Travel Inn Journal

LaConner WA

This year we planned a trip to the Pacific Northwest with stops in Seattle, the San Juan Islands, LaConner, as well as the Olympic Peninsula.  We really wanted to include Walla Walla, but there is just so much to see and so little time…we figured we would visit the Washington Wine Country via the Columbia River Gorge next year.  Life happens and we had to cancel our trip.

I am sad.  This was going to be a good…no a great trip.  No matter how much time I spend in Washington state, I ALWAYS look forward to returning.  The weather is mild, the scenery is beautiful, the cities are interesting and the people are friendly and fun.  Did I mention the food?  Fresh, local, organic…great chefs, eclectic restaurants and seafood…oh the seafood.

Well, since I did not get to take my trip, I thought I would share my itinerary with you.  After all, why let all that planning go to waste.

1.  Arrive at SeaTac and head downtown.  Just take the Central Link light rail to Seattle.  This is convenient and affordable.  No need to drive into town and hunt for a place to park.  Take advantage of Seattle’s exceptional transit system and live like a local.  You can easily take a bus or taxi to a number of wonderful bed and breakfasts located in some of Seattle’s most desirable neighborhood.  Choose one of these wonderful Seattle BnBs.   If you would rather rent a car, choose one of our charming BnBs located within minutes of SeaTac.  They make a great place to start or end your trip if you are flying.

2.  After staying in one of the Seattle BnBs, we planned to rent a car downtown and head north up I-5.  Our destination, LaConner, a charming artist community located on a quiet channel off the sound.  This small, quaint town is a great place start your Washington state adventure.  Stroll the historic Main Street, dine in my favorite restaurant, Nell Thorn, and wake up the next morning to a steaming cup of coffee and freshly prepared breakfast at one of our local inns.

3.  Next, travel to Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive.  Wind through Bow/Edison and stock up on freshly baked breads, artisan cheeses from Samish Bay Cheese and some of the finest baked goods from the Farm to Market Bakery.  Bow/Edison is a favorite of cyclists, hikers and anyone who enjoys fresh, organic food and spectacular views of the sound.  After visiting the quaint shops and fine restaurants in Fairview, just below Bellingham, visit one of our delightful bed and breakfasts and enjoy the views of Mount Baker.

From here you can easily visit British Columbia….Vancouver, Whistler or even take a ferry to Victoria and Vancouver Island.  Whatever you choose, all roads….and ferries lead back to Washington state and more great adventures.

Next….What to do on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsula.

Join me as I discover Washington, one windy lane, one organic bakery and one breathtaking view….at a time.

Shelburne Inn

Lots of people think about purchasing a bed and breakfast.  Many dream of early retirement, financial independence and a more casual lifestyle.  For many the very idea of giving up the early morning commute, 8:00am  meetings, lunch at a desk and endless deadlines has become more than a dream, it is now a goal.

There are a number of compelling reasons to buy your own business. Certainly a good case can be made for purchasing a bed and breakfast.  If you have ever considered….or dreamed of owning your own inn, then let me encourage you ….just a little!

Bosch Garten

1.  No commute.  With a 9-5 job your commute can be 15 minutes or 2 hours.  It can cost a little or a lot, depending on the price at the pump.  In a bnb, your commute is about…..3 minutes.  This usually involves opening a door, walking down the hall and….well, that is about it!

Cozy Rose

2.  No boring early morning meetings.  No more rushing to that early morning team meeting, notebook, iPad or Blackberry in hand, hoping they have fresh coffee because the line at the Starbucks drive thru was just TOO long that morning.  Meetings have been replaced by breakfast.  Granted, this takes a little skill.  Fluffy omelets, buttery croissants and poached pears don’t just magically appear.  Think about this…instead of setting up your powerpoint presentation in the conference room or logging into GotoMeeting, you actually present breakfast, to real people, who want to be there….and who are looking forward to it!  This brings me to ….

Otters Pond

3.  Leave the competitive rat race.  You know the person perched at the desk three cubicles down wants your job.  What if the other sales person beats the quota this month…will you be out?   Certainly many of your “team” members sitting at that round table hope YOU are the one downsized…and may just be happy to help make that happen.  Not so with a bed and breakfast.  Your guests want you to succeed.  They want you to come to work everyday.  If you do a great job, they will encourage you.  All those people sitting around the breakfast table in the morning gushing over your Cinnamon Coffee Cake and fresh strawberry parfait do not want to see you fail.  Granted a few may want your job, but that does not involve a meeting with human resources, a severance package or a boot out the door.  Most simply want to sit over a glass of Merlot or a cup of tea and find out just how you got your great job, anyway!

Boreas

4.  Make your own decisions.  Don’t you just hate it….you had a great idea, pitched it to your boss and that was it.  Nothing changed.  Nothing happened.  Business as usual.  In a bed and breakfast, you call the shots.  You make the rules.  You create your own world.  You decide what and when for breakfast.  Check in time…you decide.  King beds or Queen, you decide.  Flatscreens and cable, wireless internet, rocking chairs on the front porch…yep, you decide.  Do you want to work on Christmas, Thanksgiving or even your birthday?  No…then go to your computer, flip on that reservation system, check a few blocks and voila!  Suddenly your inn is “closed” the day of your 25th anniversary.  No clearing it with the boss, applying for vacation time or switching shifts.  You decide and you make it happen.

Swantown Inn

5.  Do you like the people you work with?  Innkeepers do. Innkeepers generally like their guests.  Guests are fun, interesting people with great stories.  Welcoming guests into your inn is like bringing the world to your doorstep.   Conversation with guests goes two ways…they really want to know about you and you want to know about them.  You can meet the most interesting, surprising and unique people as an innkeeper.  This leads me to…

The Blue Goose

6.  Guests only stay a few days.   You know there is always that one person at work you just wish would go away.  When they are on vacation, your life is just so much nicer.   Perhaps they have incredibly annoying habits…maybe they are loud or just plain inconsiderate.  If you work with them, then chances are, you will see them everyday….all day….over and over again.  Not so with guests.  Guests only stay a day…or two…or maybe even five.  The truth is, with hundreds…even thousands of people stopping by your inn, there are some that you will like better than others.  The other truth is that everyone, even your absolute favorite people will at some point check out and go home.

A Harborview

This is just a very short list of “whys”.  Need some help with the where?  Follow this link and discover Washington and live your dream…one inn at a time.