Damkier's Travels: 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

Seattle - November 2015

Yours Truly at the Space Needle

Thanksgiving is usually a time for family, and since part of my family now lives in Seattle, I have been visiting the Emerald City for Thanksgiving for several years. November is not the ideal time to visit the Pacific Northwest since it is usually dark, cold, and rainy, but the lure of roasted turkey and pumpkin pie draws me near each year.

View of Downtown Seattle with Mt Rainer in Background

This year was very unique. Besides the happy coincidence of many extended family attending our wonderful dinner, the weather was unusually clear and dry over the holiday. Besides the pollution inversion and very cold nights, the weather was perfect to get out of the house and explore. First stop was the iconic Space Needle. Built in 1962, this Seattle landmark is no longer the tallest, but it is a top spot for visitors. The view is very impressive from the outdoor observation deck, however the steep admission price makes this an expensive view. The Space Needle is also near several museums and the monorail in a large exposition park area once home to the World's Fair.

Who Needs Two Rails?

Speaking of the Seattle Monorail, this was my first time to actually ride this historic version of the future. It is actually pretty cool as it glides through downtown Seattle, and it is a surprisingly good way to connect the main tourist spots in Seattle. Alas, the great monorail experiment was about as successful as it was in Springfield, with limited deployment. Best to stick with subways and high speed rail instead.

Steaming Hot Biscuit and Gravy

Back on the ground, it was time for lunch. I searched Yelp for a great restaurant and was intrigued by the Biscuit Bitch. I am a huge fan of biscuits - see my Southern Food and BBQ post - so the combination of killer biscuits and gravy and espresso was a strong draw. The place delivered with a nice caffeine jolt and a massive serving the above delicious lunch. That gave me the energy to tackle my next destination.

Pike Place Market

Another Seattle institution, Pike Place Market is a fun and crazy combination of farmers market, fish market, and craft fair. You can buy any number of fresh or prepared food items in the haphazard collection of stalls or just browse the crafts while enjoying the people watching. On a beautiful Black Friday, the place was completely packed but still enjoyable. I especially love the fresh cheese curds from Beecher's or walking by the original Starbucks.

Pacific Northwest Native Art Exhibit

Before the sun sets early in the west, it was time to unwind and enjoy some fine art. The Seattle Art Museum is right next to Pike Place Market and houses an impressive collection of artwork. This museum is always enjoyable, but the special exhibition of Impressionist painting was a huge draw. I really enjoyed strolling through the museum decompressing from the market and enjoying the art.

Flying Heritage Collection Hangar Exhibit

No trip to Seattle is complete without visiting an aviation museum. The Flying Heritage Collection is convenient to those visiting the northern suburbs of Seattle and has a large collection of military aircraft and other equipment. They host several flying exhibitions throughout the year and have a lot of movies and exhibits.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Lefse

Of course I had to post my Thanksgiving dinner. Spending the holidays means never having to answer the question "Who wants more lefse?" The answer is everyone! I had a nice time in Seattle this Thanksgiving and am happy to share it with you and your family. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

View of Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains

Downtown Seattle from Inside Observation Deck

Riding the Seattle Monorail

Space Needle from Below

Pike Place Market Exterior

Original Starbucks Exterior

Airport Fish & Chips

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Disneyland - November 2015

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

What can be said about the Happiest Place on Earth that has not been said before? Disneyland is a massive theme park - arguably the ultimate theme park - located in Anaheim, California. The sprawling complex grew out of orange groves in 1955 and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2015. This was also the 3rd anniversary of my cousin's daughter's birth, so it was fitting to meet the family at the end of my Southern California vacation in Disneyland.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

There is just so much special about Disneyland and its sister park Disney California Adventure. Hundreds of engineers designed the place to be happy and entertaining for kids and their parents making it fun to stand in line waiting for a special ride or even lunch. They have all the iconic rides like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and It's a Small World. Most are based on children stories long forgotten, but live on through the rides. Thrill seekers are usually disappointed by the rather tame rides, but the overall experience is far richer than just pure adrenaline.

Paradise Pier at California Adventure

I have seen Disney California Adventure since its inception and think it is actually the superior park. The rides are better; the shows are better; the food and drink are better. California Adventure focuses more on the various California experiences instead of Disney fairy tales, but this makes for a richer experience. I really love Soaring over California, Grizzly River Run, and Radiator Springs Racers. Cars is one of my all time favorite Disney movies, so Cars Land is extra special. I also love walking the vintage streets of Los Angeles catching an impromptu jazz band or show.

Mickey is Everywhere

Disneyland is crowded, expensive, and can be very exhausting. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful experience. I really love the attention to detail in the parks and the overall fun experience. I was also blessed to spend the day with my family, enjoying all the experience with loved ones making the end of my vacation one of the best days! Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

Massive Crowds at Security Checkpoint

The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room

Mark Twain Riverboat Rounding Tom Sawyer's Island

FastPass is the Bomb

New Orleans Square

Holiday Haunted Mansion

Red Car on Buena Vista Street in California Adventure

Single Rider Ticket on Soarin'

Hot Link Corn Dog

Stanley Statue in Cars Land

Hollywood - November 2015

The Classic Hollywood Sign

Few places in the world catch the heart more than Hollywood. This neighborhood is home to the largest entertainment industry in the United States if not the world cranking out movies, television, and all sorts of productions designed to make us laugh, cry, and enjoy life a little more. Technically within the City of Los Angeles, Hollywood has a rich, albeit short, history and is worth a visit on any trip to Southern California.

Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame

On my recent trip, I opted to take a tour of Hollywood and Los Angeles. My tour guide took us through various parts of Los Angeles and Hollywood used as movie sets and homes of the stars. We drove along Mulholland Drive past million dollar mansions and celebrity houses, stopping for a quick view of the Hollywood Sign before the cops come by. Everyone has such a close relationship with movies and television that this experience is satisfying for all.

Beverly Hills. That's Where I Want to Be.

My tour also visited Beverly Hills. This is the real deal folks, lots of very rich and famous people living in paradise. There is no drought in Beverly Hills, and all the homeless are given the real bum's rush. We drove along Rodeo Drive past lots of stores way out of my price range, passing exotic cars and very beautiful people with huge plastic surgery bills. Even the squirrels wear Prada!

Farmers Market with Grove Trolley

The tour concluded at Farmers Market. This large and popular market is an homage to the historic markets that served the oil workers in and around the site. Farmers Market has a wide variety of food vendors and restaurants serving all sorts of delicious items. The location is also historic for hosting a race track and baseball stadium for the old Hollywood Stars. Its proximity to the upscale Grove outdoor shopping mall also adds to the overall popularity.

Entrance to Warner Brothers Studio Tour

When in Hollywood, you must do a studio tour. This is an active industrial area with near constant production of movies, television shows, commercials, and other productions. I took the Warner Brothers Studio Tour which is one of the best tours around. They take you through the studios which are immediately recognizable from many famous scenes. Warner Bros uses the entire lot for filming, so offices often turn into hotels or emergency rooms with fake snow and rain added for effect. It is really impressive to see how the process works. On the grounds are several museums with Batman and Harry Potter exhibits and a final studio with interactive displays on special effects and green screens.

On this trip, I attended a taping of the television show @Midnight. This is a comedy game show on Comedy Central. You are not allowed to take pictures or even have a cell phone during the taping so I do not have any images, but you can stream the episode online here. I am a big fan of the show so it was a treat to see it in person including all the takes, mistakes, and reshoots. I highly recommend attending a taping of your favorite show while in Hollywood. Many shows are available here.

Yours Truly Riding a Broom outside Hogwarts

It is really fun to lose yourself in the movie magic. Walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame looking for a special actor is really unique, even while dodging the costumed characters requesting fees for pictures and the various con artists milking the tourists dry. Experiencing even a small bit of that magic is an amazing experience and is highly recommended for everyone. Please experience a bit of this magic yourself by enjoying the rest of my pictures below.