| The only state named for a president, | | | | Mexican food is one of the favorites for many |
| Washington was nicknamed The Evergreen State | | | | people in US. Good place to find such is Cactus in |
| by C.T. Conover, pioneer Seattle realtor and | | | | Kirkland. It serves Mexican, Southwestern and |
| historian, for its abundant evergreen forest. It is a | | | | Spanish and it is home to Seattles very first |
| well-known vacation place for people who like | | | | tapas bar. They have also seasonally evolving |
| outdoor sports like hiking, kayaking or mountain | | | | menus nightly specials. Cactus is rated as the Best |
| biking. But may be there are not too many people | | | | Kirkland Casual by Seattle Magazine in October |
| who know that Washington is also home of some | | | | 2002, one of the Top 100 by Seattle Weekly in |
| of the largest and famous companies in the world. | | | | 2001 and one of the Top 10 by Seattle Times in |
| In and around Seattle are the headquarters and | | | | 1999. Its other location is in Madison Park in |
| factories of such big behemoths like Microsoft, | | | | Seattle. |
| Boeing, Amazon and Starbucks. This makes the | | | | My favorite one is The Melting Pot in Bellevue. It is |
| area popular destination not only for leisure but | | | | the best place outside Switzerland you can eat |
| also for business travel. | | | | fondue. To enjoy the full set of courses will take |
| If you need to spend few days on the Eastside, | | | | you more than 3 hours; also be prepared to cook |
| the part of King County that is east of Lake | | | | by yourself. For sure you will need reservation for |
| Washington, you may wonder how to better | | | | that one and also full wallet. But you will be nicely |
| organize your stay. Doesnt matter whether you | | | | surprised by the quality of service and the taste |
| are on business trip or vacation here are my tips | | | | of the food. |
| for you. | | | | If you want to make short trips in the area Ill |
| First, finding a hotel or place to sleep should not | | | | recommend going to Kirkland. Kirkland has the |
| be a problem. If you are on a business trip this | | | | most beautiful parks in the region; you can enjoy |
| may already be organized for you and hotel will | | | | fantastic views of the Seattle skyline, the Olympic |
| be the preference. If you are on vacation you | | | | Mountains and Lake Washington while taking the |
| may decide to rent a vacation home for few | | | | lake view walk. You can also take a lake cruise |
| days. One good source for that is | | | | with Argosy and enjoy beautiful scenery, views |
| TravelWeaver.net but there are hundreds more | | | | of Mt. Rainier, the University of Washington Husky |
| that you can find on Internet. | | | | Stadium, and home of Seattles rich and famous. |
| Finding good food will be your next goal. What | | | | It is also the only way to see the house of the |
| would you like? Thai, Mexican or Steak from | | | | reaches man in the world, Bill Gates. |
| Texas. Depends also how much you would like to | | | | Another good destination is the Chateau Ste |
| spend for dinner. I will skip the trivial choices and | | | | Michelle, the Washington states oldest and most |
| emphasize on few dinner places that I think | | | | acclaimed winery. It is located 15 miles northeast |
| deserve their high rating. | | | | of Seattle in Woodinville. You can choose the free |
| The first one is P. F. Changs China Bistro. There | | | | Columbia Valley Tour and Tasting which is |
| are three of them in Washington one in Seattle, | | | | approximately hour long and where you can learn |
| one in Lynwood and one in Bellevue. The last one | | | | what makes the Columbia Valley such a premier |
| you can find in Bellevue Square Mall, a favorite | | | | grape growing region. The tour concludes with a |
| place for shopping. In P. F. Changs you can really | | | | sampling of the wines. If you are a wine |
| enjoy the food and there is such for every taste: | | | | enthusiast you can also go for the Premium Wine |
| vegetarian, pork, duck or chicken, appetizers, | | | | Tasting, Vintage Reserve Room Tasting or the |
| soups, salads or traditional Chinese dishes. Dont | | | | Ultimate Wine Tasting; all of them take between |
| miss the desserts! But be careful; Ill recommend | | | | and 1 hours and the prices can go up to 45 $ per |
| ordering The Great Wall of Chocolate only if you | | | | person. |
| are at least party of 8 or you are dying for | | | | Exploring hidden places will make your stay on the |
| chocolate. Dont be afraid of the prices at P. F. | | | | Eastside pleasant. Dont hesitate to check my |
| Changs, you can easily enjoy good dinner for 4 | | | | blogs moocities and My Kind of Places for more |
| for around 100 $. | | | | tips. |