MAKING MEMORIES: SOARING THROUGH HISTORY
Thank you for joining me on this 2024 vacation to Wild & Wonderful Washington State. Last week we talked about Snoqualmie Falls, definitely wild and wonderful. Our visit to The Museum of Flight was also wonderful. Let’s enjoy the wild blue yonder together.
Walking Among Legends of the Sky
You would be right to guess that I choose today’s attraction to keep my travel buddy happy. He loves anything and everything to do with flying, but it wasn’t all about him. We’d been to Petersen Auto Museum earlier in the year and I’d spent happy hours wandering through all the cars. I was looking forward to the planes.
I’m sure we each look at the exhibits with a different focus and I’m sure his is kin to the thrill of flying. With me it’s more about design, but I also fascinated by the curation of an exhibit – how an item is displayed, what’s with it, what lighting is used and what information did they provide. I also seek the designs of our day in those days. What looks the same in today’s version of this item and what has been changed and how has it been changed.
And confession, I think about what photos I need to take to make gorgeous pages. Here’s another:
If You Go
If you go and you should, plan for a whole day. We were there for hours and hours and still didn’t see it all. The location is part of what was once the Boeing company, where so many aircraft were created, tested and manufactured. They’ve even included the Old Red Barn where Boeing began.
The price of entry is $25 for seniors and it was worth every penny. It doesn’t open until 10 and closes at 5, so no early morning or evening hours. You’ll be challenged to see it all in that time. We lucked into a tour about the time we arrived, but the rest of the time was just us wandering around on our own. We had lunch at their snack bar and it was amazingly good.
You’ll walk close enough to some to touch the aircraft. Others will be up high, as if they were flying. Still others will be set among a display that demonstrates their milieu during their hey day. Perhaps my favorite area was the Personal Courage wing with antique planes from World Wars I and II. The flyers were brave in those days.
Best Western Lakewood
After a full day on our feet, we were ready to relax. I’d found an economical Best Western with a convenient location. It was certainly no Snoqualmie Inn by Hotel America, but the price had been right.
I thought we were in for the night, so I changed into my lounging clothes, poured a glass of wine and put up my feet. But I was wrong. Mr. Bill needed a meal and wasn’t interested in delivery. So I got up, put back on my travel clothes and went to MOD Pizza. When we returned to the motel there was an impromptu party on the patio. Now I was really missing Snoqualmie Inn.
Another great day down and tomorrow was going to be all about me – museums galore, all within walking distance of one another. Come along next week when we go to downtown Tacoma and visit a few.
jane sadek 