Ballard

Beautiful Ballard Locks in the northwest corner of Seattle. Opened in 1917, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, are a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal, which connects eastward to Lake Union and Lake Washington.

Tourists and locals enjoy watching the parade of sailboats, motorboats, tugs, barges and yachts passing through, as the locks’ water levels are adjusted to allow their safe passage. Nearby is the fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water, and to navigate the locks. Glass panels below the water line make it possible to watch the fish as they swim through the ladder.

Just north of the locks are the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden, a lovely place to stroll. And lastly, the Visitor Center, which features displays on the history and operations of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

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Take the road less traveled, Beth

To love beauty is to see light.

~Victor Hugo

Armed with my camera and in the company of ‘Mamas with Cameras,’ I went to Olympic Manor and found myself in a world of lights. Bundled up (it was a COLD night), a dozen mamas strolled through an entire neighborhood of magical homes.

If you’re a lover of all things Christmas, including the best light displays in town, look no further than Ballard’s Olympic Manor. The community creates extravagant displays during the month of December, and many Seattleites make it an annual tradition to walk or drive along the streets (I’ve heard it’s not unusual to see hired limos). In fact Olympic Manor community actually encourages holiday decorations as part of their homeowners association rules.

Some of the homes are outrageously decorated in all their light bulb glory (I couldn’t help but wonder what their electricity bills come to), with larger-than-life-sized inflatable Santas, reindeer and penguins. There are homes with themes (read: LOTS of candycanes or tropical palm trees).

You can start your tour at Northwest 85^th Street and 23rd Avenue Northwest and wind your way around the streets, as you pass mid-century homes. Olympic Manor is a great place to go with family or friends this holiday season or, as I did, hang out with an awesome bunch of camera-toting moms and learn a few new photography tricks (check out my “hearts” light drawing below and can you find the photographer–me–in the red ball!).

Peace on Earth

Take the road less traveled, Beth