The trip kicked off with a Big Salad event featuring none other than poet Kate Baer. If you’ve ever read her work, you’ll know she’s the kind of writer who makes you laugh, cry, and then laugh again two lines later. Meeting her in person was everything we hoped it would be. She was warm, funny (“I’m a cool poet,” she quipped at one point), and refreshingly down-to-earth. Over smoked fish dip and reality TV chatter, we roamed the city like old friends — stopping to sample lipstick at Sephora, naturally.
Chapter Two: A Stay to Swoon Over
Our first night was spent at the guest house next to Harry’s Fine Foods, where we had an unforgettable dinner. The space felt like a dream pulled from a magazine — matching textiles, cozy lighting, and the kind of vintage charm that makes you want to inspect every corner. Which we did. Literally. “Let’s go corner by corner,” Kaitlyn suggested as we arrived. That became our unofficial motto.
Each room had its own personality, but I was especially smitten with the giant tub in my suite — the kind of tub that begs for a bubble bath and a good book. Even the small details — a brass tugboat hook, fresh flowers on the windowsill — felt intentional and quietly luxurious.
To top it all off, Julian, one of the owners, dropped by later with a bottle of wine. It’s always those little personal touches that make a stay memorable, isn’t it?
Chapter Three: Real Talk and Real Friends
The next day, we hosted our Big Salad live event. Kate and I sat on stage and dove into everything from motherhood to orgasms to the delicate art of female friendship. It was deeply personal, sometimes hilarious, and even a little emotional. I always find myself holding back tears at these events — something about being in a room full of people who truly get you is profoundly moving.
Also worth noting: my dress accidentally matched the bathroom tiles, which, of course, had to be documented. (Is it really a team trip if someone doesn’t say, “Wait, I need a photo of this”?)
Chapter Four: Into the Sky
Then came the seaplane.
I’ll admit, my heart was doing backflips when we boarded. None of us are particularly fearless when it comes to tiny aircraft suspended over large bodies of water. But once we were airborne, that fear melted away. The view from the window — blue stretching into bluer, forested islands dotting the sea — was nothing short of spellbinding. At one point, we spotted a whale breaching below us. Kaitlyn cried. We all gasped.
We landed 45 minutes later in Roche Harbor, a quiet, magical slice of the San Juan Islands. It felt like we had stepped into a painting — docks lined with boats, pine-scented air, seagulls overhead. Maureen, our marketing director, had family roots on the island, and her dad, the quintessential Pacific Northwest boat dad, took us on a tour. As we huddled against the wind, he offered gems like, “Are you a little cold? Well…you’ll be fine.”
Chapter Five: A City That Charms
Back in Seattle, we rounded out our visit with some quintessential city sightings. Among our favorites? The floating hot tub boats on Lake Union. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like: hot tubs on boats. We spotted a few bobbing along the water and immediately agreed that the boys in our lives would lose their minds over them.
Our three days flew by in a blur of laughter, connection, and that distinct Pacific Northwest calm — the kind that makes you breathe a little deeper and walk a little slower.
Seattle, thank you. For your poetry and pine trees. For your cozy corners and spontaneous whale sightings. For your seaplanes and sentimental moments. We’ll be back. Maybe even in a hot tub boat.
Have you ever been to Seattle? Or taken a trip that surprised you in all the best ways? We’d love to hear about it.
