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Coastal Southwest U.S.U.S. Destinations
San Francisco’s Pier 39: What You Need to Know Before You Go

by Julia Nikolaus May 7, 2025

by Julia Nikolaus May 7, 2025

San Francisco’s PIER 39 is a vibrant, must-see 45-acre hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment along the northern waterfront. The docks offer the perfect vantage point to view some of …
Coastal Southwest U.S.U.S. Destinations
Top California Family Vacation Ideas

by Bea Chim October 25, 2021

by Bea Chim October 25, 2021

If you are taking a trip to California with the family, you’re in for a treat. Let’s just say, it’s not called the Golden State for nothing. From beaches and …
Coastal Southwest Staying There U.S.U.S. Destinations
In the Middle of It All: San Francisco’s Japantown

by Mary Charlebois February 5, 2018

by Mary Charlebois February 5, 2018

San Francisco’s Japantown lies in the middle of some of the city’s most visited attractions, sights, neighborhoods, parks, and waterfront. The tiny, architecturally distinct neighborhood is the perfect bivouac position …

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People don’t talk enough about one of the best r

People don’t talk enough about one of the best reasons to have kids. When they’re little, they bring you all kind of treasures: rocks and sticks and leaves, crayon drawings, books they want you to read.

But once they’re adults, sometimes they introduce you to other things in their world.

Yes, I was into some of the early graphic novels. But I’m thoroughly enjoying my son’s loan of his Akane-Banashi manga series!
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#manga #mangá #akane-banashi #yurisuenga #takamasamoue #rakugo #rakugaki #japanesemanga

Great night out at The 1905 jazz club to hear the

Great night out at The 1905 jazz club to hear the Charlie Porter Quartet. Album release for the latest; Portland Sketches.
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Bonus: treated to an artist painting while the band riffed.
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@the_1905 @charlieportermusic #jazz #improvjazz #notthestandards #jazzmusic #jazzclub #jazzclubs #albumrelease #confettitravel #portlandjazz

When I first arrived in Astoria, I decided to go u

When I first arrived in Astoria, I decided to go up to the Astoria Column. Picked up my annual for for a whopping $5, which also gives you one entry to a few of Astoria’s museums.

The Astoria column is 125 feet tall and sits on Coxcomb Hill, at an elevation of 600 feet. The column was dedicated in 1926.
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I have fond memories of bringing my kids here. I’d spend the dollar to buy them each one of the little wood glider kits atbtge gift shop. We’d put them together, then trek up the circular iron, 164 step staircase to the top. Outside, you’ve got a 360 degree view. The Columbia, the Pacific, the bridge, the ships, Long Beach Peninsula, the mountains.
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For the kids, the best part was getting to throw the gliders off the top of the column. Yes, this is allowed and encouraged, and it’s a hoot.
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I watched three women together having a blast. I watched families, where dad stayed down on the ground to retrieve the gliders while the kids threw them. I watched couples take selfies.
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My kids would go back down the stairs, retirve their gliders (or maybe it was someone else else’s that they found) and we go back upstairs to do it again. No, i dudbt buy them another glider. We git oyr exercize though!
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Yes, I bought a glider. Yes, i threw ut down. Yes, I retrieved it. And I’m taking it home as a littke souvenir.
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#astoria #astoriaoregon #oregoncoast #oregonnw #oregonlife #atthecoast #confettitravel #takeatrip #roadtripping #roadtrippingusa #northwestcoast #pacificnorthwestisbest #oregon #traveloregon #traveloregoncoast #astoriacolumn #gliders #confettitravel

A 1959 Rolls Royce Silvercloud! . Yes, the Cannery

A 1959 Rolls Royce Silvercloud!
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Yes, the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa has this beauty to take you to and from your trip to one of Astorias’s many restaurants. Driver John gave me the scoop and some of the best places to eat and sites that I shouldn’t miss!
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#cannery #cannerypier #cannerypierhotel #astoria #astoriaoregon #bar600 #oregoncoast #oregonnw #oregonlife #atthecoast #luxehotel #boutiquehotel #confettitravel #takeatrip #roadtripping #roadtrippingusa #northwestcoast #pacificnorthwestisbest #rollsroyce #rollsroycesilvercloud #1959rollsroyce #vintagerollsroyce

I’m here is Astoria, Oregon, enjoying a wonderfu

I’m here is Astoria, Oregon, enjoying a wonderful stay at the Cannery Pier Hotel and Spa!
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The hotel design and decor, the service and all else has been amazing. Im finding that I am especially fascinated by the hotel construction. Built 600 feet out in the water, a skip away from the confluence of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean, how this hotel came to be is the story I’ll have to tell.
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That doesn’t mean I not enjoying the view, the room, balcony, fireplace, soaking tub with water view, the Finnish sauna and hot tub, and food and drink at Bar 600.
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#cannery #cannerypier #cannerypierhotel #astoria #astoriaoregon #bar600 #oregoncoast #oregonnw #oregonlife #atthecoast #luxehotel #boutiquehotel #confettitravel #takeatrip #roadtripping #roadtrippingusa #northwestcoast #pacificnorthwestisbest #womentraveler #romanticgetaways

I was really excited to make a batch of the Italia

I was really excited to make a batch of the Italian Easter Bread I grew up with. My mom would make these each year and we loved them. She could barely get the first out of the over before we’d begmhovering over her waiting for a slice.

I eventually got the written recipe by staying with and sort of-kind of making us measure the ingredients as she went along.

Its a pastry dough stuffed with a mix of ricotta cheese, cooked Italian sausage, raw eggs, bkack pepper, italian dried red pepper flakes, fennel seeds, grated parmigiano-reggiano, and a just a bit of tuma cheese (i used mozzarella). Add slices of hard-boiled egg just before folding the dough over lengthwise.
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We called it cavissone. Some call it calzone.
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#easterbread #foodiefavorites #favoritefoods #ricotta #ricottacheese #italianbread #italianpastry #myfavoritefood #snacking #justenjoy #confettitravel #sicilianbread #sicilianeasterbread #eastertradition #italianeasterpie #calzone #chicagofood #chicagoneighborhoods

Just a sweet little lavender bouquet from my frien

Just a sweet little lavender bouquet from my friend, Maggie.
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#girlfriendsbelike #girlfriendsarethebest #bouquetdefleurs #lavender #lavenderbouquet #simplethingsinlife #myladieswho #confettitravel

Fabulous lunch with a girlfriend at Mirakutei at t

Fabulous lunch with a girlfriend at Mirakutei at their Clackamas, Oregon restaurant. Wonderful, fresh seafood, and so much more on the menu I need to try!
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#mirakuteipdx #mirakutei #sushilovers #sushilunch #sushidate #sushi #clackamas #clackamasoregon #seafoodlovers #freshseafood #confettitravel #hamachi #salmon #eggplänt #salmoncollar #salmoncollar

A stroll along Olympic Sculpture Park. Great birth

A stroll along Olympic Sculpture Park. Great birthday week; great touring, nourishing and joyful visits with two girlfriends! Lucky me!
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#seattlelife #seattlevisit #sculpturelovers #sculpturepark #olympicsculpturepark #waterfrontparksandiego #walkwalkwalk #walkingintherain #seattlewa

Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory has wicked

Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory has wicked collections!
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#volunteerpark #volunteerparkconservatory #volunteerparkseattle #citygarden #conservatory #conservatoryofflowers #pnw #pnwlife #pacificnw #citywalk #cityparks #gardenideas #gardentour #learnaboutplants

Great fun exploring Seattle’s Freemont neighborh

Great fun exploring Seattle’s Freemont neighborhood!

Photos aren’t great; too much in and out of shops and coffeehouse and bakery, canal stroll, and too much joyful conversation! Great gf visit!
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#freemont #freemontstreet #seattle #seattleneighborhoods #seattlelifestyle #walkwalk #walkwalkwalk #freemonttroll #freemontbridgeseattle

Seattle’s Gas Works Park! For as many times as I

Seattle’s Gas Works Park! For as many times as I’ve visited this city, this was my first visit, which is kinda crazy!
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#seattle #gasworkspark #gasworks #walkinthepark #takeawalk #pacificnw #favoritecityparks #cityparks #seattlewa #lakeunion

The weather could not have been worse, but I still

The weather could not have been worse, but I still strolled some of my old Seattle waterfront haunts, including Pike’s. Ha! Even the photos aren’t great because I had to hold my umbrella as well! The waterfront was one big expanse of gray fog and you could barely see the ferries and ships. But I still enjoyed seeing what I could and walking the Overlook.
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#seattle #waterfront #pikeplacemarket #pikes #pikesplace #seattleoverlook #emeraldcity #confettitravel

So after Kalama, I enjoyed a day with my daughter

So after Kalama, I enjoyed a day with my daughter and SIL and kiddos. Time with my grandbabies and the family’s menagerie of fur-babies; They took me out to eat and there was chocolate cake afterwards. Life is good. (family catch-up photos soon…)

The next morning, it was on to Seattle! Im so hapoy that I’ll get to see two different friends this trip. But first solo day to see the Ai Wei Wei exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum.

Beyond fabulous! Wei Wei is only a few years older than I am, and I’ve been stunned for a very long time by the breath of his work and the importance of his work. Yes, my visit to China adds to how I’m drawn by what he has to say.

And it’s also very true that the things he’s talking about are too close for comfort with what we’re seeing here.

#weiwei #weiweiseattle #revolt #artcontemporain #artofinstagram #protestart #revolutionary #artexhibits #sam #seattle #seattleartmuseum #confettitravel #internationalartists

Traveling up the #i-5 from #portland, I stopped at

Traveling up the #i-5 from #portland, I stopped at the Kalama Mountain Timber Market in Kalama, Washington.

Great artisan market in a beautiful building right on the Columbia river. Lots of natural beams and natural woods and black; so well done. It was a sunny day and a lot of people were out walking the promenade along the riverfront.

I went to see the restored Chief Lelooska totem pole, which is housed inside. This totem was carved from a 700 year old Western red cedar.

#kalama #washington #washingtonstate #mountaintimbermarket #totem #totempole #chieflelooska #storytelling #storytellingart #travelwashington #roadtripping

Mold-a-Rama is alive and going strong at Chicago’s Field Museum!
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I so loved these as a kid and kept a few from my collection for many MANY years. And it was a major thrill for me when I got my kids to see these too! Definitely one of my favorite souvenirs of all time😜
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#moldarama #fieldmuseum #fieldmuseumchicago #chicagogram #myhometown #travelsouvenirs #travelsouvenir @fieldmuseum

Hi all! Well, it’s a hella long flight from #pd

Hi all! Well, it’s a hella long flight from #pdx to #dfw to #eze, but I made it to Buenos Aires and I’ve been having a fabulous time exploring! What a dynamic, beautiful, fascinating city this is! So very rich in energy, art, music, dance, architecture, food, diverse barrios, and all else that makes up a great city to get to know. There is so much to share!
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#buenosaires #buenosairescity #sudamerica #walkwalkwalk #exploreargentina #visitargentina #citylovers #solotravel #sólo #womentravellers #womentravelsolo

I haven’t been clamming this summer, or the past

I haven’t been clamming this summer, or the past few actually. This last beach walk , I watched as all these people made their exodus to the waterfront. Shovels and clam guns and plastic bags and nets, and water boots and hip waders..

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🌊.
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#waves #walkwalkwalk #seaside #seasideoregon #oregoncoast #oregoncoastline #oregoncoastlife #clamming #razerclams #shellfish #getoutside #foraging #harvesting

Wonderful beach watching weather, waves and wildli

Wonderful beach watching weather, waves and wildlife this entire Thanksgiving weekend. Thanks, Seaside,OR!
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🌊.
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#waves #walkwalkwalk #seaside #seasideoregon #oregoncoast #oregoncoastline #oregoncoastlife

The sun was bright and warm this long weekend; won

The sun was bright and warm this long weekend; wonderful for long walks at low tides at the tidal pool, for exploring the estuary, for walking the Promenade, for the many making the pilgrimage out at low tides with clam guns, shovels, bags and buckets.
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🦀.
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#seaside #seasideoregon #clatsopcounty #atthebeach #holidayweekend #longweekends #beachwalks #sunsetcaptures #beachsunsets #walkwalkwalk

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Nancy Zaffaro loves to travel and explore, write and take photos. At home and away, she enjoys hearing people’s stories and feels at home just about anywhere. Learn more about Nancy and the rest of CTC's contributors.

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