Forgot this was on Vashon Island, so we decided to stop by and check it out while in the area…read more It's located on Vashon Hwy SW behind a bus stop in the trees, there's not much of any other markers to indicate where to look. It would be best if you did a little research on reading a bit about the history and finding the exact location. We saw the bus stop, pulled over the side of the road, parked, ran full speed across the street and saw the little bridge entry and it was pretty much right there in front of you. I thought the bicycle would be bigger as I didn't see it right away. The front wheel is gone so all there is left is the rusted head tube and the front fork barely hanging on, rear fender and wheel is almost swallowed up by the tree. We were there for about 10 mins max, took some photos, looked around and done. There's an antique shop like a 50 yds away up at the corner, we went in there to check it out afterwards.

This landmark is close to the road but was a little hard to find because my friend and I were…read moreexpecting to find an obvious bike stuck in a tree, but so much time has passed that we spent several minutes wandering around before she noticed it. It's a great story of how a young boy tied his bike to a tree when he was drafted into serving in a World War and it was left there forever. There isn't a historical landmark or sign post like I would think. There are hardly any bike parts left and it's hard to tell there was a bike there to begin with now. It's about 7' in the air.

Olympia buildings are covered in murals which makes the buildings entertaining to look at…read more The Star Wars mural is located on a building, in a lot, with three food trucks. The lot has a picnic table for those interested in ordering from the food trucks. Paid street parking is available. While I enjoyed the Star Wars mural, I liked the superhero mural much better. Keep up the artsy work Olympia!

"Honey, let's go check out the Star Wars mural."…read more (silence) There are many times when I suspect that Mr. K rolls his eyes on our little road trips. We are going where? To see what? I came across this local gem when browsing the highest rated spots in Olympia. It was an easy stroll from the center of town and just a couple blocks from the Olympia Coffee Roasting Company. When asking a local for directions to the mural, he informed me that his friend created the mural and although it is a caricature, all characters are truthful in their representation. He was dead serious when describing the artist's motivation. This is when I turn to Mr. K and nod knowingly. Just stick with me, kid. The mural is painted on the side of an apartment building and is in good condition. Someone actually has their apartment in the Death Star. **jealous** The grassy area alongside the building appears to be home to the only food cart in town, so it was a fun little journey of discovery. Not to say all my wanderings are successful. But in this case, the Force was with me.

Jakob Two Trees is located along the Rainier Trail right behind/near the Issaquah Community Center…read more It's best for a quick, scenic outdoor stop combined with an easy walk. Perfect for families, a short nature break, or troll-hunting adventures around the Pacific Northwest. Ample parking is available nearby at the community center. As public art on a trail, respectful visiting is encouraged. Many people enjoy taking photos and admiring the incredible recycled-material details (like his ponytail with the Snoqualmie Tribe band and birdhouse necklace), and it blends beautifully into the surrounding forest. The short, flat, paved path is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Great for families, kids, and troll-hunters.

What a fun attraction in Issaquah - and a great way to learn more about the area. My friend told…read moreme about the miscellaneous trolls that are around the western Washington area, created by artist, Thomas Dambo from Denmark. So, I had to see it for myself. I took my dog on a walk around Issaquah - and we made it a point to check out Jakob Two Trees while in the area. To get here, online sources referenced the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in the old town of Issaquah. If you map to Rainier Trail, it does not take you to the entrance to the trail. However, this trail is near the Issaquah Community Center, which is where I mapped and was easily able to find the entrance to the trail. Along the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in a short distance is Jakob Two Trees. There's a sign that explains more of the artwork and artist, using only up-cycled materials to create these trolls. It was cool to see and you're able to walk all around the giant troll and get pictures up close. Although I am not Scandinavian, I do love how treasured trolls are to the Nordic countries, so now I want to find more of the trolls around the Pacific Northwest.

In the 80's Tacoma, Washington was home to the infamous Hilltop Crips. If you venture over to 810…read moreYakima Avenue today, you'd be standing in their old 'hood. But, tweak your GPS settings slightly and point to 810 N. Yakima Avenue and you'd be standing in front of the house where that movie called "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" was filmed. Click here to see the house - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjtfG8r14Uk

I mean, what can be said about this strange abandoned art installation that hasn't been said…read morealready. It's not a great area, there's currently a homeless encampment right behind it. It has a chain link fence surrounding it giving it a 'We haven't torn this down yet' vibe. Being from the Bay Area and having seen pieces created at The Crucible I personally would call it exceptionally lazy art - if you're generous with the word 'art'. It's a sign, with some pointed cylinders around it. In my opinion the painted pieces at Gas Works are more interesting. I personally think it's only a matter of time before they tear it out and make it into another park so all in all, it's an easy skip.

At one point, I'm sure The Wall of Death was a very cool public art installation in Seattle. It's a…read morepermanently sited installation located along the Burke-Gilman Trail under the University Bridge along NE 40th Street. It was designed and built by Mowry Baden and his son Colin in 1993. While the exhibit sounds ominous, it's neither a memorial or some gothic art piece. Instead, it's a tribute to the structure used to perform "the wall of death," a motorcycle and miniature automobile stunt. While it looks like it was initially quite amazing, The Wall of Death has largely fallen victim to time and graffiti and it's really that graffiti that negatively impacts the appeal of the exhibit. The exhibit includes the cylinder itself on the south side of the Burke-Gilman Trail, as well as a concrete ramp to the north of the trail, which includes a "series of stylized metal chairs mounted to the existing concrete bridge columns and serves as the stands from which the stunts were viewed. The exhibit was originally intended as interactive with skateboarders intended to use it. However, after several skateboarding accidents including one involving a head-on collision between a skateboarder and a cyclist the exhibit was adapted, by Baden himself, to include 25 concrete parking stops. At this point, the exhibit is somewhat fenced in and much more difficult to access. However, it remains one of the more intriguing public art exhibits in Seattle and is still free to see. It's listed in Atlas Obscura. The exhibit was also reportedly damaged on 11/15/20 when a homeless camp tent caught fire. The exhibit is made of concrete, steel, and aluminum and measures 16' x 65' x 30'. It's easy to access the exhibit from the Burke Gilman Trail in the University District. It's near University of Washington housing and only a few blocks from Lake Union. The trail itself is wheelchair friendly and accessible quite easily.

I started doing the stairs when I was 48 years old. A group of us from LLS would meet every week on…read moreThursday night for years, dark or light rain or shine! I don't remember when I quit but an educated guess would be at 59. The reason I started was I wanted to run the Honolulu Marathon, (that brings that educated part into question) but going on I did it that December. After that I went on to do another 16 (again, educated??) Moving on to 2025, I can still do them at 73 with very few issues, I don't run I walk, and I stop a couple of times when my heart and lungs call a meeting with me, but we make it. I really believe I can do today because of what I started 25 years ago. In the words of the late Toby Keith, don't let the old man in!

Whether you do it just to say "we did it", or you do it once, go back down, and do it again a few…read moremore times to get your legs moving and heart pumping- it's a great experience. Seattles longest staircase, 388 steps spanning 160 feet. The history behind the stairs is pretty cool. We walked an hour from downtown, enjoyed the beautiful walk along Lake Union, got to the stairs, did it three times, and then headed toward Volunteer park. A hell of a way to get your steps in! Spring was in bloom, so the beautiful flowers and colorful trees was the icing on the cake.

Easy walk from road, including a cool bridge over the wetland near Lake Quinault. The photos don't…read moregive you a sense of size. You've got to see it for yourself.

I was staying in Quinault Valley and was finishing up my week exploring Olympic National Park. I…read moredid a few hikes earlier in the day and went for a walk around Lake Quinault. I came across a sign that pointed to a trail that leads to a giant Sitka spruce tree. I had some time to spare and enjoyed the short walk to it. A couple years ago, I spent some time in Redwoods National Park and got to see some of the tallest trees in the world. Quinault Valley is also home to some very tall trees because of the average rainfall that this region gets. Lake Quinault is nicknamed the "Valley of the Rain Forest Giants" and this Big Spruce Tree is one of them. The sign in front of the spruce tree boasts that this is the largest spruce tree in the world. It stands 191 feet tall and measures more than 55 feet in circumference. It is quite a sight to see in person. If you are in this area and have some time, take 30 minutes and check this tree out. It is over a thousand years old. The trail is located across the street from Rain Forest Resort Village.

A fun experience, a bit off the beaten path in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle…read more We ventured from downtown to check out the troll. Very easy access via a city bus route. After a short stroll down a well-designed dirt path, we found the giant troll. The troll is great for photos and has a sign that describes the history of the troll. My kids enjoyed climbing around the area, too. Facing the opposite direction from the troll is a very cool bridge that creates some awesome cathedral-like architecture. There is lots to do in Fremont, and even though the troll is kind of a one-and-done deal, it's worth checking out simply to explore the rest of the neighborhood and awesome surrounding businesses. Enjoy your troll hunt!

A visit to the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge is a fun and quirky Seattle stop. Sculpted in…read more1990 by four artists after a competition launched by the Fremont Arts Council to help combat the garbage and clutter that had been collecting under bridges, the troll has become one of the city's most iconic public art pieces. It's a great destination to bring out-of-town visitors--like me--to check out another troll! As a fan of the whimsical trolls created by Thomas Dambo, this was a must-see. Street parking is available nearby, making it an easy stop while exploring the neighborhood. I'd personally recommend not climbing on the troll due to safety concerns, although many people were doing so when we visited. Either way, it's a unique photo opportunity and a classic Seattle experience.

Secret?! i think not. ;) Although it can appear rather secretive if you consider walking through it…read morethe first time (w/o knowing it's a tunnel) and ask yourself upon exiting "I was in an underground tunnel?" Yup. And a super COOL one at that, too. :) Fine shops, great lunch options, and a jackpot of historic Seattle photos - everything from the early days of dumping Pill Hill fill into Elliot Bay to the early Boeing airplanes. Downtown? Take a stroll down this tunnel. It begins/ends in Rainier Square and ends/begins in One/Two Union Square. Happy strolling. :)

I haven't visited enough underground tunnels to know if this one deserves 5 stars or not, so let's…read morework this out, arithmetic-style! 1 star for keeping me out of the rain, cold, and wind and away from motor traffic and waiting for crosswalk signals. 1 star for neat photos of old-time Seattle 1 star for a display of upcoming shows from the 5th Ave 1 star for the convenience store selling cards and snacks. There are also some little deli type eateries, a salon, and an art gallery, though I haven't taken advantage of any of them yet. All in all, this is a pretty spiffy way to get from 7th and Union to 4th and University without having to set foot outside - always a plus when it comes to dealing with Seattle's variable weather.