Friday, April 27, 2012

Birthday trip #1


For a little pre-birthday surprise, Justin took me up to Orcas Island for a weekend getaway. It was a gorgeous weekend, especially for Washington in April, and the trip out of town was much needed. I have a great husband. Pictures will show the quick trip best:



Saturday morning, April 21 we headed to the ferry. The day was already looking sunny and beautiful.



Down by the water waiting for the ferry in Anacortes (it was about a 1.5 hour drive to Anacortes).


The little car all lined up and waiting for the big boat.


Once on the ferry, it was a little chilly but we had great views of the puget sound and surrounding mountains (like Mt Baker, above).


...And of course, other islands within the sound.


We had a quick stop at Lopez Island before heading on to Orcas. Lopez is another island we'd like to go back to camp at. It was about an hour and 15 minute ferry ride to Orcas from Anacortes.


Once we got off the ferry, we headed to a quaint little place in town for brunch that Justin had spotted called the new leaf cafe. It was AMAZING. We tried to walk around a bit in town but it was a bit windy and chilly.


We headed to the east part of the island to a Moran state national part where Mt Constitution is. We headed up Mount Constitution and again, had phenomenal views of the puget sound. The weather may actually have been nicer here in April than it often is in the summer months. BIZARRE.


The tower at Mt. Constitution. Pretty cool and lots of history, too, which was pretty fun (for history nerds like us).


One more shot of the sound from a top the Mt. Constitution castle.


We then decided to go on a 5 mile hike from the top of Mt. Constitution. Above I am peeing in the woods as hiking 5+ months pregnant does not bode well for the squashed bladder.


After checking in to our suite, we cleaned up and eventually made it to dinner at the Inn on Ship Bay. Continuing with the views....


Justin at dinner.


The menu at dinner. Mmmm.


And our wine glasses. One empty, one not. Oh how sad.


We watched the sunset over the water...


While one of us enjoyed wine, and the other two of us ate asparagus soup.


Justin chomped on a butter leaf salad.... and then we both had salmon for dinner which we were too enthralled with to take pictures of. It was AMAZING. Everything here is grown locally and the menu is seasonal. So good. After dinner, we headed back to our suite. It was very quiet and woods-y there as I'm pretty sure no one else was on Orcas that weekend.


The next day we went back to the new leaf cafe since it was so amazing before we headed out on the ferry. It was the perfect start to my birthday weekend- couldn't have asked for a better surprise.