University Place is situated between Fircrest and the Narrows of Puget Sound. Views are spectacular of McNeil Island, Fox Island, the Narrows Bridge, and the Olympic Mountains. On the southern edge of University Place is Chambers Bay Golf Course.
Chambers Bay is the jewel of Washington's golf courses. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Chambers Bay is pure links golf located just outside Tacoma and was home to the 2010 U.S. Amateur and will be home to the 2015 U.S. Open Championships.
The people of University Place quite often get their exercise along the trail that skirts and looks down upon the course. It's a beautiful walk even during the rainy months.
We were thrilled when we found a Bed & Breakfast in University Place. The Paradise-Chateau was the perfect place for us to relax. The B&B is located on Paradise just off Grandview and only seconds from Chambers Bay. The landscaping was lush and inviting.
Inside we were quickly made welcome. The six-bedroom family home has been converted to allow four bedrooms for guests. We had the "Soundview," which featured a wonderful view of Puget Sound and Fox Island. The walk-in closet made it easy to unpack. The mattress on the queen bed was firm and comfortable. Although, the bathroom was down the hall past the computer landing, it was private and just for our use.
The living room and the entertainment area both had vaulted ceilings. We were told that we had the run of the house by our gracious hosts.
Saturday, Peg would spend hours at the dining room table working on art, while I read and watched TV and ate excellent muffins that would have been healthy if I had stronger willpower and was able to resist butter.
In the summer the huge deck allows for sunbathing and watching boats travel north and south on Puget Sound.
We didn't have too much time to do more than drop off our baggage and get back in our car to travel about two miles into the heart of University Place and visit friends for dinner.
Saturday morning I was up and drinking coffee well before anyone else was even thinking about getting up. I made notes for myself and then chatted with Dorinda as she started breakfast. Peg slept in and then we joined our daughter's family for a disappointing lunch at Jack in the Box. I should have ordered a burger. The new Trio was only okay. After lunch we went shopping for pre-viewed DVDs at Blockbuster. We bought ten interesting videos for $34.
We then took the scenic drive to Day Island to visit our friend, Rita. We left our business card wedged in the front door when we found that she was not home.
Back at the B & B, host Dorinda's husband Denny Vincent had the TV and cable all set up for me. All I had asked for was to have the TV and channel ready for the Huskies game versus Utah (4:00pm). He had it ready for me two hours early.
I helped Peg with her colored pencils and art supplies. She established her base camp on the long dining room table with the natural light streaming in. She was in her own little heaven. I was in mine. I watched USC and Arizona battle it down to the wire and then fretted over the Huskies until they put the game away in the second half. Peg eventually joined me on the couch and napped while I stroked her hair and cheered on the Dawgs. After the game there was time to read before falling asleep for the night.
Joining us at the B & B was a nice couple from the Chicago area, Norita and Steve. I met them Saturday morning at breakfast. Peg had missed them as well as a fantastic breakfast of French Toast. The slices were thick and soaked up the egg and milk mixture overnight. While I drank coffee on Saturday I watched Dorinda melt an entire cube of butter in the microwave and then whisk in what I think was homemade raspberry jam. Her concoction made a wonderfully sweet and tangy syrup that oozed over the egg yellow and toasted brown slices of warm grilled bread.
When Peg came down to join me later Saturday morning, Denny was in the kitchen and he insisted on warming up a plate for Peg. Once she tasted the French Toast on Saturday, there was no way she was going to sleep late on Sunday and miss breakfast.
I was upstairs on the computer on Sunday morning when I heard Dorinda walk into the kitchen directly below me. I soon joined her . . . being both gregarious and curious. Norita and Steve soon joined us and we four watched the breakfast feast unfold. In addition to the raspberry syrup, Dorinda introduced us to her buttermilk syrup. I insist on "real" maple syrup for my pancakes at home. To be polite I had five or six pancakes swimming in multiple squirts of buttermilk syrup. Even the bacon tasted better with the buttermilk. I have a new favorite . . . okay, well two new favorite accompaniments for French Toast and pancakes. Take a look Dorinda's recipe for buttermilk syrup and her Morning Glory Muffins (I ate about six . . . or seven).
We had a great time chatting with Norita, and Steve and then they left to catch planes back to the mid-west. Soon Peg and I regretfully said goodbye to Dorinda and her wonderful food and we left for our north end home.
As we took our bags to the car, Rita called and invited us to stop by. We detoured to Day Island for hugs and then finally headed home.
