Consumer Traveler – Chris Elliott shares good advice about dealing with a bankrupt, or soon-to-be bankrupt, airline.  Ignore this advice at your peril.

Ciao Amalfi – Taking the boat from Salerno to Amalfi.  Just a little slice of heaven.

London Bridge

Travel Blog Camp – Registration for this travel blogger meet up opens. . . and closes.  If you’ll be in London next month, it may still be worth getting on the waiting list.  I’ll be there, so let me know if you will too!

Almost Fearless – Commonsense tips for travel safety.  Don’t let fear run your life.

PlanetEye Traveler – Green Travel – Green travel iPhone apps.  And you know how I love my iPhone apps!

EyeFlare – A couple travel organizers for your consideration.  These are such personal things, and I think it’s best to look and compare several before making a decision.

Travel & Leisure Blog – It will cost you more to sit next to your traveling companion with these new reservation fees from British Airlines.

IB Traveler – Places to experience French culture, even if you’re not in France.  Good list, but I still want to go back to Paris.

Gadling – Don’t mess with my free wi-fi access.  Could mooching it soon become a thing of the past.

Intelligent Traveler – Ken Burns talks about his new PBS mini-series, The National Parks:  America’s Best Idea.  I’m recording the series.

Location Independent – Tips to lighten your load when packing.  While I’m not a fan of all the choices, everyone should be able to walk away with an idea to implement.  Me?  I’m going shopping for a wireless travel router.

The Vacation Gals – Tips to deal with a fear of flying.  It’s real and it can be paralyzing, but it also can be tamed.

Travellious – All those gadgets need power, and here’s how to get it.

PlanetEye Traveler – Disney – Help your kids have a successful experience in getting Disney character autographs.  These tips will help kids of all ages.

West Seattle Blog – A local story that brought tears to my eyes about an assisted living center and the cats who live there.  If you doubt the healing powers of a pet, these stories will change your mind.

Seattle MetBlogs – Great photo of a reptilian resident of the Pike Place Market.

Photo credit: slideshow bob @flickr

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Velvet Escape tackles the weighty topic of. . . refrigerator magnet.  I love them!  And now, I think I’ll start a collection of my own.

The Paris Traveler shares a whiff of the Paris exotic with information about how to get your very own custom French fragrance.  What a delightful, and practical memory of a great vacation.

Refreshing Italian gelato

The Trends explain about a sort of reverse pick-pocketing going on in London.  Instead of taking money out of your pocket, they’re putting it in.

Gail at Large has a great photo taken while going through the tunnel to Boston’s Logan airport.

The Venice Guide writes about a topic near and dear to my heart, Italian gelato.  While visiting Italy, it was not uncommon for me to eat it two or three times a day.  Now that I’m back at home, this post reminded me of just what I’m missing, and the photo doesn’t come close to doing it justice.

Vintage Seattle has photos from the 1962 Seattle’s World Fair.  It’s a little trip down memory lane.

Boston.com reports on a new hotel marketing trend – marketing to family travelers with upscale features and amenities for the kids.  Will it work for you?

The DC Traveler gives us a history lesson of the founding and development of the Smithsonian Institute.  It’s a whole lot more than just the castle.

My Marrakesh gives us a little fashion show Moroccan style.  You’ll always find great photos and style at this blog.

Las Vegas Sun reports on how Las Vegas luxury resorts are offering promotional bargains to fill the rooms, and wondering if it’s a good thing. Why aren’t these rates available when I need a room there?

The Buenos Aires Guide makes we want to visit the city even more.  See if this post convinces you as well.

Consumer Traveler offers suggestions for healthy and stress free travel.  Maybe some of these will work for you.

Photo credit: fortes @flickr

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During the World’s Fair, this was home to the US Science Pavilion.  Today it is an independent, not for profit science museum, with eight buildings housing hundreds of science exhibits, two IMAX theaters, a large Laser Dome theater, tropical butterfly house, and a planetarium.  In addition to the permanent exhibits, the Pacific Science Center hosts a number of traveling exhibits, most recently “Lucy’s Legacy:  The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.”

My favorite of the exhibits, and a welcome respite after a busy day of touring the Seattle Center, is the Tropical Butterfly House.  This building is climate controlled to 80 degrees, with 70% humidity, to nurture the delicate butterflies that call this home.  You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled, and this beautiful creatures may light anywhere – the ground, trees, flowers, or on you.

This is a great place for families, and their are exhibits that will appeal to age groups.  Kids seem to especially enjoy the Dinosaur exhibit, the Insect Village, and the butterflies.

The Pacific Science Center is located on the Seattle Center campus, and the Tropical Butterfly House is in Building #2.  Regular hours are 10 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday, and until 6 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.  Summer hours are till 6 pm daily.

Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (ages 65+), $13 for youth (ages 6-15), and $11 for kids (ages 3-5).  Tickets can be purchased online or onsite.

Photo credit:  Byrmo @flickr

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Assaggio’s is simple Italian food, presented with exceptional customer service.  Dinner there is reminiscent of the food I ate in Italy:  simple, fabulously flavorful, and full of the best from the local garden (in this case, the Pike Place Market).  Owner Mauro Golmarvi will greet you at the door, offer a hug to familiar guests, and will then mingle among the tables throughout your meal to make sure you are enjoying it.  (Hint:  you will be!)

The restaurant is decorated with elaborate wall murals featuring the work of Michelangelo.   Take a look at the walls and see if you can spot the Creation of Adam, the Creation of Earth, the Ladies of Justice, and the Creation of Moon and Water (among others).  I’m not sure if it’s like dining in an Italian bistro or an art museum.

Since it’s been many months since I’ve been there, I can’t give a current review.  But I can share with you some of my favorites from the menu:  Insalata di Francesca (field greens, apples, pears, gorgonzola, nuts with a vinaigrette), Sautéed spinach (delicious with onions, lemon, pine nuts, and Dijon mustard), Osso Buco (classic veal shank with vegetables), and the Wild Boar Pasta. 

Assaggio is located at 2010 4th Avenue (downtown) in Seattle.  It’s open daily for lunch Monday – Friday, 11 am – 2 pm, and for dinner Monday – Saturday, 5 – 10 pm.  Reservations are recommended.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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While some of the Boeing plants have relocated elsewhere, the plant at Paine Field (about 30 miles north of Seattle) is still home to The Future of Flight & Boeing Tour,

This tour of the Boeing factory lets you see the flight line where the 747, 767, 777, and 787 are made.  This tour takes you through one of the largest buildings in the world (by volume), as you learn how much room it takes to build a jumbo jet.

There’s lot to see on the tour so don’t forget to look up (futuristic aircraft are flying), down (a painted runway on the floor), and around (the nose of an airplane getting ready to take off).  And that’s just in the lobby!

Here are some other exhibits that you’ll see:

• Airplane Design: Learn how and why airplanes fly, and look at the components that go into making a plane like the fuselage, wings, engines, etc.  Stop off at one of the computer stations and try your hand at designing a plane.  Then see if it will fly.  Don’t worry, you’ll get lots of chances to make modifications as you visit the rest of the exhibits.
• Materials: Compare the fuselage from an old 707 to the new 787,and see how modern materials have changed the way plans are built.
• Passenger Experience: You know how cramped and uncomfortable those seats are, but it hasn’t always been that way.  Take a look at the more spacious interiors as well as take a look at what’s being done to make flying more comfortable.
• Flight Simulator: This is not your at-home computer game simulator, this is big-time.  There’s an additional charge, but it’s worth it, to ride the multi-passenger XJ5 Flight Simulator.  Since I missed the opportunity to fly on the Concord, this is as close as I’m going to get to supersonic speeds.
• Flight Systems: All the important stuff that you never see, like avionics, navigational systems and hydraulics.
• Flight Deck: From dials and switches of years gone by to the computerized flight deck of today, these are the tools that are used by men and women who fly the plane.  In a post-911 world, this is the only chance most people will have to see the flight deck.
• Manufacturing: Yeah, sure, Boeing isn’t the only one who makes planes, and this does seem like one big long commercial.  But hey, it’s their plant and it’s got some pretty cool 3-D animation.
• Engines: These big noisy things are responsible for getting the plane off the ground, and you can learn why.
• The Future:  Although air travel seems common place today, it’s important to remember that it all started with a dream and the Wright Brothers.  And lots of other people and other dreams since then.  No matter how silly a dream might seem, when you look around you’ll realize that it may be the shape of the future.
• Future of Flight Store: If you made a plane as you’ve passed through the exhibits, you can pick up a personalized color print of your design along with a list of your specifications.  And, of course, like any gift store, there’s all sort of books, toys, and memorabilia to spend your money on.

Boeing has some very strict safety and security regulations in place regarding the tour.  There are no exceptions, so familiarize yourself with them so you aren’t disappointed.

Continue reading for tour restrictions and additional information

• Everyone must be at least 4 feet tall to go on the tour.  Adults may not carry babies.  No strollers permitted.  (NOTE:  It’s not that they don’t like kids or little ones, but this is a safety regulation.)
• No photography.  Of any kind.
• Physically challenged visitors can be accommodated on the tour, but it does require advance notice (at the time of making reservations).
• You cannot carry any personal items on the tour.  No purses, backpacks, cell phones, etc.  You can leave things in the trunk of your car or you can rent a locker in the lobby.
• No food or drink allowed.  There are restrooms in the lobby area, but none on the tour.

The Future of Flight and Boeing Tour are located at 8415 Paine Field Boulevard in Mukilteo, Washington.  Hours are 8:30 am –5:30 pm daily.  Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.  Tours begin on the hour, starting at 9 am, with the last tour starting at 3 pm, and last approximately 90 minutes.

General admission is $15, seniors and active military $14, children (15 and under) $8.  Admission to the gallery only, without the tour is $9, children (ages 6-15) $4.   Boeing employees get a discounted admission.

You can purchase tickets onsite, or online.  Advance ticket purchases have a $2.50 convenience charge added.  Spend the money to get the advance tickets.  This is a very popular tour, especially during summer and school vacations, and they fill up fast.

Photo credits:  All from flick, Boeing Plant, Air India 777

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Located adjacent to the Vintage Park Hotel (a great place to stay, by the way), you can enter Tulio’s through the hotel or through its own entrance.  It’s like eating in a wine cellar or trattoria in Tuscany – cozy, full of wonderful aromas, and with wonderful waitstaff to help you make the best meal choice.

If you’re not certain if you want to have dinner here, just step inside and take a deep breath.  That’s the aroma of delicious Italian food.

Share the salumi plate ($10) and the sweet potato gnocchi appetizer ($9) with a glass of wine and great companion, and you have a light meal before heading off to the theater.  Add the warm chocolate pudding cake ($8) for dessert – it’s divine!

Tulio’s is located at 1100 5th Avenue in Seattle.  It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Bar service is available until midnight, and until 1 am on Friday and Saturday.  A bistro menu is also available.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Salish Lodge & Spa is about 30 miles east of Seattle on the Snoqualmie River.  The lodge is in a rustic setting, overlooking the 268-foot Snoqualmie Falls, but it is also elegant and steeped in northwest history.  The lodge is just as romantic as its setting, and is a popular spot for proposals, anniversary celebrations, and other special events.

The lodge has gone through a variety of reincarnations since it was first opened in 1919.  Originally it was just a small in known as Snoqualmie Falls Lodge, catering to visitors to the falls.  Today the only remaining part of the original structure is the lobby fireplace.

You can take a look at the falls, the top of which is about 100 yards from the parking lot.  There’s a great viewing area that is perfect for a photo op.  Or, you can walk down the trail to the bottom of the falls and get a look from a different perspective.  (Hiking the falls was a popular day trip when I was a teenager, so the spot is a sentimental favorite for me.)

And, if you need a nap or just want to burrow in for the evening, there are wood-burning fireplaces in your room.  Very naturally cozy.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Palisade

Although this matchbook was picked up on a trip to the restaurant years ago, when I came across it, it prompted me to visit again.

The interior has saltwater ponds, full of fish, and a bridge to walk over to get to the dining section of the restaurant.  The waterfront view is great, but probably more spectacular before dark as the twinkling lights of the city are a bit obscured.  The bar, which is stays open two hours past dinner service, had a simple combo playing, making a pleasant background for dinner conversation.

I had the lobster macaroni and cheese, my dining companion had the stuffed tiger prawns.  A full review to follow later!

Dining hours are Monday – Thursday, 5-9 pm, till 10 pm on Friday, Saturday 4:30-9 pm.  Sunday Brunch, 10 am – 2 pm. 

Photo credit:  personal collection

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I’ve been to the Expo in previous years, and am excited that’s it’s come to my hometown of Seattle.  There lots of great stuff – trade show with great information booths, educational sessions, panels, and presentations.

I’m very pleased to be speaking on a panel myself with a great group of other travel blogging women.  The panel is Wandering Women…Planning Your Next Great Adventure! 

Panel Moderator is Beth Whitman from Wanderlust and Lipstick, and the panel includes  Pam Mandel from Nerd’s Eye View, Chris Mackay from Crooked Trails, and ME!  We’ll be talking about how to craft an adventure experience that just right for you.  The session is on Sunday, September 14th, 11 am – noon, in the Adventure Travel Theater.

The Expo will be held at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, in downtown Seattle.  The show runs Saturday (10”30 am – 5:30 pm) and Sunday (10 am – 4 pm).  The shows opens at 9 am on Saturday for members of the travel trade (credentials required).

Tickets are $12/day, and children under 12 are FREE.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  Admission includes the expo floor and all conference sessions.

Flyaway Cafe readers can get FREE tickets to the Expo by signing up for Expo tickets using this link and entering promotion code SPK. 

Please leave a comment if you’ll be there – and make sure to come up and introduce yourself!

Hope to see you there!

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Travel Product Guide, written by Sports Channel Editor Kori Ellis and Travel & Culture Channel Editor Mary Jo Manzanares, will focus on all the products you’ll need for travel.  Whether it’s high tech or no tech, you’ll get lots of ideas of products to make travel more comfortable, simpler, and fun!

The Phoenix Traveler, written by Jackie Dishner, joins our other Traveler destinations blogs and focuses on the city of Phoenix and the surrounding area.  There’s lots going on in the desert year round, so stop by to get some ideas to on how to add some fun into your trip.

Travel Photo Daily, written by The DC Traveler blogger Jon Rochetti, will take you around the world in photos.  This blog is sure to appeal to all those armchair travelers out there, as well as those for whom these great photos will serve as a reminder of wonderful memories.

Take a few minutes and explore these, and all the other great travel blogs, here at b5media’s Travel & Culture Channel.

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