Headed To Seattle This Weekend

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Hey gang,

Tiffany and I are attending a wedding in Seattle/Tacoma this weekend. We arrive early on Saturday.

I know we are going to Da Vinci's Bakery around 10-10:30 a.m. for breakfast gluten free panini sandwiches (which I love).

After that, we are hiking snoqualmmie falls area. Any recommended hikes/trails? We do easy and moderate.

We are also having dinner at the Lobster Shop at Dash Point - anyone eaten there yet? Any recommendations?

Sunday we will be in Tacoma area as many of her friends live there. Any places to eat down there?

Thanks,

BB

[Lisa]

Hey gang,

Tiffany and I are attending a wedding in Seattle/Tacoma this weekend. We arrive early on Saturday.

I know we are going to Da Vinci's Bakery around 10-10:30 a.m. for breakfast gluten free panini sandwiches (which I love).

After that, we are hiking snoqualmmie falls area. Any recommended hikes/trails? We do easy and moderate.

We are also having dinner at the Lobster Shop at Dash Point - anyone eaten there yet? Any recommendations?

Sunday we will be in Tacoma area as many of her friends live there. Any places to eat down there?

Thanks,

BB

Chris:

Only thing in my book is Outback and Chevy's Fresh Mex, with gluten free menus. Let me know surrounding cities and I will look them up....for Tacoma.

[tarnalberry]

I suggest Thai Ginger, just off I-90, on the way back from hiking in the alpine lakes wilderness. So, how long of a hike do you want, and how much elevation gain? There's a lot of snow left in the area, so if you're not going to have crampons and/or snowshoes, you're going to have to pick carefully. Let me know what kind of distance/elevation you're looking at, and I can give you some recommendations.

[Generic]

There is also an old spaghetti factory. It's at 1735 Jefferson St, Tacoma, WA 98402

I'm originally from Tacoma and there isn't much in the way of safe gluten-free places.

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Thanks for the advice guys! Much appreciated!

I wil def try Thai Ginger on our way back from the hike.

Tarnalberry, we don't need a hike that is high in elevation or "difficult". We just like to be out in nature and get some exercise. The gluten-free likes less difficult hikes than I do, so we would prefer a trail that has some nice views/sights/photo-ops, but isn't going to endanger us or cause us to rock climb or require snowshoes.

For length, we usually go from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Again, thanks for the advice...

BB

[tarnalberry]

Thanks for the advice guys! Much appreciated!

I wil def try Thai Ginger on our way back from the hike.

Tarnalberry, we don't need a hike that is high in elevation or "difficult". We just like to be out in nature and get some exercise. The gluten-free likes less difficult hikes than I do, so we would prefer a trail that has some nice views/sights/photo-ops, but isn't going to endanger us or cause us to rock climb or require snowshoes.

For length, we usually go from 1.5 to 3 hours.

Again, thanks for the advice...

BB

I'll get back to you this evening. What I really want to recommend is Open Original Shared Link (you wouldn't go down to the lake itself) but the fed site lists it as an avalanche hotspot. That may or may not be useful information if you're just heading up to the lunch rock, however, which has *fabulous* views. I would rate it as a moderately challenging hike for you guys, I think.

Other options would be:

* Open Original Shared Link, which also has great views, should be free of snow, and would be a definite moderate challenge, based on the feeling I get from your post.

* Open Original Shared Link, good views, waterfalls, but very popular and busy (and lots of steps to the lower falls). It'd probably be moderate as well, based on elevation, but on the easier side of moderate.

* Open Original Shared Link would also be challenging, and could have the same snow problems that Snow Lake does (it's on the other side of a set of mountains).

* Open Original Shared Link - but I think that's a pretty darn boring hike that goes straight down, then straight up, amidst a mass of people, for a single view.

* Open Original Shared Link is always an option (you can get a trail map online and just pick your own route).

* Open Original Shared Link is also an option, very close to Cougar, that similar.

* Open Original Shared Link is a long, flat option, where you'd want to turn around whenever you decided to (it goes on and on), and doesn't have "views" per se, but is very pretty the whole way and is free of snow by now. The road up to it, however, is not in the best of shape.

I should note that "having snow" does *not* mean it'll be cold. See the Snow Lake pictures and Melakwa Lake pictures for reference.

So, in order, given the time of year and what you describe for what you're looking for, I'd probably suggest as a top 4: Twin Falls, Rattlesnake Ledge (not Mountain), Tiger Mountain, Middle Fork Snoqualmie. I think conditions on Snow Lake are probably too risky, but I encourage you to do some online searching (see if, by the time you go, anyone posts a trip report on NWHikers.net, or instance, or on WTA.com, or the first hit on Open Original Shared Link ("snow lake trail conditions")).

[rmmadden]

Snoqualmmie Inn has a wonderful breakfast. They were very accomodating when I explained the gluten-free diet. I will eat there whenever I'm back in the area (which will be this summer). Can't speak for the hiking but the whole area is beautiful.

Cleveland Bob

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Well, the trip went well!

We arrived in Seattle on Saturday morning and went straight to Da Vinci's Gluten free Bakery and Cafe.

WOW

They had tons of new stuff - I was in heaven.

For lunch, I had their "Sicilian Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza" - this thing was like 3 inches thick and had the most delightfule crust, tomato sauce and tons of pepperonis. SOooooooooo Good!

I also had a piece of their raspberry coffee cake and lemon coffee cake (Yes, I was a pig).

I also took home a big loaf of their gluten-free Challah bread and gluten-free French Bread (yes, it tastes like real french bread). I also got some of their Foccacia buns and Hamburger buns.

They must have had like 20 different kinds of breads, muffins, cakes, pies, scones and panini sandwiches. What a great place!

BB

p.s. We did the regular Snoquallmie Hike - a little boring, but the falls were breathtaking. Next time, we are going to do the rattlesnake ledge.

p.p.s. The lobster shop at Dash Point did a great job preparing a gluten-free menu - 4 courses for $18.00 (twilight menu) The courses were (1) shrimp cocktail, (2) bleu cheese salad, (3) King Salmon topped with vermouth bleu cheese butter and garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. For dessert, they gave me creme brulee! Throw in a nice glass of Oregon Pinot Noir and my meal was under $30.

[Lisa]

Thanks for the drool all over my keyboard Sounds wonderful.

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Thanks for the drool all over my keyboard Sounds wonderful.

I do what I can

Seriously, the pizza and the french bread were/are amazing. I am going to make French Toast with the Challah bread this weekend

[Lisa]

I do what I can

Seriously, the pizza and the french bread were/are amazing. I am going to make French Toast with the Challah bread this weekend

And what time is dinner? or breakfast?