Just for the fun of it

52 Week Adventure

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Needing inspiration for more adventure in 2017?   Outdoor Project is providing some.  Experience the four seasons in 52 weeks.  #52AdventureWeek

http://www.outdoorproject.com/blog-news/52-week-adventure-challenge-snowventure

 

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17 for 2017

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What to do in 2017?  Anything that will calm your heart and bring you peace, laughter, and joy.  In other words, Rock it!  Below are 17 options within four hours reach of the Seattle area.

  1. Hike the waterfall trails along the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway. It just celebrated its 100-year anniversary.
  2. Try one (1) new restaurant each month of the year
  3. Walk along the sandy, rocky beaches of Dungeness Spit, view lighthouse
  4. Visit and buy from a local farmers market
  5. Whidbey Island…stay at the Inn at Langley #pnw
  6. Attend four (4) fairs or festivals that you didn’t last year
  7. Lake Chelan ~ wine tasting #wawine
  8. Celebrate someone’s 50th – bingo karaoke? sky dive? trip to Paris?
  9. North Cascades Highway ~ the most beautiful place on earth
  10. Take the ‘Mount Rainier’ Gondola at Crystal Mountain ~ think ‘this year’s holiday card photo’
  11. Spa treatment at Whistler BC
  12. Port Ludlow and Fort Worden State Park.  Try the Ludlow Falls Interpretative Trail, Around-the-Bay Trail, Murhut Falls Trail
  13. Go Mariners, Rainiers, Aquasox and Bells!
  14. Visit Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve
  15. Run or walk a 5K or 15K ~ support a cause important to you or your like-minded friends
  16. See La Traviata, Luzia, or other to bring a little culture #hallelujah
  17. Hike the Washington State coast ~ http://www.outdoorproject.com/blog-news/16-best-hikes-washington-coast  #outdoorproject

Summer Guide

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The Seattle Times does a great job of compiling their annual Summer Guide that showcases the many things to do in the Puget Sound area .  Whether it be a favorite picnic spot, weekend-by-weekend events, festivals, concerts, farmers markets, 4th of July events, and more… you’ll be sure to find a variety of fun events that support your local community or are ‘within 4 hours reach’.  Check out the sampling here:  http://www.seattletimes.com/category/summer-guide/

It’s May so Let’s Play

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So many fun things to do in May.

  • SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival, May 19-June 12
  • 18th Annual Camano Island Studio Tour, May 7-8 and May 14-15
  • Savor Spring Food, Wine & Spirit Tour, Camano and Whidbey Islands, May 14-15
  • Ballard Jazz Festival, Seattle (Ballard), May 11-14
  • Windermere Cup Regatta / Opening Day of Boating Season, Seattle, May 7
  • Go to a car show in Monroe or Downtown Everett
  • Penn Cove Water Festival, Coupeville, May 14
  • Nordstrom Beat the Bridge Run/Walk, Seattle, May 15
  • 8th Annual Flower Festival, Pike Place Market, May 7-8
  • 71st annual ’49er Days Celebration, Winthrop, May 7-8
  • Spring Release Weekend, Walla Walla, May 6-8
  • Apple Blossom Festival, Manson, May 13-14
  • Untapped Blues and Brews Festival, Kennewick, May 13-14
  • Play Ball!  Check out a Seattle Mariners game
  • Rhododendron Festival, Port Townsend, May 16-21
  • Artisan Food Festival, Port Townsend, May 28
  • Roots and Vines Festival, Yakima, May 14
  • Northwest Folklife Festrival, Seattle, May 27-30
  • Juan de Fuca Festival, Port Angeles, May 27-30
  • Summerfest, Long Beach, May 28-30
  • See a movie… like Captain America – Civil War
  • and more…

National Park Service Centennial

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Last week was National Park Week.  Did you #FindYourPark?  If so, which one?  Also, it is the National Park Service (NPS) 100th Anniversary this year.  Check out https://www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial/index.htm for a variety of centennial activities in your area.

http://findyourpark.com/ is not the most user-friendly site but a decent list of parks can be found at the nps.gov site.  Bam!  For WA, the list is located at https://www.nps.gov/state/wa/index.htm ~ so which one will you choose for Spring 2016?

There is a variety of parks and forest within each state…here are some examples for Washington State:

  • City Park – Bellevue Downtown Park
  • County Park  – Ravensdale Park
  • State Park – Deception Pass State Park
  • National Forest – Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
  • National Park – Olympic National Park
  • and recreation areas, lakes, trials, open spaces, and more…

 

The 1st Full Day of Spring

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It’s the first full day of spring 2016. It’s a mix in the Pacific Northwest…rain, grey skies, and yet the the trees and flowers are budding and blooming.

Did you see that Easter next year will be on April 16th?   But, it is not the latest date on record. http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp

A Spring Verse from http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-spring-2016-vernal-equinox

One swallow does not make a spring.

Bluebirds are a sign of spring; warm weather and gentle south breezes they bring.

In spring, no one thinks of the snow that fell last year.

Don’t say that spring has come until you can put your foot on nine daisies.

Spring-time sweet!
The whole Earth smiles, thy coming to greet.