Photos – Journeys with Eileen Diane

Armchair Travel ~ Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

I wrote the post (see below) 2 years ago … Now, you can visit this fabulous Museum virtually!

Check out museumofflight.org for a virtual tour! Enjoy …..

The Museum of Flight, home to more than 150 historic planes, spacecraft and related artifacts, celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015. It offers an interactive experience for aviation enthusiasts and families at each of its main areas: the Great Gallery, the Tower at Boeing Field, the Red Barn, the Personal Courage Wing, the Space Gallery and the Airpark.

Start your adventure with a 30- or 60-minute guided tour of the Great Gallery. Walk among the reproductions and aircraft, ranging from an 1896 biplane glider to the popular M-21 Blackbird spy plane. Indulge your Red Baron fantasies by climbing into the cockpit of an SR-81 Blackbird or an F/A-18 Hornet.

If feeling adventurous, check out the X-Pilot simulator and take the controls. Fly a jet fighter or a WWII combat plane, engage in a dog fight, doing loops and 360 degree rolls. The 13-seat 4D-X simulator is tamer with 3-D graphics and some motion.

Space Exhibit Area

In the space exhibit areas, marvel at the advances from Sputnik to the Mars Viking Lander, explore a full size replica of the International Space Station’s Destiny Research Lab, pilot a lunar module and try your hand at space docking, using the Manned Maneuvering Unit.

Visit the Tower to learn about flight and air traffic control and listen to real-time communications at King County International Airport, adjacent to the museum.

The Red Barn houses Boeing’s original manufacturing plant and early aircraft designs plus the beginnings of commercial aviation, including early ads from airlines extolling their new aircraft and on-board services.

Walk among 18 WWI aircraft and 10 WWII fighter aircraft, read stories, watch films and enjoy the interactive exhibits in the Personal Courage Wing.

Take the walkway bridge to The Space Gallery where you can climb onto the full-scale mock-up of the NASA Space Shuttle Trainer, more than 100 feet long and four stories high. The gallery also houses a Russian Soyuz space capsule plus artifacts from recent space flight ventures.

Two of the most popular exhibits are in the Airpark: the first Air Force One (used by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon) and a Concorde. Stroll down the aisles, sensing their history, and as throughout the museum, there are docents available to answer your questions.

The web site has information about weekend lectures and special events and exhibits including the acquisition of a 787. www.museumofflight.org

Savor your journeys… real, imagined or virtual .. near or far

Some Favorite Quotes & Photos from Life’s Journey …

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

Life is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. Soren Kierkegaard

It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground. Theodore Roosevelt

It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. Elizabeth Kenny

Life is a question and how we live it is our answer. Gary Keller

Difficult and meaningful will always bring more satisfaction than easy and meaningless. Maxime Lagacé

Keep looking up… that’s the secret of life. Snoopy

Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on. Samuel Butler

Paris, France

St Malo, France

Palos Verdes, California

Oregon Coast

Great Smoky Natl Park, TN

Savor your journeys, near or far… real or imagined … past or future …

Armchair Traveler ~ Biltmore ~ Cookbook

March 9, 2020March 9, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

There are several former residences in the United States that are memorable places to visit: The Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, The Breakers in Newport, RI and Biltmore in Asheville, NC. I’ve visited each and each is truly magnificent. They transport you to another era and are terrific travel destinations.

Several years ago, I vacationed in the Asheville area and visited Biltmore. It was designed to be a self-sufficient estate, with a working farm and beautiful park and woods. In addition to touring the George Vanderbilt home (completed in 1895) and gardens, I dined at several wonderful restaurants:

Cedric’s Tavern is a must visit with a very good menu and outdoor seating. Hint: save room for dessert.
Deerpark Restaurant is another must visit if you relish a fabulous, mouth-watering buffet. From egg dishes to appetizers, soups, salads to entrees and incredible desserts. It is THE ideal place to enjoy a leisurely brunch.

Both the beautiful Tour Guide book and the “Biltmore, Our Table to Yours, Cookbook” bring back many great memories of this historic treasure. The cookbook has gorgeous photos, not only of the dishes but also of the home interior. Should you visit, you will also want to go to Biltmore’s winery tasting room. Enjoy!

Next post, I’ll share some photos of the fabulous gardens and home exterior.

When being an armchair traveler, do not limit yourself to a country or city or ethnic food. Think of certain places you’ve always wanted to explore. Check on-line for menu ideas. Dress the part as you dine. Read about the place. Perhaps Versailles? A Castle in Germany? A Village in Nepal? Or Biltmore?

Most important, enjoy planning and be inventive as you “journey” to a favorite spot … even if for now, it is but a dream.

Savor your journeys… real and imagined, near or far.

Fall in the Smoky’s

Road Trip ~ Western Washington: Port Townsend, Whidbey Island, Orcas Island, Bellingham, Mt Baker, North Cascades National Park

March 4, 2020March 3, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

I started my journey on the Olympic Peninsula at Port Townsend. It’s a cute waterfront town to explore with marvelous Victorian architecture, interesting local shops and good restaurants.

From Port Townsend, I took the ferry to Whidbey Island. There are several small towns to explore, my favorite being Langley, on the south eastern part of the island. Here, you will find neat local shops, including Moonraker bookstore (well worth your visit) and a great restaurant (The Braeburn) which is perfect for breakfast or lunch.

Drive north on the island to Deception Pass State Park on your way to Anacortes and the ferry to Orcas Island. I’ve stayed on Whidbey Island and also use it as a connection between the two ferries. If you have the time, it is definitely worth a visit or at least a luncheon stop.

Passing beautiful Deception Pass, take Rosario Road and Marine Drive (west side of Fidalgo Island) rather than Highway 20. Either route takes you to Anacortes, with the local roads being far more scenic.

If you have time, explore Anacortes, enjoy lunch before boarding your ferry to Orcas Island. I’ve done this trip several times and depending on my schedule, I usually drive thru Whidbey Island as a connection between the two ferries and have a late lunch on Orcas Island.

Orcas is a magical place, a beautiful island any time of the year. From the moment you step on the ferry bound for the San Juan’s, consider yourself on “island time.” I’ve stayed several times at Rosario Resort and recommend it. There are beautiful grounds to walk about, a good restaurant on site and it’s only a few miles drive from the town of Eastsound. If you are lucky, you will see deer on the property as you explore the area.

On this trip, I took a whale watching cruise (great fun and I’ll do it again) plus taking the ferry to nearby Friday Harbor. I parked near the ferry terminal on Orcas Island and was a walk-on passenger. The town of Friday Harbor is at the ferry terminal so no need for a car as you explore this picturesque town. Be sure to check out The Whale Museum.

Orcas is the largest of the San Juan Islands and it’s enjoyable to drive about and explore the island. Drive to the top of Mount Constitution in Moran State Park for a gorgeous view, stop at local pottery places, investigate winding roads and breathe in its beauty and serenity.

Leaving Orcas, I took the ferry to Anacortes, walked about the Marina and then headed north via beautiful Chuckanut Drive to Bellingham.

On this trip, I used Bellingham as a base for exploring not only Bellingham but also the gorgeous Mt. Baker and North Cascades National Park areas. One rainy morning I drove to Lynden, a nearby Dutch town (terrific bakeries).

Favorite restaurants include:

Port Townsend ~ Silverwater Café. Terrific salads, fish n chips, crab cakes and special deserts. https://silverwatercafe.com/ ** Doc’s Marina Grill https://docsgrill.com/ Terrific Fish n chips, Dungeness crabs.
Whidbey Island, Langley ~ The Braeburn Restaurant. Terrific breakfast and lunch menu, including a magnificent bread puddin’, French toast, and many delicious specials. You will want to come back. https://www.braeburnlangley.com/
Bellingham ~ Mykonos has an extensive menu, featuring Greek specialties (the Moussaka is incredible), seafood and pasta. https://www.mykonosbellingham.com/ ** Anthony’s is a very good chain in the Pacific Northwest, the food is always good and the restaurant in Bellingham has an incredible view https://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/detail/anthonys-at-squalicum-harbor/
Anacortes ~ also has an Anthony’s restaurant — good food and a great view https://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/detail/anthonys-at-cap-sante-boat-haven/
Orcas Island ~ Brown Bear Baking – fabulous pastries and quiches, etc. Open for breakfast and lunch https://www.brownbearbaking.com/menu ** The Mansion Restaurant (Rosario Resort) always a terrific dinner menu from appetizer to dessert, beautiful view and also a good place for breakfast. https://rosarioresort.com/the-mansion-restaurant

When planning road trips, always be flexible. You may want to stay in a favorite place longer or completely change your itinerary as you meander along. Weather may also cause you to change plans and improvise. That is the joy and fun of a road trip.

Savor your journeys … past, present and future … real or imagined…. near or far …

Links to additional photos:

Photos ~ Orcas Island, Washington ~ Whale Watching

Photos ~ Whidbey Island, Washington

Photos ~ Mt Baker, North Cascades, WA

Photos ~ Chuckanut Drive, western WA

Photos ~ Anacortes Marina & Deception Pass, WA

Photos ~ North Cascades National Park, WA

Photos ~ Orcas Island, San Juans, Washington

Photos ~ Bellingham Park & Bellingham, western Washington

Photos ~ Orcas Island, Washington ~ Whale Watching

February 28, 2020February 26, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

Armchair Traveler ~ Cookbooks ~ Italian

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

Cookbooks are a fabulous way to indulge your Armchair Travel dreams. An ethnic cookbook, especially one with travel photos, can transports you to a favorite place or to one where you wish to journey.

Browsing my favorite Italian cookbooks brought back many fabulous memories.

An evening in Roma with a friend, who also loved pasta. We ordered antipasti and pasta, telling the waiter we’d order the main course after the pasta. The pasta (my favorite, Spaghetti Carbonara) was incredible. When the waiter returned, my friend and I looked at each other, laughed and promptly ordered more pasta!
A friend (of Italian descent) in California making a marvelous Zabaione (Marsala Custard). We recounted a recent journey to Italy as we indulged.
An Italian friend in NYC who makes the most incredible pasta, and other Italian dishes. I am getting hungry thinking of her masterpieces.
Walking with a friend late at night in Roma, getting lost, but eventually finding a favorite restaurant, Tre Scalini, in Piazza Navona and enjoying a magnificent meal.
Having lunch with friends in Bologna where they assured me that Bologna had the very best Italian food and wine.
Enjoying dinner in Venice and discovering that St Mark’s Square was flooded. Walking back to the hotel with friends, climbing on chairs that were set up to walk across the Square .. (cane chairs with arms .. not easy to go from one to another…) I ruined a good pair of boots as several of us finally decided to wade through the water. We had lots of brandy when we finally got back to the hotel. Good lesson — always check weather and local conditions before going out.
Walking about Roma and Venice are always serendipitous … you encounter hidden courtyards, side-streets to explore and terrific restaurants off the beaten path.

These books capture Italian food and scenery spectacularly.

Preparing an Italian meal with Italian vino conveys me to a favorite country. Other times, it’s enjoyable to go to a favorite Italian restaurant, appreciating the ambiance and cuisine.

Being an armchair traveler means being creative and enjoying your destination. Pick a country or city — learn a few words of the language, fix a dinner or have a party with that country’s cuisine. Have your guests bring a dish from the country. Play that country’s music.

Most important, have fun and be inventive as you “journey” to a favorite spot … even if for now, it is but a dream.

Buon Appetito …

Savor your journeys… real and imagined, near or far.

Photos ~ Gig Harbor, Washington ~ Feb 2020

February 20, 2020February 19, 2020Journeys with EileenDiane

On a beautiful crisp sunny, winter day, it’s marvelous to walk about Gig Harbor. A clear, sunny day in February is delightful as it’s so rare. After walking about, I stopped for a lunch at my favorite Italian Restaurant, Il Lucano

I discovered that you can order from their extensive dinner menu at lunchtime, which meant a fabulous lunch of Caesar Salad, Veal Saltimbocca, White wine (Sicilian) and Cappuccino … Fantastico! Maybe we will have an early Spring?? And yes, that is Mount Rainier in the distance .. on a clear day, it is visible and very beautiful.

Savor your journeys … past, present and future … real and imagined, near and far.