How Green are They? Greener than Kermit!

As I mentioned when I was telling you about Phil Freeman, he lives his ideals. He's been green since Kermit was a tadpole!

Organic garden. Darling gardener!

Recycle? Check.
Compost? Check.
Organic Garden? Check.
Solar power? Check.
Electric car? Check.
Charging stations? Check, again.
Private pond stocked with trout? Of course.

Over the years, Catharine, Phil and I have talked about their views on the importance of a healthy environment; about maintaining a small carbon footprint and about the obligation to leave this world for their children and grandchildren. To say it's a passion understates their commitment to ethical practices in all aspects of their business.

This spring, I've been highlighting the location and design of their cabins. Let's chat about Catharine and Phil's eco-values in action.

Many of their cabins have complimentary Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. If you have an electric vehicle, you can confidently leave the bustle of the city and the rush of the freeways for the rejuvenating calm of a cabin stay without having to worry about where you will be able to charge your battery. Reserve with confidence.
Look for EVCS on the Great Getaways web site. It indicates which cabins have charging stations. Worrying about the logistics of travel is the antithesis of soothing.

I'm just sayin' . . .

They are in the process of installing solar panels on their cabins. The Beach House on Puget Sound was recently completed. In a few years, the Beach House will be generating power instead of using power.

Copper Creek Restaurant is all about fresh! Fresh bread. Fresh blackberry pie. Fresh Copper Topper cinnamon rolls. All fresh out of the oven. Paired with their own specialty roasted coffee? Oh, yum! When you dine at Copper Creek Restaurant, you will always find premium products that are delicious as well as handled with care and respect for the environment. Stop by. Enjoy.

Grateful every day to have people in my life who are working 

to make the world a better place for generations to come.

KING5 and Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row! 

Reserve Now! Beach House on Puget Sound

Solterra Systems ~ Solar panels for the Beach House

Diary of the Perfect Birthday ~ Beach House Style

Quick! What do Phil Freeman and Smokey the Bear have in common? Yes, they both love the forest and they pay attention to the “forest fire danger “ sign on the way to Mount Rainier. But, apparently according to a local radio station, they share the same birthday. Who knew?

Phil's birthday started in Seattle in Columbia City at a very cool jazz club called The Royal Room. Live music, wonderful food, a very nice bottle of wine. Convivial. Friendly. Excellent.

As the week progressed, I wanted to continue his celebrations with a dinner party at my house. When I got in touch with Catharine, she said, "Rats! No can do. Have to be at the Beach House to finalize the installation of the solar panels. Why don't you bundle everything up, come here and stay overnight."

Yes! What a grand idea!

So, loading up the wild salmon filet marinating in its special mixture, the cedar shingle, a baggie of large slices of potatoes drizzled with olive oil and a nice mix of spices. a lovely bottle of French wine, some fresh Belgian feta from PFI, a couple of quarts of my famous homemade pickles in vintage farm-style bale wired jars (a present for Phil), and my pillow, my friend Kim and I headed to the Beach House on the Puget Sound, one of the lovely properties owned by Catharine and Phil.

On the way down there, we were listening to the radio and the announcer intoned, "Smokey the Bear's birthday was this week." 

"Wow," I thought. "Nice to have a shared birthday! Phil will get a kick out of that. I must tell him."

Even though we unpacked the car when we arrived, we still cruised along on Easy Street. Never liking to rush into things, first, we opened a bottle of wine, noshed on an assortment of cheese, opened a jar of pickles, grabbed a handful of wasabi roasted almonds and put our feet up while the cedar plank soaked in the sink. Nice!

Now, here's the thing about Catharine and Phil: they are gourmands. They have sophisticated palates without being snobs. From American diner classics to French and Italian cuisine, they know good food and wine and appreciate a beautiful presentation. And, I have it on good authority, they are, in fact, the Washington state sultans of BBQ. They BBQ two to three times a week. So, it was a surprise to me that Phil had not had cedar planked wild salmon at home. In a restaurant, sure, but never at home.

He started the BBQ out on the back deck. I took the cedar plank out of the sink and laid the filet on it. "Don't we need a spatula to turn it over?" said Phil. 

"Nope. We don't turn it over. We just put the whole shootin' match on the grill, close the top and wait for the deliciousness." While the salmon was on the grill, Catharine made a classic Caesar salad complete with anchovies and egg yolk. We popped a baguette in the oven to warm after the potatoes finished roasting.

And, oh, the deliciousness! Many yummy noises around the table. Catharine said, “this is the best salmon I've ever eaten.”

We ended the evening in the living room, with our feet propped up on the table, eating an utterly divine classic cheese cake from Gotti Sweets.

And, what a wonderful slumber party! The next morning, fresh ground coffee, an amazing frittata, and cold, smoked wild salmon still on its plank! Much laughing.  Much talking. Much about Smokey and Phil sharing a birthday!

 

A perfect birthday getaway! Sooo, here’s my recommendation: if you have a birthday coming up, grab your family or a group of friends and stay in one of Catharine and Phil’s cabins. The perfect combination: Not only the perfect birthday but the perfect getaway, as well.

Connect with those you love. 

Enjoy a celebration vacation.

Oh, Phil and Smokey’s birthday? Shhhh! Apparently, you can’t believe everything you hear on the radio.

Grateful every day for lovely friends to celebrate with.

Reserve Now! The Beach House at Pirates Cove on Puget Sound

KING5 and Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row! 

The Royal Room Seattle ~ live music in Columbia City

Big John's Pacific Food Importers ~ PFI

Come for Your Alaska Cruise; Stay for the Mountain

Spring is nearly upon us (though, if truth be told, it's come early for those of us in the Puget Sound region.) The cherry trees have been in bloom since the end of February. It's been a riotous profusion of pink and white lacey limbs in yards and along streets throughout the region for the last month. With the pink dogwood and magnolia soon to follow, we are enjoying all the hopeful signs winter is over. 

The reason I mention this is because it's nearly time for the Alaska Cruise tour season. Sailings start in April and go through September. So, whether you are sailing on Holland America or Norwegian or Princess or Carnival or Royal Caribbean or Celebrity or, if you just can't think of what to do with $10,000, there is Lindblad Expeditions, if you are planning a cruise to Alaska, come for the cruise but stay for the Mountain. 

The truth about cruises to Alaska is there are lots of options in a wide range of prices but . . . there is only one Mount Rainier and for the most part, it's free for all of us to enjoy. 

So, I'm recommending you come for the cruise and stay for the Mountain. Come early for a few days before you sail to unwind from your day-to-day routine. Refresh, breathe deeply and embrace the zen of a well-earned retreat. Or, continue the joys of the Alaskan coast with its craggy cliffs, calving glaciers, starry skies and bright blue days and relax at the foot of Mount Rainier in one of the cabins at Copper Creek Inn and Resorts.

Located just outside the Nisqually Gate to Mount Rainier, Copper Creek has been a stopover for families with children, backpackers, day hikers, and travelers for over 60 years.

Under the inspired ownership of Catharine Gallagher and Phil Freeman, that tradition of homespun hospitality coupled with modern amenities makes Copper Creek Inn and Resort a natural addition to your regional vacation plans.

With properties from Stevens Pass with its white water rafting, hiking, biking, and clear cool nights to the Beach House or Caboose with 850' of waterfront on Puget Sound to the cabins at Mount Rainier, you have a score of lodging options to choose from.

Gentle reminder: come for the cruise; stay for the Mountain.

I’m just sayin’. . .

Grateful every day for misty rain and fragrant air.

KING5 and Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row! 

Princess Cruise Lines web site

Norwegian Cruise Lines web site

Holland America Cruise Lines web site

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines web site

Landblad Expeditions ~ National Geographic Cruises web site

Celebrity Cruises web site

Carnival Cruise Lines web site

Reserve Now! Great Getaways and Copper Creek Inn

The US Open Golf Tournament is Coming in June! Book Now!

For the first time in US Open history, its prestigious golf tournament is coming to the Pacific Northwest.

On June 15, Chambers Bay will open its doors to golfers and guests from around the world. To quote the Chambers Bay site: "With massive, rolling fairways, towering dunes, undulating greens and unpredictable coastal winds, the traditional linksland course will provide the world’s best with a test unlike anything played at a U.S. Open.”

Yikes! Can you say "challenging?" 

Challenging also describes your search for a room. Yes, any lodging worth having near Chambers Bay has been booked for months. You can't sleep in your car or the nearby rest stop. You're going to need a place to stay! 

Chambers Bay is centrally located between Mount Rainier and Shelton. Book Now!

If this is your first trip to the Pacific Northwest and the Puget Sound region, you've landed with both feet in Paradise. In fact, that's the name of the historic 1916 lodge at Mount Rainier ~ and who would argue with the US Forest Service?

I'm going to recommend you look at the cabins at Copper Creek Inn as well as their two cabins at Pirates Cove on Puget Sound. Both venues allow you to be close enough to participate in all the events the Open has to offer. 

Sure you could stay in Seattle and drive down I-5 joining the tens of thousands of other drivers in our notoriously terrible traffic. Or, you could wake relaxed at the base of Mount Rainier, have a leisurely breakfast at the Copper Creek Inn and drive through towering pines and cedars to join the gallery at Chambers Bay each day of the tournament.

Somehow roads lined with ferns and native rhododendrons sounds like a better way to start the day. I'm just sayin' . . .

If you're traveling with a group of friends or family, the Great Getaways cabins are perfect for you. Every cabin is unique and complete with everything you need for your stay. You can literally walk in the door with a bag of groceries, a couple of bottles of our famous Washington reds or locally produced artisan microbrews and find a fully stocked kitchen complete with a canister of the specially roasted whole bean coffee served at Copper Creek Inn. 

In the morning, you'll want a fresh cup of joe as you relax and breathe in the crisp, clean air. The evening may find you up to your neck in warm water as you gaze up at the stars in your own private hot tub. Each cabin includes a flat screen TV, a BBQ grill with propane, outside seating, and, if you have an electric car, there is a complimentary electric vehicle charging station. 

You wouldn't go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower or to Florence without visiting David, would you? If you come to the Pacific Northwest, you have to see Mount Rainier. Even for those of us who live here, no matter how many times we see it, it's just as amazing as the first time. 

Welcome! Give us a call. And, enjoy your stay. 

Great Getaways Cabins at Mount Rainier | on Puget Sound

KING5 and Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row! 

Catharine's original art throughout Great Getaways lodging.

US Open Websites you might find helpful:

Chambers Bay Golf and US Open

Chambers Bay Golf ~ US Open Blog

Pierce County Golf
USGA ~ US Open website
Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier ~ Built in 1916 and Designated as "One of the Great Lodges of the West"

Reserve Now! Great Getaways and Copper Creek Inn Cabins

Looking for a Cabin at Stevens Pass? Stay at The Grey Fox

Even though my friend, Kim, has only been here for a few years, she could be mistaken for a Seattle native. She has embraced all things quintessentially Northwest ~ hiking, biking, camping, skiing. She's got REI on speed dial and they greet her by name as she comes in the door. When Kim goes skiing, she goes to Stevens Pass. And, when she makes a long weekend of it, she reserves Grey Fox.

Whether hiking or biking in the summer, white water rafting the Skykomish in the fall or skiing at Stevens Pass in the winter, Grey Fox is the ultimate getaway cabin. Secluded on 3 1/2 acres of dense forest along 350 feet of the Skykomish River, Grey Fox is a nice walk from the historic town of Index and a short drive from skiing at Stevens Pass or enjoying a beer and braut in Leavenworth.

It is perfect for a romantic getaway or a centralized locale for a friends or family day trip. The cabin has two queen bedrooms fitted with down comforters and handmade quilts. 

Kim loves the queen-sized log bed in the living room with its freestanding fireplace on the beautifully designed, hand-built river rock hearth and surrounding wall. At night in the winter, she lights a fire; then, into bed under a down comforter and lovely quilt. There is nothing like lying in bed, hearing the Skykomish rush to the sea while looking out the large window into a starry night. And, in the morning: the forest, a few deer nibbling their breakfast and a view of the best rock climbing wall in the state of Washington.

As usual with all the Great Getaway cabins, there are many artful amenities. I could wax poetic about the super comfortable mattresses and the darling wooden rocking chairs used in the cabins. Everything you need for your stay is here. You can literally walk in the door with a bag of groceries and find a fully stocked kitchen complete with a canister of the specially roasted whole bean coffee served at Copper Creek Inn. You'll want a fresh cup of joe when you sit on the wrap-around deck. So, relax and breathe in the crisp, clean air. 

There is a large flat screen TV/DVD/VCR in the living room. While there is a handful of DVD's in the cabin, you will want to bring your own DVD's if you want to watch movies. TV reception is not good in the mountains. 

The inviting hot tub, under a gazebo, is just steps from the river.

So, whether you are skiing alone or planning an outing with friends, you'll find what you need at Grey Fox where up to six can stay comfortably. Includes a BBQ grill with propane, a picnic table on the deck and, if you have an electric car, there is a complimentary electric vehicle charging station. 

Enjoy all your outdoor activities: 

fishing, rafting, skiing, biking, hiking, rock climbing. 

Grey Fox. It's private and beautiful in all seasons. 

Reserve Now! Grey Fox Cabin at Stevens Pass

Grateful every day for my friend, Kim.

KING5 Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row

Catharine's original art throughout Great Getaways lodging.

Phil Freeman ~ Your Host | In His Own Words . . .

Everything you are going to love about your stay in a Great Getaways cabin is because of Phil Freeman who is half of the duo of Catharine and Phil.

I've known them both for nearly twenty years. He's a man of many interests and talents. If you were to ask him, he would say he loves to travel. He loves photography and has a real eye for the final image. He bursts into song at the drop of a hat; composing on the fly or giving you a stirring rendition of a well-known 1970's folk song. This is a man who truly lives his values. He composts, recycles and writes compelling, persuasive articles about environmental issues affecting us all in the Pacific Northwest. And, most importantly, he loves art because he loves Catharine.

And, because they live in one of the most beautiful places on earth at the gateway to Mount Rainier, Phil would also say he's "working to preserve the beauty surrounding us."

If Phil were writing a blog, this would certainly be his first post:

 "Mountains & Sound Cabin Getaways . . . mile for mile, the best, most affordable way to see and visit Washington State!

Whether a romantic getaway or a family vacation, you’ll find our cabins are strategically located within a few hours of Seattle, Portland and the I-5 Corridor. Our cabins provide interesting day trips from one place to another. Explore snow-capped peaks, high mountain deserts and lakes. Rivers, creeks, waterfalls and Puget Sound are right out your cabin door.

It’s the best way to visit Washington, one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Our “Mountains & Sound Getaways” package gives you the weekly rate whether you are staying in one place or dividing your vacation among several cabins. 

There is nothing like a Great Getaway to rest, relax and rekindle your romance, oh, and see Washington state. 

Give us a call or reserve on line. We'll design a tour to maximize your experiences while minimizing your travel expense and time."

Voted the Best Cabins | Best Great Getaways two years in a row 

on KING5 - Evening Magazine's Best Northwest Escapes

And now a word from Catharine:

Phil tried to propose to me at the Keg.
I let him know I was looking for something more romantic.
 He booked a weekend on Orcas Island,
took me out on a row boat, and he got a big "YES".

Grateful every day to know people like Phil Freeman.

Reserve Now! Great Getaways and Copper Creek Inn Cabins

Meet the Creekside Cabin ~ Enjoy Wandering Secluded Trails Through Acres of Pristine Forest

Holy Cow, what a sunset tonight! Intensely bright pink flashing along the horizon as the clear blue sky fades to indigo. And, yes! The Mountain was out! You can just see everyone slowing down to enjoy our sunsets. It feels like we, as a city, take a collective deep breath, drop our shoulders and let out a gentle sigh. And, when we get home, the first words out of our mouths?

"Did you see the sunset?"

Beautiful. A natural benediction. A true moment of Zen.

I guess that is why I love the cabins at Mount Rainier so much.

Every time I see Mount Rainier's year-round, snow-capped peak framed in the famous blue skies of Seattle, I am reminded of sleeping in one of my favourite cabins up at Mount Rainier. I know! I know! Much like beloved children, I know it's a mistake to have a favourite, but oh, am I tempted by the historic Creekside Cabin at Mount Rainier.

What's it like? Well for one thing, it's perfect for a large family. It has three bedrooms so up to six stay comfortably. Includes WIFI, Verizon cell service, BBQ grill with propane and, if you have an electric car, there is a complimentary electric vehicle charging station.

It is located on the banks of the Copper Creek so when you go to bed at night, the sound of water tumbling over the rocks on its way to the sea will lull you to sleep. And, when you wake up in the morning, it calls to you ~ "Come on. Get up! Let's go out to play."

The air is fresh, crisp and clean. I don't know a better way to start a vacation.

There is a full kitchen with everything you need for meals from simple to gourmet. On the counter, find complimentary whole bean coffee especially roasted for your morning joe. Grab the coffee grinder and enjoy!

There's a basket of spa towels near the door. You're going to need them. The hot tub is just steps from the front door overlooking Copper Creek. Yes, the hot tub is tucked near the cabin but it is placed so you have all the privacy you desire. Gaze up! You're under the stars up to your neck in warm water surrounded by those you love.

As you plan your stay, don't forget to bring the marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars. You'll be glad you brought them along as you sit on the log benches around the inviting fire pit. The fire pit is always available as long as there is no burn ban in place. Your hosts will let you know.

Bring sports equipment to play games on the open grassy areas. Go into the woods. You have 6 1/2 acres to explore. And, as you wonder the forest, breathe deeply, relax, look at the world around you. Keep your eyes out for trillium, fern, foxglove, blackberry and wild strawberry scattered among the cedar and fir trees.
.

The comfortable, casual interiors invite you to put your feet up and relax.




Starry nights.

Crackling wood.

The smell of pine and the sound of rushing water.

Yup, that's why I love this cabin so much!

I think you will, too!

Grateful every day to see the sunset on another day in paradise.

Reserve Now! The Creekside Cabin at Mount Rainier

KING5 Evening Magazine ~ Voted Best Cabins 2 years in a row