Mt. Rainier 2024

A day at Mt Rainier during our Seattle Trip.

Comet Falls Trail

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/comet-falls-via-van-trump-trail

3.5mi 1,286 ft elevation out & back

Snow Lake Trail

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/bench-and-snow-lakes-trail

2.2mi 456 ft elevation out & back

Seattle 2024

Thursday July 4th - Monday July 8th 2024

T-Mobile Park

Caught a Mariners game on July 4th

Starbucks Reserve

July 4th Fireworks

Amazon hosts an annual fireworks show in the river/lake at Gas Works Park. We had planned to picnic at the park to watch the show, but unfortunately so did half of Seattle. The park was overflowing with people, so we took to the surrounding streets.

Leavenworth

A Bavarian town a few hours from Seattle. In the winter, this place is snowed over, turning this hot summer city into a winter wonderland destination.

Deep Dive

A cozy cocktail bar with an extensive menu of specialty drinks hidden under the Amazon Spheres.

Chan Seattle

Danbo Ramen

Inside Passage

Tiki/Underwater themed bar

Funko HQ

Nana’s Green Tea

Space Needle

Chihuly Glass Museum

The Gorge Amphitheater

A one of a kind concert venue with stunning natural views. We caught Odesza’s finale show for their latest tour.

Oahu June 2024

Saturday June 1 2024 - Saturday June 8 2024

Monkeypod Kitchen - Waikiki

The first dinner of the trip was had at the beautiful Monkeypod. The restaurant sits adjacent to the Waikiki beach inside the Outrigger hotel. The menu was primarily American cuisine with Asian/island influences. Standouts were the gyoza with hot mustard dipping sauce, the Mai-Tai with lilikoi foam, and the steak with wasabi mashed potatoes. The meal was an excellent start to the trip.

Aoki Teppanyaki

Owned by world-famous DJ Steve Aoki and his family, Aoki Teppanyaki is Steve’s take, rebrand, and celebration of his father’s restaurant Benihana.

Don Quijote

This market’s brand and mascot is themed around a penguin-like character. The market sells everything you could think of, from toys, groceries, home goods, and more.

Kiki

Delicious lunch spot in Waikiki specializing in fried-to-order tempura served with rice and sides. A unique dining experience as parts of your order are brought out in different times based on when they are finished frying, maximizing crunchiness.

Kona Coffee

Koko Crater Hike

A humbling hike straight up 1,000+ stairs. After an hour of hiking up high elevation with many, many breaks, you’re rewarded with stunning 360 views of the island.

Nu’uanu Pali Lookout

A windy, historical site

Adela’s Country Eatery

A small hole in the wall that has gained notoriety with over 1,000 yelp reviews boasting the great food and friendly service. We called our order ahead of time, and it still took about 45 minutes. The restaurant has unique pastas and desserts.

Ono Seafood

One of the top Poke spots on Oahu, especially after a long hike up Koko head.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

One of the more unique and memorable activities on this trip was snorkeling at the beautiful Hanauma Bay. This beach is picturesque, with a long history that visitors are educated on in the mandatory short video and talk. There is active efforts in preserving the bay and it’s marine life and coral reefs. Reservations are only available 2 days prior, often selling out within minutes.

The Crouching Lion

Pit stop on the way to North Shore

Waiahole Poi Factory

Lanikai Juice

Acai bowls

Kona Brewing

Jenny’s Shrimp

Often mentioned alongside Giovanni’s as people’s choice for top Shrimp trucks on the island. The verdict was that Giovanni’s shrimp topped Jenny’s, with it’s more garlicy and flavorful shrimp.

Rainbow Drive-in

Off The Hook

Poke spot in Manoa. Ranks equal to Ono Seafood for me.

Paalaa Kai Bakery

Known for their snowpuffs, a flakey dessert akin to an eclair-croissant hybrid.

Haleiwa Bowls

Excellent, vibrant acai bowls in North Shore.

Oahu 2023 | Day 5, 6, 7, 8

This last post of the trip contains the final days of the trip, exploring the North Shore, more beaches, and food.

Day 5 Friday December 29th 2023

• Green World Coffee Farm

• North Shore - Haleiwa Town Beach Park

• Giovanni’s

• Matsumoto Shave Ice

• Ted’s Bakery

• Chinaman’s Hat

• Kualoa

• Waiahole Poi Factory

Day 6 Saturday December 30th 2023

• Yogurstory

• Ono Seafood

Day 7 Sunday December 31st 2023

• Makapuu Lighthouse

• Zippy’s

Day 8 Monday January 1st 2024

• Dole Plantation

• Turtle Beach

Green World Coffee Farm

The first stop of exploring the North Shore was Green World Coffee Farm. The maximalist interior of the coffee shop contains tons of signage and a gift shop. Outside, take a stroll along the coffee trees and chickens that follow you.

North Shore - Haleiwa Town Beach Park

North Shore beaches are notorious for their giant waves. We stumbled upon a surf competition. The surfers looked unworldly as they glided across the blue ocean.

Giovanni’s

A popular food truck known for their garlic shrimp. A great flavorful mid day lunch.

Matsumoto Shave Ice

Tourist flock to this colorful dessert place. Customize your shave ice with a plethora of syrup options, and be sure to add toppings.

Ted’s Bakery

Ted’s chocolate Haupia Cream Pie may be my favorite dessert from this trip. The chocolate, combined with the coconut cream and bready crust formed the best flavor combination.

Chinaman’s Hat

As the name suggests, the island looks like a hat. A popular illusion to note is that as you drive along North Shore towards the hat, the hat gets smaller.

Kualoa

Waiahole Poi Factory

The poi factory serves traditional Hawaiian food.

Yogurstory

Ono Seafood

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail

Beach

Zippy’s

A local favorite for casual comfort food.

Kokohead

Although we did not hike Kokohead trail, We stopped by at a vista point to take in the incredible view.

Dole Plantation

Turtle Beach

Turtle’s are said to be observable here. Unfortunately non were seen.

Oahu 2023 | Day 4

Day 4 continues with hikes, beaches, botanical gardens, and catching up with friends at Maui brewing and dinner at Duke’s.

Day 4 Thursday, December 28 2023

• Lanikai Pillboxes Hike

• Cinnamons Cafe

• Kailua Beach

• Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens

• Maui Brewing

• Duke’s

Lanikai Pillboxes Hike

Beautiful short, steep hike up on the Eastern side of the Island.

Cinnamon Cafe

Kailua Beach

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a free drive along lush tropical plants and mountain ridges.

Maui Brewery

The casual brewery sits atop the main strip of Waikiki.

Duke’s

Popular beach side restaurant

Oahu 2023 | Day 3

Continuing the trip with Day 3. The morning was spent exploring more of Oahu’s natural beauty with a hike up Diamond Head. The rest of the day was filled with delicious food and a memorable sunset at Waikiki Beach.

All photos taken with the Fujifilm XE-4, with XF 23mm f2.0 and XF 55-200mm lenses.

Day 3 Wednesday December 27th 2023

• Diamond Head Hike

• Bogart’s Cafe

• Random Beach Next to Diamond Head

• Foodlands

• Pipeline

• Tonkatsu Tamafuji

• Waikiki

Diamond Head Hike

The Diamond Head hike takes you up the ridges of a volcanic cone, giving you panoramic views of the island and the crater itself. The popular hike is paved all the way to the top, along with a few steep staircases.

Bogart’s Cafe

Bogart’s cafe is a tiny order at the counter restaurant that serves breakfast foods and acai bowls. The cafe was recommended for their acai bowls, a refreshing treat after the Diamond Head hike close by.

Beach Alongside Diamond Head

A walk along the base of Diamond Head exposes beaches with surfers and a variety of wildlife.

Foodlands

Foodlands reminds me of WholeFoods. A popular spot for quick poke.

Pipeline

Pipeline is another bakery popular for their Malasadas. It is tough to determine the winner between Pipeline and Leonards.

Tonkatsu Tamafuji

Delicious, high-quality Tonkatsu and other japanese fried meals. The dining experience was one of my favorites, with an array of side dishes, sauces, and sesame you can grind yourself. Reservations are highly recommended, and must be booked months in advanced. For walk-ins, you must come way before they are open, and put your name down on the list. Walk-ins are not guaranteed, and only open up when reservations do not show up.

Waikiki

Waikiki beach is the hub where most tourist will stay. The area is well maintained, filled with shops and beautiful beaches and hotels.