Audio tours offer voices of past and present

Northwest Heritage Resources offers two new audio tours, one for the northern half of the Cascade Loop Highway and one for Whidbey Island.

The Heritage Tour series offers narrated audio guides along various routes through Washington state. The tours point out natural sites, places of historic interest and introduces listeners to people along the route.

Ease the CD into your car player and take a drive.

In the audio tour of Whidbey Island, you’ll hear Norwegian and Dutch musical traditions, American Indian Coast Salish songs, Croatian American music from Anacortes, Hispanic songs from the Skagit Valley, bluegrass music from towns along the Skagit River and songs you might hear on a horse-packing adventure.

Whidbey Island is 47 miles of the western end of the Cascade Loop Highway. Whidbey can be reached by ferry from the south and by car (over the Deception Pass bridge) from the north.

“The focus of our Whidbey Island audio tour guide is on the cultural heritage and traditional art forms that you’ll find on the island,” said Executive Director Jill Linzee. “Our intention has been to capture some of the local narratives and music, and to give listeners a sense of the culture of the island — past and present.”

Some of the voices come from families who have lived for up to four generations on Whidbey, some who have lived there for all or most of their adult life, and others who are relative newcomers. The audio tour begins at the south end of Whidbey in Clinton, where visitors arrive at the ferry dock. From there it travels north along Highway 525, which then connects with Highway 20 at the north end of Greenbank. Following Highway 20, the tour continues north to the far northern end of the island and concludes at Deception Pass State Park.

The Whidbey Island audio tour is one CD accompanied by a 20-page booklet of liner notes.

Other tours to purchase include Leavenworth to Maryhill; Richland to Clarkston; the Olympic Peninsula Loop; Seattle to Vancouver; Seattle to Blaine; Seattle to Spokane; Cascade Loop, South; and Anacortes via North Cascades National Park to Chelan.

They sell for $9.95 to $17.95 plus postage and handling.

For more information, call 206-306-1181 or email jill@NorthwestHeritageResources.org. The website is www.northwest heritageresources.org/.

The Lights of Christmas, south of Stanwood, offered “Pay What You Can” nights allowing guests to pay what they wished to enter.

“We wanted to do something for people who could otherwise not be able to afford the regular admission price,” said Ed McDowell, executive director.

Two such nights were Dec. 1 and 19. The final “Pay What You Can” is planned for Wednesday, the last night of the Lights.

On opening night, Dec. 1, 1,800 folks took advantage of the offer. Usually, they expect less than 1,000 guests for the opener.

On Dec. 19, more than 8,000 visitors turned up and they closed the gates at 9:15 p.m. with more waiting.

“It might be spurred by the tight economic times we live in,” said Director of Operations David Kanehen.

Two off-duty Snohomish County sheriffs directed traffic on the big attendance night, the largest in 15 years of Lights.

Director Tom Larsen with Columbia College in Everett and Marysville said many students are not able to attend their graduation ceremony because they may be on deployment or traveling for work.

“Columbia has created a way that they can attend a graduation ceremony,” Larsen said. “Not the same as participating in a real graduation ceremony, but at least they know that CC recognizes their accomplishment.”

They offer a virtual commencement with speeches and videos. Their names are read as if they attended the actual ceremony.

Loved ones may post notes of congratulations for any student they wish, and students can share their successes via social media.

For more information, go to www.ccis.edu/virtualcommencement.

Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451; oharran@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.