It was just a few short months ago that I visited Seattle to see my friend Katie get married and stop through Portland with my family. That trip left me with a desire to spend more time on the Northwest Coast. So for our birthdays, my boyfriend and I packed up and headed back out there to enjoy it together!

Seattle & Portland 2015 | offthebeatenpress.com

The first day we arrived we went to the Seattle Art Museum. Of course the first thing we saw was a Chihuly.

This box was one or my favorite pieces. It was simple, and it played the sounds of the artist making it, the cutting and sawing of the wood and the construction. It was interesting pairing the final piece with the process.

And I couldn't resist the black & white.

We hopped over to stroll through Pike Place. I got a beautiful handmade cribbage board while in there that I will cherish for years to come. It is gorgeous and made of rich woods with gold pegs.

My friend Katie suggested eating at PEAR. Great food. They had a pear grilled cheese that was divine. We spent the rest of the day finding my boyfriend coffee from different places.

The next day we ventured towards a farmers market in Fremont. There I bought a leaf that had been plated in copper. As a birthday present I got a scarf that matched my branding! We ate at a PIE place that reminded me a lot of Proper Pie back in Richmond. They were incredibly filling.

We found the best coffee really close to this Lenin statue and went back later in the trip to get more.

The Fremont Troll (and the bridge it is under – which I found more pleasing to the eye!)

After we wandered down the hill toward Gas Works Park.

It overlooks the city and used to pump gas to all of Seattle but was converted to public park.

We realized Fremont Brewing was nearby and stopped in for a drink! I love when places have the beer can shaped glass mugs.

On the way back to Katie's house that night we ventured in a few more alcohol places including Batch 206 distillery and No.6 Cidery.The following day we took the ferry to Bainbridge to walk through the little downtown area.To round out our beer, liquor, and cider tastings from the pervious day, we stopped in a Wine Tasting shop as we waited for the ferry to get us!Dinner was at Serious Pie followed by ice cream from Molly Moon's!Kristen, on the left, also went to JMU with Katie and I! it was fun reuniting with friends for a night.Halfway through the trip, my boyfriend and I went down to Portland since he had never been! Before leaving we got Top Pot to start the three hour drive.The first stop by Powell's and the Pearl district! My aunt & uncle's house was just gorgeous. They let us stay in the guest rooms which was so generous! Look at all the flowers they have blossoming!We went to WILL! I had been dying to go back and buy a purse for myself. I saved up money since the last trip and got a special birthday present just for me!We went wine tasting the next day to some of the same wineries I had seen last fall, and some new ones. The view from Penner Ash was gorgeous.They changed the wine rules in Virginia so we got to order some to ship back home to the east coast!The view from my Aunt's porch the last evening in town.The last day there was my birthday! We started off with biscuits and a last scoop of Salt & Straw with free sprinkles to celebrate.We hopped in ROGUE to do a little tasting too since it was right near the highway.When we got back to Seattle, it was prime time to do the Glass & Gardens and the Space Needle.I really want to get one of the next two on a wrap canvas!This one was perfect with the Dogwood flowers and the Airstream!The needle and the gardens in a vertical panorama.And the reflection of the needle in glass!They take free pictures of you which they email afterwards! I was glad not to have to ask anyone to snap one of us on my birthday!This one just make me laugh since it is green screened!The sun was setting just as we got to the top.And a selfie.The city of Seattle.Final shot from below the needle.We went back to Fremont (not just for coffee) but to take the Theo Chocolate tour. Lots of people told us to go and I am so glad they did! We had to wear hair nets, and my boyfriend, a BEARD net!The key to any chocolate tour (from previous experience) is to sit in the back where the samples END. They pass them all around and you get lots of chocolate all to yourself! Theo had dinosaur chocolate sculptures modeled after the bushes out front of the building. So many flavors, so little time!After we went to another tour - of underground Seattle!You entered at street level and were led along all these corridors under the city that used to be street level itself!While the lower levels were still being used, they made skylights to above ground. The pigments in the glass turned it a brownish purple. You can see on the left the view looking down on the street level and then on the right gazing upwards from underground to the sun!And old bank and elevator parts.Some of the doors we weaved in and out and around.By far, our favorite restaurant was Damn the Weather. We stumbled upon it when I was trying to get a picture of the 75 cent hotel room sign we had learned about during the tour. The bar was classy, and fabulous. Plates were small for sharing a few, and drinks were made to taste. I would live in the bar if I could!

The next day we went to a Mexican place, ran into some some friends on a beach, snagged chocolate chip cookies and caught a baseball game. It was a perfect last day with wonderful clear weather!