Take a hike or a bike ride; write about it, draw a picture of something you see or take a photo; turn it in to an REI store and win a prize – a multi-function whistle that includes a thermometer, magnifier and compass.
Recreation Equipment, Inc. (REI)’s annual Passport to Adventure program is designed to inspire families with kids ages 5 to 12 to participate in outdoor activities. Families can pick up a passport-style adventure journal at REI stores in Seattle, Redmond, Alderwood, Issaquah, Tacoma or Tukwila or download one at www.rei.com/stores/kids_passport.jsp.
In the stores or online, parents find a list of 10 essentials to bring on a hike (drinking water, lunch or snacks, extra clothing layers, map and compass, sunglasses, sunscreen, first-aid kit, insect repellant, whistle and headlight or flashlight) along with expert tips. Each store has a list of recommended hikes and bike rides, including difficulty ratings, descriptions and driving directions.
The five hikes listed for Seattle, Redmond, Alderwood and Issaquah stores are: Tiger Mountain, Boardman Lake, Franklin Falls, Carkeek Park and Twin Falls Trails. The five bike rides are: Alki Beach Trail, Burke-Gilman Trail – Ballard to Gasworks Park, Centennial Trail – Snohomish to Machias, Saint Edward State Park and Snoqualmie Valley Regional Trail.
The four hikes listed for Tacoma and Tukwila are: Squak Mountain, Talapus Lake, Twin Falls and Weyerhauser Headquarters Trails. The four bike rides are Chehalis Western Trail, Cushman Powerline Trail, John Wayne Pioneer Trail at Iron Horse State Park and Foothills Trail – Meeker to McMillin.
