Trip Report
North to Tacoma and Seattle, 25 Obsidians and their seven guests went to learn the history and economic development and enjoy the big city life.
Sunday: The spectacular Washington State History Museum, Union Station and Tacoma Art Museum were seen. In all three exhibits Tacoma’s native glass artist, Dale Chihuily, had works displayed. The Sunrise to Paradise exhibit at the history museum (in Tacoma) commemorates 100 years of Mount Rainier as a national park included a marvelous ice caves piece by Chihuily. We made a stop at the Brown & Haley candy shop before going to our motel for the night.
Monday: We started our day by visiting the Port of Tacoma, one of the nation’s largest international ports. We saw huge piles of logs ready for export, miles of stacked containers and trucks and ships loading and unloading them. The observation deck had a nice historical presentation. Then on to Seattle. Our driver, Oregon Coachways’ Larry Edwards, contributed greatly to the planning an exhibition of this trip. His previous experience as a Seattle bus driver was invaluable, his driving skills superb. The trip leaders are indebted to Larry for his careful planning with them, making the trip memorable for all. Larry gave us our first tour through the industrial waterfront to the Smith Tower while we were waiting for the Museum of Flight to open. We spent four hours viewing exhibits and had lunch at the Wings Cafe. Many were impressed with the retired Air Force One, a Boeing 707, they were able to tour. It is a first-class, contemporary Museum for all ages. By 2:30 p.m. we were ready for another "Larry Tour" orienting everyone to Seattle: Pioneer Square, a stop at the Klondike Gold Rush National Park (the nation’s smallest park), the Waterfall Park, the International District, Kingdome and Safeco Arena, the Federal Buildings, skyscrapers, library, art museum, Pike Market Place, the waterfront, University of Washington campus (in full bloom and sunny), the Fremont District, Magnolia Bluffs and Discovery Park were all seen. Our three nights’ lodging was adjacent to the Key Arena and the Seattle Center. Evenings, riders were free to dine and partake at a variety of restaurants and activities, i.e., IMAX shows, Pacific Science Center, the Space Needle, the Monorail and even the Opera.
Tuesday: Larry first drove us out to the spectacular Snoqualmie Falls. Upon our return, it was time to drop people at various places, Spiedel’s Underground Tour, Seattle Art Museum, Pike Market Place, and the Aquarium. Everyone met at 2:30 for an Argosy tour of Elliot Bay, Chittenham Locks and Lake Union. The sun was out, so we had a marvelous view of the city.
Wednesday: Larry’s Tour first took us to West Seattle and Alki Point, where Seattle’s first settlers landed. Then across a floating bridge to the Arboretum, the Museum of History and Industry, stopping for lunch at Ivar’s Salmon House. After our wonderful meal it was over to the locks and the botanical gardens, then to Woodland Zoo for the remainder of the afternoon.
Thursday: Again going against the traffic, our first stop was Olympia for a coffee break and tour of the Batdorf Bronson Coffee Roasting plant. Some sneaked over to the Farmer’s Market. Then our host, Frances Newsom’s son Keith, led us past historical houses to a beautiful private rhododendron garden for a tour. Keith and his wife, Dawn, had delivered a catered lunch to us, complete with home baked cookies that we ate in Woodland at the Hulda Mager Lilac Gardens. We then boarded the bus for the final leg of the trip back to Eugene.
A good time was had by Ethel Allen, Helen Barnard, Louise Behnke, Glendora Burbank, Kent Christoferson, Sheila Dempster, Elizabeth Haralson, Bette Hack, Dora Harris, Jean Jensen, Rosella Jones, Marie Loome, Barbara & Walt Miller, Grace Miller, Jane & Randy Montgomery, Lois Nelson, Frances Newsom, Virginia Prouty, Bobbie & Lee Schimmer, June Smith, Marian Tentinger, Bob & Ellen Tracy, Mildred Weatherby, Caroline & Christof Wegelin, Cristy White, and trip leaders Liz Reanier & Ray Jensen.
