1855. They came for the timber. The island was densely forested with stands of tall, straight Douglas-firs perfect for masts and spars. Utsalady, on Utsalady Bay at the northern tip of the island, was the site of a shipyard and one of the largest sawmills on Puget Sound, founded in 1858 by Whidbey Island pioneers Thomas Cranney and Lawrence Grennan. "Utsalady" was a distortion of an Indian word also rendered as "Uts-ollaie," and said to mean "place of berries." As we walked the only path between tree stands, we munched on the island's plentiful berries.

In 1949, Washington State Parks and Recreation developed 134 acres of land on the west side of Camano Island, overlooking Saratoga Passage, for use as a state park. Today Camano Island is entirely a farming and residential community, well-known for its production of fruits and berries. Canopy Tours Northwest is located on one of the island's farms, the beautiful Kristoferson Farm. Owned by six generations of family, their mission is to preserve the farm and it's abundant wildlife. The address is 332 NE Camano Drive.

When we arrived, we checked in at the farm's red barn and then waited for our certified guides to finish neatly spreading the safety harnesses we would be wearing on our zipping adventure. When they were finished, all we had to do is step into them and pull them up to our shoulders. The guides pulled all the straps into position and snapped on the two trolleys used to carry us across the cable lines.

After some instructions from our two guides, Alycia Mills and Hunter Ashby, our group boarded a 1963 Unimog off-road vehicle for a ride and a short walk to the first of six zip lines. Stepping onto the first platform, safety was priority. One by one we were snapped to a cable wrapped around the tree while we waited our turn. My first zip line experience, I eagerly and excitedly asked my first question, "How will you stop us at the other end." I soon had my answer.

Hunter mounted the cables and went across to the next platform first where he would control a mechanism attached to the cables that would assist in bringing us to a stop. Also, the cables are installed in such a way so as to slow momentum. There were eight in our group. I was fifth in line. I ascended the step and Alycia mounted my trolleys to the two cables, checked my straps, and by way of a communicator informed Hunter, "Rick is ready to zip," waited a response and then said, "Rick is zipping." Getting into a sitting position, I launched myself off the platform and felt the air rush past me as I zipped through the lush trees to the next tree platform about 40 feet above the thick vegetation far below.


After the second zip line, there were refreshments available and a camera where you could take group selphies by pushing a button. From there, we walked a path upward where we plucked berries from the bushes while listening to our guides talk about the surrounding forest and its wildlife in between fielding questions from the group.




There were four more zip lines with surprises at the fourth and sixth. At the fourth, one by one we had to cross a shaky suspended log bridge to get to the fifth platform. It was a bit of a challenge to make it across without slipping through the gaps between the logs, which I did, but I was able to pull myself back up and complete the traverse. The sixth zip line was the longest at 660 feet. It was an exhilarating flight as I soaked in the final views through the tall Douglas fur trees past a camera for a parting photograph and a attempted unique pose. To end our experience, we were one by one attached to a cable and we rappelled 47 feet to a smooth landing on the ground below.

Guide Hunter, a highly experienced zip liner, entertained our group with a few stunts and with a couple of people in our group with a fear of heights, Alycia was patient, reassuring, and detailed about safety, but allowing us the freedom to try something different. Kristoferson Farm provided the beautiful setting and Canopy Tours Northwest and its awesome guides made our tour a truly enjoyable adventure.

Rates--Adults (age 13+) - $103. Youth (age 12-) - $65.
For group rates, call Group Coordinator, Mona Campbell, at 360-387-5807.

Me, my son Jared, Frank, and another Jared.