Ferndale

Last October we had the opportunity to spend a blustery weekend up north on my In-Law's boat. It had been docked all summer in the cutest little private marina in Ferndale. A small town, just north of Bellingham, rich with farmland and a few other unexpected interests.

Along the Centennial Riverwalk Park, 

a newly paved trail through town.

 Saturday morning Farmer's Market. One vendor offers freshly prepared
breakfast sandwiches, while Barb's Pies and Pastries, the local bakery
serve the most adorable individual pastry pies.

 This historical museum park was such a treat to walk through, 

especially for us West Coasters who rarely get to see 

100 year old homesteads.

 For a unique small wedding, you can actually rent the church 

for your big day.  Click here for more details.

 Summer and School Tours offer children an opportunity to learn how 

to be a pioneer kid including: dipping candles, grinding grain, gathering 

eggs, visiting a one room schoolhouse and learning how mail was delivered.

We got coffee here on our way to Lynden, one of my favorite towns for 

another post.  Get that cozy feel of a rustic lodge for a 3 dollar coffee...

that's a pretty good deal.  Coffee itself is of typical franchise caliber, 

not Capitol Hill, but it gets the job done. 

Victoria, British Columbia

A couple years ago, I asked for my birthday gift
to be a weekend in the "City of Gardens".

Getting to Victoria: We took the COHO foot ferry which leaves from

Port Angeles, this is the cheapest, quickest route and arrives at the 

downtown harbor.  A lot of travelers prefer the convenience 

of the Victoria Clipper leaving from the Seattle waterfront, 

their package rates that include a hotel can be worthwhile.

The not so impressive, but prettily pink view from our room.

Ocean Island Inn was a memorable experience. Our first impression
was that by the end of the weekend, we would contract a foreign disease
and with awkwardly thin walls, whispering would be required. In the end,
not having a TV, we talked more and played tons of gin rummy. 

We decided our vacation budget would be spent on the ferry, 

lodging and dining, so we filled our itenerary with free things, hence: 

touring the Capitol Building.  It was pretty fascinating and educational.  

If you have the funds, Victoria has a lot of great museums. 

Everyone wants to have tea at the Empress, but $51 per person wasn't
for us. We really enjoyed our tea and scones at Murchies on Government
St. They bring you a tray with your own individual pot and the 

scones sprinkled with powdered sugar come with whipped cream and jam.

 We got some delicious rich lattes here a couple times, 

their beans roasted by Chicago roaster Intelligentsia. 

Sleek decor, you just feel cool being there.

 Old architecture

 Maybe the only two story McDonalds in the world, 

and probably the only one with a chandalier.

We rode the bus to the Oak Bay neighborhood, which tour guides
claim to be "more English than England itself". We got an AERO bar 
at the drug store and relaxed a few minutes in the park, 

I admired the Tudor homes surrounding us.

 Always interesting live entertainment at the waterfront.

 Love this guy.

This alleyway was so romantic.

 According to Wikipedia, the city's Chinatown is the second
oldest in North America after San Francisco.  They had a great 
farmer's market, I think it was on Sunday afternoon. 

 Bastion Square was probably my favorite filled with restaurants 

and outdoor seating. We ate at Irish Times on the corner--so much fun.

And of course, it's always good to get home.

Other stuff we learned:

• The Blue Fox Cafe, recommended by locals, on Fort Street is worth the walk.
• Don't get up early for breakfast, the entire town sleeps in.
• Be prepared for panhandlers to approach you on every street corner, actually everywhere.

Victoria is a unique corner of the world filled with beauty and culture, I hope you'll get a chance to go!

Farmers Markets

Every spring, we look forward to the season of Farmers Markets all across the Sound. The Puyallup Farmers Market is our home-town market, we go about once a month and enjoy a German pretzel with mustard or a frosted cupcake; bring home a carton of Black Sheep Creamery cheese or fresh salsa; and if I haven't already purchased our produce, a week's worth of fresh vegetables and fruits. In 2006, my Mom, my sister and I participated in the Des Moines Waterfront Market.  We called ourselves Buttercup Bakery, selling scones, muffins, cupcakes, granola, dessert and yeast breads. This was a great experience, and hard work! It made me appreciate all the efforts that go into providing  homegrown goods.

Missoula, MT Farmer's Market

Here is a regional listing of all the Farmer's Markets I could find in the greater Puget Sound:


King County
Bellevue: Th, 3-7pm, May -Oct, Bellevue Way NE.
Crossroads: T, noon-5pm, May-Oct, Crossroads Bellevue Mall/156th Ave NE and NE 8th St, Bellevue.
Burien: Th, 11am-6pm, May-Oct, SW 152nd and 5th SE.

Carnation: T, 3-7pm, May-Sept, SR 203, Tolt Ave and Bird St.

Des Moines: S, 10am-2pm, Des Moines Marina at S 277th and Dock St.

Duvall: Th, 3-7pm, June-Oct, 1st Ave NE and Stephens.

Federal Way: S, 9am-3pm, May-Oct, The Commons Mall, 320th and Pacific Hwy.

Issaquah: S, 9am-2pm, April-Oct, 1730-10th Ave NE (Pickering Barn).

Kent: S, 9am-2pm, June-Sept, corner of 2nd and Smith St.

Kirkland: W, 2-7pm, May-Oct, Park Ln E, between 3rd and Main.

Juanita Beach: F, 3-7pm, May-Oct, 9703 NE Juanita Dr at Juanita Beach.

Lake Forest Park: Sun, 11am-4pm, May-Oct, Lake Forest Park Town Center, corner of Ballinger Way and Bothell Way.

Mercer Island: Sun, 11am-3pm, Aug-Sept, on SE 32nd St at the north end of Mercerdale Park.

North Bend: Th, 4-8pm, June-Sept, Si View Park at SE Orchard Dr.

Redmond: S, 9am-3pm, May-Oct, 7730 Leary Way at Bear Creek Pkwy.

Renton: T, 3-7pm, June-Sept, S 3rd St, between Logan and Burnett Ave S.

Sammamish: W, 4-8pm, May-Oct, 801 228th Ave SE.

Snoqualamie: S, 10-3pm, June-Oct, King St (next to the Historic Train Depot).

Woodinville: S, 9am-3pm, May-Oct, NE 145 St, just East of St.Michelle Winery.


Seattle Neighborhoods
Ballard: Sun, 10am-3pm, year round
Belltown: Th, 3:30-7:30pm, July-?
Broadway: Sun, 11am-3pm
Cascade: Th, 3-7pm, June-?, Pike Place Market
City Hall: T, 10am-2pm, June-?, Pike Place Market
Columbia City: W, 3-7pm.
Fremont: Sun, 10am-4pm, year round.
Georgetown: S, 10am-4pm, June-?
Lake City: Th, 3-7pm, June-?
Madrona: F, 3-7pm.
Magnolia: S, 10am-2pm, June-?
Meadowbrook: Sun, 11am-3pm, June-?
Phinney: F, 3-7pm.
Queen Anne: Th, 3-7pm.
South Park: S, 10am-3pm.
U District: S, 9am-2pm, year round.
Wallingford: W, 3-7pm.
West Seattle: Sun, 10am-2pm, year round.


Pierce County

Gig Harbor: W, 11am-4pm, June-Aug, 3207 Harborview Dr on the waterfront at Skansie Brothers Park.

Gig Harbor: S, 8:30-2:30pm, Apr-Sept, Kimball Dr. (Park N Ride).

Key Peninsula: Sun, noon-4pm, May-Sept, 15610 92nd St KPN (in Lakebay outside O'Callahan's Pub.

Orting: S, 9am-2pm, July-Aug, Orting North Park.

Puyallup: Sun, 10am-2pm, May-Aug, Pioneer Park (just off S Meridian between E Pionner and 4th Ave SW.

Puyallup: S, 10am-2pm, May-Oct, Downtown (Pioneer Park Pavilion).

South Hill: S, 10am-4pm, May-Oct, Meridian E and 156th.

Steilacoom: T, 3-7pm, June-Aug, Downtown Steilacoom (Multi-Purpose Courts on Lafayette St).

Tacoma: T, 3:30-7:30pm, June-Sept, on North Pine St between 6th Ave and 7th Ave.

Tacoma: S, 9am-2pm, Apr-Nov, N 27th and Proctor St.

Tacoma: Th, 9am-2pm, May-Oct, Downtown Tacoma, Broadway, between 9th and 11th.

Kitsap County

Bainbridge Island: S, 9am-1pm, Apr-Oct, Winter Market: Nov-Dec, City Hall Park, Madison Ave.

Bremerton: Th, 4-7:30pm, May-Oct, Seaside Community Church, corner of Park Ave and Sheldon Blvd across from Evergreen Park.

Kingston: S, 9am-2pm, Apr-Oct, Mike Wallace Park at Washington and Central.

Port Gamble: Sun, 11am-5pm, Apr-Oct, Hwy 104 and Puget Way.

Port Orchard: S, 9am-3pm, Apr-Oct, Waterfront Marine, Behind Bay St.

Poulsbo: S, 9am-1pm, Apr-Oct, 7th Ave and Iverson, Poulsbo Village Medical/Dental Center.

Silverdale Peninsula: T, 11am-4pm, May-Sept, Red Lion Hotel Parking Lot on Bucklin Hill Rd.

Snohomish County

Edmonds Garden Market: S, 9am-2pm, May-June, Bell St and 5th Ave N.

Edmonds Full Market: S, 9am-3pm, July-Oct, Bell St and 5th Ave N.

Everett: Sun, 11am-4pm, June-Sept, 1520 W Marine View Dr, Everett.

Mukilteo: W, 3-7pm, June-Sept, 609 Front St, Mukilteo.

Snohomish: Th, 3-7:30pm, May-Sept, 1st St and Cedar Ave. 

Whatcom County

Bellingham: S, 10am-3pm, Apr-Dec, Downtown at Railroad on Chestnut.

Fairhaven: W, 12-5pm, June-Sept, on the Village Green behind Village Books.

Ferndale: S, 9am-3pm, Apr-Oct, Main St and Front Ave.

Thurston County

Olympia: Thur-Sun, 10am-3pm, Apr-Oct, 700 Capitol Way N.

Tenino: S, 10am-3pm, June-Sept, Tenino Elementary School, 301 Old Hwy 99.

Tumwater: W, 11am-2pm, May-Oct, Capitol Blvd and Israel Rd.

Yelm: M-F, 10am-6pm, S, 10-5pm, July-Oct, 14741 Lawrence Lake Rd SE. 

 Sunny Flowers

 Red Potatoes

Fresh Lemonade at The People's Market, Missoula, MT.

I heart community.