A 10th anniversary is a big deal. For me, it is a true milestone in a marriage, and when I look back on the 10 years I have spent with my husband in holy matrimony, it has been magical. In these 10 years, we moved from Los Angeles to Tucson, had two amazing children, grew solid in our careers and made a life for ourselves. We needed something to experience this significant mark that would be just as magical as our years together.
So, I came up with the perfect vacation. It was a perfect vacation that only lasted 4 days, but it was so jam-packed, it seemed like longer. Here are some of the highlights.
We flew to Seattle this past Thursday and arrived in time to spend a late afternoon and an evening in the fabulous town. We checked into our hotel and were so thrilled when we opened the hotel curtains at the downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel to discover a view of the Space Needle. Check this out this picture of our view!
We headed straight for Pikes Place Market….a feast for the senses boasting fresh fish, beautiful flowers and the best shrimp cocktail I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Directly across the street from Pikes Place Market is the original Starbucks located at 1st and Pike Street. There is so much history of this favorite American addiction in that store that I was actually feeling a little flaklept ordering my coffee.
We walked down to Pier 57 for dinner that evening taking in the sunset with the beautiful ferris wheel silhouetting the view.
Our dinner spot was a blast and delicious, too! We ate at The Crab Pot Restaurant using hammers to break into the shells and nibble away at the delicacy. What a fun stop for a tourist. I high recommend it!
The next morning, bright and early, we loaded onto a Clipper ferry boat to head to Victoria, British Columbia. Travelling by boat was fun and easy and completely enjoyable.
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The ride took 3 hours to get to Canada. Don’t forget your passports, because you will need them!
When we arrived, we checked into The Chateau Victoria, a family-run hotel located walking distance to everything. We had a beautiful room, and I was most impressed with the hotel bar, Clive’s Lounge. Clive’s boasts specialty drinks from around the world and has been voted one of the Top 10 hotel bars in the world be several publications year after year.
Once we checked in, we walked over to the famous “Government Street” known for shopping and restaurants and street performers. Check out some of the excellent sights we took in.
Government Street also leads to an excellent “China Town” area with the world famous “Fan Tan Alley.” Fan Tan Alley is known as the narrowest street in Canada.
Before making dinner reservations, my husband and I Google searched “most romantic restaurant in Victoria.” We needed a special place to celebrate our anniversary, and blog readers, boy did we find it. Il Terazzo was everything we hoped for. It was hidden and located in an alley, but when you walked into it’s colorful courtyard, you entered into a brick-walled, drenched-in-candlelight warm atmosphere. The food was just as elegant, and the dessert (flourless chocolate cake with brandied cherries and vanilla gelato) was something I’ll never forget.
Finally, it was time for bed, and we were tired! What a long and fun-filled day. Our next day promised to be unforgettable, too, and we knew we needed to be well-rested for the treasured Butchart Gardens.
The Butchart Gardens, is THE thing to do in Victoria, and if you ever visit this quaint town, you must make arrangements to visit this breathtaking tourist attraction. It is not located right in the city, and we took a Clipper Vacation tour bus to get there. We couldn’t have picked a better time of year. The Fall leaves added so much color to this incredible place, and I can’t imagine what it would be like without all of that color. Pictures will explain it best to all of you. Check out this stunning not-to-miss spot!
So, friends, it was the perfect vacation for a long anniversary weekend. I would do it again in a heartbeat! I highly recommend every step we took if you ever want a special way to mark a significant moment.
Finally, my last marker will be my song of the day. I am choosing Nat King Cole’s “When I Fall in Love,” because this whole vacation was filled with perfect locations to fall in love all over again. It was enhanced with romance throughout, and there is no way any anniversary couple wouldn’t feel the same way. So click HERE to hear Nat King Cole croon his just as romantic ballad that seems to suit this vacation as it should be.
