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Big donuts, big grasshoppers, big fun for families in downtown Bellingham

February 21st, 2012 by Tony Briggmin

Hopefully Gort will keep his visor closed while you enjoy a Rocket Donut.

In January, upon returning to western Washington after spending 16 months in Idaho, I compiled a long list of things I had to accomplish to reimmerse myself in all things Whatcom County.

Going back to Rocket Donuts was near the top of the list. And Saturday, coupled with the latest Rocket Donuts Sci-Fi Matinee at the Pickford Film Center, I got a double dip of the unique and campy experience in downtown Bellingham.

I’ve always been a big fan of the B-movies of 1940s and 1950s, and enjoying a donut and coffee at the colorful West Holly Street store – decked out with movie posters and a replica of the Gort robot from “The Day the Earth Stood Still” — is a true pleasure. But what was even better was watching the eclectic crowd, from families to seniors, enjoy the time around me. At one point, a father and daughter sat down at the table next to mine with one of the store’s oversized donuts. So big, in fact, the dad had to keep leaning back in his chair to take a photo of the mammoth treat, much to the amusement of his daughter.

The same vibe carried over when I headed over to the new Pickford Film Center on Bay Street to watch “The Beginning of the End,” the latest in the theater’s monthly series of classic sci-fi movies. I had seen the 1957 film before, but I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of group would show up to watch an entomologist played by Peter Graves save the world from giant irradiated grasshoppers (“You can’t drop an atom bomb on Chicago!”), but I was pleasantly surprised to see several families with young kids in the enthusiastic audience. And it was kind of refreshing to watch a movie without profanity and gore. For $2, this was a great deal in a terrific venue.

Next in the series is “Fahrenheit 451” on March 17, followed by “Monster from the Ocean Floor” (April 21) and “Earth vs. the Spider” (May 19). To learn more about the series, go here.

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Chocolate Beverages a Delicious Necessity in Bellingham

February 20th, 2012 by Annette

I admit it. I’m a chocoholic. So today, when I was thinking about where to grab a cup of coffee in Bellingham, Chocolate Necessities popped into my mind. They have a fairly new location at 1425 Cornwall Avenue that I love to visit for gelato with the kids, and to pick up truffles for my husband and I to share. I decided to swing by to see what kinds of warm beverages they serve.

What I found was heaven in a cup! My choices ranged from Italian sipping chocolate, which the barista described as “a liquid truffle,” (I tasted it, and she was not joking. It is thick and warm and delectable!) to “Drinking Chocolate.” After one taste, I can honestly say, forget hot chocolate, go straight to “drinking chocolate”! This is warm milk combined with either: white chocolate, dark hazelnut chocolate, Belgian milk chocolate, Venuatin 44% dark milk chocolate, Belgian 60% bittersweet chocolate, Colombian 65% bittersweet chocolate, or Peruvian 70% bittersweet chocolate.

I think I mentioned I’m a chocoholic, so I ordered a mug of the 70% Peruvian. WOW. It was pure, warm chocolate bliss, and I highly recommend it. Next time a friend suggests we meet for coffee, I plan to suggest we meet for chocolate!

Of course, on my way out I also had to purchase another bag of my favorite 64% bittersweet chocolate chips from Guayaquil, Ecuador to enjoy at home.

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AAU Basketball Families Visiting Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden and Whatcom County

January 30th, 2012 by Annette

Are you the parent or grandparent of an AAU basketball athlete participating in a weekend tournament in Whatcom County? Are you reading this on your smartphone, while sitting in a gym in an unfamiliar town wondering “Where should we eat” and “What is there to do” between two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday? This season I have officially joined your ranks! My first weekend, I brought snacks and spent 4 hours sitting in the bleachers each day. Then I decided to get creative. Since I’m a Whatcom County local, here are some ideas I’d like to share. Let me know if you discover others. (We parents have to stick together for sanity!)

Bellingham is home to Mallard Ice Cream at 1323 Railroad Avenue in downtown. This is a fantastic spot for a celebratory cone or a fun snack. Luscious vanilla and chocolate are on the menu, but so are an amazing range of ever-changing unique flavors (lemon cheesecake, rosehips, chai tea), all made on-site with local ingredients. Next door are two great places for lunch. The Bagelry at 1319 Railroad Avenue features fresh bagels made on-site in a multitude of flavors and numerous options for bagel sandwiches. Avenue Bread at 1313 Railroad Avenue also bakes its own bread and is known for its soup, sandwiches, salads and pastries.

Bellingham has several shopping areas, including: Downtown, the Fairhaven Historic District, the Guide Meridian and Bellis Fair Mall. A great place to walk is the South Bay Trail, which starts as a gravel path in Fairhaven, stretches over the water on Taylor Dock and continues on the shoreline at Boulevard Park. Also, if you are looking to entertain small children indoors, a great place is the Family Interactive Gallery at the Whatcom Museum, 250 Flora Street.

If you have some extra time in Blaine and you happen to have a Washington State Parks Discovery pass for parking, the Peace Arch is fun to see. You do not need a passport to enter the park. From the parking lot, take the trail to the right and down the slope. You will see the arch straight ahead. It’s a great spot for photos and to let kids run off any extra energy. Also look for the obelisk that marks the official boundary between the U.S. and Canada. You can stand in both countries at the same time! To get there from the high school gyms, take Boblett St back to 12th Street (Hwy 543). Travel north on 12th St. to D St. Travel west on D St. to 2nd St. Go north on 2nd to the parking lot.

D Street in Blaine enters a roundabout at the waterfront. To the south is Peace Portal Drive and Blaine’s downtown. A great place for kids is the Pizza Factory at 738 Peace Portal Drive. They also serve a variety of buffet salads, sandwiches and pasta and they have a large indoor seating area, as well as a room for groups. On a nice day it’s fun to browse the waterfront shops on Peace Portal Drive as well.

Ferndale has gyms in many schools, but to get to nearly all of them visitors travel on Main Street, which is the city’s downtown. A well known restaurant for lunch and dinner is Chihuahua’s Mexican Restaurant at 5694 Third Avenue, just one block north of Main Street (at the intersection of Third St. and Vista Drive). This is a great spot for kids, families and groups. Over the years the restaurant has grown to actually encompass three buildings on that corner of the block. There is a big parking lot behind the buildings as well.

If you’re just looking for a quick latte in Ferndale, Main Street back toward the freeway, where the newer shopping areas are. Woods Coffee is located 1867 Main Street next door to the Sonic Drive-In. There is also a Starbucks inside the Haggen Grocery store at 1815 Main Street. Haggen also offers a large indoor seating area, salad bar, Chinese food, custom sandwiches and full deli.

Lynden’s main street is called Front Street. It’s a fun spot to shop with antique stores, bakeries, candy shops, etc. The Lynden Pioneer Museum is at 217 Front Street. Even kids are fascinated by its life-size recreation of Lynden’s Dutch-style downtown as it appeared in the early 1900s. It also has the largest buggy collection west of the Mississippi!

Lynden’s newer shopping areas are on the west end of Front Street and on the Guide Meridian. If you’re looking for a great place to eat in Lynden, try Jake’s Western Grill at 8114 Guide Meridian Road in the Lynden Towne Plaza development. They are open for lunch and dinner with baby back ribs, burgers, steaks, chicken and southern favorites. And back to that latte, Woods Coffee has three locations in Lynden: 1758 Front Street (with a Dutch windmill on top), 8071 Guide Meridian, and 8874 Bender Road.

Have fun!

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Oyster Bar: An Amazing Meal Off the Beaten Path

January 17th, 2012 by Jacqueline

I thought I had taken my raw oyster-loving father-in-law to every waterfront/seafood restaurant the Bellingham area had to offer; we’d done them all, hadn’t we? He enjoyed several Fairhaven eateries, the Cliffhouse overlooking the bay, the Fork near Lake Whatcom, Bayou’s Oyster Bar and all the spectacular places near Squalicum Harbor. But wait. Is there yet another, just slightly off the beaten path…featuring fresh oysters, local seafood and an amazing wine list?

The Oyster Bar, of course! It’s located south of Fairhaven, on the beautiful and scenic Chuckanut Drive, just south of the hairpin turn near milepost 11.

I was surprised to learn that the Oyster Bar was once a modest oyster stand during the Great Depression. Today, it’s a destination restaurant for special occasion celebrations, business functions and visitors. It’s blessed with spectacular views of the San Juan Islands and fantastic local seafood. Huge bonus: its Wine cellar has been awarded the coveted ‘Best of Award of Excellence” from the Wine Spectator since 1990.

My in-laws came to town in early January, and the Oyster Bar was our big night out during their 4-night stay. Our 3-hour meal included lots of seafood, several bottles of wine, a lovely dessert and smooth sherry. But my favorite aspect of the meal (beyond the company) was the seafood. To start, we enjoyed Samish Bay Mussels steamed with white wine, leeks, pistou and tomatoes and a lovely appetizer of goat cheese, sautéed mushrooms and crostini.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My father-in-law balked when I asked him if he could spare an oyster from his sampler plate, which included Samish Bay, Penn Cove, Fanny Bay and Shigoku (2-3 of each). They’re served on the half shell with a refreshing iced apple cider mignonette. I was able to get my hands on a Shigoku; slimy but darn good (this is coming from a  raw oyster novice!).

For dinner, our table enjoyed the Bouillabaisse, Gulf Coast Hopper Prawns and Halibut.  All prepared with the freshest ingredients (most of which can be found at Taylor Shellfish Farms just a quarter-mile away off Chuckanut), local produce and palate-pleasing flavors. Don’t forget about the Oyster Bar!

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Snow is Gorgeous in Whatcom County this week!

January 17th, 2012 by Annette

It’s a winter wonderland in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout the county today. A beautiful, fluffy white blanket covers the ground. The air is calm and quiet. And Jack Frost has painted the leafless trees to resemble classic holiday cards of the 1800s. Schools are closed today, so the roads are quiet, children are sledding and snowmen are waving from front yards.

Mt. Baker Ski Area is open with 38 inches of new snow, 122 inches at the base and powder everywhere! People are saying Mt. Baker currently has the best ski conditions in the continental U.S.  Lift ticket prices are also among the most reasonable here. Weekday rates are $46 for adult and $35 for youth. Get more ski & snowboard details at www.mtbaker.us. For cross-country, snow-shoeing, snowmobile and sledding check out our snow sports page, under Things to Do.

Then cap it off by gazing out the window with a nice, steaming mug of hot cocoa.

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Make Plans Now for Summer Sailing Adventures

December 15th, 2011 by Annette

Although the weather outside is frightful, it will soon be so delightful, and now is the time to dream of a summer sailing adventure in the Northwest. Bellingham, WA is the perfect place to board a small-ship cruise through the San Juan Islands. Many unique boats offer a range of possibilities from May through October. I was lucky enough to experience two this past year.

The largest of the Bellingham fleet is the majestic Schooner Zodiac, with the tallest working mainsail on the West Coast of America. One step aboard and the feel of nautical history surrounded me. I instantly admired the enormous wood masts, the spacious wood deck and the vintage helm. The view below deck is even more impressive. Originally built for the Johnson & Johnson family in 1924, the Zodiac has been meticulously restored with polished trim, fixtures, bookcases and tables. Sleeping berths and cabins can accommodate up to 20 passengers for overnight sails.

Trips on the Zodiac focus on a variety of themes throughout the summer, including wine tasting, brew pub hopping, lighthouses, photography, even a women only adventure. Passengers learn to raise and lower the massive sails, take the helm and man the charts. Of course everyone looks forward to the dinner bell, as hearty meals pour forth from the galley. For me, the ultimate moment of relaxation was sitting quietly with a steaming mug on deck at daybreak, watching the sun rise over Lopez Island with glassy water in the foreground and the glow of a lantern overhead, while the rest of the world was a million miles away.

Each guest has an opportunity to take a shift as lookout at the bow.

 

Nothing beats the quiet of this moment.

 

Another meticulously restored wooden boat is the Motor Vessel David B, operated by Jeffrey and Christine Smith of Northwest Navigation. What the  Zodiac offers in spaciousness, the David B provides in adorable coziness. It is a 65-foot workboat, built in 1929, that has been converted to carry up to 6 overnight passengers for relaxed luxury cruises in 4 inviting cabins. Two key features endear passengers to the David B: her antique engine (Jeffrey’s baby) and her antique wood burning stove (Christine’s baby). The couple bought the boat in 1998 and lovingly restored it to begin offering trips in 2006. Each cruise emphasizes nature, local history and gourmet cooking.

The David B ready to set sail.

“No pre-made bread is ever served on the David B,” says Christine. Each morning she wakes up at 5 a.m., to light the fire have coffee ready by 6:00 (for the early risers), homemade muffins at 8:00, and bread rising while Jeffrey takes passengers ashore at mid-morning. By lunchtime the cabin smells delectable, and the table is set with china for a feast.  Christine also takes special care to serve local Northwest ingredients, which are plentiful in the summer months. For us, she prepared Coho salmon from Vis Seafoods, Romano beans from Joe’s Gardens, potato salad with fresh Quark cheese from Appel Farms, and Apple Bubbly from BelleWood Acres – as well as Christine’s famous sourdough rolls! All the while we drifted past the 1600-foot, deep-green, forested cliffs of Lummi Island. Ahhhh.

My family and I have taken cruises on the giant ships to Alaska, and they have their merits, but small-ship cruising is a completely different experience. It is so personal, friendly and authentic.

Boats depart from two locations in Bellingham: either the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven, or Squalicum Harbor. Additional skippered charter vessels include Gato Verde, Shawmanee, Mystic Sea Charters and Sail the San Juans. If you’re traveling from a distance, you may want to spend a night on land before or after the cruise. Many hotels in Bellingham offer overnight parking, bag check and transportation to the boats. Waterfront hotels include the Fairhaven Village Inn, Chrysalis Inn & Spa, and Hotel Bellwether.

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Eating Gluten Free in Bellingham

November 14th, 2011 by Annette

Travelers on a gluten free diet will be pleasantly surprised with the number of options available for delicious eating in Bellingham, WA. I made the switch to gluten free over a year ago. It takes a lot of will power, because that darn gluten is so yummy. Although it can seem like an overwhelming adjustment at first, once you learn which restaurants and bakeries provide special products, eating (and traveling) becomes fun again.

A fantastic gluten-free breakfast, or lunch, can be enjoyed at Magdalena’s Creperie in Bellingham’s historic Fairhaven district. A huge selection of crepes ranges from sweet (try mascarpone cream cheese, lemon curd and fresh berries) to savory (such as baked pork, caramelized red onion, fig jam, goat cheese and asparagus). Each can be made gluten free by requesting buckwheat flour. Magdalena is originally from Poland and has always loved to cook. She also specializes in Eastern European soups, baked goods and handmade Polish pierogi. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.magdalenascreperie.com.

Just across the Village Green, Book Fare Café is located on the mezzanine level of Village Books in Fairhaven. It’s a great place for a casual latte and a snack. Owner Charles Claassen bakes all his goodies from scratch and usually has a full shelf of gluten free muffins and cookies at the counter. The gluten free chocolate chip cookie is amazing! He will custom prepare sandwiches with gluten free bread, and he serves a creative menu of soups made with locally harvested produce. Open 10 – 6 Mon – Sat, 11 – 7 Sun. www.bookfarecafe.com.

Avenue Bread, which has 3 locations in Bellingham: Fairhaven on 11th Street, Downtown on Railroad Avenue, and near Trader Joe’s on James Avenue, produces its own “Almost Free” bread for the gluten intolerant. My favorite comfort food on the menu is Tomato Basil soup, which they make from scratch and is also gluten free! For an extra dollar it can be accompanied by a toasted slice of Almost Free bread for dunking. Sandwiches can also be requested on the Almost Free bread, when it is in stock. Other specialties include hearty American-style breakfasts and delicious salads. Hours vary at each location www.avenuebread.com.

For those of us trying so hard to stay on a gluten free diet, but longing for a tasty sandwich, the most consistent source is Bellingham Flatbread & Bakery. This little bakery is on the corner of Alabama and Cornwall Avenue. It is not a dedicated gluten free bakery, and does not have a seating area, but the owner takes great care to bake his Gluten Free’r items separately about every other day. The gluten free selection is wonderful including: flat bread that can substitute for a tortilla, white bread, french bread, rosemary garlic french bread, mocha coffee cake, pumpkin bread, pumpkin applesauce bundt cakes, turnovers, brownies, several types of cookies and even calzones. Sandwiches to go can be made to order on the Gluten Free’r Sandwich Bread. On a recent visit I noticed a sign announcing their products can also be found at Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, North Fork Brewery and The Table.

I found The Baker’s Cousin while strolling through the Bellingham Farmer’s Market. Lindsay Kastelic was selling gluten free sandwiches. They were small, but tasted delicious. Her bread is made of almond flour. It was moist, flavorful and filling. I had the pesto, tomato and fresh mozzarella. Since I am not always able to visit the Bellingham Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings (10 – 3), I asked her if she sells her products anywhere else in town. She does – at Black Drop Coffee House on Champion Street in downtown. She also has a wonderful website with recipes at www.bakerscousin.com

Greene’s Corner was an unusual find in Ferndale. Located at the corner of Northwest Avenue and Smith Road, it is a combination corner grocery, coffee roaster and gourmet pizza parlor operated by the catering company Fool’s Onion. I stopped in to look around and my nose picked up delicious smells from the pizza oven. I asked if they ever bake gluten free pizza and I discovered they carry a frozen, 9-inch, thin crust they can bake at any time. Customers can select any 4 toppings for $10.99. I chose chicken, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, spinach. The pizza arrived with a beautiful presentation and beautiful taste! I suddenly realized this is a place I could bring the kids to eat and I would go home full as well. www.greenescorner.com

Bellingham’s go-to spot for a wide assortment of alternative foods – organic, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc. -  is the Bellingham Food Co-op.  It is primarily a grocery store, but is also home to the Swan Café, which serves deli foods, coffee and pastries and includes a nice in-store eating area with a microwave, tables and chairs. The Bellingham Food Co-op now has two locations: one store downtown at Forest and Holly in downtown Bellingham, and a second store near Whatcom Community College on Cordata Avenue. Open 7 am – 10 pm. www.communityfood.coop

What about dinner? The best gluten-free dinner restaurant I have found in Bellingham is The Table, which serves a forbidden treat – pasta! The Table is located at the corner of Champion and Commercial as part of the Mount Baker Theatre building in downtown, making it perfect for a night out. It is owned by Bellingham Pasta Company, which specializes in locally made fresh pasta of superior quality. The Table puts particular emphasis on local products throughout its menu including produce, fish, meats, wine and beer. The restaurant now features gluten free pasta on its menu, which can be paired with a variety of sauces. I ordered pink vodka sauce with chicken. Although much gluten free pasta is extremely fragile and disintegrates easily (due to the lack of gluten), this pasta held up great and was delicious. I could enjoy my dinner with pride. Hours vary. www.bellinghampasta.com

Another new restaurant in downtown Bellingham is also open for dinner with gluten free items on the menu. Brandywine Kitchen is located on Commercial Avenue. Although its specialty is sandwiches on their own traditional wheat breads. Gluten free entrees include Mac & Cheese made with quinoa pasta, Quinoa-Salmon cakes, and fish & chips with rice panko crust. Brandwine Kitchen also prides itself on sourcing local produce and locally grown products. Open 11 – 10 Mon – Sat and 4 – 10 Sun. www.brandywinekitchen.com.

Happy Eating!

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Mini Family Farm Tour

October 20th, 2011 by Sommer

This week has been gorgeous, and my mom is visiting from Pennsylvania, so we decided to take her on a mini farm tour.  We took her to BelleWood Acres (she’s been there before and loves it), then Appel Farms and finally Boxx Berry Farm.

We got to BelleWood Acres at 10 AM when they opened and started with the store.  We grabbed a few of their free recipes and tried some samples of apple syrup (yum!).  Then we walked around and saw where apples are cleaned and processed, as well as where they are juiced.

We had hoped to grab a golf cart for our own little tour, but there was a group using all of them, so we walked (and the kids ran) down the rows admiring the apples and enjoying the fresh air.  Once the kids were good and tired from that, we got a wagon and some paper bags and headed over to the honeycrisp rows to pick a few of our own to take home.  We also picked up some BelleWood Bubbly, their new sparkling cider, and some traditional cider.

Picking honeycrisp at BelleWood Acres farm

From BelleWood Acres, we headed over to Appel Farms and had samples of cheddars, goudas and squeaky cheese.  My kids loved the bacon cheddar, though I ended up buying some of the squeaky cheese for them.  Once I realized my children seemed to think this was their lunch break (read: they were eating all of the cheese samples), I took them outside to admire the cows while my mom finished her sampling and shopping.

The kids outside of the Appel Farms store. The dog - Callie - wouldn't move out of the picture, and I think she even posed for it!

Our last stop was to Boxx Berry Farm to pick some pumpkins.  We’ve been going to Boxx for the past few years and really love it.  They offer wagons for hauling pumpkins – or kids, a self weigh and pay station, a farm store, a playground (yes, a playground!) and on weekends or if it’s busy (we lucked out as there was a school group visiting), the owner has a tractor that pulls a barrel train and the kids can go for a free (FREE!) ride.

Train ride at Boxx Berry Farm

We spent about 2 hours farm hopping and it was a great way to spend the pre-lunch hours.  The kids got fresh air, experienced different types of farms, got good snacks and when we got home, they napped hard.  :)

Below is a map of our mini-tour if you’d like to check out the farms we visited.

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3-Generation Day Trip to Lummi Island

October 19th, 2011 by Jacqueline

My parents recently visited Bellingham from Wisconsin to see my family and me (which is code for seeing their only granddaughter). I’ve lived in Northwest Washington for almost 10 years now, so I have to get a little creative filling our days with awe-inspiring vistas and interesting activities.

They’ve been to Fairhaven a dozen times, walked Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park, hiked the Chuckanuts, soaked in Mt Baker more than once, and wandered around downtown Bellingham plenty. And now with the little one, we have to pick activities that keep 3 generations occupied, entertained and happy.

So, I decided to take them over to Lummi Island for the day. Many visitors and writers ask us if there is anything else to do there besides visit the acclaimed and now famous Willows Inn (which unfortunately wasn’t in the cards for us since we were traveling with my 9-month-old daughter). The answer is yes, there’s plenty to do and see on Lummi Island!

We departed Bellingham around 10 AM, made the 10:30 AM ferry out of Gooseberry Point (which takes approximately 7 minutes from dock to dock), drove around the small but scenic island in less than 30 minutes, did some beach-combing and rock-skipping at the Congregational Church (home to the only public beach on Lummi), enjoyed a lovely hike up the Baker Reserve trail, ate sandwiches and sipped lattes from Tap Root Cafe (of the Willows) and were back in Bellingham by 3:30 PM.

Here are a couple photos from our lovely day trip.

Dad, Mom, Baby June and Jacqueline

No, the hike isn’t tough – but there are some steep parts, so I’d advise you to wear good shoes. It’s 4-miles round trip with awesome views of Mt Baker and the nearby islands. My mom would tell you that her favorite part was coming down and that she finally noticed the lush forest and green during the second half of the hike.

Jacqueline, Mom, Sister Julia with Baby June

Other reasons to visit Lummi Island: its twice-a-year artist studio tour, farmers market, bike around the island, observe reef netting, quaint B & B’s and vacation rentals, sea kayaking, and did I mention the Willows?

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Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa

July 19th, 2011 by Sommer

I meant to write this post weeks ago, I really did.  Somehow, time has slipped away from me, but I wanted to let you know how Part II of our anniversary trip went (I know there’s at least one person out there, on the edge of her seat, waiting to hear about it!).

After the San Juan Adventure Full Day Cruise, we headed out to Ferndale to Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa for an overnight and couple’s massage.

I have a lot of friends who are “not into casinos”, but let me tell you, you wouldn’t even know you were at a casino if you only ever set foot in the hotel and/or spa.  I was really impressed with the separation of the casino from the lodging and relaxation portions of the property.  The hotel has its own entrance and you access the spa through that entrance as well.

We checked in and headed up to our room, which was a Diamond Executive King room.  You needed your room key to access the floor it was on (for privacy) and included bathrobes, slippers and nightly turndown service.  As soon as we checked in, we put on our swimsuits, donned our bathrobes and headed down to the pool.

I loved the pool!  It’s available to hotel guests as well as anyone who purchases spa services.  It’s all indoors with plush lounge chairs and there is a pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna.  It has a pretty little waterfall cascading behind the hot tub and interesting fabric panels strewn from the ceiling creating a unique atmosphere.  We spent quite a bit of time there.

The next morning, we headed over to the Red River Cafe for a breakfast buffet which was great.  (As a warning to any non-casino people out there, you do have to walk through the casino to get to the cafe.)  They had so many selections I couldn’t possibly have sampled everything!  We didn’t get there until 9:30 AM and it closes at 10 AM, so we did miss out on a few things, but even for having been late, we didn’t miss much.  Eggs, potatoes, waffle makers with toppings, pastries, bagels and bread with toasters and toppings, cereals, fruits, hard boiled eggs, yogurts, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, milk juice and more.  Fabulous!!

After breakfast we hung out an watched TV in our room for a while (it’s a rare treat to watch anything other than kid shows in our home, so we took full advantage of the movie channels) and then headed back downstairs to pick up some souvenirs and play a few games.  We’re not huge gamers, but like to take $10 or 20 and just play the slot machines for fun.  My husband lost his $10 in about 3 minutes flat, but I ended up cashing out with $29 (I started with $10 as well).  :)

My husband got a nice insulated travel mug with native art on it, and I got one of those plastic insulated cups that looks like a disposable cup with lid.  It’s turquoise and has the Silver Reef logo on it.  It’s sitting on my desk right now with traces of Carnation Instant Breakfast in it, so instead of subjecting you to a photo of that, here’s a generic image of one of the cups I am talking about to give you an idea of what it is:

The final part of our weekend was a couples massage at the spa.  We checked in and changed and enjoyed relaxing in the waiting area, where there is water, granola and magazines.  Then we were called back to our treatment room where we were placed on massage tables side-by-side and received one hour massages.  Each of our massage therapists talked with us first to see what type of massage we wanted (my husband chose deep tissue and I went with therapeutic) and at the end, we were both so relaxed, it was hard to leave.

I was really impressed with the atmosphere and the quality of the Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa and hope to get another chance to have a little getaway there again.  Even if I don’t have a reason to stay at the hotel, the spa is more than enough reason for me to be planning a trip back, and of course a little fun at the casino is sometimes just what you need on a Friday night.  :)

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