Planning to Visit Japan

We've been trying to plan a trip to Japan for several years now. This fall the stars aligned and we are actually making it happen! Brian visited Japan in 2014 for work, traveling to Tokyo, Kyoto, Utsunomiya, and Nagoya. He came back raving about the experience—the architecture, the cuisine, the hospitality, and the efficiency and …

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Washington Hikes: Monte Cristo

Ever since we hiked the Old Robe Canyon Trail and learned about the ghost town of Monte Cristo we've been wanting to hike to it. The trailhead is a good hour plus from our house and the hike is more than eight miles-- not accounting for time to actually explore the site itself-- so we …

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Places to Stay in Spokane: Historic Davenport Hotel

We met my parents in Spokane for the weekend and stayed at an incredible spot called the Historic Davenport Hotel. The hotel is in a great location—within walking distance of everything we wanted to do—has parking just across the street, and has some great amenities and history that ended up making it a destination unto …

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Hikes and History of Long Beach, Washington

There are so many things to learn when you move somewhere new, and among them is the geography. I'm guessing many people have heard of Long Beach. I certainly had. I just assumed that when people here in Washington were referring to it, they meant the one in California. In my defense, a ton of people …

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Seattle’s UPS Waterfall Garden Park

Did you know the United Parcel Service (UPS) was founded in Seattle's Pioneer Square in 1907 by two teenagers? That it was known as the American Messenger Co. until 1919 when its headquarters relocated to California? Me either! Not until my mom stumbled upon an 'only in your state' article that featured a few historical gems …

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Hawaii: Oahu’s Pearl Harbor

When we planned our week-long trip to Hawaii, we spent a lot of time narrowing down the islands we would visit and the list of things we wanted to do, trying to be reasonable about what we would be able to enjoy in just a few short days. From the beginning of our planning, the …

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Aloha, Hawaii!

When we moved to Washington, we committed to exploring the Pacific Northwest and making the most of our access to places, things and experiences unique to this part of the country and world. We wanted to really get to know this area while remaining open to seeing where life and our careers take us. As part of …

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