Tripster

Blow On Over to the Wind Farm

Central Washington’s windmill headquarters is open for the season.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Apr 03, 2012 at 04:15PM 0 Comments

They might be giants: Windmills at Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility.

Photo by Puget Sound Energy

Ever stare at the at the wind-turbine fields east of Ellensburg and get the urge to make like Don Quixote? Well, try not to actually attack the windmills at Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Vantage, since they weigh 223 tons apiece and will win every time.

Open April 1 to November every year, Puget Sound Energy’s visitor’s center is located a few miles from I-90, halfway between Ellensburg and the Columbia River. The octagonal building offers sublime views from its perch on the slopes of Whiskey Dick Mountain (really). There are 149 wind turbines spread among the hedgehog cacti and elk herds; the giants, along with 2,723 solar panels, generate power for some 70,000 Northwest homes.

PSE offers free tours of the facility at 10am and 2pm, with special wildflower-themed hikes on April 28 and May 12. The building itself has interpretive displays created by Central Washington University. Fun facts include that each rotor is wider than the wingspan of a 747 and that gusts here can exceed 90 miles per hour.

The wind farm makes for a good stop on a road trip through Central Washington—say to the Channeled Scablands. Looking to dawdle even longer? Try the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park or the Wild Horse Monument nearby.

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Tags: science, Day Trip, Road Trip

Five Things to Do Out of Town This Weekend

Put in your last round of Christmas food for the season, learn how to revamp your space, or sit back with some comedy.

Posted by: Stephanie Rubesh on Jan 06, 2012 at 01:35PM 0 Comments

An actor playing Gassy Jack drops into a Gastown eatery.

-This is the last weekend for the Christmas Culinary Event in Vancouver B.C. Let guide Gassy Jack (an actor playing the neighborhood’s founder) lead you on a two-hour walk through Gastown, where you will learn about the history of oldest part of town and feed on lobster mac and cheese, crab cakes, and orange chocolate cheesecake.

-The Puyallup Fair Grounds hosts a Home and Garden Show through Sunday. Come for new home stuff, used home stuff, advice, building concepts, garden supplies, ideas, and inspiration, plus lectures on all three days on topics like pet proofing your home, gardening like a pro, or the art of stamped concrete.

-On the first Saturday of the month, Bainbridge Performing Arts presents The Edge Improv Show. It stars a troupe with more than seventeen years of comedy experience.

-Learn how to light the dark winter at yourself at Swans Candles in Lakewood with a free candle making class. Beginner classes happen by request on Saturdays for free (and then for a $5 fee, you can go again).

-Portland’s FABulous Bridal Affair is a must-visit if you have nuptials planned in 2012. There’s a charity aspect to the event; buy 100 breast cancer research stamps ($55) and you’ll get $100 off of the dress you select from the thousand-plus designer gowns at your fingertips. The annual bridal show goes Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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Tags: Weekend Excursions, Day Trip

Free Day Trips on MLK Jr. Day

Don’t waste another three-day weekend.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Jan 05, 2012 at 04:45PM 0 Comments

Join the parade—all it takes is a piece of poster board, some markers, and a dream.

Yes, it’s a holiday weekend again. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is just a week away, which means free outings and experiences all over Puget Sound on Monday, January 16. (We could make a “Free at last” joke here, but the bounds of good taste stop us.)

• Enter without paying at National Parks all weekend as part of their Fee Free Days. You’ll need tire chains to drive inside Rainier, but once you’re at Paradise, rangers offer free guided walks (snowshoes included!).

• Tacoma’s Washington State History Museum throws open its doors for free on Monday. It’s the final weekend for Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight, an exhibit celebrating the aeronautical contributions of African Americans. One of the Tuskegee Airmen will be on hand for a reading and book signing.

• It’s not quite free at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma; they call it “pay what you will,” so you’ll shell out cash or guilt. The grand reopening of the new facility is on Saturday, January 14, so expect crowds all weekend.

• Don’t travel far for the 30th annual MLK Seattle March and Rally. Activists, businesses, and local organizations parade from Garfield High School to the Federal Building on Second Avenue. Check the MLK Seattle website for information on a special Hip-Hop show on Saturday.

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Tags: Day Trip

The Historic Ladder Creek Falls Light Show

A North Cascade waterfall is a nighttime spectacular

Posted by: Allie Oosta on Oct 13, 2011 at 02:30PM 0 Comments

We know—we felt like we were in Avatar, too.

In 2004, the beautiful colored lights that lit up the glacier water at Ladder Creek Falls and Garden went dark. Now, after three years of restoration, the light show is officially lit again.

The Skagit River waterfall is in Newhalem on Highway 20, about two and a half hours from Seattle. The company town supports area projects from Seattle City Light (one of the biggest electricity companies in the United States). Originally installed in the 1920s by J.D. Ross, superintendent of Seattle City Light, the lights create an electricity–meets–nature spectacle.

The lights are tucked neatly away from view and play a 15-minute energy-efficient show on a loop. The view changes from different angles, and the surrounding trees do a good job of blocking out all other light.

What’s changed since the 1920s? For one thing, there’s now a seating area. The trail to the falls is a quarter mile from the City Light’s Gorge Powerhouse, and there are now handrails, guardrails, a concrete stairway, and benches to make the site more accessible. It’s greener now, too; instead of the old 1,000-watt bulbs, the new show has 30 LED lights. The entire update project cost about a million dollars.

The falls are “plugged in” every night from dark until midnight. Add the spot to a day trip to Diablo Lake (when the highway is open).

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Tags: new, Locally Designed, Cheap Date, entertainment, Date Night, Day Trip

Bushwhacker Cider Pub Is Worth a Trip

Portland’s cider-only pub and seasonal tastings make for a worthy fall destination.

Posted by: Allie Oosta on Oct 04, 2011 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

This 2 Towns Oregon Made Marion cider is a fruit bomb for your taste buds.

Autumn is the best time for hard cider, which means it’s time for a trip to Rose City’s cider Mecca. Jeff and Erin Smith, owners of Bushwhacker Cider in Portland, show off fall’s favorite drink with tastings and events throughout October and early November.

Bushwhacker Cider, the country’s only cider pub (that’s all they serve, besides housemade snacks) just celebrated its one year anniversary in September. They have over one hundred different varieties—seven on tap and 135 bottles from around the world—and even brew their own. Smith notes that cider is a health–conscious choice, as it is both gluten–free and easier on the body than beer. Who’s ever heard of a “cider gut”?

Here’s what’s on tap at Bushwhacker this fall, all complimentary, so you can plan your southern trips accordingly:

1. October 20: Wandering Aengus Tasting Wandering Aengus Ciderworks, out of Salem, was voted as one of the best hard ciders by Imbibe magazine. Their tasting will include their Dry Oaked Cider (made with French and English bittersweet apples—pairs well with stinky cheeses) and Wanderlust (made with ginger spice flavorings).

2. October 25: St. Crispin’s Day Celebration and Crispin Artisanal Tasting This tasting comes with a good cause: St. Crispin is the patron saint of cobblers, so Smith is collecting barely worn shoes to donate to charity. They’ll be pouring Crispin’s Honey Crisp (a creamy cider made with organic honey and served over ice) and Cho-Tokkyu (made with Sake yeast).

3. October 27: 2 Towns Tap Takeover and Meet the Maker Smith will be giving the 2 Towns guys five of his seven taps for the night. Look for the Bad Apple cider (semi–dry, with hints of vanilla) and Oregon Made Marion (a full, scarlet–colored cider made with marionberries).

4. November 10: Eric Bordelet Tasting On his family property in Normandy, Eric Bordelet grows over 20 varieties of apple and 15 varieties of pear. His tasting will include Sidre Brut Tendre (a traditional dry cider) as well as two pear ciders: Poire Authentique (pale and light, with a bubbly finish), and Poire Granit (sweet and sour with hints of yeasty oak).

And unlike a normal bar, Bushwhacker sells bottles for the road. Souvenirs!

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Tags: Portland , Day Trip, Road Trip, Road Trip, Worth a Trip

Five Things to Do Out of Town This Weekend

Try a seven-course dinner or a run for a good cause.

Posted by: Stephanie Rubesh on Sep 30, 2011 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

After seven courses of dinner, you’re going to need to sit down.

Photo courtesy Friday Harbor House

-Wine and dine at the Winemaker Dinner with Covington Cellars and Two Vintners on Oct 2 at San Juan Island’s Friday Harbor House. After the seven-course meal of Dungeness crab fritters, Shoal Bay oysters, seared duck breast, and paired wines, get 35 percent off the hotel’s best available rate.

-The sixth annual Old Mill Days Festival, running through Sunday at Port Gamble, there are three days of chainsaw speed-carving competitions, car shows, and beer gardens. Saturday kicks off with a loggers breakfast, and Sunday’s highlight is the Toughest Timberman contest.

-At Sunday’s Race for the End 5K/10K, your run will support the end domestic violence. The designated color is purple and it kicks off at Bloedel Donovan Park in Bellingham.

-Roses Gone Wild is a little tamer than it sounds. This weekend’s walking tours at Portland’s International Rose Test Garden feature garden factoids and a special segment for men about roses and romance.

-Pitch in at the Silver Star trail work party Saturday and Sunday to get in another hike while the weather’s good. The Mt. St. Helens Institute hosts the day of trail TLC, and it’s a slumber party—don’t forget overnight gear and a couple of choice snacks.

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Tags: Food Events and Festivals, Festivals, Weekend Excursions, Day Trip

Five Things to Do Out of Town This Weekend

Summer’s still kicking in Port Townsend, Yakima, and Lake Chelan.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Sep 09, 2011 at 11:15AM 0 Comments

What is mutton busting? It’s a rodeo for kids. On sheep. And it’s hilarious.

-It’s Puyallup Fair time! The 17-day shindig is the state’s single biggest event, drawing over a million visitors for fried food, mutton busting, and a giant pumpkin contest. Country crooner Joe Nichols kicks off the whole fair tonight.

-At the Wooden Boat Festival, through Sunday in Port Townsend, half the fun is finding the weirdest boat names, right? At this year’s 35th annual gathering, there’s musical performances, woodworking demonstrations, and workshops (learn how to tie a monkey’s fist!)—and also boats named Madman, Merry Wherry Two and Pepe: Skunk Island Skiff.

-A massive appetite is necessary for the Second Annual Skewered Apple Barbeque Championship, running Saturday and Sunday in downtown Yakima. Cooking demos, music, and a beer garden are available for spectators, while the chefs will be competing for $35,000 in prizes and grill fame. The sacrifice of your waistline is all in support of the The Yakima Valley Museum.

-The competition isn’t cutthroat at the Lake Chelan Sailing Regatta; friendliness is encouraged, and water balloons are an acceptable conflict-resolution tactic. That’s probably how contests were handled back in ancient Greece.

-The TBA Festival in Portland doesn’t stand for To Be Announced—it’s Time-Based Art. The contemporary arts fest runs through September 18, and our sister mag Portland Monthly has selected the best of the fest.

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Tags: Festivals, Weekend Excursions, Day Trip, Fairs

Five Things to Do Out of Town This Weekend

It’s Labor Day weekend. Stop working already.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Sep 02, 2011 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

Welcome your new overlord, the blackberry slug of the Bremerton Blackberry Festival.

Photo courtesy Rakka/Flickr

Did you forget to have a summer? Between all that July rain and tunnel voting, did it somehow slip your mind? You can cram an entire season worth of music, fresh fruit, and playtime into this one three-day weekend if you try hard enough.

-Is the Dave Matthew Band Caravan at the Gorge (today through Sunday) an attack on Bumbershoot? Or is it just a good excuse to grove to the Roots, Dispatch, and “Ants Marching” in person? Tickets were still available online as of Friday morning.

-The Ocean Shores Old-Fashioned Labor Day Picnic on Saturday is a chance to celebrate like your great-grandparents did: with a watermelon-eating contest and tug-of-war game. They weren’t party animals, your great-grandparents.

-The Resort at The Mountain isn’t at our mountain—it’s at the base of Oregon’s Mount Hood. Still, that’s a decent mountain as mountains go, and this weekend the hotel is offering a special Mt. Hood Blues & Brews package, which includes 20 beverage tokens for Saturday’s annual Brew Fest, as well as an And All That Jazz option with a dinner and music performance.

-At the Lopez Island Studio Tour, 46 local artists will throw open their doors and let you rifle through their oil paints. On Saturday and Sunday, the San Juan’s funkiest isle trusts you to take a self-guided tour to thirty different locations, ooh-ing and ahh-ing (and hopefully buying) as you go.

-The Bremerton Blackberry Festival gets it: Blackberries are the best thing. Ever. In Washington, in the world. The three-day event starts Saturday on the city of Bremerton Boardwalk and features all the expected treats, plus something called a blackberry slug, a “delicious type of maple bar made with blackberry filling and whipped cream.” Excuse me, I have to go lie down now.

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Tags: Weekend, Festivals, Weekend Excursions, Day Trip

Five Things to do Out of Town This Weekend

Run, drink, or put on your best fancy hat for a day at the races.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Aug 19, 2011 at 12:15PM 0 Comments

Canada builds better forts than your wimpy pillow ones.

Image courtesy Tourism Vancouver.

It’s going to be over 80 degrees in Seattle this weekend—all the more reason to get out of town. You don’t want to get used to all that sunshine, do you? Here’s what’s on tap around the Northwest:

-The Kitsap Wine Festival takes over Harborside Fountain Park in Bremerton on Saturday from 2–5:30pm. Besides a ton of vino (and beer!), it features local bites and live jazz. Tickets are online.

-The Lagunitas Beer Train chugs around Mount Rainier on Saturday as beer nerds throw back the California brew.

-The Covey Run winds around Woodinville as part of the Auction of Washington Wines events on Saturday (registration will be on-site). Proceeds from the 5K and 10K fund uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the post-race sips in wine country beat Gatorade any day.

-The Longacres Mile, a horse race born in 1935, takes place at Auburn’s Emerald Downs on Sunday at about 5:30pm. A tailgate Railbird Rally party takes place outside at 10:30am. Our bets are on the horse in the fourth position, Honour the Deputy. Why? The name is kind of reminiscent of Bob Marley (right?).

-Fab Forts Weekend across Canada this weekend will celebrate the country’s military history, not to mention their plethora of cool old military installations. Re-enactments and concerts will be held at Fort Langley near Vancouver and Ford Rodd Hill in Victoria, and they will even be firing their historic artillery.

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Tags: Canada, Weekend, Woodinville, Weekend Excursions, Weekend Events, Day Trip

Maryhill Museum of Art Is Worth a Trip

Beside the Big River highlights life along the Columbia.

Posted by: Abby Tracy on Jul 06, 2011 at 03:30PM 0 Comments

Thomas Leander “Major Lee” Moorhouse, Wishram Indians, Columbia River, c. 1900. Photo courtesy Maryhill Museum of Art

The Midwest can keep its Big Muddy—we have our own Big River, the Columbia. At the Maryhill Museum of Art, the banks of the Columbia River are getting their own art show.

The exhibition Beside the Big River: Images and Art of the Mid-Columbia Indians is an expansive display of historical photos and Native American art exploring the lives of local tribes from 1900 to 1950. “The idea came from looking out the window—it was kind of a no-brainer," says Steve Grafe, the museum’s curator.

Grafe boasts that many of the items, on display through November 15, come from within 20 to 30 miles of the museum itself. “From the outside of our building, there is this 180 degree view of the river and the area surrounding it,” says Grafe. “The beauty of this exhibit is that you walk out of it, go to that view and say ‘so that was what was going on here 200 years ago.’”

The river view itself is worth the roughly four-hour trip from Seattle, but so is the area’s plethora of wine-tasting opportunities. Take a jaunt over to the well-known Maryhill Winery just down the road—and mix your merlot with the Yes and Styx concert held outdoors on July 30. Or make it a tour with stops at Cascade Cliffs, Marshal’s, and the Waving Tree wineries.

Not in the mood for booze? Take a trip across the river to the historic Baldwin Saloon, hike into the picturesque Columbia River Gorge, or, you know, visit Stonehenge. Yes, there’s a replica of the prehistoric English monument three miles from the Maryhill Museum, though it’s actually meant as a World War I memorial. A no-brainer…or a head scratcher?

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Tags: Art Exhibits, Museums, Day Trip