Thank you PNW folks. We loved Seattle, etc.

[SQ]

A month or two ago I posted a request for recommendations on what to do on our Seattle vacation. You all really came through for me. We did many of the things you recommended, although we never did make it to Mama's for a meal. :(

Briefly, we went to Friday Harbor; Mt. St. Helen's and Ape's Cave for some cave exploration (DH and sons were in the cave for 2-1/2+ hours!); Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge (for a short hike and sunset - it was beautiful); Mt. Rainier (big hike); REI (DH and sons climbed wall - all the way to the top! and also test rode?? mountain bikes); Pike Place Mkt (kids entered watermelon-eating contest and won shirts and the video on the Mkt); Space Needle; Quinault Rain Forest; Boeing Factory in Everett; Museum of Flight; Locks and fish ladder (amazing seeing salmon swimming upstream and also jumping right out of the water); Pioneer Sq. underground tour...

We had wonderful weather and a great time. Food highlights were Sherpa Himalayan Restaurant (near the University); Cafe Flora; Chang's (Capitol Hill) - kids wanted to go back here the next nt!; and some great Thai restaurant in the Queen Anne area which has another Noodle Restaurant around the corner from the one we ate in.

My retelling wasn't so brief, but I truly want to thank you all; you helped make our vacation less stressful.

[Jewel]

Glad you had a great time! Tell your kids that I'm always tuggin' on my husband's sleeve wanting to go to Changs AGAIN! We've got Frequent Flyer cards and get a free meal every few months!! :D :D Something about that place that I just never get tired of!

You made the rounds! Sounds like you covered a lot of ground, and you should be glad to be home to rest! Come back anytime! ;)

[BosunsWife]

OMG, I forgot about the Ape Cave. DH and I did the whole thing (hiked it from one end to the other) shortly after we were married. We used a small Coleman propane lantern for light. The only part I had a hard time with was when we came to the "waterfall" area and DH had to shove me halfway up and I got one foothold and had to claw my way up to the top. What an experience! When I told my parents about it my mom got this look on her face like "what were you, nuts?"

[KValley]

SQ- so glad you had a good time! It sounds like you did a whirlwind tour!

DH and I just returned from several days' vacation on the Olympic Peninsula- visiting my childhood stomping grounds in the Dungeness Valley. Did the Hurricane Ridge hike- about 8 miles around the Hurricane and Klahane ridges.

Like Jewel said, come back anytime!

Cheers,

Julie