Since I’m not quite ready to let go of my Tenakee Springs daydream, I’m sharing a few more photos of our visit . . .

Such a peaceful setting . . .

You’ll be waiting a long time before a bus comes through here . . .

Better watch your step coming out of the town pub, especially if . . . . . . you need to pay a visit to the outhouse at the end of the dock.A true work of art . . .
What else are you going to do with all those shell casings?

This is what happens when a cabin door comes between a bear on the outside
and a hanging deer on the inside.

What are your favorite spots in Southeast Alaska, Wanderboomers?

The Island Spirit

Among the small, remote communities found here, Tenakee Springs stands out. Within this peaceful enclave, colorful homes perch on pilings in a single line along the waterfront. Each share a heart-stopping view of the surrounding snow-capped mountains and wildlife. Behind the buildings runs the only road through town, an unpaved path for walking and biking.

At the dock we’re greeted by friendly canines who accompany us on our stroll through town. We linger at the Tenakee Hot Springs Lodge, before moving on to the beautifully restored St. Francis Chapel, followed by Snyder’s Mercantile for coffee, pastries and a few mementos of our visit.

I can easily imagine holing up here for a couple of weeks, hiking the nearby trails, kayaking in calm waters, whale-watching, only to cap off the days with good, long soaks in the hot springs.

After catching up on my sleep, I’d browse the stacks at the Dermott O’Toole Memorial Library, borrow a few books, and most certainly start writing my travel memoir. Ahh . . .

Have you cruised Alaska’s Inside Passage, Wanderboomers? If not, what are you waiting for?? If so, what’s your favorite spot?

When you think of Seattle, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? The Space Needle? Sure. Mt. Rainier? Maybe. Rain? Definitely! But when Seattle gets a dusting of snow instead of a dousing of rain, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the wonder.

Where better to take a stroll on a cold winter’s morning than Pioneer Square, the city’s oldest neighborhood? Just don’t be surprised, if you hail from a snowbelt region like I do, to see Seattleites use an umbrella for both rain and snow (see the photo below), even in the wind.

Popular for its low-rise brick buildings and pedestrian mall-park, the 20-block area of Pioneer Square provides a peek into Seattle’s fabled past – including this ghost sign of a local brew that was a Seattle favorite for over a century, Rainier Beer.

Even more legendary than the beer itself were the clever, quirky commercials touting the beverage.

The quirkiness continues in Occidental Park with its blend of local art and diverse patrons. Four totem poles, including a human figure with open arms, are surrounded by leafy trees cloaked in colorful sweaters.

Here, too, you’ll find the Seattle Firefighters Memorial Sculpture, honoring fallen firefighters from the time of the devastating Great Fire that consumed the business district and waterfront in 1889.

To view more local artwork in Pioneer Square, stop in at Glasshouse Studio which offers visitors the chance to watch glassblowers honing their craft.

At the end of a day of play in Seattle’s snow, it’s time to ward off the winter chill with a cup of you-know-what. We are in Seattle after all. And they call the Big Apple the City That Never Sleeps . . .

What are your favorite winter activities, Wanderboomers?