Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Traveling 2023 – A look back at our Comings and Goings from Seattle
A strange title perhaps, but I wanted to reflect on our travels in 2023 in a particular way.
Because as much as I love traveling, I find my hometown of Seattle to be more beautiful than any place I visit.
So I thought I’d share some pictures of our comings and goings this year by air and by sea.
When we fly out of SeaTac I try to get a window seat on the left side of the plane for close up views of Mt. Rainier. This worked well on last month’s trip to San Diego. This was the view facing east toward the Cascade Mountains and Lake Tapps, minutes before the mountain came into view.
At 14,411 ft., Mt. Rainier is the second tallest in the continental United States, but to me the most beautiful.
Did you know she’s an active volcano? I hope I don’t see her erupt in my lifetime, like her little sister, Mt. St. Helens did in 1980.
Sometimes the pilot heads north before going south and I catch good views of Seattle, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The pictures below are from last summer’s trip to S. California, so not much snow can be seen on the Olympics. The first two were leaving town.
The next two are from our return trip, when I got a view of Seattle facing east, with Lake Union and Lake Washington in the background.
I also recognized Smith Cove and got a glimpse of our cruise ship in the lower center of the picture below; the ship we took to Alaska in September.
This one.
The views of Seattle were great from top deck, and I was happy to get our fair city as the backdrop in a picture of us before we sailed. I don’t do selfies so was thankful when a couple offered to take our picture as we did theirs.
A week later, we found the city just waking up as we returned from our cruise under the cloak of darkness,
and the mountain waiting for us under cloudy skies.
May there be many more comings and goings as we sail away into 2024.
Sharing with Sunday Stills #2023.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
You always have the most amazing photos.
Thank you so much!! š»
You live in such a beautiful area. I haven’t visited since 1988, I bet it has changed a lot!
The city has definitely grown and changed, but the natural beauty surrounding it hasn’t! Thanks for your comment. š
Wow, thanks for sharing these beautiful photos, Susanne! I like the photo of you and your husband, hi guys! I love to take iPhone photos when I fly, gotta have that window seat. š The mountain is beautiful and majestic. I remember when Mount St. Helens erupted, what a mess.
Thanks for your comment, as always, John! It dawned on me when I returned from our recent trip, how much I love where I live! And yes, I remember St. Helens blowing up, too! I’d never even heard of it before then!
Neither had I, Susanne. You are welcome, and so do I. Be blessed in 2024, guys. š
What a great and creative twist on your Seattle views in 2023, Susanne! You’ve inspired me to think about an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle. Our state is simply amazing. Happy New Year!
Hi Terri, thanks so much for your comment! Washington state is amazing, indeed! The cruise to Alaska is wonderful (many lines, many itineraries to choose from) and would be a great excuse to come to Seattle! š
Fabulous views of Mount Rainier. Shows how it towers over the surrounding landscape, and Seattle for that matter. Happy New Year to you.
Thanks, Graham! I just found your comment in my spam folder! Who knows why? Happy New Year to you!
You took some trips to envy, Susanne. Both you and your brother seem to have that ‘wanderlust’. š
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. We both like to travel, it’s true, though I haven’t made it to as many countries as he has. And no matter where we go, there’s no place like home. š
Great photos! I can’t wait to see what you share this year.
Thanks so much! š
Wonderful. Happy New Year — and hugs.
Thank you! Happy New Year to you, too!
I remember my own thrill at getting a last view of Mount Rainier as we left Seattle after our WA road trip some years ago, and your wonderful photos have bright that all back to me š I think it’s wonderful to be able to live in a city surrounded by the sea on one side and such awesome mountains on the other!
I never get tired of seeing Mt Rainier and it’s especially impressive to see from the air. And I do appreciate every day being surrounded by such natural beauty!
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Beautiful comings and goings!
Thank you!
Better late than never commenting…lol. I like your title. I’m in SW washington and we usually fly out of Portland, and I LOVE seeing Mt. Hood out the window. Seattle looks so cool from the sky. I love living in Washington 98% of the time…haha.
Thanks for dropping by! I’ve only rarely flown out of Portland, but I imagine closeups of Mt. Hood are pretty cool! And I know what you mean about living in Washington; I think I’m at 99%! š
Your photos are so beautiful and so is Seattle. I especially love the ones of Mt. Hood from the plane window. What a truly fascinating sight. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day š Aiva xx
Thanks so much! That’s actually Mt. Rainier from the window. We go directly past it when we fly south out of Seattle and on a clear day it’s fabulous!