Washington Archives

Bop Street Records, Seattle, WA

May 26, 2014 By Katy Leave a Comment

Bop Street Records, located in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, is a veritable treasure trove for serious vinyl collectors (and casual browsers too).

The staff are incredibly helpful. From the moment I walked in, I was being asked about the kind of music I like, and what I might be looking for. They’ll point you in the right direction, then give you all the space you need to comb through their fantastic selection of records. They’re always around, ready to answer any questions, but without interfering with your browsing. Their prices are quite fair, as well. [Read more…]

Four ways to save money when visiting Seattle

March 30, 2014 By Katy 2 Comments

1. Skip the Space Needle.

I know, I know, I’m telling you to skip the most iconic icon that has ever icon-ed in Seattle. By all means, when you go to Seattle Center to visit the Experience Music Project or to see a sweet laser show at the Pacific Science Center, definitely check out the Space Needle…from the outside. Otherwise, you are paying $18 to ride in an elevator, and that is just tooooo ridiculous.

Instead, try going to the Columbia Tower, where admission to the 73rd floor observation deck is a much more reasonable $12, with unlimited re-entry all day–perfect to come watch the sunset from one of the highest points in the city. The Columbia Center observation deck provides a 360-degree view of Seattle, and then your cityscape shots can include the Space Needle. [Read more…]

Easy Street Records & Cafe, Seattle, WA

March 23, 2014 By Katy 1 Comment

Easy Street Records is easily my favorite record store in Seattle. They carry a ton of Northwest music, have super friendly and helpful staff, and cater to pretty much everyone’s taste. They also regularly have live music in-store. The entire first floor of ESR is CDs & DVDs (both new and used). The walls are covered in fantastic posters, art, collectibles, and featured music. [Read more…]

Weekend Getaway: Orcas Island, WA

March 20, 2014 By Katy Leave a Comment

For every Seattleite there comes a point in late winter/early spring where the ubiquitous grey drudgery begins to consume you. Grey concrete, grey skies, and no hope of sun for another few months means we have to get out, and stat!

Happily for us, there are many beautiful natural areas are accessible from Seattle, making weekend escapes quick, easy, and often fairly cheap. This weekend I took a trip to one of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest: the San Juan Islands.

Located in the north Puget Sound, the San Juans are a short ferry ride from Anacortes, which is about an hour and a half from Seattle (via car, though there is an Airporter shuttle that goes from SeaTac Airport and Downtown Seattle to Anacaortes). There’s a small beach right next to the ferry terminal, which is a great place to kill time while waiting for your ferry to board. The ferry ride alone is worth the trip–beautiful views of the islands, and if you’re lucky, you may even spot some Orcas! [Read more…]

Day Trip: Big Four Ice Caves

March 19, 2014 By Katy Leave a Comment

Last fall, some friends and I decided we wanted to get out of the city and spend a day walking around some of Washington’s plentiful forests, and the Big Four Ice Caves seemed like just the right thing! The Big Four ice caves are in an area between the Mt Pilchuck State Forest and the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. A pretty little two-hour drive from Seattle, you can access the caves starting in early summer, after nearby waterfalls and warm winds have worn tunnels through the previous year’s avalanche pileup.

It was a spectacular September day, and after a very pleasant scenic drive we arrived at the trailhead for the Big Four ice caves. The hike itself is very easy: about two miles round trip, with minimal incline and beautiful views. This walk would be great for people of all ages; we saw families with small children, and older people walking with canes, and everyone seemed to be moving in stride. [Read more…]