Northwest Gold Coast

Celebrate the Holidays with Locomotion

What: Winter Train and Village at Seattle Center’s Winterfest. You are invited to take your turn conducting the winter train around the holiday village. A free event, with a suggested donation of $2.

When: Open through the month of December all the way through 4pm on December 24th. 10:30am – 12 noon, 1pm – 2:30pm and 3:30pm – 5:30pm daily.

Where: Seattle Center

Go to: http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest/#Winter

 

Zoolights

What: Enjoy the zoo, covered in decorations and holiday lights (standard admission rates apply).

When: December 21st through January first, 5:00pm (December 24th Excluded).

Where: Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.

Go to:http://calendar.thenewstribune.com/tacoma-wa/events/show/220339765-zoolights#storylink=cpy

 

Ice Sculpting

What: Watch expert ice sculpting artists create works of art.

When: December 24th and 31st. Noon to 2:00pm.

Where: Seattle Center, Outside of Fisher Pavilion.

Go to: http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest/#Ice

 

Ugly Sweater Night

What: Put on your worst holiday sweater and get a $1 discount on admission to the Tacoma Art Museum.

When: December 23rd, 10:00am – 5:00pm.

Where: Tacoma Art Museum

Go to:http://www.voiceplaces.com/ugly-sweater-night-seattle-1663261-e/

 

Seahawks vs. 49ers

What: Watch the Seahawks butt heads with their division rivals the 49ers. A Seahawks victory would keep their playoff hopes alive.

When: Saturday, December 24th at 1:15pm(pt)

Where: Century Link field

Go to:http://www.seahawks.com/schedule/season-schedule.html

 

Federal Way Tree Recycling

What: Free Christmas Tree pickup for residents of Federal Way. Simply place the tree by the curb (remove all decorations, no trees with coatings or fireproofing are accepted).

When: 7:00am, December 26th – January 6th

Where: Federal Way curbsides (residents only).

Go to:http://www.cityoffederalway.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=368&month=12&year=2011&day=21&calType=0

 

New Year’s Fireworks

What: Celebrate the beginning of 2012 by enjoying the view of the professional fireworks show launched from Seattle’s iconic space needle.

When: December 31st, Countdown to the new year in the moments approaching midnight and watch the fireworks start at 12 O’clock.

Where: Visible from downtown Seattle, or local news stations.

 

Polar Bear Dip

What: Kick off the New Year with a jump into the chilly waters of Lake Washington.

When: January 1, 11:00am

Where: Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park

Go to:http://rentonwa.gov/living/default.aspx?id=6150

 

Day Trip to Leavenworth’s IceFest

What: Join other winter enthusiasts on a trip to Leavenworth’s IceFest. Enjoy a full day of winter activities in beautiful and festive Leavenworth. Transportation costs $40 – $50.

When: Saturday January 14th. Bus departs at 8:00am and starts the return trip at 6:00pm.

Where: Bus departs from Hwy 512 Park N Ride, Lakewood, WA

Go to:http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/198251

 

Empty Bowls

What: Buy a hand crafted bowl and enjoy a nice meal, all while doing something good for the community. Admission is a minimum $15 donation for adults and $10 for children. Proceeds go to the Highline Food Bank and White Center Food Bank.

When: Friday January 28th, 11:00am-2:00pm & 4:00-8:00pm

Where: Burien Community Center

Go to:http://www.burienwa.gov/index.aspx?NID=840

Tags: Around Seattle, Cities, Community Involvement, Dining, Events, Outdoor Recreation, Sports by Kevin Cushing
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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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San Juan Island, Washington may just be one of the most popular whale watching destinations. Within close proximity to both Lopez and Orcas Island, these whale watching excursions draw people from all corners of the globe in hopes of seeing Orcas (aka Killer Whales) in action. Orcas live in pods of up to 50 whales, and though they are found in all the oceans of the world, these whales prefer cooler water temperatures, which is why the waters off the Northwest Coast provide one of the highest sighting percentages for whale watching tours.

Maya’s Westside Charters, based in scenic Snug Harbor, is one of San Juan Island Washington’s most popular whale sighting services. Captain Jim Maya, owner and founder, has been captivating tourists with his chartered tours since 1997 and has many previous years of guiding tours of the Orcas on the waters of San Juan before he began his company.

Maya’s whale excursions consist of a 3-hour tour, getting you as up-close and personal with the whales as possible. Picturesque sunset tours, photo expeditions and private tours are also available. Captain Jim Maya’s belief when venturing out to sea is that a smaller boat is better. Usually no more than 6 passengers are on a tour at one time, allowing better and more close up views of the whales.

As of the 2007 season, a 30 foot Glacier Bay catamaran, “The Peregrine” is what carries the Captain and its passengers at sea. This is an exceptionally quiet ride with outstanding visibility for all passengers, which makes for one ultimate whale sighting experience.

Throughout Jim’s tours, many other wildlife and sea mammals may be seen along the way. It’s not uncommon to spot harbor seals, sea lions and various birds of the wild. This is one trip for which you won’t want to leave your camera behind.

For more information on reservations and prices of these guided tours, please go to: www.mayaswhalewatch.biz

Tags: Northwest Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation, Services by Michelle Leonard
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I often enjoy driving Redondo Beach.   It is intriguing to see a group of scuba divers, and wonder what they are doing.   Answers came when our family visited the new Marine Science and Technology Center, located on Redondo Beach.   This recently built facility is the marine laboratory for Highline Community College.   It holds the third largest aquarium in Seattle.   Starting June 28th, the MaST center opened to the public every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.   Admission is complimentary. Donations are always welcome.   On our visit we met a very enthusiastic volunteer who explained some of the fish and let the children feed starfish.   Hands on activities always attract people–especially little ones.  

Highline Community College began training undersea diving classes back in the 1960s.   Graduates of this program became commercial divers.   However, the program closed   towards the end of the decade, and the old facility became a research center.   The facility was used for checking water quality in the Puget Sound, and for classrooms.   Today’s new structure provides not only a pleasant classroom environment, but also research opportunities that benefit general public science education, as well as large institutions like the University of Washington.   This college-owned facility has five aquariums and three touch tanks, showcasing more than 80 species of local marine life.   It also offers easy access to a great diversity of nearby habitats.

The center plays an important role by enhancing science literacy for all ages in the Puget Sound region.   It also addresses urban water quality by monitoring and researching land conservation.   Perhaps most exciting to area parents is that the MaST envisions offering marine science education for all ages, through summer and holiday camps.   Public schools also find the center a worthwhile field trip option.

Our region is blessed with many natural wonders.   The MaST pays tribute to that truth through its small, but valuable facility, just around the corner, on Redondo Beach, in Des Moines.

For more information, visit http://flightline.highline.edu/MAST/index.htm.

Tags: Outdoor Recreation by Oksu Ellis
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Our family settled in Federal Way in the Spring of 2002.   The city’s location brought great advantage for us to explore Seattle and the South King County area.   As a mother of three children, I often look for attractions in the area.   Luckily, I found  this great park right in our neighborhood.   West Hylebos Wetlands Park is one of the last remaining marsh areas that have not been encroached upon by development.   It is a stunning place where you can take your family, friends, or even just go yourself.   You will be totally refreshed as you stroll along a boardwalk trail that runs in a quarter-mile loop through the park.   This access leads you to 110 acres of wetlands.   Within the park you can also appreciate over 50 species of plants, 27 moss, 30 lichens, 30 fungi and six liverworts.

One evening last summer, our family visited the park. As we entered the West Hylebos we could see two historical buildings:   the Denny and Barker cabins.   Denny built the larger one, and originally used it as a real estate office.   http://www.federalwayhistory.org/Articles/DennyCabin.pdf.  The smaller Barker cabin, was an actual home that  the family used on  the homestead site.   http://www.federalwayhistory.org/Articles/BarkerCabin.pdf The Historical Society of Federal Way is restoring both of these structures.   As we walked around we imagined what type of lives the inhabitants experienced.   It is possible to peer inside  while the restoration work is underway.

Breathing in good oxygen was a refreshing treat, as we broke away, even if ever so briefly, from our busy city lives.   What a treasure in the city!   I was quite upset all these years we did not know about the Hylebos.   It is worth visiting, whether you live south or north.   The park is full of species of birds, and so is excellent for bird watching.   Plan to pack binoculars to see all those birds, including spotted towhees, red-wing blackbirds, song sparrows, black-capped chickadees, several species of warblers, nuthatches, brown creepers, varied and swaninson’s thrushes, violet-green, barn swallows, downy, pileated woodpeckers, and great blue and green herons.   Many different amphibians are found in the Hylebos, as well.

As you walk the boardwalk you will notice the four distinctive wetlands: scrub/shrub, forested, emergent and open wetlands.    Many  of the plants reminded me of  the plants of everglades in Miami, Florida.   There are also ancient Sitka spruce trees that thrive in the boggy soils of wetlands.   One such spruce that  can be viewed from the boardwalk began its life back when the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock!

Whether you have a couple of hours to spare, or just happen to be in the Federal Way area, and need a 30-minute nature break, this park, which offers free entry and parking, is a welcome respite from our ever-hectic lives!   To get there, take I-5 exit 142-B, on the south side of Federal Way, and head west on S. 348th St.   http://www.hylebos.org/west-hylebos-wetlands-park/park-directions

Tags: Outdoor Recreation by Oksu Ellis
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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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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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