Tag Archives: travel

The Best Place in Washington to Retire

Welcome to the Best Place in Washington to Retire!

Gig Harbor is proud to enjoy the distinction of having been named first on a list of “Best Places to Retire in Washington,” according to a study released by financial technology company SmartAsset. Gig Harbor scored a whopping, state-high score of 87.60 on SmartAsset’s Best Place to Retire index, edging out Sequim (84.93) for the top spot. Not only that, SmartAsset’s recreation index also placed Gig Harbor at the top among Washington cities!I

What makes Gig Harbor such a great place to retire? The study cited, among other things, the benefits of Gig Harbor’s 12 percent tax rate, 11.5 doctor’s offices per 1,000 people, and 23.6 percent of the population at senior age.

But besides the facts and figures, the retirement lifestyle in The Maritime City offers all kinds of delightful opportunities.  Make new friends or meet up with old ones over coffee or a happy hour; both the Uptown area and the downtown waterfront offer multiple enjoyable options. Many Gig Harbor retirees also enjoy the all-ages, fitness-oriented environment at the Tom Taylor Family YMCA in Gig Harbor North, where they can take a walk indoors, make waves in a Silver Splash water aerobics class, or volunteer and become part of the fun and dynamic community. They can also join the Active Retirement & Senior Club of Gig Harbor, a membership-based organization offering a full slate of recreational and cultural activities.

Outdoor opportunities are plentiful, rain or shine, including “walking the harbor” (what locals call a stroll or jog on the waterfront) or the Cushman Trail, kayaking or paddleboarding, boating, fishing, and more. The arts are alive and well in Gig Harbor’s monthly Art Walk and the many local galleries and annual Art Festival.

Have a bit of the wanderlust? If you’re wanting to venture beyond Gig Harbor’s relative peace and quiet, opportunities for outings abound. The big city amenities of Seattle and Tacoma are not far away, nor is the unsurpassed beauty of coastal communities and mountainous national parks to the east and to the west. Whether your bent is concerts or camping, a delightful variety of entertainment and recreation options lie at your doorstep, and the time to enjoy them is . . . now!

Doug Lawrence is a licensed real estate broker with Keller Williams West  Sound in Gig Harbor. Give him a shout for all your buying, selling, and investment in real estate needs; he’s here to serve and make your transition to or within Gig Harbor (and the surrounding area) as smooth as possible! www.douglawrencerealestate.com

Walk/Run/Bike the Cushman Trail

#PierceCounty: are you looking for an all-ages, all-skills route for your next run, walk, or bike ride?  If you’ve not yet checked out Gig Harbor’s five-mile Cushman Trail, now’s the time!

The Cushman Trail is a paved community trail that will keep your interest and adrenaline pumping along its undulating hills and changing vistas. It’s as much of a workout as you’d like to be, depending on which parts of the trail (or all of it) you take advantage of. Like hills? A roundtrip between the trailheads on 14th Avenue Northwest and Borgen Boulevard climbs nearly twice as many vertical feet as a round trip on the similar Foothills Trail (from Puyallup to South Prairie), even though it’s less than half the distance. In some places, the Cushman Trail has a grade of 10 percent.

That being said, the trail is accessible to walkers of all ages and skills, and hand rails and benches are found at many spots along the trail (as well as restrooms, five to be exact). The trail has a difficulty rating of 3 (5 is most difficult; 1 is easiest). If you do the whole thing and back, you’ll travel 12.4 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 800 feet along the way. The trail is 16 feet wide with four-foot-wide gravel shoulders. Dogs are permitted on leash (and please clean up after them!).

For cyclists, the Cushman Trail can easily be linked with Tacoma’s Scott Pierson Trail, which adds a scenic trip over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. To access the Pierson Trail from the Cushman Trail’s 14th Street trailhead, head south to 24th Street and turn right. From there, locate the Pierson Trail on your left after crossing State Route 16. There is no toll for crossing the bridge by bike.

Summertime is a great time to get out and take advantage of the beautiful weather and views around Gig Harbor. Check out the Cushman Trail, get some exercise — and enjoy!

DIRECTIONS: To reach the 14th Avenue Northwest trailhead, take the 24th Street Northwest exit from State Route 16 and turn east. After one block, turn left on 14th Avenue and drive north for half a mile. The trailhead will be on the left.

(c) 2018 Doug Lawrence Real Estate. All Rights Reserved.

Doug Lawrence is a licensed broker with Keller Williams West Sound in Gig Harbor, Washington. He loves finding new things to do in his hometown and is always eager to pass it on! Find him at www.douglawrencerealestate.com #lovewhereyoulive #douglawrencerealestate 

Visit the Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard

Recently we had friends from out of town stay at the The Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard, giving us an opportunity to see up-close-and-personal what a cool place it is!

A long-time fixture in the Gig Harbor community, the Marina dates back to the early 1900s. These days, however, it provides much more than simply boat moorage and repair. Today’s GH Marina is just as well-known as an event venue, training facility, and hospitality suite, and is a hub of daily activity on the waterfront.

Customers will find well-maintained docks and moorage slips, haul out and repair services, technology and vehicles to maintain every caliber of boat, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a up-to-date and responsive website for convenient payment and service requests (we always find a good website to be a big plus!). The Marina is also a sought-after event location, offering a gorgeous, covered, open-air venue (hello weddings, concerts, receptions; you name it!) as well as a beautifully-renovated apartment with two private decks overlooking the waterfront, available for booking through VRBO.

There are also boats available for booking as hospitality suites, including The Eagle, originally built for musician Steve Miller. Our friends stayed a few nights on The Eagle and it was fun to play Steve’s keyboard (original to the boat) and listen to his record albums (yes, real old vinyl) on the stereo. It was blast from the past and had us humming, “Fly like an eagle … to the sea . . . let my spirit carry me . . .” for days afterward!

Perhaps one of the most fun aspects of the Marina is the little red trolley car nestled on the lawn out front. It’s technically not affiliated but it’s certainly a fixture on the premises, and serves up delicious food for guests and passersby alike. You should check it out: stop by for some fish and chips or fish tacos or any of its other tasty offerings, and enjoy a “taste” of this iconic Gig Harbor gem!

(c) 2018 Doug Lawrence Real Estate. All Rights Reserved.

Doug Lawrence is a foodie, travel junkie, and 80s music fan who supports his adventures by working as a real estate broker based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Give him a shout if he can help you with your real estate buying, selling, or investment needs, not only in Gig Harbor, but anywhere around the world. http://www.douglawrencerealestate.com

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Love Where You Live – Volcano Edition

It all started out as a hope-to, an item I wanted to check off my bucket list: to climb a mountain.

I’ve always thought climbing a mountain was a big, hairy audacious goal that many people talk about but never do. I wanted to separate myself from the pack and be one of the few that do it. So, on July 26th, I had the great pleasure (wait, did I say pleasure?), I mean, I had the great gratification of summiting Mount Saint Helens in Washington State.

I picked Mt. St. Helens as my mountain of choice because it’s a true mountain, achievable with only a moderate amount of gear and training. On the surface, it seems like a moderate-to-hard hike; after all, it is “only” five miles up—two through forest, two across a massive boulder field, and one straight up through loose scree (small, gravelly volcanic rubble). It’s the 8,500-foot elevation gain that really knocks the wind out of your sails and gives you pause to consider (or reconsider) most things in your life.

Looking back down at the one-mile stretch of scree

It’s one of those things that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it, or something like it. All that being said, that moment when you reach the top of the mountain—the cloudless sky, the limitless view, the surrounding peaks, breathing all that in, absorbing it, contemplating it, pondering it—makes the trek more than worth it.

On top of the world (looking down at the lava dome, Mount Rainier in the distance)

Mount Saint Helens is noteworthy for its huge eruption in 1980, and is still an active volcano. Standing on the precipice, looking down at the lava dome with plumes of steam seeping out of it, was magnificent. For me, it was a bit of a full circle, having been nearby in 1980 when the mountain erupted. A high schooler at the time, I had been down in the Longview/Kelso area visiting my brother. I slept obliviously through the eruption, to be greeted on awakening the next morning by swollen rivers, a sky full of ash, and horrific traffic jams of panicked and/or curious residents and onlookers. Nearly forty years later, all that’s just local history. But it was very cool to come back and see how quickly the mountain has repaired itself, its beauty and majesty restored.

Whether you live in the shadow of a volcano as I do, there are adventures to be explored in your neck of the woods, as well. Please comment and share your stories: how do you love where YOU live?

Doug Lawrence is a professional real estate broker with Keller Williams West Sound in Gig Harbor, Washington.  Doug’s motto is “Love where you live!” Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest, he’ll put his appetite for adventure and challenge to work on your real estate transaction when he’s not applying it to a mountain.  You can find him at http://www.douglawrencerealestate.com or by phone or text at 253.341.5287.

(c) 2017 Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.


Love Where You Live: The Adventure

In other posts, I’ve written about the joy of loving where you live, and I certainly do! (When I say “love where you live,” I’m not just talking about the space you occupy, your home, or the town you live in, but also the region you inhabit.)

Loving the region where you live can take a bit more work than simply loving the house you live in, making an effort to get out and discover it to appreciate it. I thought about that recently when I had the privilege of accompanying one of my sons-in-laws on an overnight backpacking trip to one of his favorite places: La Push, Washington.

Not all destinations are easy to get to and this was one of them. La Push is a wild place where land meets water and jagged rock formations make stunning silhouettes against the brilliant red sun when it sets over the Pacific Ocean off Washington’s west coast. First, Second, Third, and Rialto Beaches are highly recommended there; we chose Second Beach, a mile-long stretch with several freshwater streams that meander from sand to sea. It’s one of the few places I’ve encountered where you’re still free to help yourself to driftwood for a fire.

You can’t see Second Beach by just pulling off the freeway at one of those visitor viewpoints and jumping out of your car for a quick look. No, this is one of those places that requires some planning and attention to detail to get there. So, we diligently packed our backpacks, grabbed our bedrolls and—oh, did I mention our bear cans?—and set out.

Once on the beach, we found a place to make camp: close to fresh water but far enough away from other campers to make us feel like we were miles away from anywhere and anyone. The continuous sound of the waves was both our lullaby and our alarm clock. No cell phones, no computers. It is some of the best of the wild that Washington has to offer.

This kind of adventure reminds me that many times, the best things in life take work to experience and appreciate. Loving where you live can require planning and preparation, not at all unlike buying and selling real estate. Buying a home—or selling one—is admittedly a lot of effort. But it also can afford you that sweet spot of being in a place that’s perfect at just the right time in your life.

My ocean adventure was worth every bit of effort it took to prepare for it and get there. It reinforced my conviction that the best things in life require effort—and reminded me how much I love where I live!

(c) 2017 Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.

Doug Lawrence is a licensed broker with Keller Williams West Sound in Gig Harbor, Washington. He loves the opportunities the real estate profession gives him to help people love where they live! If you’d like to buy, sell, or invest in real estate in the Pierce or Kitsap County area, give him a shout (or a call, or an email): dlawrence@kw.com or 253.341.5287.

Love Where You (Sometimes) Live

trittincondoview

Recently I had the pleasure of traveling back to the Midwest—my first foray into that part of the country. Fortunately for me, I was in good company. We spent four fabulous days in Door County, Wisconsin with dear friends who are fortunate enough to suffer from place attachment to two distinctly different places (for an understanding of what place attachment is, please see my two previous posts).

Door County is the thumb of land that rests between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. It is comprised of several small but quaint towns and is somewhat of a vacation Mecca for people who live in the Midwest. Each of these little towns has its own nuance, and is filled with its own unique delights.

Our discoveries were extra special because we were the beneficiaries of a built-in tour guide with a severe case of place attachment. You see, our friends have a much-loved vacation home in Door County in the quaint town of Egg Harbor, which has a whopping year-round population of 201. We happened to be there on one of the biggest weekends of the year: the annual Pumpkin Patch celebration. They closed down the streets of the village, and filled them with arts and crafts and fresh food vendors (think caramel apples, homemade butternut squash soup, corn on the cob dripping with butter, deep fried cheese curds, and even a roasted pig!).

roastpig

Our hosts took us on a tandem bike ride through Peninsula State Park, where we stopped at the charming lighthouse overlooking the Strawberry Channel. We enjoyed amazing homemade fresh bread in sandwiches from the Macready Artisan Bread Company in Egg Harbor, and laughed hilariously at the down-home Wisconsin humor of “Guys and Does,” a musical production by Northern Sky Theater.  And, we ate one of the best steak dinners we’ve ever had at Donny’s Glidden Lodge on Lake Michigan.

tandembike-2

We saw a lot in a short amount of time because our host is so attached to his home away from home. It got to me to thinking, if I could pick anywhere to be place attached to, besides where I live now, where would it be? What would it be like to not just visit there, but to actually live there part time?

Obviously, many people who are snowbirds live out this scenario, annually fleeing cold northern winters for the warmth and sun of the southern parts of the world. Some people like to have a lake house, a place by the seashore, or perhaps a cozy cabin in the woods or a ski chalet in the mountains.

If I were to have a second home, I would like a waterfront retreat within driving distance of where I currently live—far enough away to feel like a get away, but close enough for us and our adult kids to easily reach it. I even have my eye on a place! I envision a small picturesque home on a saltwater beach with plenty of indoor and outdoor space for our active family. When the timing is right, I hope to make that a reality.

How about you? Where can you see yourself loving a new place to live—without giving up your first home? If the timing is right for you to start looking for that place, I encourage you to give me a call, whether your destination is close by or far away. If your chosen location is out of state, I can help you make the right connections. I understand and celebrate the joy of place attachment, and would count it a privilege to help you find your own “home away from home.”

Doug Lawrence loves to travel and find new places to love, although most of the time he makes his home on Fox Island in Washington State. He has been a Pierce County resident since 1990 and is a huge fan of the Pacific Northwest. Doug is a real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty and would be happy to help YOU find YOUR perfect place, too! Contact him at dlawrence@kw.com or visit his website, http://www.douglawrencerealestate.com.

Love Where You Live: Place Attachment

harbor

In my last post, I talked about how much I love the beautiful part of the country where I live. I enjoy it. I brag about it. And I miss it when I’m away.

Apparently, I’m suffering from a syndrome called “place attachment.”

Yes, it does exist (you can look it up). And it ‘s a good thing. “Place attachment” basically means exactly what it says: you are attached to the place you live. An article in Psychology Today explains it, “It’s a love for your city, a belief that this, right here, is your place. It’s a sense of local belonging. It’s an emotional bond based on mutual history, responsibility, and affection.” People who experience place attachment:

  • are generally happier
  • are less anxious
  • have more friends
  • live longer
  • are more involved in their communities

How do you know whether you’re truly attached to the place you live now? Start by answering these three basic questions:

  1. Does where you live say a lot about who you are as a person?
  2. If you could move anywhere right now, would you stay in your town?
  3. Does your city feel like home?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, you’re likely place attached.

But what if you’re not attached to where you live, and you want to be? Well, you could move (and if that’s the case, please give me a call!). But that option aside, there are some things you can do to increase your sense of rootedness and grow more attached to the city where you live. My wife and I moved our family to Gig Harbor around seven years ago, so our place attachment has grown over time. Here are some ways we were intentional about getting to know our community:

  • we attended high school football games on Friday nights (where we established some great friendships)
  • we joined a church
  • we joined a gym
  • we tried some new things (for us, that included kayaking, paddle boarding, and hiking)
  • we attended local activities, events, and attractions (annual town parade, free concerts in the park, museums and art shows, etc.)
  • we shopped local and got to know business owners
  • we ate out at local restaurants
  • we got to know our neighbors

With such potential for happiness, health, and longevity, I encourage everyone to aspire to love where they live. Truth be told, it has less to do the with the place than it does to do with us and the way we view it.

“To foster attachment, your town doesn’t need to be the platonic ideal of a city, just as you don’t have to be particularly gorgeous, clever, or wealthy to love and be loved by others. You can adore a town that everyone else hates and still accrue the physical, emotional, and social benefits of place attachment. Your town just has to make you happy. When it does, you want to stay.”

–Melanie Warnick, This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live

Do you love where you live? If not, what are you going to do about it?

foxisland

Doug Lawrence loves living on Fox Island in Washington State. He has been a Pierce County resident (on both sides of the Narrows Bridge!) since 1990 and is a huge fan of the Pacific Northwest. He is a real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty and would be happy to help YOU find YOUR perfect place, too! Contact him at dlawrence@kw.com or visit his website, www.douglawrencerealestate.com.

Love Where You Live

foxislandbridge

I love where I live. I realize that’s not the case for everyone; in fact, on more than one occasion I’ve been accused of overselling my community. People will remark, “Your city can’t be THAT great,” or, “You make it sound like you live in Paradise!”

Truth be told, I DO think it’s a little bit of paradise.

I love where I live for many reasons: it’s beautiful. It’s what I consider to be convenient. It has a great sense of community.

“Where I live” happens to be Fox Island, Washington, a quaint bedroom community that’s part of the general Gig Harbor area. I often comment that when I cross the bridge to our island, it feels like I’m on vacation. Being on vacation every day—what’s not to love about that?

Another thing I appreciate about my community is how active people are around here. And it’s rubbed off on me! Gig Harbor just happens to be the “Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula,” a veritable smorgasbord of natural beauty and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. One opportunity my wife and I took advantage of this summer was to hike the Dungeness Spit up near Sequim.

peninsula-2

Five miles in length, it is North America’s longest naturally-occurring spit. At its far tip is a charming, historic lighthouse. Once manned and operated by the US Coastguard, its light is maintained today by a corps of volunteers who join the lighthouse association and serve a week at a time as lighthouse keepers. Arlyn and I have put that on our bucket list! (In the meantime, the 11-mile round trip hike was challenge enough for us.)

peninsula-1

That foray to the Peninsula also led us to Sol Duc Falls, up past Port Angeles and Crescent Lake in Olympic National Park. This comparatively short hike yields extremely high rewards as you walk through the lush, old growth forest and come out on the breathtaking Sol Duc River as it carves its way down the mountain. Yep, paradise.

peninsula-3

Can you see why I love where I live? These are just a couple of examples of what I’ve got in my own back yard. What’s in yours?

Doug Lawrence is professional real estate broker who is delighted to earn a living helping people live where they love and love where they live. You can reach him at dlawrence@kw.com or at his website www.douglawrencerealestate.com.

 

 

 

A Taste of Washington

2014 may possibly go down as the busiest year ever in the Lawrence household. It began with a Seahawks SuperBowl victory and celebration, and included a wedding, a move, and a back injury (all in the same month). And it seems like a steady flow of guests ever since. After all that, Arlyn and I did carve out some time to explore some of our own beautiful State of Washington. We explored the Yakima Valley and the gorgeous hidden jewel that is Walla Walla and all the sites and tastings that the east side of our state had to offer.

WallaWalla-Doug

A nice meal in downtown Walla Walla, WA (which is on Fodor’s List of the 10 Best Small Towns in America)

We toured the Westside’s urban landmarks with our amazing British friends and we explored the pebbled shore of the Dungeness Spit in the wind and rain.

DungenessSpit

We also took delight in sharing some of Washington State’s culinary treasures. Have you ever been to the Oak Table Cafe in Sequim, WA? As we speak they are opening a new location in Silverdale to replace an existing location in Kingston, WA. However, to get the true, authentic experience you MUST try the original location in Sequim. And as part of the experience you must try the apple pancake. It is a huge, molten, puffy delicacy of apples and brown sugar that will remind you of an apple fritter on steroids. It is far to large for most people but order one for yourself because the leftovers are amazing.

applepancake

Friend Peter visiting from the UK tackled an Oak Table Apple Pancake!

If you don’t have the time to drive to Sequim, I do have a suitable substitute that I am willing to share with you for the right price: Free, of course. 🙂

I have used this recipe a couple of times and it is easy to adapt if you are so inclined, I like the fact you can put it all together the night before if needed. I made this a couple of weeks ago for a house full of high schoolers and it received great reviews. Click on this link for Baked Cinnamon Apple French Toast.  You’re in for a treat.

Enjoy!