SayWA?

Say Wa?

This is the brand new Washington State travel slogan.

I spent ten days traveling around the Kitsap Peninsula, Bainbridge Island and the Hood Canal area. These areas are all west of Seattle and east of the Olympic Mountains.

It is a beautiful area dominated by water, forest and the Olympic Mountains. Many small villages and towns, along with a few larger towns/shopping centers such as Silverdale and Bremerton.

There is a rural pastoral and tranquil feeling throughout the area. Commuting by Ferry to Seattle area is a dominant feature along with the huge submarine base and Naval Shipyard and of course tourism.

The pace is slower and more peaceful. I have found it interesting that I have observed few speeders, only one honker (car), and almost no intrusion of cell phones in public places and restaurants.

But this also a tourist area with the associated galleries, quaint shops and higher prices. Boating is everywhere.

Homes are built to take advantage of the incredible views, while often providing some privacy from folks passing by on the roads.

Forest activities are still active and as you travel you will suddendly come upon clear-cut areas and then back into heavy forest.

Everywhere great views and places to explore via backcountry roads. There has been alot of drizzle and rain, known as liquid sunshine, with breaks of dark overcast skies, and beautiful blue skies dominated by cumulus clouds. the temperature has been pleasant and crisp in the upper 40s and 50s.

Discovered some great and eclectic restaurants with wonderful fresh seafood dominated by fresh, wild salmon; fresh halibut and tiger prawns and of course dungeness crab. Highly recommend Cafe Nola in Winslow on Bainbridge Island, also Mor Mor Restaurant and Magnolia Cafe in Poulsbo and the Boat Shed in Bremerton. Lots of fresh produce and fish.

I had the rare pleasure and honor for St. Patty's Day to attend a wonderful and delightful concert by the dynamic and entertaining Celtic Tenors in Bremerton, WA the original hometown of Bill Gates and also the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. What great voices and stage presence. The old Admiral movie theater has been restored and is wonderful venue for this concert. It is wider than deeper so everyone gets to sit nearer to the stage. Had the opportunity to take alot of photographs of the concert and hopefully will be selling some to the group and Theater.

Other sites to visit and explore include Gig Harbor, Port Gamble a restored and semi-active lumber town, Port Townsend and Fort Wooten State Park, Poulsbo, all around the Hood Canal area. Take the time to explore and the back country roads and other small villages and communities. More time go over to Sequim, Dungeness NWF (take hike out on the mile long spit) and Olympic National Park and Pacific coast region.

If you want to see the photo album from this trip click here.