This Holiday weekend marked my Dad’s first visit to the Pacific Northwest and his first meeting with my baby Margot.  He loved everything Washington had to offer: from North Bend to Tacoma, from Olympia to Seattle — he seemed to enjoy everything each place had to offer. So did the rest of my family.

I knew they would, because what’s not to like?

Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle is of course at the top of the list of tourist activities we take our guests to. North Bend, WA, the filming location for the cult classic Twin Peaks and our nearest mountain town, is another favorite. North Bend boasts great shopping, coniferous skylines and crisp mountain air. Meanwhile, gentle mists float off of Snoqualmie Falls, cooling sightseers, and fogging camera lenses. Mountains done right, I say.

My family still calls Bakersfield, CA home, so our 80 degree weather on Puget Sound was a great reprieve from the punishing summer heat of the Central Valley. Abundant greenery, wildlife and a mellow grand-baby hopefully left them feeling somewhat restored, even though the distance they traveled was not trivial.

Of course I was sad to see them go; the next time we meet will probably be at a mini-reunion in Las Vegas. Not a bad deal. Especially if we can escape the brutal Alaska winter to enjoy warmer winter weather in the lower 48. Just nine more weeks until we’re residents of Fairbanks.

We’ll be sad to say goodbye to South Puget Sound.