Category Sightseeing

A Day in Reykjavik

The 101 Hotel in Reykjavik advertises itself as a sleek boutique hotel set in a former office block on a busy corner of downtown. It was a perfect location for three days of sightseeing in and around Reykjavik and was within walking distance of several prominent must-do sights and also close to many restaurants, bars and shops.

A Day at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon

Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon

we chose to book The Retreat Spa at the Blue Lagoon rather than a general admission ticket. The Retreat Spa reservation allowed access to all areas of the Blue Lagoon included in the general admission, plus several other amenities including the ability to have a quiet lunch at the Spa Restaurant. For us, given that this was our first full day after an overnight flight and desiring to truly make this a rejuvenating experience ahead of touring Iceland and Norway for two weeks, the more extravagant choice of the Retreat Spa was well worth it.

Whale and Dolphin Watch Charter at the Four Seasons Ko Olina

We had the good fortune to charter "The Entertainer", which is a Sea Ray SLX 400 available to guests staying at the Four Seasons Ko Olina. Skippered by two talented and knowledgable team mates, the trip was fantastic and exceeded all expectations for our foray into dolphin and whale watching. It helped that the seas were very calm on the day we went out, and that is was very much the right season for whale watching.

Bellevue Botanical Garden D’Lights

An annual festive exhibit worth a visit is the Bellevue Botanical Garden D'Lights. Held outside, pretty much rain or shine, the lighted exhibit covers a portion of the botanical gardens and showcase creative constructions of gardens, animals, landscapes and some whimsical elements as well. A walkable loop with some mild inclines and declines can be covered in less than an hour and will leave everyone in a holiday mood.

A Cruise Ship Leaving Seattle in 60 Seconds

We had the pleasure of sailing out of Seattle's Pier 66 in August 2021 onboard the beautiful Celebrity Cruise Millennium. For sail away, we positioned a camera on the aft deck and recorded our departure. Here is the beautiful Seattle skyline as we depart, condensed to a sixty second segment. Please enjoy.

Harbor Seals at Point Defiance

Sailing by Point Defiance in the South Puget Sound will usually yield a view of masses of harbor seals. This is especially true as the evening gets near and the seals huddle together on the beach for the night. The waters around Point Defiance create significant tidal movement and are good feeding environment for the seals, making for abundant opportunities for sightings.

Price Sculpture Forest

Price Sculpture Forest is a wonderful art exhibit set outside in a walkable forested area outside of Coupeville on Whidbey Island. The Sculpture Forest has two separate but linked walking trails, one is very flat and accessible, with the second being slightly more hilly and uneven.