Wine Rack Store Blog

I have lived in the Seattle area for nearly 16 years and I had never been up the Space Needle until last week. I can’t believe I have managed to avoid it this long. I either didn’t go when my relatives went to visit it or we were always on another adventure while passing by. The price is also a little steep at $16 per person. You could easily buy a good bottle of wine for $16.

The view from the top is pretty spectacular. You can see all of the city, Queen Anne Hill, the Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and much more. I can definitely see why they chose not to tear it down after the World’s Fair. The Needle is 605 feet tall. That is like stacking 168 144 Bottle Premium Wine Racks on top of each other.

This is by no means the best view in Seattle. If you want to see the surrounding area from a higher viewpoint, visit the Bank of America building in the heart of down town.

Labels: Premium wine racks, seattle, traveling, wine rack store

Today was such a beautiful day, my father decided we should go for a ride in his classic muscle car. He, my mother, and I rode to one of my favorite locations, Port Townsend. We picnicked at Fort Worden State Park. We also had the opportunity to climb up the Point Wilson Lighthouse. In the 15 years I have been visiting the park, I had never been in the lighthouse. It is not a very tall lighthouse but the view was still good.

On the way out of town we stopped at the Port Townsend Brewery. My parents had beer and I enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay. I cannot remember the name of the winery it came from. It is too bad because I would enjoy adding a bottle of it to my wine rack.

The bartender filled up my glass very full. This was probably the reason why I feel asleep in the back seat on the way home, rocked by the roar of the engine.

Labels: Port Townsend, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

I finally made it back home. I said my good byes to Virginia and the Atlantic Ocean and flew home this week. Even though I complained about Virginia a lot, I did enjoy my visit and had a hard time saying good bye.

I am not a good flier so the six hour flight exhausted me. I was really ready to get off the plane after the fifth hour. I was so glad to see Mt. Rainier on the descent into Seattle. It signaled I was finally back home in the Evergreen State and that I was going to be able to get off the plane soon.

When I arrived home, I was greeted by a dusty wine rack. I wanted to give it a hug but I feared it would flare up my allergies.

I am still not used to the quietness and darkness here. Our apartment in Virginia Beach was so loud I had to wear ear plugs at night.

Labels: traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

I have always wanted to see the document our country was founded on, the Constitution. This document resides in the National Archives in Washington DC. We were able to view this as well as some other very important documents while visiting DC.

We rode the train into the city and headed to the National Archives building first so we wouldn’t get caught in a line later. There was a museum within the building explaining the role and history of the National Archives. There were also examples of what was contained within their collections. One of these items on display was the Charles Ingalls’ homesteading papers. He was the father of the famous Laura Ingalls. I read all her books when I was young so I was really excited to see this.

It seems like they have absolutely everything in the archives. I don’t recall see anything wine or wine rack related though.

Our last stop in the building was the hall that contained the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. It was really neat to be able to be close to and read something you have heard about your whole life. It was very dark in there for document preservation purposes. I was very surprised to see how the documents were faded. You could barely read them.

Labels: History, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

On our second trip to Washington DC we visited the Smithsonian American History Museum. Like the other Smithsonian’s, this place was huge. We started at the bottom floor and worked our way up.

We walked through the section that showed the evolution of science in America. We saw dresses belonging to the First Ladies from Barbara Bush to Martha Washington. We also saw the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. It was huge!

They also had a section devoted to television culture. We saw the infamous poufy shirt from Seinfeld, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and Kermit the frog. We also were able to see Julia Child’s kitchen. I don’t recall seeing a wine rack stashed in there even though she was a big fan of wine.

Even though we spent a few hours there we only saw about half the museum. You practically need a full day to go through each Smithsonian. I wish we had more time to explore them all.

Labels: traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

My stay in Virginia is coming to an end. I have been here in Virginia Beach for two months and it is time to head back to the lovely Washington State and my wine rack. I have traveled more and seen more in these past two months than I usually see in years. It’s been a whirlwind but I am glad I decided to come.

Spending time here has made me appreciate the Northwest more. The people of the Northwest are very kind and welcoming unlike many of the people I have encountered here. I’d even take Seattle traffic over the crazy of drivers here.

The Virginian countryside is nice but it can never compare to our majestic mountains and forests. How I have missed seeing Mt. Rainer in the distance on clear days. I have also learned to appreciate our relatively bug-free forests. If I don’t ever step foot in a swamp again, that will be fine with me.

Labels: traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

I have many goals in life. One of these is to visit every state in the United States. I have a pretty good start so far. When I was in elementary school, my parents and I toured the Midwest in a motor home. We visited family and saw many famous landmarks. I think I added about 10 states to my list from that trip.

During my stay on the east coast I have visited 5 states: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. Of these state, two I just crossed the line and got a picture with the welcome sign.

I am now up to 21 states. If I had more time here I could probably visit a few more. All the states here are so small compared to the west coast. Delaware (the state we visited last weekend) is only 2,490 square mile in area versus Washington State at 71,342 square miles.

Maybe my next goal should be to taste wine in all wine producing states in the US. I could easily fill my wine rack with American wine that way.

Labels: traveling, wine rack, wine rack store, wine tasting

I have always wanted to go on a whale or dolphin watching tour. Since we actually got the chance to see whales near the beach last week we decided to take a dolphin tour in hopes of continuing our wildlife spotting luck. The tour took us out into the Chesapeake Bay and towards the ocean.

The weather was pretty bleak. A storm was moving in and the water was pretty choppy. I don't get sea sick easily so it did not bother me. It didn’t look like we were going to see anything until the captain spotted a fin near shore. There were a handful of dolphins occasionally coming up for air. They were pretty elusive and it was hard to keep our eyes on them. Perhaps we could have tempted them with a full wine rack. I know that always gets my attention.

The captain told us that the dolphins are usually more active during the warmer months. They are more likely to jump and play then.

Labels: traveling, wildlife, wine rack, wine rack store

This weekend we decided to head north from Virginia Beach toward Maryland and Delaware. We took a route that took us through the Eastern Shores area. To get there you have to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This is not just an ordinary bridge. The bridge and two tunnels spans over 17 miles.

It was built in the 1960’s and over 100 million cars have passed over it so far. It’s not a cheap way to travel. It cost $12 to cross one way (I equate to be about one bottle off my wine rack). If you didn’t take a bridge you would have to travel up through Washington DC and Baltimore to get out there.

There is a gift shop and viewing area located near the middle. We stopped there to take in the view. We could see both of the Cape Henry lighthouses from there. There were many people fishing in boats and off a pier nearby. I wish I had asked what they were fishing for.

Labels: traveling, virginia, wine rack, wine rack store

During our travels up the Eastern Shores in Virginia we saw many roadside signs advertising seafood restaurants. The whole coast up there is dotted with small fishing villages. On the way to a wildlife refuge, we ended up driving straight through one of these villages. I spotted a decent looking restaurant and we stopped.

It was definitely a local’s joint. The bar was gritty looking (no wine racks in sight) and the lounge was filled with a mix of tables and chairs that were probably picked up at different garage sales. We should have left but I am the type of person who doesn’t like to get up and leave after the hostess has seated me.

I ordered the fried soft shell crabs because that was the local specialty. I have never had them before so I didn’t know what to expect. There isn’t much meat to them so they just tasted like grease. My fiancé was also not impressed by his crab cake sandwich. Travel gurus usually say you can find the best local food at shabbier establishments but this did not hold true there.

Labels: food, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

I only have a few days left before I head to the east coast. I am now in full blown panic mode and I desperately need a date with my wine rack. I’ve got everything packed but I am constantly trying to think of the little things I am bound to forget. I also now feel like I packed too much. I spent a good portion of last night lying in bed and trying to think of the things that I should leave here.

I am a compulsive over-packer. I tend to pack way too many clothes and pairs of shoes. I always feel like I am going to wear all of it but sometimes I only touch half of it. This trip is extra hard to pack for because it is long and the weather in Virginia changes day to day right now. I have to pack warm and cool weather items.

I really just can’t wait until I can bask in the sun on the beach and not be stressed out!

Labels: shoes, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

I will have to head to the airport early tomorrow morning. How early you ask? 4:30 am. Luckily I don’t have to drive there, just on the way back. The only good thing about there early timing is that we don’t have to worry about the notorious I-5 traffic.

I really hate driving down busy highways like I-5 or it’s more terrible offspring in Seattle, 405 and 520. I am usually a laid back driver but when I am on these roads I am sitting up straight and I am gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turn white. I hate merging too because no one wants to give you an inch of room.

I see driving to Seattle as a chore so I have a hard time getting myself over there even to visit friends. Since I’ll be over on that side of the Puget Sound I think I will go visit my friend after I go to the airport. I won’t be able to self medicate my road-stressed body though because my friend does not own a wine rack because she is not a wine drinker.

Labels: air planes, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

I have an announcement to make. I will be temporarily be moving to the Virginia for the summer starting at the end of this month. Don’t worry, I’ll continue blogging for the Wine Rack Store from out there.

I am very excited about it. I have never been to the east coast so it will be an interesting experience. The apartment we are staying in is only 3 miles from Virginia Beach. I am sure I’ll be spending a lot of time on the beach enjoying the sun. Maybe I will even be doing some blogging from there.

We are going to be 3 hours from Washington DC so I will probably visit there a few times. I’ll be able to tour all the monuments and museums and maybe even catch a glimpse of President Obama.

I know the east coast isn’t known for wine making but I’ll keep my eyes open for a winery or vineyard. My wine consumption will probably remain the same so I will still be able to recommend wine for your wine rack.

Labels: traveling, virginia beach, wine rack, wine rack store

While I was in Paris a few years ago I didn't drink much French wine. Looking back on it now, I wish I had. I also wish I had taken advantage of all the different cheeses. France was the last leg of our European trip so I was pretty worn out and ready to go home when we arrived in Paris.

The French were actually quite rude like how they are stereotypically portrayed. I arrived hoping that the stereotypes were incorrect but was sorely disappointed. Next time we go I will make a point to blend in better so we won’t be such obvious tourists.

One of the positive experiences I did have reminded me of home. One evening I was walking back from an internet café and someone saw my Washington State University t-shirt and said “Go Cougs” to me. I wished I had stopped and talked to them further.

Now that I gotten more involved in wine culture, I see what I missed out on. As well as being the most famous country for wine productipn, they are the world’s largest wine producer making up 34% of the world share. Even though they produce so many bottles I don’t have any on my wine rack. Maybe I am subconsciously rejecting French wine because of my bad experiences in Paris.

Labels: french wine, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store

Thanks to my blogs on Hawaii and oak trees, I was reminded of the really cool trees I saw in Hawaii. They are called banyan trees and they are a type of fig. I saw a lot of them in Waikiki and surrounding parks. They looked so foreign to me. Almost like that they were from a different planet.

They are originally from India and flourish in warm climates such as Hawaii. One of the most famous trees is located at Lahaina's Courthouse Square in Hawaii. The tree is nearly 150 years old and covers one third of an acre. The largest tree is located in Kolkata, India and is over 200 years old.

Their aerial roots characterize these trees. These roots hit the ground and grow into thick trunks. These trees are a home for many birds and are alive with noise. You do not want to stand under them for very long.

Banyan wood probably wouldn’t good material for wine racks. There is some mythological stories that say the trees are inhabited by spirits and demon like creatures. The last thing you want is a haunted wine rack.

Labels: hawaii, traveling, wine rack, wine rack store