There are a thousand miracles

On a road trip to Ellensburg yesterday, we came across a restaurant that had the One Day Vacation attitude painted on its wall and baked into its Heavenly Bread - "In an ordinary day, there are a thousand miracles." If your travels take you to the middle of the state, don't miss the Yellow Church Cafe on Pearl St. (http://www.yellowchurchcafe.com). Founded as a church in 1923, it now serves "The best breakfast in Kittitas County."

Today's Quote

Life is much too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde

On Thursday, Cy and I made a trip to Olympia to visit the Capital. It has been beautifully restored since the earthquake. All of the post-911 security restrictions have been dismantled so visitors are now able to roam freely. We sat in the Senate Gallery, saw the Governor's office and explored the basement where the entrances to the underground tunnels are visible. Spring is a beautiful time to be in Olympia. Add a trip to the Farmers' Market ( http://www.farmers-market.org/) and a stop at the nearby Batdorf & Bronson roastery ( http://www.batdorf.com/) for a coffee tasting to create a full day adventure.

Today's Quote

There is no duty we so underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Puyallup's Outdoor Art Gallery

Don't forget to come to Puyallup to see the new art collection installed in March. You can pick up maps at the library and take a self-guided tour through the gallery. The gallery features a range of artists, media, and styles. From whimsical to serious, there is something for everyone. For more information: http://www.artsdowntown.org/

Run, don't walk to the Spring Fair

Cy and I spent a blissful two hours at the Spring Fair today. I think The Fair uses this event to try out new ideas for the main event in September. This year they have lots of great ideas in the works. We enjoyed the Festiva Mexicana section near the Blue Gate. It featured lots of great food booths, picnic tables with plenty of seating and a selection of handmade and imported goods for sale. We liked the hand shaved ice with fresh fruit juice over the top for just $2. We also had fun at Intel's Play Free PC area. Its a computer lab stocked with the latest equipment, enthusiastic teachers are on hand and good games are loaded and ready to be played. The PCUs have plexiglass covers so you can see the computers at work. Inside the garden show area, there is a wine garden featuring Washington wines and a beer garden elsewhere on the grounds. Parking is free and the crowds are small. Hurry! It's only open until Sunday.

Since I've been asked to make suggestions about places to go for weekend getaways, I am adding the Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal to my list of recommended spots. In operation as a resort since 1913, the Alderbrook was recently bought and upgraded by the same company that owns the Willows Lodge in Woodinville. Every room has a great view of Hood Canal, there are cabins that are great for families or large groups, the restaurant is yummy and the pool in the glass building on the water front is a great treat. Add this one to your list of places to try. Its only 75 minutes from Tacoma and winter and spring packages were available for a decent price.

http://www.alderbrookresort.com/

In February 2007, the Hansons took a One Day Vacation of Longer Duration. Here's a snap of Randy and Cy passing the time at the Tacoma Amtrak station. We rode the train to the city so we could start feeling like we were far from home right away. To make our reservations, we went to Priceline.com and bid on a 4 star hotel in Seattle. We ended up with a fabulous room at the Westin for only $120 (average hotel rooms in Seattle are $147!). We watched the Academy Awards from our Heavenly beds and enjoyed the pool in the atrium when it was pouring with rain outside.

For your next trip to Seattle, whether it is One Day or longer, don't miss Top Pot Donuts on 5th Avenue or Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market. They serve, hands down, the best comfort mac n' cheese in the city!

New Restaurant Opens in Puyallup

DeCaterina's opened yesterday in the great spot that was previously occupied by From the Bayou. Not ones to let a new restaurant get by us, we stopped there for dinner tonight. In addition to the food being great, we got several signs that this is going to be a good addition to our town: 1) When we ordered a salad and entree to split, the waitress declared this a "fun" idea and didn't seem to think we were being cheap, and 2) when Randy thought he might have been served the wrong beer, the bartender came out with samples of the beer he requested and the beer he thought he got. The samples were offered up with great style and in the end he decided that he'd gotten the beer he requested. Make plans to visit DeCaterina's and let us know what you think!

One Day Vacation Conversation

Hi Everyone - Today is the day that we get serious about having fun. Expanding on the articles in The Herald, I will be posting ideas for One Day Vacations in the Puget Sound area along with a range of ideas about how to incorporate fun into your daily life.

Please join in by sharing your ideas for everyday fun and for fieldtrips that you recommend. I am building the 10 Principles of Everyday Fun (see below). I've posted seven as food for thought. What would you add to this list?

I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Sally