I was staring at it and twisting and turning my head this way and that. I was not seeing it wrong, however, the visual was secretive. A large part of a tree had broken off and was suspended in midair. It was protected by growth from another tree so the illusion was deceptive to my senses. It reminded me of the quote from Henry David Thoreau, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. ”
It doesn’t surprise me that I would think of my wedding day even though I am not in that relationship anymore. It was a two decade relationship and will be a lasting impression on my soul and spirit.
What a treat to live in one of the most beautiful places in America. I have called Washington State my home for almost all my adult life. 
Leavenworth is a small community two hours east of me. I typically drive highway two over Steven’s Pass when I take house guests to enjoy this city.
As one reaches this destination, you are overwhelmed by the sheer majestic views of a once logging town and center of the railroads.
Leavenworth has since become a huge tourist’s travel spot for those wanting to experience the European lifestyle. The town of 2000 becomes wildly alive on weekends.
It truly is a happy place to feel alive in a town that takes you back to a more simple life. Get this. The town wax incorporated only a little over a 100 years ago.
I am not one for big driving trips, but this one is a must every time I get a chance to take a friend or family.
Where else can you find a prehistoric nutcracker!!!!
Happy travels everyone!!
1. I would be remiss to not mention food only because what is a vacation without unique food experiences. Poke ( pronounced Poe -Kay ) is raw tuna or ahi. Foodland makes it very good and so does Food trucks near Chinaman’s hat! I had the best poke from a guy who buys it fresh from the fish auction. Rib lets from Helenas or Highway Inn are amazing also. Leonard’s bakery is a must stop if you have a sweet tooth! You never had a better donut in your life. Please rent a car to drive to these great eating spots! Their is a truck parked on the other side of the island also serving Leonard’s pastries. God I wish I had ate more then one!! Last but not least – I recommend trying bonefish in gravy. I had this at the Highway Inn. This is authentic cuisine which is a fave of the locals and now I know why. Bonefish is hard to catch! Ask any fly fisherman trying to catch one of these silvery skinned strong fish who fight hard when they are reeled in even by the most experienced fisherman.
2. The next logical stop is a great hike to burn those calories off after eating so good! That would be diamond head. The photo above I took on the initial hike up looking down toward the man made Tunnel to get inside the volcano which is where the adventure begins. After you spend a good hour and a half hike with plenty of water and macadamia cliff bars- you will find yourself overlooking the most gorgeous views of Oahu. This national park is visited by at least a million people a year! I met one man who runs it 4 times a week up and down for exercise! Wow. Now that is a motivator.
View from the top of Diamond head! Worth the hike! Don’t ya think!!!!!
3. Seeing the firework show done every Friday at 745p by the Hilton is a must. You can enjoy the beautiful sunset while sipping on a Mai Tai sitting on Waikiki Beach culminated by the sky lit up by fireworks. It is Nivana!
4. Rent a car to go to The Polynesian Culture center. My dollar rental magazine had a coupon for buy one get one free into this awesome attraction! That was a $60 savings and worth every penny. Don’t ya think my smile indicates that!
5. Don’t forget to enjoy nature. The birds are adorable.
6. Enjoy the environmental aspects of the islands by checking out the rich coral, fish, and rich history found in what lies beneath the sea. Ok – maybe it’s just those hot chicks on surf boards. Even the dude surfer seems to be about to fall off his board staring those girls down!
7. Go explore the island by driving leisurely down perhaps the Wainae Coast. You will experience a slower pace, but I must warn you that there is heavy traffic at times so being patience is a must. I found it worth it. The views were worth it on the secluded beaches we found to enjoy.
8. Make sure to take in some history by seeing Pearl Harbor or visiting the rich history of the military bases. There a few ways to enjoy this. One is by tour guide that I think is a must if you are short on time. My favorite way again is by renting a car. It is fairly easy to snag a free ticket to ferry across to The USS Arizona Memorial. Warning: windy weather can cancel ferry service . Get there by 630am and you are sure to get on a ferry as the wind will not have kicked up that early in the morning.
9. Make sure to visit one of the five botanical gardens. I was mesmerized by the beauty at Wahiawa.
10. Please think about going to the Aloha Bowl on either Wednesday , Saturday , or Sunday. You will definitely enjoy the opportunity to save money on a souvenir that could cost you half of what you might pay in downtown Honolulu.
Please return soon as I will expand on a few of these tips in the next couple of blog posts!
My room was so comfy!!!
Photography is never boring. I find beauty in everything.
Flowers. Sunsets, and nature in general bring me into my happy place. How about you?
Sunsets in Hawaii are amazing.
Cattle Egret are found neat Chinaman’s hat where cows are nearby. The egret love to eat the bugs off the cows.
The red-headed cardinal sure met my fancy!
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