August 14th and 15th. Over the next two days we would retrace our steps back through Port Angeles and Sequim and stay over the 14th in Poulsbo and spend the 15th back in Seattle. Leaving Seiku, we planned to visit the Salt Creek Recreation Area. Supposedly, this area was a good place to explore tidal pools. The Salt Creek RA is easily accessed at the terminus of a nice pull-in campground. No hiking involved, just two minutes from the car to the water. As we started exploring the Salt Creek RA the weather was great, the sky was blue and you could see Vancouver Island looking across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 
While we were there it wasn't low, low tide. But there were enough tide pools to hold our interest and we lingered there awhile. I kept walking further and further along the shore until I was called back and told it was time to start heading back to the car. Just at that instant as I turned, I spied in a tide pool the washed-up skeletons of a couple of sea urchins. That was kinda cool. We left Salt Creek and stopped at Joyce's general store for a quick snack. Joyce's is a local legend--an old store that has been in operation a long time. Afterward, we made a quick pit stop in Port Angeles, then made our way to Poulsbo. Poulsbo calls itself little Norway--and the
town has this nordic/viking flair. It's cute, but not tacky-cute, and had good eateries and some interesting touristy stores. Toward evening we drove in Bainbridge, and this was the place we had been looking for. Upscale shopping and lots of it. By the time we got there it was evening, but we planned to go there the next morning.
The next morning, after a sumptuous complimentary breakfast at the Poulsbo Inn (my favorite stop of the whole trip--biscuits with sausage gravy, make-your-own belgian waffels, and lots more), we drove into Bainbridge, where we did shopping. Around, ten am I left the fam at the Bainbridge ferry while I drove back into Poulsbo to drop-off the rental car and then take the bus back to the Bainbridge ferry--yada, yada, yada, we arrived back in Seattle.
In Seattle we found our way to the Panama Hotel in the International District. The Panama Hotel, I learned from one of the staff is the oldest continually operating
hotel in Seattle. Evidently the owners are trying to restore the hotel but aren't quite there yet. Our room was cozy and the ambiance was interesting but suspect. There was a nice tea room on the bottom floor, however, I'm not sure I would stay there again. It was nice being in the International distric,t among all the asian restaurants and stores, but Seattle is a big city with some hard-luck looking characters and safety always has to be a concern. I didn't feel as safe at the Panama Hotel as I did in the Seattle Hostel. Further, it was an steep uphill walk to the hotel and once there after entering the front door we were greeted with a big flight of steps to climb to get to the front desk. After all the hiking we had done on this vacation we were all moaning when we saw the steps.
All-in-all, the Panama Hotel was okay. As we were leaving we were also told we could have complimentary donuts in the tea room. That wasn't mentioned when we arrived and would have been nice to know. However, by this time I was geared-up for the flight back home and nothing was going to bother me. Once again, I was impressed by how easy it was to get the #194 bus out to the airport. No problems. There were long lines at the secruity checkpoints, but we boarded the plane and got back home without any major incidents. We had a great time, saw some unforgettable sights and spent 12 days together without any major blow-ups. Exhausted, but in a good way, we made our way back home with many good memories and experiences.
While we were there it wasn't low, low tide. But there were enough tide pools to hold our interest and we lingered there awhile. I kept walking further and further along the shore until I was called back and told it was time to start heading back to the car. Just at that instant as I turned, I spied in a tide pool the washed-up skeletons of a couple of sea urchins. That was kinda cool. We left Salt Creek and stopped at Joyce's general store for a quick snack. Joyce's is a local legend--an old store that has been in operation a long time. Afterward, we made a quick pit stop in Port Angeles, then made our way to Poulsbo. Poulsbo calls itself little Norway--and the
town has this nordic/viking flair. It's cute, but not tacky-cute, and had good eateries and some interesting touristy stores. Toward evening we drove in Bainbridge, and this was the place we had been looking for. Upscale shopping and lots of it. By the time we got there it was evening, but we planned to go there the next morning.The next morning, after a sumptuous complimentary breakfast at the Poulsbo Inn (my favorite stop of the whole trip--biscuits with sausage gravy, make-your-own belgian waffels, and lots more), we drove into Bainbridge, where we did shopping. Around, ten am I left the fam at the Bainbridge ferry while I drove back into Poulsbo to drop-off the rental car and then take the bus back to the Bainbridge ferry--yada, yada, yada, we arrived back in Seattle.
In Seattle we found our way to the Panama Hotel in the International District. The Panama Hotel, I learned from one of the staff is the oldest continually operating
hotel in Seattle. Evidently the owners are trying to restore the hotel but aren't quite there yet. Our room was cozy and the ambiance was interesting but suspect. There was a nice tea room on the bottom floor, however, I'm not sure I would stay there again. It was nice being in the International distric,t among all the asian restaurants and stores, but Seattle is a big city with some hard-luck looking characters and safety always has to be a concern. I didn't feel as safe at the Panama Hotel as I did in the Seattle Hostel. Further, it was an steep uphill walk to the hotel and once there after entering the front door we were greeted with a big flight of steps to climb to get to the front desk. After all the hiking we had done on this vacation we were all moaning when we saw the steps.
All-in-all, the Panama Hotel was okay. As we were leaving we were also told we could have complimentary donuts in the tea room. That wasn't mentioned when we arrived and would have been nice to know. However, by this time I was geared-up for the flight back home and nothing was going to bother me. Once again, I was impressed by how easy it was to get the #194 bus out to the airport. No problems. There were long lines at the secruity checkpoints, but we boarded the plane and got back home without any major incidents. We had a great time, saw some unforgettable sights and spent 12 days together without any major blow-ups. Exhausted, but in a good way, we made our way back home with many good memories and experiences.
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