Chicago

I used Chicago Escrow to close my mortgage last year. The place is very classy looking and service is good. Staff was very friendly and the advisor we worked with explained everything in details with prompt follow ups. The closing was completed smoothly. Service cost seems to be steep though comparing to other escrow companies.

Bloedel Reserve

This is a very large garden reserve in Bainbridge island, just 45 minutes (ferry plus drive time) from downtown Seattle. The reserve is on an appointment system to control visitor flow so you don't feel crowded once you are in. The place is very nice for a stroll in any season. The Japanese garden is a serene place to be in autumn and the reflection pond is captivating. One cautionary note though, the ground doesn't allow any picnic or eating. So it is better to feed up before you hit the gate.

Seattle Art Museum

This art musuem in downtown has an extensive collection of objects, from African masks to Northwest Native American artifacts to European Old Master paintings and contemporary art. The musuem also hosts a Chado (Japanese tea ceremony) demonstration periodically. The demo lasts for 1 hr and 2 musuem attendees would be chosen to participate with the hosts in the authentic tea room inside the museum. This is a very education experience

City of Seattle Parks & Recreation Department

This zoo has a very organized layout which makes visiting with a big family easy. We especially enjoy visiting the gorillas that seem to live in a quite natural environment. I also notice that the animals here roam in a bigger space than those elsewhere. One thing that bothers me is that the zoo map shows a place for mountain goats but these are nowhere to be found. Also, I do wish parking can be cheaper on site though.

Museum Of Flight

The musuem grows from the little red barn that was the birth place of Boeing, to a huge building with displays from different eras. The red barn has a lot of aviation artifacts, and the 2nd story reproduced the actual engineering workshop of the then-young Boeing company. The space age displays are ok but the real fun is from all the planes hung from the main building's ceiling. The Air Force One outside is also an eye-opener. For the couple times I was there I saw Air Force fighters taking off from the airstrip right next door. Overall a good and educational experience.

Museum Of History & Industry

This musuem is situated near the University of Washington campus. It has a lot of displays (not many things are interactive though) of Seattle's local history. The display and video focusing on the Great Fire are very informative. Reconstructed stores with period mechandises are a fun to browse. There are also interesting artifacts on local mountaineers.

Spirit Of Washington Dinner

This is a fun and delicious ride on vintage trains from Renton to Woodinville. Doing this ride in summer is better as daylight is longer, and you can see scenary better during the train ride. Those who are prone to motion sickness (like me) should be aware that the train tracks are not in good condition (it is a secondary route for light and infrequent freight usage) and the suspension of these vintage carriages are not that good. As a result a lot of side sway occurs during the ride. However, the food is really good and the servers are professional and friendly. The train also stops at the Columbia Winery for wine testing before heading back to Renton.

Pacific Science Center

The Pacific Science Center complex offers a lot of things that can engage the whole family for an afternoon. People of different interests can find things tailored to them. For example, you can play interactive computer games and, review computer history in the tech room. You can also see robotic dinosaurs and tropical butterfly downstairs. The IMAX theater is also very nice. Admission is reasonable given the choices it offer.

Cougar Mountain Zoological Pk

This zoo is very close to downtown Issaquah on a winding uphill road to Cougar Mountain. Animals are well represented and have good roaming space in this zoo. Specifically, the beautiful and colorful macaws are fascinating. They also have reindeers, antelopes, lemurs and of course, cougars onsite. Christmas time will feature the reindeers in special events for the whole family.

Besides viewing animals, it is a fine place to have a picnic with the distant Lake Sammamish and Cascade Mountains vista.

Lakemont Orchard Apartment Rentals

This apartment is in a very convenient location just right next to a freeway interchange. The complex is quite large and if you choose to live at the rear, you won't hear anything from the freeway. In addition, since this complex is on a hill, the rear buildings can enjoy much better views (of Lake Samammish) than those up front. There is a very small club house (small pool + gym room) next to the office. Staff and maintenance crew is friendly.