NATIONAL CAPITALS AND CUPCAKES

I wanted to take my daughter to Ottawa to stay at the Chateau Laurier, so when I got asked to be an examiner at a nearby venue, I found a rate that matched my reimbursement amount, I was ready to invite my princess to visit her castle. I set up a treasure hunt for her in the lobby (there are cool hiding spots out in the open, and a piano that plays on its own) and she swam in the art deco pool with her dad while I worked. It's an easy walk to Byward Market, where we ate at Zak's Dinner with friends, had a Bellini at Milestone's, and The Grand Pizzeria, which made us think of Napoli! I can also recommend Mama Grazzi, The Earl of Sussex Pub, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory from previous trips!

What a beautiful hotel! What a great city!

I love Ottawa. This is us in front of the Centennial Flame/ Parliament Buildings.

The Cupcake Lounge and their beautiful handiwork. Day olds are excellent for half the cost.

SEATTLE GOURMET WEEK NOT TO MISS!

I returned to Seattle with a friend for a conference and loved being a tourist there again.  We hit the highlights, learned a lot, and happened on a great week to be in Seattle; Gourmet Week!

If you've never been and like romantic comedy, take a look at Love Happens with Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart. Of course, Sleepless in Seattle spends some time in Seattle, but mostly in NYC. The Twilight movies are set on the west coast, as is the addiction netflix series The Killing.. Grey's Anatomy does a nice job of seeing the suburbia and some of Puget Sound.

Thanks to my previous visit with an amazing package through expedia, I had a suite last visit at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, and I dreamed often of returning just for the tomato bisque soup and the unique mozzarella croutons shaped in a tube! It was amazing! Alas, it was not being served when we ate, but at The Georgian, we had a gorgeous meal, very reasonably priced, being lunch, and part of the Gourmet Week Prix Fixe Menu. I had a delicious silky heirloom tomato soup with truffle foam and rosemary "toasty", a beautiful spinach salad with local cheese, a  creamy wine risotto with crispy cheese wafer,  and rich mousse for dessert. This time, we stayed at a friendly well located Hotel Vintage Park, and enjoyed each evenings wine tasting and morning coffee. Both stays were an unforgettable experience. I'm just waiting for the chance to take my family to visit next!

Gum wall off of Pike Place Market

Bread worth eating with chilled creamy butter

Risotto with parmesan crouton

Perfect end to a perfect meal

Tomorrow night, maybe?

LOCAL FARMERS MARKET - SO BEAUTIFUL