Tour of Washington and Canada, eh?

My parents came to visit us for the last week of July. They arrived on Saturday night and left a week after, on a Monday. We packed a lot into a week. Below are some photos from the trip.

Mukilteo Lighthouse

Whidbey Island Ferry

We went on the Whidbey Island Ferry on Sunday. We did a little shopping and sightseeing in Langley and Coupeville; then we headed to Deception Pass, a small inlet where the Puget Sound flows.

On Monday, we decided to drive over the mountains and through the woods to Leavenworth, a little Bavarian town with great views, good food, and shopping.

On our drive back home from Leavenworth, there are amazing views of the cleanest river (I think it's the Skykomish River), so we stopped to take some photos of it.

My mom really wanted to stop here also. This is Deception Falls.

We managed to get back early enough (barely) to go crabbing. We kept two Dungeness Crabs and two Rock Crabs.

On Tuesday, we took it easy and just hung out around Mukilteo. We walked the dogs at Lighthouse Park.

On Wednesday, we went to Seattle. We went to the market, ate good food, and did a little shopping. My parents at Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill, a great photo spot.

We stopped at Edmonds before heading home.

Edmonds Waterfront Park

Cooking Dungeness crab bisque. Notice the apron (Grouchy Chef). There's a restaurant called the Grouchy Chef. He kind of acts like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. He has rules posted on the walls of his restaurant and expects you to follow them. He likes me and calls me Jodie Foster because he thinks I look like her. He just gave me this apron on Tuesday, so I guess he's not that grouchy, but I am a rule follower, so maybe that's why.

They were busy de-shelling the crab for the bisque.

The Fish Market, home of the flying fish

You can see Mt. Rainier behind the stadia.

My mom and me at the waterfront park at Pike Place Market.

On Friday, we took a ferry to Victoria, B.C., Canada. Unfortunately, I think I make this face too often. :)

Friday Harbor, WA

Nap time

Catching up on our sleep

Before heading to Victoria, we went to Butchart Gardens.

View of the sunken garden

Another view with my mom and dad

The Empress Hotel in Victoria

On Saturday, we went back on a ferry to go to the San Juan Islands in Washington. I would love to go back to these islands for a weekend! So beautiful!

Another view of Friday Harbor

We went whale watching from Friday Harbor. The white splotch is a Harbor Seal and her pup.

More seals enjoying the low tide

Spieden Island, part of the San Juan Archipelago. It's owned by the owner of Oakley. In the 70s, game animals were imported to this island, and people could hunt them here. No one is allowed to hunt here anymore, but the animals still live here. You can see Sika Deer from Asia and Mouflon Sheep from Corsica in the background.

Mouflon Sheep climbing up a cliff. Climbing a cliff is as easy to them as breathing air.

We did see Orca Whales while whale watching. They were swimming in a pod of 5-6 whales.

You can see 6 Orcas in this photo.

Bald Eagle

My dad looks miserable. He was getting splashed. :)

All of us after whale watching

After whale watching, we explored the island a little bit. We drove to Lime Kiln Lighthouse. Everyday, the Orcas swim by the lighthouse, and they keep a record of it.

Incredible view of Mt. Baker on the ferry ride from Friday Harbor back home

On Sunday we went to the Mariners game...they lost. :(

At least we the weather was nice, and we got some great pictures of Ichiro.

We also got a great photo of Ackley (missing the ball).

We had a great visit, and the weather was very cooperative! It was sunny mostly every day, and the weather didn't get above 75 degrees. You can't beat a summer in Seattle!