Kirkland, Washington

Do you have a favorite destination that you visit so frequently, you hardly have to plan for trip?  You know how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and the general cost, so really the only decision to make about heading to your favorite place is when to go.  When I left the classroom for good, the Pacific Northwest was calling me. Since my first visit to the area in 2009, I knew I would return many times to experience this beautiful landscape. 

Kirkland, Washington is settled on the east shore of Lake Washington twenty miles outside of Seattle and situated between Redmond and Bellevue, home of several tech companies like Microsoft, T Mobil, and Space X. Kirkland offers a cozy retreat for visitors and tech executives alike to visit and call home, and since my oldest son moved to the area to make his own mark in the tech industry he has called Kirkland home too, so I have made many visits. 

Travel is not the only perk I enjoy as a remote teacher, long lunches and even brunches on a school day were never an option as a classroom teacher, but now I set my my own class schedule, and the inner foodie in me loves finding new restaurants and returning to my old faves, especially when in the Seattle area.  

This trip to the Pacific North West area, I visited the Tipsy Cow, one of my son's favorite spots in Redmond. This place was recommended to us by the leasing agent at my son's new apartment complex when he moved to Washington in 2019. We tried it then and have returned every visit since. 

Tipsy Cow is a burger bar that serves spiked milkshakes and the MOST delicious garlic, parmesan,  truffle fries I have ever had.  My burger of choice is the Brewmaster; I crave salty and sweet foods, and this burger is stacked with seven ounces of custom ground beef, Beecher’s jack cheese, a thick cut brew battered onion ring,  lettuce, tomato, and Boar’s Nest sweet n’ tangy BBQ Sauce.

Dukes Seafood was a new find this trip, and will be added to ALL future trips to the area. As you walk through the entrance of the restaurant you'll see the selection of the freshest seafood just waiting to be prepared and plated when your order. The food is was delectable and moderately priced for the quality. The flavors and portions did not disappoint. Reservations are recommended and easy to make on the restaurants website, and as we arrived at our scheduled time on a Saturday night, we were taken immediately to our table. Our waiter was a professional, the atmosphere casual elegance, the mood lively, the food exceed expectations, and the prices reasonable. 

Dukes is located on the second floor of Lincoln Square, two thoughtfully planned skyscrapers connected with sky bridges so visitors can easily access the the forty-two floors of dining, entertainment, residential, hotel, retail, and office space the towers host for guest and employees.  

George's is a Greek and Mediterranean infused restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has won BEST BREAKFAST in the “Best of Kirkland” contest for 7 years. 

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This was a new find on this trip, and we loved the food and service so much that we returned the following day to try new menu items. The Belgian waffles and potato hash perfectly served with an over easy egg where worth coming back again and again. 

Personal daily field trips are another perk of remote teaching. Having the freedom to make your own schedule means you have the flexibility to spend time wandering around outdoors. Instead of heading to grade level or faculty meetings between classes, I now head to the nearest trail, waterfront, or park to refresh and relax.  Imagine trading lunch duty and parent conferences for a hike or a waterfall view.  

Cherry Creek Falls is the reward for hiking the trail that once led to a logging camp at the turn of the 20th Century. The path now sits on the edge of private property, and signs are posted to help you stay on course as you make your way through the evergreen woods and over storybook bridges to the shallow pool fed by a waterfall at the end.

Its places like this that I think of Thoreau's Walden and how I once read of places like this to a classroom full of students who struggled to visualize the imagery the transcendentalists author's wanted to convey in so many classic pieces of writing. These moments now, away from the classroom, are what inspire my own writing and reinforce my decision to teach remotely and travel. 

Snoqualmi Falls is about a thirty minute drive from Kirkland, and worth a visit. The town of Snoqualmi is a  charming destination town itself and host many attractions for a half or full day outing depending on your schedule. You can visit the Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmi Falls Historic Museum, and the Falls. Fans of the show Twin Peaks, can also visit many of the shows filming locations like the Salish Lodge, aka The Great Northern Lodge and DirtFish Rally School, aka Twin Peak's Sheriffs Department. Behind the Salish Lodge is the  famous 270 foot waterfall which can be viewed from two levels of observation deck. ​

When visiting the Seattle area, take a ferry ride to visit one of the many surrounding islands in the Puget Sound. Whidbey Island has the most scenic views along the casual drive from the ferry landing to the northern tip of the island. There you can cross at Deception Pass or stay to visit its state park, especially if you are visiting in the summer. A visit this January was too cold for visitors to enjoy all the park has to offer, but during our July visit in 2009, the weather and water were warm enough for swimming and water sports. 

There are so many iconic places to see and visit in downtown Seattle, but some of the most visited tourist spots are bound in rich connections with the literary world. 

Sherman Alexie, Beverly Clearly, Octavia Butler are a few favorite author's who's creative works are memorable across cultures and age groups and directly connected to Seattle. Alexis's works motivated by his life growing up on a nearby Reservation. Check out more literary landmarks on the Seattle Literary Map.