Published: Saturday, July 16, 2011
No need to travel far from home to find new adventures
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CHRIS GOODENOW / Weekly Herald
Enjoy a gorgeous sunset at Brackett's Landing in Edmonds.
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Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Find real grass, real baseball, real close at an Everett AquaSox game at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Summer's here, on the calendar if not in the air, and gas prices are still pushing the $4 mark, so long-distance vacation plans may be taking a back seat to the budget.
But that doesn't mean families can't recharge and refresh close to home.
"There's a pent-up demand of people wanting to get out and explore," said Amy Spain, executive director of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau.
Locals tend to forget what their hometown has to offer, she said. "We live in an incredibly beautiful place. Our eyes get blind to that until visitors come."
Around the block, one town over or a leisurely drive away, here are some options:
Wine tour, Woodinville: Save yourself the 270-mile drive and sample some Walla Walla wines, along with other choices, on the winery loop in Woodinville.
The city boasts more than 80 wineries open for tastings, from large national brands to small boutique selections.
Wineries charge nominal tasting fees but rebate them with a purchase. For maps, hours and descriptions, visit www. woodinvillewinecountry.com.
Beach day, Edmonds: The Edmonds waterfront is home to a boat launch, public parks with beach access, a fishing pier and an underwater dive park.
Visitors can stroll the boardwalk at the Port of Edmonds or ride a Washington state ferry to Kingston, leading to Hood Canal and the Olympic Peninsula.
A variety of bars and restaurants within walking distance dot the Edmonds downtown.
Shopping spree: You know the Alderwood mall in Lynnwood, home to 200 stores from Build-a-Bear to Nordstrom and the new American Girl store, which opens today.
Or head north to the giant Seattle Premium Outlets 110-store complex at Tulalip. All the big names are there from Kenneth Cole to Kate Spade. Take I-5 to Exit 202 (116th St. NE). Turn west to the mall next to the Tulalip Casino.
Market time: Local farmers markets showcase food, flowers and art or craft items from Arlington to Edmonds and many stops in between.
History lesson: The historic Mukilteo Light Station opens its doors every summer to free tours between noon and 5 p.m. The lighthouse abuts Mukilteo Lighthouse Park near the ferry at 608 Front St.
Climb 36 steps for the view. Then hit the park to find a pier perfect for fishing or seal spotting, a boat launch, scuba diving venue plus the beach.
Hit the water, Everett: Whale watching and fishing charter boats launch from Everett's marinas, or settle into your own kayak and paddle over to Jetty Island for sandy beaches, trails and windsurfing.
A free ferry also runs to the jetty from the 10th Street boat launch.
For more wildlife viewing, kayak through the sloughs and rivers of the Ebey Island estuary wetlands.
Sporting about: Ditch the Seattle drive and pricey tickets and instead cheer on future sports stars. The Everett AquaSox, a Mariners affiliate, play at Everett Memorial Stadium.
They also offer a kids baseball camp from Aug. 9 to 11. For more information, see www.aquasox.com.
In the air: The plant where Boeing 747, 777 and 787 Dreamliner airplanes are assembled is the largest building in the world. To tour the Everett plant reserve tickets through 360-756-0086 or purchase them at the Future of Flight Aviation Center. For more information, go to www.futureofflight.org.
Hot air ballooning, flight-seeing and skydiving are offered at Harvey Airfield in Snohomish. See www.harveyfield.com/.
Antiquing, Snohomish: Architecture and antiques are the hallmarks of Snohomish, with more than 300 antiques dealers in town, and a rich mix of turn-of-the-century homes, from Greek revival to English Tudor. The city is listed in the National Historic Register. See www.historicdowntownsnohomish.org/.
Hit the casino, Tulalip: Listen to live music, eat, drink and take your chances at the Tulalip Resort Casino with a variety games, slot machines and live entertainment. Check the best bet at www.tulalipcasino.com/.
A handful of restaurants offers a range of casual to fine dining experiences.
Fair time, Monroe: Eat corndogs and go on thrill rides at The Evergreen State Fair from Aug. 25 to Sept. 5. For more information, see www.evergreenfair.org.
Listen up: The Tulalip Summer Concerts are under way with Jamie Foxx coming up Friday, Spike and the Impalers on July 29, and George Thorogood, Pat Benatar, Smokey Robinson and Kenny Rogers on various dates through August.
The outdoor concerts are at 10400 Quil Ceda Blvd.,Tulalip. For more information go to www.tulalipcasino.com or call 800-745-3000.
Make a day of it with wine, cheese and a concert at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Concerts sell out fast, but you may score tickets for Chris Isaak, Peter Frampton or even Jeff Bridges outdoors on the winery grounds, 14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville. See the website, www.ste-michelle.com for dates, prices and ticket availability.
Need more ideas?
For hiking recommendations, scenic driving routes and a list of attractions by city, visit the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau at www.snohomish.org.
But that doesn't mean families can't recharge and refresh close to home.
"There's a pent-up demand of people wanting to get out and explore," said Amy Spain, executive director of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau.
Locals tend to forget what their hometown has to offer, she said. "We live in an incredibly beautiful place. Our eyes get blind to that until visitors come."
Around the block, one town over or a leisurely drive away, here are some options:
Wine tour, Woodinville: Save yourself the 270-mile drive and sample some Walla Walla wines, along with other choices, on the winery loop in Woodinville.
The city boasts more than 80 wineries open for tastings, from large national brands to small boutique selections.
Wineries charge nominal tasting fees but rebate them with a purchase. For maps, hours and descriptions, visit www. woodinvillewinecountry.com.
Beach day, Edmonds: The Edmonds waterfront is home to a boat launch, public parks with beach access, a fishing pier and an underwater dive park.
Visitors can stroll the boardwalk at the Port of Edmonds or ride a Washington state ferry to Kingston, leading to Hood Canal and the Olympic Peninsula.
A variety of bars and restaurants within walking distance dot the Edmonds downtown.
Shopping spree: You know the Alderwood mall in Lynnwood, home to 200 stores from Build-a-Bear to Nordstrom and the new American Girl store, which opens today.
Or head north to the giant Seattle Premium Outlets 110-store complex at Tulalip. All the big names are there from Kenneth Cole to Kate Spade. Take I-5 to Exit 202 (116th St. NE). Turn west to the mall next to the Tulalip Casino.
Market time: Local farmers markets showcase food, flowers and art or craft items from Arlington to Edmonds and many stops in between.
History lesson: The historic Mukilteo Light Station opens its doors every summer to free tours between noon and 5 p.m. The lighthouse abuts Mukilteo Lighthouse Park near the ferry at 608 Front St.
Climb 36 steps for the view. Then hit the park to find a pier perfect for fishing or seal spotting, a boat launch, scuba diving venue plus the beach.
Hit the water, Everett: Whale watching and fishing charter boats launch from Everett's marinas, or settle into your own kayak and paddle over to Jetty Island for sandy beaches, trails and windsurfing.
A free ferry also runs to the jetty from the 10th Street boat launch.
For more wildlife viewing, kayak through the sloughs and rivers of the Ebey Island estuary wetlands.
Sporting about: Ditch the Seattle drive and pricey tickets and instead cheer on future sports stars. The Everett AquaSox, a Mariners affiliate, play at Everett Memorial Stadium.
They also offer a kids baseball camp from Aug. 9 to 11. For more information, see www.aquasox.com.
In the air: The plant where Boeing 747, 777 and 787 Dreamliner airplanes are assembled is the largest building in the world. To tour the Everett plant reserve tickets through 360-756-0086 or purchase them at the Future of Flight Aviation Center. For more information, go to www.futureofflight.org.
Hot air ballooning, flight-seeing and skydiving are offered at Harvey Airfield in Snohomish. See www.harveyfield.com/.
Antiquing, Snohomish: Architecture and antiques are the hallmarks of Snohomish, with more than 300 antiques dealers in town, and a rich mix of turn-of-the-century homes, from Greek revival to English Tudor. The city is listed in the National Historic Register. See www.historicdowntownsnohomish.org/.
Hit the casino, Tulalip: Listen to live music, eat, drink and take your chances at the Tulalip Resort Casino with a variety games, slot machines and live entertainment. Check the best bet at www.tulalipcasino.com/.
A handful of restaurants offers a range of casual to fine dining experiences.
Fair time, Monroe: Eat corndogs and go on thrill rides at The Evergreen State Fair from Aug. 25 to Sept. 5. For more information, see www.evergreenfair.org.
Listen up: The Tulalip Summer Concerts are under way with Jamie Foxx coming up Friday, Spike and the Impalers on July 29, and George Thorogood, Pat Benatar, Smokey Robinson and Kenny Rogers on various dates through August.
The outdoor concerts are at 10400 Quil Ceda Blvd.,Tulalip. For more information go to www.tulalipcasino.com or call 800-745-3000.
Make a day of it with wine, cheese and a concert at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Concerts sell out fast, but you may score tickets for Chris Isaak, Peter Frampton or even Jeff Bridges outdoors on the winery grounds, 14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville. See the website, www.ste-michelle.com for dates, prices and ticket availability.
Need more ideas?
For hiking recommendations, scenic driving routes and a list of attractions by city, visit the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau at www.snohomish.org.
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