My Whidbey Island friend, Janice, and I took the advertising advice:  We DID try a spot we’ve “always wanted to try”:  Tilth. 

Tilth is located at 1411 N. 45^th Street, in the heart of the Wallingford neighborhood in north Seattle.  www.tilthrestaurant.com

Their website describes their food style as “new American cuisine prepared with certified-organic or wild ingredients sourced from as many local farmers we are able to support.”

Tilth’s executive chef and owner, Maria Hines, is a James Beard Award winner for Best Chef of the Northwest, as well as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s 10 Best New Chefs of 2005. In 2008, the New York Times deemed Tilth one of the best new restaurants in the country.

Janice and I met in downtown Seattle for a cup of tea before heading to Wallingford.  From 3^rd and Union in Seattle, we caught Metro Route 358 heading north.  The bus travels along Aurora Avenue, where we exited at 46^th Street.  We walked down the stairs from Aurora, heading east.  46^th meets up with 45^th in a few blocks.  A lively bright mural and spring flowers brightened our way.  Continuing east a couple blocks on 45^th we were in the heart of the Wallingford district.  We were in the neighborhood well before our dinner reservations, so we browsed the shops along 45^th.

Our first stop was to the eclectic Archie McPhee store; home of the rubber chicken (and a lot more!)  It’s a toy, novelty, and stocking-stuffer store.  Fun place to browse.  http://www.mcphee.com/shop/

Up 45^th is the Wallingford Center, a former Seattle school building turned into a wonderful collection of stores.  You can find cupcakes, yarn, clothing, and gifts at this location.  Across the street from the Center is a great little shoe store, and also an excellent travel and map store. 

We then headed to Tilth, a bright green two-story house.  The special menu for Restaurant week was fun to read; it was a hard choice!  Janice and I each ordered different things, and shared bites.  My favorite was the wild mushroom/pea risotto.  Janice’s yogart/pickled ginger/charcoal lemon was excellent also.  And how could you not love Theo chocolate pudding with rhubarb and pistachio?  Tilth’s website lists and describes the menu choices.

After a leisurely and filling meal, we each headed to our respective destinations.  Heading back to Seattle, I just crossed 45^th to the bus stop where I caught Metro route 16 within five minutes.  I got off the bus at 3^rd and Pike (between Macys’ and Columbia Sportwear), then walked one block west to 2^nd Avenue to catch the Sound Transit bus 594 to Lakewood.

Plan on participating in October’s Restaurant week!  It’s a great way to try new restaurants for a reasonable cost.

Check them out at www.thurstonheretothere.org

Last week is a good example.  Like many died-in-the-wool Pacific Northwesterners, I love our green and temperate climate… however, come winter I crave blue sky and sunshine.  Around February I head somewhere for a dose of sun and warmer temps.

This year my destination was Sedona and Phoenix Arizona.  The red rocks of Sedona are simply breathtaking.  Every direction you turn is a new formation.  The angles and light exposures make every glimpse a new experience.

After a few days in Sedona, I headed to Phoenix (passing through Peoria to watch a Mariner’s baseball game, which was stopped after a couple innings due to rain:-0) I had two attractions on my list:  Taliesin West (winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, architect extraordinaire) and the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.  Taliesin West was very interesting; I thoroughly enjoyed the tour depicting the architect’s philosophy of houses and life.

Now the purpose of this post:  I used the Phoenix Metro bus service to get to and from the Desert Botanical Garden.  From the financial district of Phoenix (and next to both the Phoenix Art Museum AND the Heard Museum) I caught Bus 17, eastbound from Central Avenue and McDowell.  The adult fare was $2.00.  The bus travels along McDowell for several miles.  I exited the bus at McDowell and 64^th.  Directly behind the bus stop is a large “Welcome to the Desert Botanical Garden” sign.  I followed the rock lined gravel path which led me through the garden’s parking lot to the garden.  A huge trio of neon-bright chartreuse Dale Chihuly towers is placed at the entrance.  An Adult entrance fee is $18 (60 and older is $15.) 

After two days of rain and gloomy skies, the warm sun and blue sky were welcome.  The garden has several sections, such as herb, cactus, wildflowers, and displays and information about indigenous people living in the desert.

Trails wandered throughout the park, with vistas to distant mountains and hills.  Benches, playful sculptures, and comfortable patio chairs were scattered everywhere.  One of the most interesting sculptures was a collection of four huge faces, each comprised of fruits and vegetables from each of the four seasons.  Very colorful and clever!

To get back to where I came, I simply reversed my route.

I found the bus drivers to be exceptional friendly and polite.  Neither driver knew that their route was next door to the Botanical Garden!

For more information about the Desert Botanical Garden: www.dbg.org

Twelve eager travelers met at the Martin Way Park and Ride in Lacey at 9:00, where we talked about bus basics.  We boarded to Intercity Transit Bus 605 at 9:20, arriving at the Lakewood Highway 512 Park and Ride at 9:50.

The next leg of the journey was aboard Sound Transit 594, which we boarded at 10:08.  The traffic was light, since it was a holiday; so our bus arrived in Seattle a bit earlier than scheduled.  We got off the bus at 4^th and Seneca at about 11:15.

The wind was brisk, but at least it wasn’t raining!  We crossed 4^th Avenue, heading down the hill to 3^rd Avenue.  Again, we crossed the street at Seneca, heading north to the corner of 3^rd and University and the entrance to the our destination:  Benaroya Hall. 

Benaroya Hall is the home of the Seattle Symphony.  It takes up an entire city block; from 2nd to 3rd, and University to Union.  The large foyer of the hall has many small tables, as well as a Starbucks and Wolfgang Puck café counter.  Many of us bought a warm something to go with our sack lunches.  We had a leisurely lunch, then entered the Hall just before the start of the 12:30 organ recital.

The huge 4,490 pipe organ fills the back of the stage.  For more information about the organ see: http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/press/watjen.aspx

Yesterday’s recital was entitled “Variations on a theme”.  The organist, Joseph Adams, spoke briefly about the composer and music before each part of the program.  Very interesting, as well as informative!

The (free!) organ recitals (and hall tours) take place six times a year, on Mondays at 12:30.  For a schedule of dates and recital themes, see: http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/tour/

Immediately after the recital, a docent told us about the Benaroya Hall (the design, acoustics, materials used) as well as the organ itself.

We excused ourselves at a break at 2:00, and headed one block downhill to 2^nd Avenue, then south (left) to Seneca for one block to our bus stop.  Yes; we did cut it close… we waited only a few minutes for our 2:12 Sound Transit bus 594 to arrive.

Again, due to traffic we arrived at the Lakewood Park and Ride lot a bit before our scheduled time.  We caught the Intercity Transit bus 605 just after 3:30, arriving back at the Martin Way Park and Ride at 4:00 pm.

Looking for an epicurean expedition in Seattle at a reasonable price? A three course French dinner for $35 at a convenient location and a view of Elliot Bay? Yes!

Catching an express bus into the heart of Seattle is easy and affordable. Good shopping, the Pike Street Market, the Seattle Art Museum and Benaroya Hall are only a few blocks away from the bus stop. We’ve seen exhibits at the Seattle Art Museum on a Sunday afternoon and wanted dinner after we left.

We discovered a great deal at Maximilien’s French restaurant in Seattle’s historic Pike Street Market, which is located behind and to the left of the bronze pig on the water side of the Market building. On Sunday nights, they have a three course meal for $35 between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. On the regular menu, one entrée alone can be $26 – $40. The courses consist of:

Salade Verte or French onion soup

Choice of entrée (from the dinner menu!)

Dessert

This is the link to the restaurant http://www.maximilienrestaurant.com/ and this link is for the Sunday dinner: http://www.maximilienrestaurant.com/dinner/sunday/index.html. Of course, it is always prudent to check to be sure that the special is still offered.

We’ve only taken the express bus from Tacoma, so I can’t speak for the northern routes. From the south:

Getting there: Starting in the Lakewood or Tacoma area, take an express bus such as the 590, 592, 593 or 594.  (See www.soundtransit.org for schedule and fare information)

Exit at 4^th and Union and walk around downtown.  The Pike Place Market is just a few blocks away; at 1^St and Pike/Pine.

Returning: Get the Sound Transit Express at 2^nd Ave and Stewart or 2^nd Ave and Seneca.

At the Seneca stop, ½ block away and across the street is the Brooklyn Seafood, Steak and Oyster house—a lovely place to sip a glass of wine and wait for the bus, then scurry across the street shortly before its arrival.

We practiced using the Thurston County Intercity Transit schedule.  Lots of questions were asked, and answered.

I’m positive that people left that day confident and excited about using the public transit systems in our area for leisure travel.

The spring schedule for the South Puget Sound Community College “How to be a Rebel by Bus” series will be available in mid February.  There will TWO opportunities to attend to classroom “How to be a Rebel by Bus” (the evening of April 10th at the Hawk’s Prairie campus and during the day on April 13th at the main Mottman Road campus).

Three “Rebel by Bus adventures” will be offered this spring:  on March 27th, I will guide the group to Raymond and the Northwest Carriage museum.  On April 23, we will go to the Theler Wetlands in Belfair, and on June 1st we head to Seattle and the Theo’s chocolate factory in fun and quirky Fremont.

Looking ahead to this summer, how about taking the bus (or Sounder train?) to and from a Mariners baseball game?  What do you think about going to Snoqualmie Falls and the sweet town of Snoqualamie for a train ride to North Bend.  Let me know what you think!

Why Hillsboro? It is named after Oregon pioneer David Hill and was incorporated in 1876.  It’s downtown reflects its long history and the charm of a small town. The giant sequoias in front of the Washington County Courthouse, for example, were planted in the 1880s, from  cones that John Porter (Porter and Sons Nursery) brought back  from his California gold mining adventure. No doubt its hometown feel contributed to Hillsboro being named among the best places to retire.

We got off at the last stop– the Hatfield Government Center at the corner of Adams Ave and Main Street-and ambled along Main Street, several blocks of historic buildings, shops and restaurants.

It has a civic center with a peaceful fountain at one end of Main Street. We passed Jacobsen’s Books,  the Artful Garden, and the old timey Pharmacy and Soda Shop.

The Venetian Theatre and Bistro began in 1888 as the First National Bank of Hillsboro. The second part of what is now the theater  was constructed originally in 1887. It first was occupied by a general merchandise store at street level with a printing shop and office above. It was the Hillsboro Town Theatre for years and now is the Venetian.

At the other end of Main Street sits the Walters Cultural Art Center at the other end, a converted church made of stones quarried from Camas, Washington.  It is as beautiful inside as it is outside.

Getting to Hillsboro is easy. We changed from the Green to Blue line at the Gateway Station, but really, at that point, all three lines–Red, Green, and Blue– head into Portland on the same tracks.  They follow a different path after Rose Quarter, but you can still  change lines at Pioneer Square downtown. Five dollars covers the all day pass ($2 for an honored citizen).  It is a real bargain. It is a long trip but relaxing. The only underground station is at Washington Park/Oregon Zoo.  We passed by the 1906 town of Orenco (formed by the Oregon Nursery Company) and decided to visit there on another trip.

After 40 years, Metro Transit has eliminated the free ride zone in downtown Seattle.  Riders most effected by this cut in service will be low or no  income individuals.  I hope Metro and other providers come up with a solution to provide this vital link  to community!

Sound Transit Sounder commuter train between Lakewood and Seattle starts on Monday October 8th.  Previously the southern-most point of the run was the Tacoma Dome station.  The new Sound Transit schedule includes the Lakewood Station.

The group walked to 2^nd and Jackson, and took a peek at the wonderful Klondike Historic National Park (and to use the restrooms).  This museum is described in an earlier Rebels by Bus post; use the RBB search engine for details.  From the Klondike, we continued our westward walk to Occidental, where we turned right (north) onto to red brick pedestrian walkway.  The hanging baskets of flowers were still lovely, surprisingly so for being so late in the year.  I pointed out the Waterfall Gardens to our right, the original home of Jim Casey’s United Parcel Service.  We continued through Occidental Square, turning west again on Washington.  Next we turned right (north) onto 1^st Avenue to experience more of the Pioneer Square shops and restaurants ambiance.  At the next block (Yesler) we took one last turn west to Alaskan Way South.  We crossed Alaskan Way under the Viaduct, then walked north one block to the Washington State Ferry Terminal, at Pier 52.  The passenger entrance to the ferry is on the second floor, which can be reached by elevator or ramp.  You buy your ticket at the ticket booth, which is straight ahead from the top of the ramp.  A round trip ticket for an adult passenger is $7.70.  The ORCA card also can be used for the State Ferry system.  (Gotta love that ORCA!)

We boarded the ferry at about 10:30, which left the dock at 10:40.  The 35 minute crossing was calm; blue sky was starting to peak through the clouds and fog by the time we docked at 11:15.  We departed the ferry from the same level we boarded, walking through an elaborate series of covered elevated walkways.  Following the signs to “downtown”, we exited the covered area to a kiosk filled with visitor information.  After loading up with interesting paperwork, we walked through the bus transit center for about 1 ½  blocks toward downtown Winslow.  At the stop-lighted intersection of Winslow Way, we turned left onto Winslow Way and arrived in the shopping district within 100 feet.

At this point, the group started to scatter… some wanted to find the Waterfront trail(s), some started their shopping excursion, while most of us were hungry for lunch.  Many of us ended up eating at Café Nola, at the corner of Winslow Way and Madison.  www.cafenola.com The menu offers a wide variety of choices… everyone seemed to enjoy their meal, from a Kale salad to Asian Noodle salad; spinach salad to Pasta Primavera and Clam Chowder.  Others enjoyed their meals at Fork and Spoon, a small café from the same owners at the Blackbird Bakery which is dedicated to sustainable practice.  They are located at 120 Madrone Lane, just off Winslow Way.  One couple enjoyed excellent clam chowder at the Harbour Public House, located at 233 Parfitt Way SW (www.harbourpub.com)

During lunch we noticed the blue sky was definitely prevailing.  After lunch there was plenty of time to stroll, browse, shop, and simply enjoy the glorious early fall sunshine.  I found a lovely small metal cut-out bird perched on an alder stump at Millstream, located just across Winslow from Café Nola.  A fine addition to my bird collection.  www.Millstreamseattle.com

Many of us seemed to gravitate to Mora’s ice cream (139 Madrone Lane) about 2:00.  “Mora” is Spanish or Italian for blackberry, their (delicious) signature flavor.  Their motto is “life deserves extraordinary”.  And their ice creams, sorbet, and other derivatives live up to that slogan!  It was hard choosing which one flavor to get… thank goodness we found out we could have TWO flavors in one scoop!  www.moraicecream.com

At 2:20, we all met at the Winslow Mall, a covered area on Winslow Way surrounded by shops.  A few of us dog people found the sweet B.I. Barkery, where I bought treats for my two four legged kids.  From there, we strolled down Winslow Way to the Ferry Terminal.  We waited in the lobby area for a short while before boarding the ferry about 2:45.  The ferry departed right on time at 2:55.  Many of us immediately headed upstairs to the sun deck, where we sat in the afternoon sun, thinking this may be the last of the year.  It wasn’t too hot or too breezy; it was just right!

When we got off the ferry at 3:30, we reversed our walk to Occidental Square.  From Occidental Square, we continued to walk south on Occidental to King Street.  We turned left on King Street, then around a newly re-paved parking lot with the King Street train station on our left.  We headed to the Sounder elevator and pedestrian overpass which led us up and over the Amtrak train tracks to the Sounder commuter train area.  Everyone bought their Sounder train tickets at the kiosks on the train platform, and we boarded the train which departed at 4:20.

The Sounder train takes just one hour from Seattle to the Tacoma Dome Station.  Starting October 8^th, the train will go as far south as Lakewood.  That will be a wonderful addition for us south-sounders.  Thank you, Sound Transit!

We departed the Sounder train at the Tacoma Dome, walking through the Freighthouse Square/Sounder station foyer, and crossed the street to catch the Light Link.  The next link came along within a few minutes, which took us to Pacific Avenue and the Union Station stop.  We crossed Pacific Avenue, to the front of the University of Washington Tacoma Campus.  Our Intercity Transit Bus 605 came along just as advertised… 4:35-ish.

Two of our group exited at the Highway 512 Park and Ride… goodbye to Suzanne and Barbara!  We said so long to Sharon, who left us at the Lakewood Station.  The rest of us (13 to be exact) exited at the Martin Way Park and Ride Lot.

We were all tired from our long day, but very satisfied with another grand adventure.

For specific details (when, where, how much…) of this trip so you can recreate it yourself, see the “Bainbridge Island directions” page, which is listed in the left hand column of the Rebels by Bus blogsite.  As always, don’t forget to check the bus/train/ferry schedules before you take this trip.  Schedules DO change seasonally.

To make this trip even more memorable, I took the bus!  It is a surprisingly easy trip, with excellent connections.  Even though I turned my trip into an overnight excursion, this would make an excellent day trip!  (Specifics for making this a day trip adventure are included at the end of this post)

The first leg of this trip started at the Lakewood Station, by taking the 8:30 am Sound Transit route 594 (fare: $3.50).  I exited the bus at 9:45 am in Seattle, at 4^th and Jackson, which is located beside the King Street Train station.

The next bus to take is Sound Transit 554, to Issaquah, which stops at 5^th and Jackson.  I had time to stop at the Union Station (between 4^th and 5^th on Jackson) to use their restroom before I caught the 9:57 bus.  Using my ORCA card, this leg of the trip is considered a transfer at no additional cost.  This express bus jumps onto I-90, crossing Lake Washington.  Twenty-two minutes later I exited the bus at the Issaquah Transit Center.

My next bus (Metro 209; fare: $2.25) left at 10:30.  This part of the trip was very scenic; we drove through old town Issaquah, and by Gilman Village.  Next we  passed through Preston, as well as Fall City.  Since I wasn’t familiar with this route, I told the driver where I was going when I got on the bus.  It turns out that there is a bus stop right by the Salish Lodge, next to the Snoqualamie Falls Park.  I got off the bus at about 11:15.

So, in less than three hours, for a cost of $5.75, I was at my destination…relaxed, and ready to explore.

This trip is a perfect example of why an ORCA card makes sense… I took three buses, using two different transit systems.   I didn’t have to worry about having the exact cash or change, and my ORCA card recognizes “transfers” between the legs of the trip.  To get an ORCA card see www.ORCAcard.com

I won’t go into all the details of my stay at Salish Lodge, BUT… if you are looking for a relaxing and gracious Northwest getaway; this is it!  The rooms are lovely (wood burning fireplace, huge whirlpool tub, comfortable reading chair with ottoman and blanket…).  I had lunch and breakfast in the Dining Room.  The food and service were very good (for lunch I had the portabello/eggplant Panini.  For breakfast I had the Railroad Avenue eggs, complete with a biscuit and “Honey from Heaven”, THE trademark of the Lodge.)  The Lodge recently started beekeeping, with hives and an herb garden on the premises. The Attic is the 4^th floor lounge/Happy Hour location, with the best views of the Falls.  I had an excellent Cobb Salad here for dinner.

After I checked out of the Lodge the next morning, I decided to take the bus to the end of the Metro Bus 209 route, which is the North Bend Premium Outlet mall.  To get there, we crossed over the Snoqualamie River, and through the quaint town of Snoqualamie.  Next, we passed through the town of North Bend, and ended at the Outlet Mall.

The connections for the trip home were excellent.  From the Outlet Mall, I took the Metro 209 to the Issaquah Transit Center.  From there, I caught the Sound Transit 554 to downtown Seattle (5^th and Jackson).  I walked two blocks west on Jackson, then north on the 2^nd Avenue Extension to catch the Sound Transit 594.  I was making such good time, I decided to get off the bus in Tacoma, on Pacific Avenue in front of the State History Museum.  I walked two blocks north on Pacific to the Tacoma Art Museum, to see two exhibits that I have wanted to see.  After this impromptu side-trip, I then got back on the 594 (at the same stop where I got off), to continue my southbound journey.  Using the ORCA card, I didn’t pay any additional fare.

Now to share my ideas of turning this adventure into a day trip:

Take the same buses as I have described in this post, travelling from Lakewood to the Salish Lodge.   Once at the Falls Park, walk through the park and visit the Lodge.  You may decide to eat at the Lodge, or if you packed a lunch, you can eat at picnic tables in the Falls Park.  Next, I suggest you walk (on the same side of the road as the Lodge) through the employee’s parking lot, and across the Snoqualamie River Bridge.  There is a pedestrian walkway separating walkers from cars.  Once across the river, you walk past an intersection until you come to the “Corridor Trail”, which parallels the railroad tracks.  The Snoqualamie Railroad group has collected a huge number of old railroad cars, which are stored here.  Many of the cars have plaques providing information about the car.  This paved trail goes for several blocks, until you reach the heart of the town of Snoqualamie.  The initial part of this (approximate) ½ mile walk is slightly downhill to the River, then flat on the Corridor trail to town.  On your right is the lovely train museum/depot.  The town is worth exploring; there are several restaurants and shops.

The bus stops at Railroad and King Street, at a well-marked turnout and shelter.  For the return trip, I suggest taking the Metro 209 at 1:41pm (arriving in Issaquah at 2:23) or 3:00 pm (which gets you to Issaquah at 3:43 pm).  In Issaquah, you could catch the Sound Transit 554, Bay 2, at either 2:33 (arriving in Seattle at 5^th and Jackson at 2:59) or 3:13 pm (arriving at 5^th and Jackson at 3:39).

Since you will be leaving Seattle after 2:30 pm, you would catch Sound Transit 592 (NOT 594) which is the express bus direct to Lakewood, by-passing Tacoma.  The 592 leaves the 2^nd Avenue Extension and Washington stop at 3:06 (arriving in Lakewood at 4:19) and about every 20 minutes through the afternoon.

I think a better afternoon travel alternative from this location is to take the Sounder train, which will go as far south as Lakewood starting October 8, 2012 (yeah!)  The Sounder leaves from the King Street Station, which you enter from the pedestrian overpass on 4^th Avenue, south of Jackson Street.  The Sounder has seven afternoon runs, starting at 3:15 pm.  It’s a bit more expensive ($5.25 Seattle to Lakewood vs. $3.50 for the bus), but gives you a fun and different travel experience.

I intend to offer this day trip in 2013 through the South Puget Sound Community College Continuing Education program.  Watch their catalog for details, or check out www.hawksprairie.org