Are you a lover of trains?

ARE YOU A LOVER OF TRAINS?

My husband Roy and I love to take train trips and have been on many, all over the world. He had a serious heart attack and spent months in hospital so it was a surprise when he told me one day last month, we are going on a trip with my doctor’s approval.

We took Amtrak from San Jose to Seattle, which we have done several times in the past. We had a sleeper, and as usual, there were several British and Australian passengers on board and we enjoy sitting with different people for meals. The meals were excellent, and it’s a relaxing way to travel. Freight takes priority, so sometimes the trains are late. We usually take the train one way, then fly the other. Going thru Washington and Oregon is a lovely way to travel. Most foreigners get on the train in Los Angeles, and enjoy the entire west coast by rail.

Seattle is a wonderful town for a long weekend. There is so much to do, no matter what the weather is like. My husband’s favorite place to visit is Pike’s Place market which is over 100 years old, and there are some great restaurants in the area to have a meal. Fish, of course, is a must have. It’s fun to stand near the fish mongers and watch them throw fish from stall to stall.

You can take a ferry ride of five minutes or five hours and many times we don’t even get off the ferry. I love to take a ride to Bainbridge Island, and Puget Sound is a very special part of the world. You can visit the San Juan islands, Whitby Island, or go to Victoria. A very interesting tour is the one to the Boeing Aircraft factory. Men especially love this outing.

Starbucks has over 200 coffee shops in the town. Nordstroms Dept Store has a discount rack which is a fantastic place to go wander around.

There are hundreds of hotels in town, but I have six which I recommend to clients, different locations, and this time we stayed at the Edgewater, which rests atop Pier 67 and overlooks Elliott Bay. You have stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and I just love to have a fireplace to enjoy while relaxing in the room. Being part of the Signature Travel Network, our clients get a free breakfast, a room upgrade, early check in and late check out, and other amenities which can be a $50 spa treatment, $100 food and beverage credit, complimentary wi-fi, and these can vary from property to property.

Many people like the view from the Space Needle, and the restaurant at the top is excellent. Mount Rainer always has snow on its 14,410 peak.

Since my husband is an avid college football fan, having been a Pac 10 football official for many years as a hobby. Perhaps you could go see one of the games when you are in town. We have also had the pleasure of going to a performance of the Seattle Symphony which is excellent.

The weather can be unpredictable in the Pacific North West so always carry a brolly. Many of the cruise ships are now sailing from Seattle to Alaska so you can spend a few days exploring the area before or after your cruise.

I always think of Seattle as being a garden city. There are ten gardens I recommend if you are interested. The University of Washington Medicinal Herb Garden, the Soest Herbacous Garden, Parsons Garden, Bradner Gardens, Elizabeth Miller Botanical Garden, Shakespeare Garden at Seattle University, the Streissguth Garden, Dunn Gardens, Bloedel Reserve, and the South Seattle Community College Arboretum. If you are a garden buff like I am, you should go see at least one of them. At the right time of year, the Rhododendrons and Azaleas are absolutely magnificent. It can be a city in bloom.

Try something different – go on Amtrak.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel/Frosch

825 Santa Cruz Ave

Menlo Park, CA 94025

650-961-2340 direct

www.froschvacations.comn