Back in California... It's been a busy few days catching up since returning from the beautiful Northwest earlier this week, but it was a great trip and we look forward to sharing favorite experiences and places in these next few travel posts.  

The first part of our adventure began in Washington state, starting in Seattle and heading a few hours Northwest to the Olympic Peninsula for several days of visiting friends, taking in the views, and enjoying the coastal landscape.

Below are a selection of images from time spent on Sequim Bay, where the gorgeous weather made for picturesque vistas and perfect conditions for kayaking. With surroundings like these, some of the tastiest local delights at every meal, and good friends to share it all with, it was the ideal launching point for our time away...

An afternoon trip to Hurricane Ridge, at an elevation of 5,200 feet in the National Forest, offered stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and local wildflowers.

Back at sea level the next morning, the clear emerald water of Lake Cascade made for fantastic kayaking and even more stunning scenes of the Northwest.

But probably the most relaxing moments involved the simple pleasure of enjoying the sights with friends while surrounded by an array of blooming flowers (including the vibrant lavender for which the region is famous), with a glass of wine in hand and ready for an evening of good conversation.

Also worth noting are the uniquely sweet yellow raspberries, which we plucked right from the yard, as demonstrated by Jason below. 

It's been written that Julia Child said the world's best berries are grown on the Olympic Peninsula, and from what we experienced, she was, of course, spot-on. They were perfect, just like the views!

Cheers!  Lauren + Jason