Snoqualmie Falls & North Bend Outlet Mall

I'd been talking to my friend Shane about the waterfalls I saw at Columbia Gorge when I was there in February.  Yeah, yeah...I know, blog still pending on that trip too!!! Someday, I will get caught up! LOL.  Anyways, since I was coming up to Seattle, Shane suggested we check out Snoqualmie Falls which was only about a 45 minute drive away.  Shane was doing some research on different things to see in the greater Seattle area for future TB meets, and I offered to help out (ok, take advantage of free tour guide) while I was in town.  HA HA.  And I love waterfalls....one so close to Seattle....sweet! Can't pass that up!! :-) 

We drove around the main area first and we spotted a wine and cigar store down the street that we couldn't resist stopping at!  Here I am in a Washington wine store and I instantly gravitate to the California wine section.

  Figures! :-)  Shane was like a kid in a candy store which is pretty funny since I am the "wino".  He ended up buying the coolest flask and a bottle of Sake.  He's never tried it and no clue whether he's going to like it but the bottle was pretty cool.  I forget the brand but it was a Nigori.....which for most is quite an acquired taste.  It happens to be my fav, but I've served it to others who weren't so receptive.  Oh well, will await the final verdict when Shane actually drinks it! LOL.

The drive was beautiful up to the Falls and what a hidden gem! Snoqualmie is not as big as some of the ones I saw along the Columbia River Gorge, but they were just as beautiful!  There is the Salish Lodge that is right on the water and has a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

  WOW!  I would love to come back and stay at the Lodge....massages available in your room and with a view of the falls...Whoo Hoo!

Our next stop was somewhere called North Bend which had an outlet mall! Normally, I would be thrilled to be at an outlet mall but since the IRS is bleeding me dry, I had to show self restraint.  I would've been fine too except.....dang it, there was a Coach outlet!  I saw it the minute we got in the parking lot but Shane had other things on his mind....shoes! Now, I shouldn't probably admit this (sorry Shane) but he could end up competing with me in the future for number of shoes!  Granted, I have at least an 80 pair head start on him, but something tells me he will narrow that gap by at least 20-30 by the end of 2008!!! :-)  I have serious appreciation for a man who understands the importance of a shoe wardrobe! 

Anyways, so our first stop was the Sketchers store and of course Shane found a pair of shoes he liked but they were out of them.

...oh darn! LOL.  After flirting with the girls in the store, uh...I mean trying to get the information on where else he might find them, we were headed to the Coach Store....or at least I was! :-)  Shane headed next store to look at the Nike store and left me alone to roam Coach.  I had made my way around the store twice, justifying why I didn't need any of the new releases I saw, and I was headed back out when I had to wait for someone in the way.  In that split second, an employee came out with an armload of inventory and there it was.....dang it!  She had 3 of them in her arm!  It's this cute navy purse which has been impossible to find and here it was - further reduced too! :-)  As she set them on the shelf, two women came out of nowhere and snatched two of them.   I quickly grabbed the last one and figured it was a "sign" that I need to buy it!! HA HA.  A couple other women were following me around in hopes I would put it down so I quickly jumped in line to thwart the stalkers! :-)  And good timing too, I finished in the store and went next door to Nike just as Shane was checking out......with a new pair of shoes! LOL. 

Now that we were done shopping, it was time for grub! We headed back to this Irish pub we saw to check the place out (ya know, research and all...wink wink).  We arrived just at the beginning of happy hour and the place was pretty full - no tables were available so we saddled up at the end of the bar by the kitchen.  Normally this would not be the best choice of seats but after our afternoon and evening there, I would recommend you look for that spot!!!!  The bartender and staff were hysterical and we ended up staying there longer than planned just because everyone was so fun and welcoming!  

I loved the place right off the bat because they had Smithwick's on tap.

  YEAH BABY!!  Their happy hour specials included half-price small plates so we decided to try a couple things...just to snack on before we headed out to check a couple other places out in town.  Uh, several hours into it we were so full that we never made it anywhere else and I doubt we would've had near the fun if we did leave.  The food was awesome (check out both our reviews) and the prices were very reasonable.  We ordered the baked Mac & Cheese, Chicken Strips, Hummus, and Battered Mushrooms.  They accidentally put in an order of Potato Skins which gee, of course we weren't going to refuse.  Moo! Moo! 

We sat and chatted with the bartender, Glenn, and the staff - Jeannie, Bryna, Deanna, Bonnie, and Katie.

  The whole bunch was a serious hoot! I'd fly out just to go back just to see them....if I could figure out how to get there without my tour guide. LOL.   Shane and his pesonality pretty much lit up the place and he managed to turn the whole group onto TB.  I actually think he's vying for some type of new award like, "Most Friends Invited to TB".  :-)  Hopefully, we will all be welcoming them to the site soon!   

Sadly, it was time for us to head out and be on our way.......had to get some rest as we had a big day ahead of us on Saturday.  Shane and I were going to check out Seattle for possible TB meet venues, hotels, and then hop over to Bainbridge Island to sightsee and take in a bit of wine tasting!