Thanksgiving in Spokane this year.  In prior years, we would have driven the six plus hours.  But this year we decided to fly.  Part of the reason was to avoid the long drive. But another incentive was the $100 flight credit from my new Ritz Carlton credit card.  The cost is still quite a bit: $366 round trip.  But when you have the MAX to whisk you to the airport and some time to enjoy the Alaska Airlines lounge (free food,  alcohol and treats) courtesy of another credit perk, then why not?!

On the MAX Red line

Lounging in the lounge

Hot chocolate, lattes, steamed milk and more hot drinks

Cookies, crackers and such

We spent part of the weekend visiting Dan and Nicky up in Everett so that we could finally meet little dude…

Yummy Indian dinner

Lisa loves the little dude

Cute!

After an evening staying at the Olympic Hotel, and getting through the night with all the train whistles, we had breakfast and continued our journey north to get more McMenamins passport stamps. We finished in Bothell at the Anderson School.

Breakfast at Country Cousin

Tavern on the Square restaurant

We found the answer to the photo hunt

We completed our Anderson School stamps and were rewarded with these two awesome coffee mugs

Comfy seating area inside the hotel

Lisa and I are spending this weekend collecting our final passport stamps at the Washington McMenamins locations… starting with an overnight stay at this property

Our room, $78 per night including tax

Shared hallway bathroom

Walking downtown Centralia, part the National Historic Registry

Olympic Theater. We saw the movie "Sully"

More scenes from our weekend…