• Karl Hoppe
  • Lori Hoppe
  • Karl Hoppe
  • Lori Hoppe

Spring Washington Trip!

Karl and Lori are off to visit Cianna and Sam in the PNW! Read more
  • Trip start
    March 25, 2025
  • Ready to fly!

    March 25 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Lunch at the airport and then off to our gate. We actually got to enjoy the airport past security together instead of Karl driving home to get his driver's license tbis time. Washington here we come!

  • Arrival and Point Defiance

    March 25 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Once we arrived Cianna picked us up at the airport (eventually) and we headed straight for Point Defiance where we enjoyed a clear, beautiful view of Mt Ranier and the Olympic Mountains.

  • Breakfast and Chambers Bay Park

    March 26 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Woke up to Cianna's Own Biscuits & Gravy along with Jasmine Tea and Vietnamese coffee for breakfast, then headed over to the Sound with a walk at Chambers Bay Park. Got to see crabs and skip rocks as we walked along the rocky beach. Next we drove up to Titlow Park where we saw a couple of seals and lots of gulls and other birds.Read more

  • Food food food

    March 26 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After a couple of grocery stops it was back to Cianna and Sam's where we snacked on cheeses and Sam made a huge seafood dinner of salmon, swordfish, and scallops!

    In the evening we went to Faith Lutheran for midweek Lenten service where we were fed some more, of course. We fi wished off the evening with a stop at Crumbl Cookie.Read more

  • Navy Museum and Bremerton Ferry

    March 27 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    On Thursday we headed for Bremerton and the Puget Sound Navy Museum. It was a free museum right by the ferry port so we parked in line for the Bremerton-Seattle ferry and spent an hour in the museum. According to one of the displays, the shipyard served as the principal repair facility for the U.S. battleships attacked at Pearl Harbor. We then took the 11:10 am ferry over to Seattle with views of the city skyline in the way in.Read more

  • Pike Place and Evening in Seattle

    March 27 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Once we were checked into our hotel we headed over to Pike Place Market to wander the shops and especially eat pastries at Cianna and Sam's favorite places. We then headed to the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Service site before heading back to the hotel to prepare for evening festivities.

    After a quick clothes change we headed to Tavern Law (so we thought) but then. Cianna got on a secret telephone by the old bank safe door and before we knew it we were headed upstairs for a cocktail experience at Needle and Thread. No drink menus, you just tell them what you like and dislike and they come up with something for you. Really great experience.

    After the cocktail experience we were off to the theater to watch Waitress in the neat 5th Avenue Theatre. We wrapped up the night with some MOD Pizza before retiring for the night.
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  • Friday: Seattle and Sumner

    March 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    A lazy morning with breakfast at The Crumpet Shop followed by coffee at Storyville (amazing lattes, by the way). We stopped in and bought postcards at Metsker Maps before walking down the waterfront and over to the Public Library, which is a really interesting building.

    After checking out of the hotel we were off to Sumner and The Secret Garden Tea Room for a Tiki-themed afternoon tea. The food was amazing all the way through. After a bit of antiquing and book stores we headed back to chill at the Larsons where we had another charcuterie board to snack on for dinner. Another day that left us with full hearts and full bellies.
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  • Saturday: Olympia

    March 29 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We started the day with scones made by Sam. These scones are the best!

    We then drove to Olympia, the capital of Washington. We strolled through the Farmer's Market (open year round) sampling Mead, seasoned pumpkin seeds, caramels, jam.

    We then walked to the Capitol building where the cherry trees were in full bloom. As we walked through the Capitol building, we learned the Senate was in session. While they were on a 30 minute break, we entered the balcony viewing area to see the inside of the Senate chambers.

    We then walked around downtown Olympia checking out book stores, a game store, qnd a chocolate and tea store. Lunch was at Rush In Dumplings, a tiny restaurant with kitchen/ordering area on the 1st floor and seating on the 2nd floor.

    Back at Cianna & Sam's house, we enjoyed Sam's lasagna soup. We hung out for the evening by playing Wingsoan and watching old episodes of Who Do You Think You Are.
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    Trip end
    March 30, 2025