My visit to the Columbia Tower Observatory on the 73rd floor was nothing short of amazing. The…read moreviews are absolutely breathtaking--truly one of those experiences where you find yourself stopping just to take it all in. Seeing Seattle from that height gives you a completely new appreciation for the city and its surroundings. What made the visit even more enjoyable was the staff. Every employee I encountered was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and genuinely pleasant. Their warmth made the experience feel even more special, and it was clear they take pride in creating a positive atmosphere for visitors. One observation I did have relates to the elevator experience. It has been two years since my last visit, and unfortunately, the elevator's video system is still not functioning. I remember when the observatory first opened, and the video played during the ride up--it added an engaging and memorable element to the experience. Without it, the ride feels noticeably less enjoyable. Interestingly, others seemed to feel the same way. I mentioned how long the video system has been out of service while riding up, and a couple riding up with us--visiting from Australia--commented that it would have been nice to have something to watch during the ascent. As an alternative, it might be a wonderful opportunity for the elevator operator to share a few interesting facts during the ride up. A brief, engaging introduction--highlighting that this is the tallest building in Seattle, along with a bit of history about its construction and facts about its tenants--could really enhance the experience and help pass the time in a meaningful way. Additionally, with all three video screens currently not working and visibly cracked, addressing this issue would make a noticeable difference. Either repairing or replacing the screens--or even temporarily covering them--would create a much more polished and welcoming feel for visitors and help elevate the overall experience. You can't beat the view though!

If you're deciding between the Sky View Observatory and the Space Needle, I'd strongly consider Sky…read moreView. The experience felt much more laid back, with fewer crowds and plenty of space to take in the views. It is also technically taller than the Space Needle. The observatory floor goes all the way around and has lots of helpful information and displays explaining what you're looking at, which made the experience more engaging than simply taking photos from an observation deck. There's also a café w/ bar upstairs, making it easy to relax and spend some time enjoying the scenery. One of the biggest advantages is that you get incredible panoramic views of Seattle including the Space Needle itself, which makes for some great photo opportunities. We got lucky and it was a beautiful afternoon and were able to watch the sunset from there. Between the views, the atmosphere, and the overall value, this ended up being one of my favorite stops in Seattle.

Spontaneously stopped by since we were nearby and needed to kill some time before lunch…read more This is a huge blueberry farm. Lots of blueberries but small, perhaps it was the variety of blueberry. I didn't ask for the name of variety. Endless rows of blueberries. The farm is next to a trail so there were joggers passing by. $2.5/lb with minimum 2 lbs. So you need to pick 2lbs worth otherwise you're still charged for $5. There's a small flower and produce shop on the property.

Loved that this farm was relatively close by for me. I desperately needed a lot of berries for an…read moreoccasion where I promised I'd make plenty of blueberry jam so just googled what is within a short driving distance and found this. I think if I had more time I would have been more patient to find the bigger more juicer berries but the ones I picked did the job and were delicious. Pretty big farm but the parking lot is a little small so I'm not sure what that would look like on the weekends. Prices were affordable. I got about 4 or 5 pounds of berries for 11 dollars.

Went strawberry picking with a 5 year old! It was such a great experience. If you use Apple Maps to…read moreget here, the GPS will tell you that you've arrived - but really you'll need to keep following the posted signage for .5 miles! I'd recommend going early to pick strawberries so you aren't stuck in the heat. When you arrive, go to the stand to grab a box and then start picking away! The strawberries were ripe and there were plenty to pick from.

We stopped and bought some strawberries today and they were spectacular. We received the tip to…read morevisit Duris today from our waitress Lisa at Mama Stortini's during lunch. She said they have great produce so we stopped there on the way home along River road and I'm so glad we did. They had big juicy sweet strawberries picked today just like she said. It was a great tip so I'm paying it forward for anyone who is looking for strawberries. It's best to call them before you go since when they run out, they close and we barely made in time after a late lunch. They only had a few half flats of strawberries bu the time we got there. GPS got us there the back way but once we found it, I have to say it's very easy to find.

This was a nice little find. We got here late as my sister had to take her son to this de's appt…read more By the time we got to Seattle, it was already 1 pm. Once the entire family met up, we climbed back into the car and headed to Bellevue. Not sur if it was due to the time. But we were surprised there was a lot of parking available. We spent a good 2-hrs here which included getting lost and finding other street entries into the botanical park from a school and from other busy street corner at the bottom of the park. Nice and shaded, quiet little creeks, plenty of seating for those that were inspired to journal, plenty of elderly people using this time to exercise and stretch. We enjoyed the different areas like the swinging bridge, the Japanese garden and even the little cafe they have there. Fairly priced items and plenty of tables to enjoy a refreshment and snack. By the time we were done, the gift shop was already closed. So I took the opportunity to drop a donation into the box instead.

The Bellevue gardens is a pretty quiet and secluded little spot to relax and take in some nature…read more It's not a huge place, but it's big enough that you can spend an hour or two there, casually strolling about. No trouble with parking, and it is free to enter, so you really should stop by if you are nearby. It's worth it.