Northwest Gold Coast

Out on the wildlife rich waters of the San Juan Islands in Washington State,  owner and tour guide Tim Thomsen leads a group of kayak enthusiasts as they take in the breathtaking sights of the regions Orca whales, porpoises, otters, bald eagles and other wildlife.

San Juan Kayak Expeditions, now in its 30^th season – resides in the picturesque town of Friday Harbor, Washington.  Specializing in multi-day tours, these sea excursions offer 3 and 4 day coastal and island adventures.  These trips blend various outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking and kayak sailing into one exciting adventure.  Each trip spends a day and a half in Orca whale territory, giving you the most up-close and personal encounter with the whales.   If a guided tour is not what you’re seeking, top-of-the-line fiberglass, double sea kayak rentals and gear are available if you prefer to venture out on your own.   Kayak rentals are also available for larger groups for reunions, families, scout troops and educational groups. 

Sea Kayak Sailing is another exciting activity, exclusive to San Juan Kayak Expeditions.  Specially designed and patented, created by the company’s owner, this sail can enhance your speeds at sea from three to eight knots.  This exhilarating sport has been incorporated into the kayak expeditions for the last ten years, and given the right weather conditions, sea kayak sailing can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life.

If you’re looking for that perfect outdoor adventure, one that is truly unique and one-of-a-kind, come and check out San Juan Kayak Expeditions.  It’s a trip you’ll talk about for years to come.

For more info on these amazing San Juan Island coastal tours and how you can book your own trip, visit: www.sanjuankayak.com

Tags: Around Seattle, Northwest Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation, Sports, Travel by Michelle Leonard
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Tukwila Days Festival
What: Music, art, food and fun, games, entertainment, arts and crafts, vendor booths, kids activities.
Admission and most activities are free
Where: Tukwila Community Center
When: August 21, 2010, activities start at 8am
For more info: www.ci.tukwila.wa.us

K-9 Karnival
What: An event for dogs and their families, including dog crafts, the silly dog show, a bone hunt, vendors and the annual ‘lap it up’ ice cream contest.
Where: Federal Way’s Steel Lake Park
When: Sept. 11th, 12pm start time
For more info: http://www.cityoffederalway.com

Northwest Washington Fair
What: Fair that features carnival, agriculture displays, draft-house exhibits, vendors, live concerts and food.
Where: Western Washington Fairgrounds, 1775 Front St, Lyndon
When: August 13th thru the 18th
For more info: www.northwestwashingtonfair.org

100th Anniversary of Pike Place Market
What: This event marks the 100th anniversary of Seattle’s Pike Place Market with festivities and activities all throughout the day, including an evening concert and fireworks.
Where: Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle
When: Tuesday, August 17th
For more info: www.pikeplacemarket.org

Duwamish River Festival
What: This FREE festival features live music, water-taxi rides, food, kids activities, and health information.
Where: Duwamish River Park, 10th Ave S. and S. Kenyon St. Seattle
When: Wednesday, August 18th
For more info: www.duwamishcleanup.org

Bicycle Sunday
What: This scenic bike ride offers beautiful views as a chance to ride with routes closed to motorized traffic.
Where: Start at Lake Washington Blvd S. and ends in Seward Park
When: Sunday, August 19th 9am-6pm
For more info: http://www.seattle.gov/

Washington State International Kite Festival
What: One of the world’s largest kite festivals, with competition vendors, night kite flying and fireworks.
Where: Long Beach, WA – beachfront on Ocean Blvd and Bolstad Ave.
For more info: http://kitefestival.com

Evergreen State Fair
What: This annual Washington Fair features carnival, exhibits, concerts, contests, rodeo, food, monster truck show and much more.
Where: Evergreen State Fair Grounds, Monroe WA
When: Starts Thursday, August 26th thru Monday, September 6th
For more info: www.evergreenfair.org/

Bumbershoot
What: Seattle’s Music and Arts Festival features all types of live music, comedy, theater, visual arts, and dance and performances.
Where: Seattle Center, downtown Seattle
When: Sept. 4th thru 6th
For More info: http://bumbershoot.org

Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival
What: This local festival features a parade, food, art and lots of entertainment for the whole family.
Where: Mukilteo Lighthouse Park, 609 Front Street and Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave
When: Sept. 10th thru 12th
For more Info: www.mukilteolighthousefestival.com

The Puyallup Fair
What: Washington’s biggest country fair with carnival rides, concerts, food, 4-H animals, rodeo, exhibits and so much more.
Where: The Puyallup Fair Grounds in Puyallup, WA
When: Sept 10th thru 26th
For more info: www.thefair.com

Tags: Around Seattle, Events, Outdoor Recreation by admin
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Free Play Fridays: Factoria’s Kids Quest Children’s Museum is offering FREE admission for kids ages 10 and under on Fridays from 5-8pm. Lots of fun activities including tree house exploration, water play, and much more. For more info on this special deal as well as museum hours and admission, go to: www.kidsquestmuseum.org/

Bastyr University Herb and Food Fair: The 12^th annual healthful-living event features lectures, cooking demonstrations and guided walks with live music and plenty of activities to keep kids busy. June 5^th |  10am-5pm. Cost is FREE. For more info: http://bastyr.edu/

Maritime Gig Festival: Start off the day with a pancake breakfast between 8-11am and stay for the parade at 10am along Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor. Lots of kids activities including a fishing pond, bouncy house and entertainment. Most activities are FREE.  June 5^th 8am-10pm | June 6^th 7am-4:30pm. For more info go to:  http://www.maritimegig.com/

BlueFish Festival: Got teenagers? Looking for something fun and FREE for them to do? Saturday, June 12th, the BlueFish Festival  for  teens  features features a teen art show, local teen bands and a BBQ with other activities.  For more info on this Kirkland WA event: http://www.ktub.org/

Father’s Day Workshops for Kids: All Michaels stores, including the Tukwila location will be having free father’s day craft workshops for kids ages 3 and up. Activities start Saturday,  June 12^th from 10-2pm and Sunday, June 13^th from 1-3pm. Craft time also ongoing that week through the 18^th of June.  For more info on projects, locations and exact times, go to: http://www.michaels.com

Edmonds Arts Festival: Come celebrate Father’s Day weekend at Edmond’s 53^rd annual art festival.  Friday, June 18^th 11am-9pm | Saturday June 19^th, 10am-8pm | Sunday 20^th 10am-6pm | This event is FREE and offers activities for the entire family with a kids creative corner for clay handbuilding, frog crafts and Bubbleman Gary Golightly ( Sunday 1pm).  Many booths of fine arts and crafts for adults and free shuttle.  For more info on this event, go to: www.edmondsartsfestival.com/

Fremont Fair: Enjoy the outdoors at Seattle’s Fremont Fair. | Saturday, June 19^th 10am-8pm | Sunday, June 20^th 11am-6pm | The fairs first few hours entail a Solstice parade, but throughout the rest of the weekend you can enjoy booths of food, plenty of people watching, music and performances.  This event takes place on North 35^th and North Canal Streets.  For more info on this FREE event, as well as a link to map and transit info, go to: www.fremontfair.org/events.php

Fenders on Front Street: As part of Issaquah’s annual Greenway Days, this special event is one many dads won’t want to miss.  Check out all the cool cars parked along Front Street in Issaquah and listen to tunes by local bands as well as watch cars cruise Front Street at 3pm. This is a FREE event for all ages on Sunday, June 20^th | 8am-3pm | For more info: www.fendersonfrontstreet.com/

Wild Strawberry Festival: Burien’s Strawberry Festival is packed full of family fun , activities and entertainment.  An eclectic lineup of musicians and performances with a car show, bike fair, skate board competition and hands-on booths with games and an amazing inflatable village for all ages. This year’s festival will be in a new location in the Town Square Park on 152^nd and 5^th.  Saturday June 19^th 10am-6pm | Sunday 20^th 10am-5pm | For more info on this event and all the activities it offers, go to: http://burienwa.gov

4^th of July parade: The city of Burien is hosting their 89^th annual Independence Day parade. Sunday  | July 4^th | 3pm.  The parade begins at Ambaum Blvd. SW and SW 149^th and admission is FREE. This is a fun and festive parade to enjoy for the entire family. Get there early to ensure a good seat for viewing.  For more info on this event, go to: www.swkcc.org

Tukwila Family 4^th: Celebrate this 4^th of July at Fort Dent Park in Tukwila. Kids activities begin at 2pm with inflatable bouncers and a tent full of activities for preschoolers.  So much to do for the entire family and picnic areas will be open with BBQ’s allowed in designated areas as well as food available from vendors. Fireworks begin at 10pm sharp.  Parking is limited so plan accordingly. For more info on this holiday event, go to: http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us

Red White & Blues Festival: The city of Federal Way is having a family 4^th of July festival at Celebration Park.  Festival includes hot dog eating contest, arm wrestling tournament, interactive arts for the kids and fun family games. There will also be live entertainment beginning at 6pm. Fireworks display starts at 10:15pm.  For more info on this event, go to: www.cityoffederalway.com/

4^th of July Fun Run: The city of Normandy Park is celebrating this years’  4^th of July with their 7^th annual  2.8K fun run, parade and ice cream social. Arrive at Marvista Elementary by 10am to participate.  Enter the bike decorating contest and prizes will be awarded for the best patriotic decorations. Parade starts at 10:30am and ends with a free ice cream social, hot dogs, beverages, popcorn, sno-cones, music , a car show and inflatables for the kids. For more info on this event, go to: http://www.ci.normandy-park.wa.us/

Tags: Around Seattle, Events by admin
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Spring Fair: Spring is in the air at the Puyallup Fair grounds, April 15th-18th with free entertainment, music, comedy, Slamfest Demo derby, garden show, science fair, rides, and of course the fabulous food. For more info on admission, hours and parking go to: www.thefair.com 

Spring Festival and Downtown Poker Run: Renton invites you to celebrate spring and “Earth Week” at the 8th Annual Spring Festival in the Piazza. Enjoy music and entertainment and kid’s activities. Shop arts and crafts vendors and the Piazza Attic rummage sale. Admission is free.  April 17th | 12-5pm. For more info: http://rentonwa.gov

World Rhythm Festival: Seattle’s World Rhythm Festival is 3 days packed with a vast range of world music traditions including Middle-Eastern, African, Indian, Latin, Brazilian, North American and more. There will be over 100 performances and drum and dance workshops. Admission is free. Festival runs April 23rd-25th. For more info: www.swps.org

Kids Crafty Saturday: Bellevue Arts Museum has a fun activity for kids where you can make your own window stickers. Saturday | April 24th | 1-3pm. Cost is $2. to cover materials, or FREE with admission. For more info: www.bellevuearts.org

Fun’ Raiser: A FREE family-friendly event in Graham at Frontier Park | Saturday | April 24^th | 10am-3pm.  This mini fair features horses, dogs, cavies, cats, crafts, photography, and performing arts. Proceeds from this event benefit Pierce County 4-H.  For more info:  www.pierce.wsu.edu

Nile Shrine Circus: The Shrine Circus is coming to Kent’s ShoWare Center Center Friday, April 23^rd-Sunday, April 25^th.  Come see Elephants, Tigers, clowns and more in this 3 ring circus and high wire act. For more info on show times and ticket prices, go to: http://tickets.showarecenter.com

Pottery sale: Moshier Community Art Center in Burien is having their pottery sale which only happens twice a year. Don’t miss the chance to browse and purchase beautiful pottery pieces and handmade wares. Come early for the best selection. Saturday | May 1st, 2010 | 10am-3pm | Moshier Arts Center at 430 S. 156th. For more info: www.burienparks.net:

Northwest National Park Family Day:  Seattle’s Seward Park community is hosting a fun and free family event full of activities geared toward children and those unfamiliar with national parks of the NW.  Meet Park Rangers and enjoy lots of hands-on educational activities and fun.  Sunday | May 2^nd | 10am-3pm.  For more info:  http://www.npca.org/

Burien Farmers Market: The city of Burien’s Farmers Market starts off the spring season on May 6th, 2010, running every Thursday through October from 11am-6pm in the Burien Town Square on 5th and SW 152nd Street. 40-50 vendors each week will be selling produce, handmade goods and fresh baked products. For more info: www.discoverburien.com

Mom and Me at the Zoo: Woodland Park Zoo’s annual Mom and Me at the Zoo is coming Saturday, May 8th | 9:30am-3:30pm. Admission is FREE with any past Mom and Me at the Zoo tee-shirt, old or new or even if it no longer fits…admission is free. Regular priced admission applies to those without a shirt. For more info: www.zoo.org 

Backyard Wildlife Festival: This free all-day event at Tukwila’s Community Center hopes to inspire and educate people to welcome wildlife. May 8th | 9am-3pm | Come learn about birds, butterflies and other wildlife with a variety of activities and educational opportunities. For more info: www.ci.tukwila.wa.us

Tags: Around Seattle, Events by admin
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If you are looking for something to do in the greater Seattle Puget Sound region, Seattle Attractions has over 27 places to visit that tourists and locals can enjoy.

Seattle Attractions features year round activities  such as the 22,000 square foot Children’s Museum, Museum of Flight  (thier self-guided tour leads you to over 85 historic  air and space craft exhibits), the Experience Music Project, Washington State Ferries, Kenmore Air, Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art,  dining, sports attractions and more.  

You’ll also  find family-friendly outdoor activities  such as Woodland Park Zoo,  Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, local tours & cruises of Seattle’s waterfront, North West Trek Wildlife Park that offers a tram tour in this beautiful 435 acre natural habitat.  

This city guide can help you plan your event and give you the needed information for each attraction.   It gives you incite on great deals, an events calendar, visitor information and  a Seattle’s Favorite Attractions Coupon Book that has special offers  for every attraction listed above and more!

To find out more about Seattle Attractions, call 1-877-885-9452, or go online and visit their website at www.seattleattractions.com

Tags: Around Seattle, Services, Travel by Michelle Leonard
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Tillicum Village is the perfect place for a daycation in Seattle, Washington. If you ever wondered where to take your family or friends for entertainment, and let them experience the life of Northwest Native Americans, Tillicum Village’s four-hour adventure tour is the answer. This journey begins with an eight-mile cruise to Blake Island. Fine weather offers magnificent views of beautiful Seattle and Elliott Bay, and the Cascade Mountain Range. Upon arriving you will be served with white steaming clams in nectar broth as an appetizer. Then, you will watch as whole Chinook salmon are cooked over an alder-wood fire on cedar stakes in the traditional Northwest Coast Indian buffet style. Guests are treated to a meal of award winning salmon. As you finish the exotic meal, you will be ready to watch a performance featuring Northwest Coast Native American dances. It is a mythical and magical show, a true highlight of your visit at Tillicum Village. Finally, the four-hour adventure tour wraps up with watching carving demonstrations in the longhouse, strolling around the village, and visiting their art gallery. The comprehensive four-hour package tour allows you to experience the entire adventure, select activities are also available at varying rates. Tillicum Village tours run daily May through September. Share the adventure, by adding a Tillicum Village’s gift certificate to your must-get list.

For more information: http://www.tillicumvillage.com/index.html

Tags: Around Seattle, Outdoor Recreation by Oksu Ellis
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Seattle Southside – The Pacific Northwest Starts Here!

Just 15 minutes south of downtown Seattle and a world away from downtown prices, Seattle Southside offers Seattle visitor information with something for everyone – a variety of affordable accommodations, more than 75 quality restaurants, over 5 million square feet of shopping and the world-renowned Museum of Flight.

Start your Pacific Northwest adventure here at www.seattlesouthside.com.

Tags: Around Seattle, Services, Travel by admin
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Whether you are looking to enjoy Alki Beach and its spectacular view of downtown Seattle, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains from the land or water, Alki Kayak Tours has something to offer.   Walk up to the Seacrest Boathouse located at Alki Crab and Fish (1660 Harbor Avenue SW Seattle, WA 98126) to secure kayak tours, kayak classes or inline skate, bicycle, skateboard or fishing boat rentals.

Alki Kayak Tours provides five featured tours, offered daily, prices ranging from $39-$199.    

• Alki Lighthouse Sea Kayak Tour takes you to Seattle’s historic lighthouse at Alki Point as well as to Elliot Bay.    
• Duwamish River Birding and Wildlife Tour is available when heavy winds are present and features Seattle’s river life including otters, bald eagles, heron, salmon and so forth.    
• Seattle Sunset Sea Kayak Tour begins two hours before sunset and is a great romantic adventure which features an unforgettable Seattle skyline!  
• Blake Island Overnight Kayak Tour is the ultimate Alki Kayak tour which includes kayaking along Alki Beach and across the Puget Sound to Blake Island, hiking through Blake Island’s beautiful forests and an all inclusive camping experience.    
• In addition to these tours, Alki Kayak offers custom tours for family getaways, wedding parties, youth groups or businesses.

Kayak lessons are available on Thursday nights for basic instruction or Wednesday nights for more advanced training such as how to cartwheel your kayak and self rescue.

In addition to kayak tours, Alki Kayak provides rentals of kayaks, inline skates, skateboards, bicycles and fishing boats.

To learn more about Alki Kayak Tours, visit their website at www.kayakalki.com.

Tags: Around Seattle, Outdoor Recreation by admin
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Simply Thai III Executive Chef Nitha Moore prepares her dishes with precision. Not with the typical precision that most cooks understand – precise measurements according to a written recipe. Rather, she selects the best possible ingredients and assembles them adding only one ingredient at a time in a precise order at a precise temperature to a precise spot in a large wok. Observing her work is similar to watching a fine florist produce an exquisite, artful arrangement.

Blessed by a heritage that can trace each recipe to the kitchens of the Royals of Laos, Nitha does not compromise a recipe by preparing sauces or mixtures in advance. Produce is bought fresh daily and each item is added as soon as washed and cut so that the flavors are authentic and the dish offers the best possible nutrition.

Especially wonderful is the Salmon Panang. This “melt in your mouth” dish starts with a paste of cumin (which gives the dish its warm color), cinnamon, yellow curry, coriander and sesame oil. The paste is mixed into coconut milk and used to complement red and green bell peppers, “just off the boat” salmon, lime leaves, and basil. As it is served onto a blue and white platter the dish is finished with a dollop of coconut cream that elegantly smoothes out this excellent main dish.

Nitha and husband/business associate Rick Moore state that the aim of their new 406 Broadway East Seattle location is to create a sense of contentment for each patron. They do this with an upscale, yet comfortable, environment that incorporates hardwood and bamboo décor; tropical plants; wine, blue, gold, and emerald fabrics and parasol accents. They do this with their beautifully prepared meals that are affordable, nutritious and delicious.

Simply Thai has three locations, 406 Broadway East, Seattle; 375 Strander Boulevard, Tukwila; and 1001 Andover Park East, Tukwila. They also cater special events or meetings. For more information, call them at 206-322-7600.
To learn more about this business when it first got started, click here.

Tags: Around Seattle, Dining by admin
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You can find the world famous Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, an historic, open air market located in the heart of Seattle, Washington. People come from all over the world to see our world famous crew of fish mongers throwing fish and having fun with customers. They also come to buy some of the best seafood available anywhere in the world and have it shipped home. You too can buy some of this great seafood from their online seafood store without setting a foot outside your front door! Pike Place Fish Market can also tell you about their well known business motivation philosophy.

Phone: (206) 682-7181 (800) 542-7732

Visit our website at www.pikeplacefish.com

e-mail us at pikeplacefish@pikeplacefish.com

Tags: Around Seattle, Shopping by admin
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