Seattle Vacation Ideas

If you’re looking for a crowd-free vacation destination with a great climate, Harrison, Idaho, which is perched on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, could be your spot. I actually just got back from a week spent in a rustic cabin over there. We were right on the lake with our own dock, and the nicely paved Trail of the Couer d’Alenes ran right past our yard.

A former railroad track, the 72-mile bicycle trail is popular with bicyclers, skaters, and walkers. But when I say “popular,” I mean by Idaho standards. If you’re used to the heavy use of the Burke Gilman Trail in Seattle, you’ll be pleased by the sparse population on this one. On weekday evenings when we went out to walk the dogs or roller blade, it wasn’t uncommon to see only one or two people the whole hour we were out there. It was, however, common to see deer, muskrats, chipmunks, and other wildlife heading down to drink at the lake in the evenings.

Though Harrison itself isn’t anything to write home about (one of those former logging towns that has since turned all its brothels and pubs into more tourist-oriented fudge shops, bicycle rental stores, and restaurants), the campground there is lovely. Though we were staying in a cabin, I thought it’d be nice to take an RV out there next time. The campground is right on the marina, and the trail I mentioned runs right behind it. Rent a boat, swim in the lake, go for a bicycle ride, or just kick around the one-horse town.

Harrison, Idaho is quite a drive from Seattle (about 6 hours), but it’s worth it if you can get away for a week, and you’re tired of the crowds. And if you’re a bicycler, you will love that trail.

http://www.harrisonidaho.org/

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 live north of Seattle and you’re looking for things to do without battling traffic all day on I-5, perhaps Everett has your answers. I know, I know, Everett isn’t exactly known as the hippest and most happening place in the Puget Sound area, but you really can find some wonderful places to visit within the city limits.

For instance, the 2.4 acre Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens is a pleasant place in which to wander. It’s tucked into the west side of Everett’s Legion Park. A lot of people don’t know about it, so don’t expect the crowds you get in many of Seattle’s parks and gardens.

Enjoy the views of Puget Sound as you wander through the various areas such as the Conifer Garden, the Dahlia Garden, the Japanese Maple Grove, the Woodland Garden, and the Urban Tree Walk (check the arboretum’s web site for pictures of these gardens and other sites in the park). While you’re there, you can swipe ideas for your home garden or just take a picnic and enjoy strolling through the natural surroundings.

The Evergreen Arboretum is open daily from dawn to 10 p.m. and admission is free.

http://www.evergreenarboretum.com

If you enjoy the smell of lavender and you like taking the ferry over to Vashion Island, then here’s a day trip for you: lavender picking at Fox Farm.

The Fifth Annual Vashion Island Lavender Celebration will run the weekend of July 7th and 8th 2007. Some of the events include U-pick lavender, a table with activities for children, and lectures and demonstrations on lavender cultivation, cooking with lavender, harvesting and drying the flower, and other related topics.

Local artists will be around for the event, so you can peruse artwork for sale. You can also buy sachets, lavender plants, and other lavender-related products during the event. Also food booths will dot the premises (and in keeping with the theme, chances are there will be some tasty treats that feature lavender). Of course, the farm offers numerous benches and open lawns for picnicking if you want to bring your own food.

The celebration will run from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and more details should be up on the farm’s site soon:

http://www.foxfarm.org

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.

For some people, the ideal day trip involves getting outdoors and exercising. For others, a day off means time to shop. If you’re in the latter camp (or just like to do both), then you may enjoy the discounts and variety you can find at outlet stores.

There are a handful of outlet malls in the Seattle area that you can visit. They are outside the city limits, but some have other recreational opportunities nearby, and you could make a whole day-trip of it.

For example, the outlets in North Bend are close to the mountains with nice hikes within a couple of freeway exits. The Tulalip stores close to Marysville feature casinos a stone’s throw away (just in case you don’t spend enough money while you’re shopping).

Here are the addresses of some of the Seattle-area outlet malls:

Seattle Premium Outlets
10600 Quil Ceda Blvd.
Tulalip WA 98271
(360) 654-3000
Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm

Factory Stores at North Bend
461 South Fork Avenue SW
North Bend WA 98045
(425) 888-4505
Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm

Centralia Factory Outlets
1342 Lum Road
Centralia WA 38531
(360) 736-3327
Mon-Sat 9am - 6pm, Sun 10am - 6pm

Prime Outlets - Burlington
448 Fashion Way
Burlington WA 98233
(360) 757-3548
Monday - Saturday,10am - 9pm Sunday, 11am - 6pm

There ya go. Whether you want to head north, south, or east (I guess folks on the peninsula are out of luck), shopping opportunities abound.

In Seattle, if you’re around any festivals, you know Seafair is the Granddaddy of them all.  Portland’s own summer festivities can be found in the Rose Festival.  For me, one of the more interesting things about a city is it’s history.  If you’re headed to Portland in the next couple weeks, you might consider checking out the History & Roses tour here.  Cost varies, but you can get a discount book for $5, it includes admission discounts at some of the locations, and food or merchandise discounts at others.  I’d want to check out the rose & historical houses parts of the tour.  I’m also curious about the hat museum and might have to visit that when I’m next in town.

Truly one of the best ways to appreciate the landscape of Seattle and western Washington is to take a seaplane tour.  If you’re not familiar with a seaplane, it’s a small, (usually 2-8 seat) plane that has pontoons on the bottom so it lands and takes off from the water!  This kind of plane can take you into locations that no one else can.  Believe me, there is a certain thrill to taking off from the water that you just don’t get in a normal plane.  In order to hear the pilot, you’ll end up wearing headphones like you see in old movies to block out some of the noise from the propellers.  This is one experience I think that everyone should have in their lifetime. 

Kenmore Air has departures out of Lake Union 4-5 times per day for a 20-minute tour of the bustling downtown waterfront, Ballard locks, the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, University of Washington campus, waterfront homes, and Green Lake. Cost is $78/person.  Click here for more informtaion:  http://www.kenmoreair.com/sub_content.php?content_type=33

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

Where can you see black bears, cougars, bison, mountain goats, porcupines, toads, and salamanders all in the same place? Well, probably at the zoo, but if you want to see these creatures in something closer to their natural habitat, check out Northwest Trek.

As their about page says, the 723-acre park has a little bit of everything: lakes, trails, meadows, and plenty of animals. Northwest Trek is home to more than 200 North American animals, which roam about the lands instead of being locked in small cages.

Admission costs $13.50 for adults and includes a 55-minute tram tour of the park. When you’re done, you’re free to cruise the walking trails, which meander through forest and wetlands. Stop to listen to a Keeper Talk on subjects such as wolf packs or owl habits when you want to take a break and rest for a bit. When you get hungry, there’s a cafe on site, or you can bring your own lunch to the picnics areas. Just don’t feed the bears…

Northwest Trek is 55 miles south of Seattle on the way to Mt. Rainier National Park.

http://www.nwtrek.org