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.
The Ko Olina area is a development about 30 minutes from Honolulu airport and houses several resorts, including the Four Seasons, Disney's Aulani and Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club. It is built around three man-made lagoons that provide for easy ocean access and swimming, in an area where surf usually makes ocean access a challenge.
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.
The menu has evolved over time to more of a grazing or tapas type format, and the selections are such that it is easy to create a full meal with good variety and excellent quality. The breads and risottos are wonderful, as are seasonal dishes based on fresh ingredients. This is also another location that combines a good wine shop with its offering and helps deliver both local Washington products in addition to enough variety globally to meet most needs.
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.
Based on my new experience, comparing the Immersive Van Gogh Experience to a "traditional" museum visit is not appropriate. While a museum visit may give you the opportunity to experience the original work of art by a true master of their craft, the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit allows you to be absorbed into the environment that led to the artist's creations.
