Let’s try this again, Washington!
Caitlyn here. I went to graduate school in Seattle. And if it weren’t for a dream job, I would have stayed.
Salt and Vine
Cas and I were exploring the towns around Mount Vernon while we lived there. You have gotten to know Cas while reading this site, sure, so you’ve probably come to […]
Rachel’s Ginger Beer
Rachels is a cute little ginger beer shop slightly off of the main drag of Pikes Place Market on Post Alley. You can get boozy or virgin ginger beers of […]
Beechers
There’s cheese. And then. There. Is. Cheese. Beechers is the end all, be all of cheese. Hail to the cheese. Bow down to Lord Beecher. That’s how good it is. […]
The Crumpets Shop
If you’ve always wondered what Miss Muffet was talking about, head to The Crumpets Shop in Pikes Place Market. I have my standard little tour–The Crumpets Shop followed by Beecher’s […]
Maximilien
Maximilien’s is where I always send people when they go to Pike’s Place Market. It is tucked away, down the hall from the Spice Shop (go there, too! And get […]
River trail in Mt Vernon
One day, in Mount Vernon, while Cas was out of town, I decided to take a run down the famed Mount Vernon river trail. We’d walked along portion of the […]
Ivars
Is Ivars a bit of a tourist trap? Yes. Is Ivars overpriced? Yes. Is Ivars playing to the masses? Yes. Does that mean you shouldn’t go? No, GO! They have […]
Fiddlers
Ah, Fiddlers. I have so many fond memories of Fiddlers. It was a mere stone’s throw away from where I used to live in Seattle. We didn’t go all that […]
Hellbent Brewing Co
We are staying in Lake City for two weeks and are determined to learn at least a little bit about this part of the city! We went for a gloriously […]
Walrus and the Carpenter
You know how Cas thinks I have a love/hate relationship with the Pacific Northwest? Well, it may be true. But, I will say that not being a time- and money-strapped […]
Il Granaio Authentic Italian Restaurant
Did you know that Cas used to own an Italian restaurant? It just so happened to be voted the BEST Italian restaurant in Portland. It also happened to be voted […]
Birdsview Brewing Co
Our last stop on our Ale Trail was Birdsview Brewing Co on our last night in town. We’d come so far on our passport that certainly wanted to squeeze in […]
Cardinal Craft Brewing Co
Cardinal Craft Brewing is run by the Skagit Valley Community College Craft Brewing program that takes students “from grain to glass”. We are pretty sure that they have the best […]
Flyers Brewery
We found some breweries in the Skagit Valley where the customers would keep us away, where the servers would keep us away, and where the beer would keep us away. […]
Chuckanut Brewing Co
Here is another one where we felt like we were bothering the bartender by being there. She was alone, granted, but it was a low key Sunday afternoon. No one […]
North Sound Brewing Co
We popped into the North Sound Brewing Co while out and about exploring the Skagit Valley. We’d heard that they have a variety of food trucks and we were hungry […]
Bastion Brewing Co
Sometimes, the vibe of a brewery is just as important as the beer they serve. We went to Bastion and sat at the bar. We were given the feeling that […]
Anacortes Brewing Company
One of the best days of my life was spent at the Anacortes Brewing Company. My best friend, let’s call her my First-mate for the purposes of this story, and […]
Garden Path Fermentation
5 stars for the ambience.5 stars for the friendly, knowledgeable bartender.5 stars for the variety of beers, fortified wines, and ciders in their fridge and on their shelves. But, gosh, […]
Seattle
Seattle, a city on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, is surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, and contains thousands of acres of parkland. Washington State’s largest city, it’s […]
Snow Goose Produce
We love tips as to where to go and what to do. Snow Goose Produce came highly recommended! Snow Goose is practically in our Mt. Vernon backyard, so we had […]
Pilchuck Trail
We love using the AllTrails app for hikes when we are in new or unfamiliar places. The app allows you to set certain parameters for your hike–distance and ease, for […]
Bellingham Brewery Review
Of COURSE there is a brewery trail in Bellingham and it’s surrounds. There are 13 breweries in the city limits and 15 in the county. That is a lot of […]
Bellingham
I am going to be honest with you, readers, Bellingham has been on our short list since the very beginning. Why, you ask? It scores well in terms of livability, […]
Foodie Tour in Edison
We take suggestions VERY seriously. So seriously in fact that when we got a suggestion to head to Edison, Washington, we went the very. next. day. We hit up sweet […]
Skagit Valley Food Coop
Funnily enough, we went to the Third Street Cafe, which is owned by the Food Coop before we went to the Food Coop! There are plenty of reasons to love […]
Skagit Valley Brewery Review
We love going to breweries and see them as a way to get our fingers on the pulse of our new town…they serve as a proxy measure for a sense […]
Mount Vernon Coffee Shop Review
Our very first stop in Mt. Vernon was at the Ristretto Coffee Lounge & Wine Bar. We arrived a bit too early to meet with the lovely couple for whom […]
Third Street Cafe
I have loved that as we have been Dating America how quickly we’ve been able to size up a town. Eating at the Third Street Cafe was a perfect introduction […]
Walla Walla, Why Not?
Walla Walla is a conundrum. There were things we loved and things that we felt like wouldn’t work well for us right now… One of our best and dearest friends […]
Walla Walla Washington Restaurant Review
We went to a few more restaurants than this, but I decided that I would plan out your perfect day of eating. Of course, in between the eating, you should […]
Walla Walla Washington Winery Review
Our time in Walla Walla was MADE by our friend Jessica. I was going to say that she made our time better in Walla Walla, but that should be a […]
Temecula/Escondido Wine + Beer Review
Cas enjoys a good glass of wine and knows just what he likes. When he lived in southern California, he made an attempt to visit one winery a week until […]
Carlsbad
When we went to California for a little side trip in the summer of 2019, Cas had business to do in Orange County for a few days across two weeks. […]
Orange County
Cas had an unexpected work trip come up during this fine summer of 2019. We had enough airline miles for me to join him. The joys of working from home, […]
Dos Santos
If you know me, you know I love tacos. If you know me, you know I like creative vegetarian dishes. Apparently the chefs at Dos Santos know the way to […]
Colorado broke up with us
Colorado….we might have ended things too soon! We loved living in Colorado for the summer. As a whole, Colorado gave us what we wanted. We recovered from a stressful time […]
Colorado Springs: Breaking up was hard to do
Colorado Springs, at an elevation of 6,035 ft., is a city in Colorado at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. It lies near glacier-carved Pikes Peak, a landmark in […]
Colorado Mountain Brewery
I very rarely will order a hefeweizen. But I did at Colorado Brewing Company. It was so refreshing on a hot summer day. I also love flights. If you know […]
We can’t quit you Salida
Have you ever been interested in someone who relegates you to the lunch date? Or where you can’t seem to get beyond just being friends? Are you, god forbid, the […]
Breckenridge
Our date with Breckenridge was short-lived. We went to Breckenridge Brewery and to Broken Compass and enjoyed walking along the river path. So, why isn’t Breckenridge for us? We are […]
A date with Vail
Our date with Vail was like a date with someone out of our league. But, with someone in a league that we do not want to be in. It is […]
Glenwood Springs
We initially planned to spend two nights in Glenwood Springs but ended up spending about twenty four hours there, realized that we’d experienced the best of Glenwood Springs, and decided […]
Fruita, we walked
We took a little jaunt over to Fruita, CO, and, folks, this is the first date we’ve been on where we walked out the door mid-date! Perhaps Fruita was a […]
Grand Junction, we took a turn
On an epic tour of Western Colorado, we stopped in Grand Junction. We were sizing it up for livability and so were eager for our date! We had not heard […]
Broken Compass
Broken Compass Brewery is doggie heaven! We saw at least six or so perfectly behaved dogs at the brewery. Love it. I love places where people can feel comfortable, places […]
Breckenridge Brewing
We took a nice walk over to Breckenridge Brewing soon after our evening arrival into town. Before setting out on our Dating America adventure, we compiled a list of the […]
The Odyssey
We stopped in to the Odyssey for dinner one evening after a nice long walk (that was threatened by afternoon rains the entire time!). We settled in and were delighted […]
Building Three Coffee
We had lunch at neighboring Smørbørd and headed over to Building Three Coffee for more fuel for our drive. In doing a bit of research to write this…I found that […]
Smørbrød
We had a few people recommend Smørbørd to us, so when we were headed out of town for a little road trip their open-faced sandwiches seemed just the fuel we […]
The Axe and the Oak
The tasting room for the Axe and the Oak distillery is in one of our favorite spots–the Ivywild School! I tried their flight which served up tastes of a moonshine, […]
Upstairs Wine Bar
Upstairs Wine Bar is in Colorado Springs neighboring town, Manitou Springs, and just a short drive away and totally worth it for the charming downtown strip. Given our review, you […]
Shame and Regret
Our bartender at the Principal’s Office suggested Shame and Regret. We asked our server at Streetcar 520 about it. His impression is that the bartenders need to get some of […]
The Principal’s Office
So far, our favorite Colorado Springs bar has been the Principal’s Office. The Principal’s office is in the old Ivywild School that was built in 1916, closed in 2009, and […]
The Rabbit Hole
Well, this seems like the next logical spot to review given it’s mention in the Stir Review. The location is a selling point! The entrance is a simple door in […]
Stir
Stir is another one of these coffee shop meets cocktail lounge. Stir got it right. On every front. We went one evening and wanted to get some work done on […]
Cork and Cask
It isn’t quite clear what vibe Cork and Cask is going for. Are they trying to be swanky? Gothic? Appeal to bachelorette parties? That identity crisis was my first impression. […]
The Archives
Right below Colorado Craft is The Archives. They are shooting for a speakeasy feel to the bar. We felt that when it came to the cocktails, for sure. They have […]
Colorado Craft
First things first. The beer menu is extensive and impressive. Second things second. The food was some of the best we’ve had in Colorado Springs. At Colorado Craft they do […]
Brooklyn’s On Boulder
We wandered from The Wild Goose Meeting House around the corner to Brooklyn’s on Boulder. They are so close that they share a kitchen. We were there on a bit […]
Brewer’s Republic
Brewer’s Republic was recommended by a few bartenders around town. It is owned by the folks at Cerberus brewing (a favorite of ours!) to help highlight diverse beer offerings in […]
The Hotel Bar at The Broadmoor
Cas was in the mood for a sophisticated place. A place where Frank Sinatra could be found, with a martini in hand. An old school place. And by “old school”, […]
Jack Quinn
Jack Quinn’s was our first choice as it seemed like a Colorado Springs establishment and seemed like the kind of community-centered place that we so missed in Gallup. It proved […]
Peppercorn
I loved pouring over the selection of cookbooks at Peppercorn, a specialty kitchen-ware store, while sipping on a cup of complimentary chai tea. It is a 12,000 square foot store […]
Bishops Castle
Bishops Castle is the pinnacle of weird roadside attractions. It has everything. A quirky owner. Conspiracy theories. Scandal. Lawsuits…and probably more. Jim Bishop, for whom the castle is named, bought […]
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Zapata Falls
Have you heard of the International Dark Sky Association? I hadn’t either until I read this September 3, 2018 article in the New York Times and took note. If you […]
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
One of the things we are loving, loving, loving about Colorado Springs is the proximity to all these amazing hikes and trails in our backyard! Red Rocks Canyon is just […]
Colorado Springs Coffee Shop Reviews
One of the perks of working from home is the freedom to take a walk in the middle of the day and work from a coffee shop! Given that vantage […]
Colorado Springs Brewery Reviews
Colorado Springs is a beer-lover’s heaven! There are so many great breweries in Colorado Springs, 20 and counting!, that is is hard to pick a favorite, but we will try. […]
A Sunday Drive in the Colorado Gold Belt
We unexpectedly had to buy a new car. We were not happy about having to do it, but wanted to get happy about it! So, we decided to take our […]
Poor Richard’s
Poor Richards is a little bit of everything: bookstore, coffee shop, restaurant, music venue, bar, and toy store. We went for a quick lunch before meeting the people for whom […]
503W
503W was one of many bartender-recommended-restaurants. We had a beer and a glass of wine even though the person who recommended the restaurant specifically told us that the bartenders are […]
Streetcar 520
We got recommendations to go to Streetcar 520 from so many people, we stopped keeping track. We arrived hungry. Seriously hungry. This glowing review may need to be tempered by […]
Midtown Grill
To set the stage, we went to the Midtown Grill when we were waiting to move into our Colorado Springs housing. We chose it, literally, because there was parking immediately […]
Front Range Barbeque
We have our dear friend Sarayl to thank for this recommendation! We spent the morning hiking at the Garden of the Gods. Sarayl suggested Front Range Barbeque to help refuel […]
Our Colorado Springs Bar Review
We deploy a tried and true research method to seeking out bars to try: the snowball method. Super nerdy but effective. We start at a bar that gets good reviews […]
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark AND number one on Trip Advisors park list. It is not hard to see why. It is one of the most […]
City o’ City
I’ve missed vegetarian restaurants. Really, really missed them. We had a tough time finding healthy foods while eating out in Gallup–with an abundance of fried foods, meat-heavy foods, and New […]
Denver’s Coffee Shop Review
One of the joys of working from “home” is being able to work from coffee shops. At coffee shops, we are able to put our fingers on the pulse of […]
Great Divide Barrel Bar
They won us over with the Sasquatch at the entrance. We knew that we’d like this brewery before we even entered. The Great Divide opened up their RiNo location a […]
Denver Bar Review
We spent a lot of time exploring neighborhoods that we thought we’d end up living in if we lived in Denver. So, you will see that in this round-up style […]
Denver: Community + Food
We love spots within a community where a wide variety of foods are offered and all walks of life can be found. Denver did not disappoint! We discovered three places […]
Our Breakup with Denver, Denver is the one that got away
We broke up with Denver for logistical reasons and logistical reasons alone. We’d like to keep in touch with Denver and maybe when the timing is right we can try […]
Rocky Mountain National Park
Mountains. Wild Flowers. Lakes. Snow. Hail. Rainbows. Rain. Sun shine. We had it all during our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park! Which leads us to our first tip: Be […]
Truffle Table
Denver’s Cheese Bar, a quaint bar featuring an extensive wine list & flights paired with tapas, fine cheeses & charcuterie. Did I say cheese?
Nocture
Denver is entertaining us! Maybe it is time to go live in the Mile High City? Tucked away in the alley behind Denver Central Market, you will find Noble Riot […]
Upslope
We landed at Upslope after bopping around to a few other breweries. And that bopping has NOTHING to do with the raving review I am about to give. We loved […]
Noble Riot
Home Grown. Hand Made. Honest. The owners of Nocture, the jazz club, opened a wine bar next door, called the Noble Riot. If you love good food, honest wines, genuine […]
Hudson Hill a Coffee Shop & Craft Cocktail Bar
Hudson Hill Denver is a Coffee Shop and Craft Cocktail Bar in one, they claim to serve “The Finest Coffee, Cocktails, Wine, and Beer in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.” Do […]
Established 1893. The Buckhorn Exchange
On our quest to Date America, we decided to be sure that we try the signature dishes in each state we visit (sorry Kansas–not coming your way). One of Colorado’s […]
Durango Joes
At Durango Joes we care about people. From our customers to the farmers growing the coffee we serve—and everyone in-between—we believe in treating everyone with respect, care, and dignity. That’s […]
81301 Coffee, They Filter Coffee Not People
81301 Coffee, Inc. is a small coffee house and roasting company located in Durango, Colorado. Their mission is to simplify the coffee experience to bring people fresh and delicious coffee. […]
Hermosa Coffee Roasters
Through purchasing from sustainable sources and offering wholesale and retail sales, we will be providing a truly exceptional product while contributing to the longevity of the coffee industry and promoting […]
Smiley Cafe
The Smiley Cafe is about quality local food & coffee and a great place to enjoy time with friends and family. Free wifi allows you to get some work done! […]
Steamworks Brewing Company
Healthy salads, delicious pizzas, spicy Southwestern-style dishes, and vegetarian & gluten-free offerings provide something for everyone who’s hungry. Stop by to discover what’s “on tap.” Hang with the locals. Catch […]
The Irish Embassy Pub
Conveniently located in historic downtown Durango, the Embassy is a local favorite. The pub is authentic Irish – every piece of furniture, every picture, every glass was shipped directly from […]
The Bookcase and Barber
After working together in the local restaurant scene for several years, Beau and Jenna dreamed of creating a space where locals and visitors alike can gather to create memories that […]
DeRailed Pour House
Long-time locals, Todd, Lisa, and Grant Gibson have been part of the Durango community for 24 years. As Bayfield residents, Todd spent many years as a volunteer firefighter, including fighting […]
11th Street Station
We visited on a Sunday afternoon and were welcomed by the music from Liver Down The River! 11th Street Station is a culinary collective with a progressive vision and a nod […]
Ska Brewing
Somewhere out in Colorado, in the year nineteen hundred and ninety-five, two guys named Dave and Bill learned that while they loved gulping down good beer, they weren’t yet old […]
George Schmidt
George Schmidt’s artwork reflects his interest in architecture, design, landscape, color and form. His two and three dimensional works investigate the ways that we inhabit spaces imaginatively and interactively. George’s […]
The Stonehouse Loft
We arrived in Durango on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, George Schmidt the designer of and our host at The Stonehouse Loft had left us a code to get into our […]
Maria’s Bookshop
A locally-owned and independent bookstore, Maria’s Bookshop has provided an inspiring community hub to locals and visitors of Southwest Colorado for more than 30 years. Maria’s supports an enthusiastic learning […]
Gallup Coffee Company
Gallup Coffee Company is a local roaster that serves coffee, espresso, tea, blended beverages, and pastry in Gallup, NM.
The Zuni Pueblo
Why go to Zuni? You can go to appreciate the beautiful Zuni-made pottery and jewelry. You can go to see ancient ruins. You can go to appreciate dances and ceremonies. […]
El Morro National Monument
I’d never even heard of El Morro before moving to New Mexico. It feels like a hidden gem! The main attraction at El Morro is what is called Inscription Rock. Inscription […]
Chaco Canyon, a gift from our ancestors
Chaco Canyon is a gift from our ancestors. We are able to intimately imagine what their life in between 850 and 1250 AD might have looked like. And we can […]
The Singing Road
We love a good roadside attraction. Delightful, quirky New Mexico delivers a roadside attraction minus the side. Along a stretch of the famed Motherroute, Route 66, in Tijeras, New Mexico, […]
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Albuquerque
The newly renovated DoubleTree by Hilton Albuquerque, showcases a unique southwestern contemporary look and highlights our local history. Our friendly staff and a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie await your […]
Acoma Sky City
It took me TWO tries to get Acoma done right. I am so happy to share some advice and thoughts as to how you can get it right on the […]
Sierra Grande Lodge
Resting on mineral-enriched geothermal hot springs, Sierra Grande is a tranquil haven. The serene 17-guest room hotel is ideal for relaxation and rejuvenation, offering holistic wellness services, a traditional Southwestern […]
Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces
After exploring New Mexico’s arid, scrub-dotted landscape, Hotel Encanto De Las Cruces is a welcome oasis. The hotel’s earthy color palette, arched doorways, and tiled floors are quintessentially southwestern, while […]
White Sands
What a treat White Sands is! It is basically one big beach where you can sled. Really! When you get to White Sands, you can rent a sled, one of […]
Palace Hotel
Dating to 1882 and first opened as hotel in 1900, this historic inn is a 1-block walk from the Silver City Museum and an 8-block walk from Western New Mexico University.
Jerry’s Cafe
Narrow, cozy diner serving large portions of New Mexican comfort food, often with a chile sauce.
A Classic Route 66 Bar: The 49er Lounge
The 49er Lounge is a place known for beer, fresh-squeezed margaritas and history. It is filled with western decor and friendly service that has satisfied the likes of a thirsty […]
Coal Street Pub
Brewpub food & drink served amid hard-wood booths, folksy atmosphere & historic Gallup memorabilia.
Jemez Springs
Jemez Springs pops up, seemingly out of nowhere as you drive along the road. You make one turn in the mountains, and pop, there she is! And, there she goes. […]
Turquoise Trail
What is a trip to New Mexico without a drive between Albuquerque and Santa Fe? Of course, you can take Interstate 25 North and get there in, oh, a little […]