Seattle Vacation Ideas

My sister has taken a job with a transportation/bike planning agency in Portland so I’m curious about biking resources right now.  The city of Portland is touted as one of the top biking cities in the nation, with lots and lots of bike paths, and it is considerably flatter than Seattle.The city suggests some nice bike touring routes to the coast if you want to take a side-trip from Portland.  These trips run 70-100 miles, so they aren’t short rides.  Riders who are in good shape and used to distance riding might find these good overnight trips.  To get out of the city, you take Portland’s regional transit system to Hillsboro, one of the western suburbs and start your trips from there.  Apparently, there is no additional fare to bring your bike on the MAX light rail, so you’re in luck there!  Think about booking a Bed & Breakfast on the coast, (or half-way out if you’re not up for the 100 mile ride).http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=39889

Lots of people enjoy planned trail systems.  There are several extended trail systems in the state including the Cascade Ridge trail, and some of the urban rails-to-trails like the Burke-Gilman/Lake Sammamish River Trail. Not as many people are familiar with the Cascadia Marine trail, however, a water-craft only trail that offers camping and boating.  It starts from the north end of the sound and stretches over 140 miles to the Olympia area. This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. The boat-trail is aimed at non-motorized craft and includes over 50 camping sites.  Some are free, others require reservations and prepayments.  The site Washington Water Trails Association provides additional information about exploring this unique water trail.   http://www.wwta.org/trails/CMT/index.asp

Looking for something to do on the next sunny weekend? Why not head up to Mount Rainer National Park for a day hike?

The park offers many trails to choose from. You can find advanced hikes for the experienced outdoor athlete, or trails suitable for beginners who just want to head out to enjoy the sun and see some wildlife.

In the Longmire area, you can find the easy .7 mile Trail of the Shadows, a loop trail that runs through forest and meadow and can be walked in a half hour or less, or you can hit the 4.6 mile steep Rampart Ridge loop trail that travels through forests and breaks out to offer ridge top views (give yourself 2 and a half hours for this one). Notice I highlight the loop trails. I don’t know about you, but I love going full circle instead of coming back the same way (the way back always seems so much longer…).

Some other popular spots with hikes in the Mt. Rainer National Park include Paradise Area, Ohanapecosh (say that five times quickly without tripping your tongue…), Sunrise, and the Carbon/Mowich Area.

To look up trail conditions and get more specifics on the hikes, visit the park service’s day hikes page:

http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/day-hikes.htm

The mounds in this picture are from the 445-acre Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, and they’re interesting enough to justify a road trip down past Olympia.

The Mima Mounds are 4- to 6-foot-high mounds, whose origins have puzzled scientists for years. There used to be nearly a million of the odd little mounds spread across 30,000 acres of prairie. The creation of the preserve has saved some of them for our viewing.

If you’re wondering where the Mima Mounds came from, there are numerous theories. Perhaps they were formed after Ice Age glaciers retreated and the subsequent period of thawing and freezing caused cracks and bulges in the earth. Maybe aliens had something to do with their creation. Or maybe the mounds were created by lots and lots of gophers.

If you want to investigate for yourself, you can get to the preserve via I-5 exit 95, which is south of Olympia. Drive four miles to Littlerock, head through town, and then turn right on Waddell Creek Road. The entrance to the preserve is on the left and is open all year around.

Once there, enjoy a stroll through the mounds. A half mile nature trail is paved for wheelchair access, but for more mileage, take advantage of the unpaved loop trails. If you hit them, you can get about a five-mile walk. Leave your pets at home, though, as dogs and horses aren’t allowed.

More articles:

http://www.wintersteel.com/Mima_Mounds.html
http://www.meta-religion.com/Archaeology/Northamerica/mysterious_mima_mounds.htm

If you fancy a road trip this summer, you can pile the kids into the minivan and head to Hell’s Canyon, which straddles the border of Oregon and Idaho, just below the southeast corner of Washington. I drove through it this weekend on my way to Boise, and it looks like a great place for some outdoor adventures. I passed quite a few river rafting outfits and fishing spots, and today I checked out the web to see what else there is to do.

The recreation area features three rivers which are designated Wild and Scenic: the Snake, Imnaha, and Rapid rivers. Hell’s Canyon has a claim to fame as the deepest river gorge in North America.

Some of the activities in the area include the afore mentioned rafting and fishing, camping and picnicking, and almost 900 miles of trails suitable for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The towns nearby aren’t very populous, so if you’re looking for a place to get away from the crowds, chances are you can find some private wilderness here.

If you enjoy learning opportunities, there are also spots that offer educational site seeing: “Discover rural life in America with vibrant turn-of-the-century historic districts. Explore the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill, near Baker City. Marvel at bronze sculptures at foundries in Joseph.”

If you’d like to know more about the area without all the effort involved in reading (heh), here’s a link to a video on Hell’s Canyon: Cradle of the Snake. More links and information (for those who don’t mind reading) are available on the USDA Forest Service site.

Now that the warm days of summer have made an appearance, you may be looking for ways to get out of a hot stuffy house and cool off. Sure, you can head down to the local swimming pool, but if you’re looking for more adventure, why not try river rafting?

There are places in the Puget Sound area where you can find suitable rivers, but if you’re planning a trip and you want a better shot at sun and warmth, you might try heading over to the Yakima River.

The river meanders through Cle Elum, Ellensburg, and Yakima, where the summer climate tends to be hotter and dryer than back in Seattle. Depending on the section of the river, it is considered a Class 1 or a Class 2 trip. There are plenty of spots where novices can enjoy a lazy float.

If it’s your first time river rafting, or you’re going with a group, you may consider signing up for a tour. If you sign up with Rill Adventures, located in Thorp, WA, you get the raft, gear (floatation devices, paddles, and pump), picnic lunch, and delivery–basically everything you need to enjoy a day out on the water. (Well, you’ll have to bring your own sunblock.)

Prices start just under $90 for 4 people. But if you know someone with a raft already, there’s no reason you can’t make this trip for free.

http://www.rillsonline.com/riverrafting.html

Lunch on a raft, with a chance to observe the rugged scenery of the north Cascades?  Stopping off for a picnic lunch and wine tasting at the Glacier Peak Winery? Sounds like a nice way to spend the day to me. 

This 8-10 mile float covers the area where you will be able to view the best scenery. The trip takes about 4 hours and is suitable for all ages (6 and up) as there is no white water.  Bring your cameras for the many photo opportunities.

The trips depart from Rockport, on Highway 20, about 2.5 hours north of Seattle.  Prices haven’t been updated since December, and the web page talks about items from last fall, but I just saw an ad for these guys through a local excursion catalogue, so I know they’re still in operation.

http://www.pacificnwfloattrips.com/Skagit%20River%20Float%20with%20Wine%20Tasting.htm

If it’s been a while (or ever) since you spent quality time with a llama, maybe now is the time. Or rather, the weekend of June 22-24, 2007 is the time. That’s when you can attend the annual Backcountry Llama Rendezvous and Drive-in.

Hosted at the Emigrant Springs Campground in Oregon State Park (26 miles SE of Pendleton just off I-84), the llama lovers get-together is designed to educate folks about llamas in a fun way. If you’re a llama owner, you can bring your llama, but newcomers are invited to come as well. If you have kids who are interested in animals (what kids aren’t?), this could be a fun family adventure.

Some of the weekend’s activities include a movie night (they’re showing a National Geographic flick that’s related to the festivities, I’m sure) with all-you-can-eat popcorn and homemade root beer, a seminar on backcountry camping, a GPS treasure hunt, llama races, and a demonstration on “how to track and locate your pack llama(s) in the wilderness if he/she runs off or wanders away.” I imagine the latter event is most popular with actual llama owners, but it’d be fun to watch even if you’re not planning on bringing any new pack animals home to your suburban backyard.

More information at Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch.

If you’re a Seattlite who enjoys the outdoors, you’ve doubtlessly trod, skated, or biked upon the popular Burke Gilman Trail. Its popularity translates into crowded pavement whenever the sun comes out, which forces you to weave your way around (or be passed by) scads of bikers, skaters, joggers, and parents pushing baby strollers. True, it’s not nearly as crowded as Green Lake, but on those warm summer days, all the “on your left”s can grow trying after a while.

That’s why I offer up an alternative for those willing to drive north of the city: the Centennial Trail (note the extreme lack of people in this picture).

The 6-foot wide paved trail runs from the town of Snohomish north to Arlington, and I’ve yet to find a crowded day on it. This less densely populated part of Puget Sound just doesn’t draw as many people as the Burke Gilman Trail, which is a big part of its charm. The scenery is another perk.

Little of the trail passes through urban areas, so the traffic noise is forgotten, and there are few streets you need to cross. Instead you’ll see lots and lots of trees and the occasional pastoral farm as you travel. Since the trail was paved in the last couple years (a former railroad, it has a nice smooth grade), there aren’t any bulging roots and cracked pavement to navigate either–it’s wonderfully smooth for inline skaters.

The only downside is you’re not going to find a 7-11, Jamba Juice, or coffee hut near its borders (okay, there are a few places in Snohomish, and the old rail station in Machias has a soda vending machine), so bring your own drinks and snacks when you come.

For a list of access points, visit the county’s site: Centennial Trail

One of my favorite times of year is to go and visit all of the blooms that finally get a chance to show off after months of gloom.  Because I’m not much of a gardener, or more of a wannabe gardener, I find myself drawn to big, showy flower displays, often with camera in hand.

If you like lilacs you might want to take a drive down to the Lilac Gardens in  Woodland Washington.  http://www.lilacgardens.com/directns.html.  They’re having a Lilac Festival through Mother’s Day. (Sunday, May 13, 2007) and admission is $2, according to the website.

Like Rhodies, the Washington State Flower? Try Pt. Defiance or the Rhodendron Species Garden in Federal Way.

There are also numerous Oriental Gardens, Rose Gardens, Arboretums and more spread throughout the region.