Northwest Travel Magazine » Focus

Thousand Springs, South-Central Idaho

Wanda — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:46:11 +0000

IDAHO

photo by Idaho Tourism

Cataclysmic geological forces formed the dramatic Snake River Canyon and the extraordinary geography of south-central Idaho. The Thousand Springs Scenic Byway traverses much of this geography through Hagerman Valley on U.S. 30, providing access to numerous natural sites and parks. Among them is Thousand Springs State Park, a series of five park units with multiple areas, all a short drive from one another.

At Thousand Springs, you can canoe, kayak, hike, bike, horseback ride, fish, view wildlife and historic areas or just picnic. Explore Malad Gorge (the location of the park’s headquarters), Kelton Trail, Crystal Springs and Niagara Springs. Equestrians can access the riding arena at Billingsley Creek. History buffs can visit settlers’ structures at Ritter Island and Bonnieview. Nature lovers can indulge in wildlife watching amid stunning scenery at Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve.

From the scenic byway, you can clearly see Thousand Springs with its giant natural founts pouring from the the canyon’s rim. The constant temperature of this highly oxygenated water is ideal for trout. In fact, local hatcheries produce 70 percent of the nation’s trout.

Year-round scenic, lunch and dinner cruises are available in Thousand Springs; go to 1000springs.com for reservations. For more information about the state park, visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/thousand-springs.

The park is located 99 miles east of Boise on I-84 East and U.S. 30 East. For information about visiting south-central Idaho, go to visitsouthidaho.com.

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The Big Bloom: Camas Prairie

Wanda — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:35:07 +0000

IDAHO

photo by Charles Knowles

Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, on their journey west, viewed massive fields of abundant blue blooms which from a distance they mistook for a body of water. What they actually saw were camas lilies, a plant Native Americans used an important food source.

A 15-mile long field of camas, known as Camas Prairie, flanks both sides of Highway 20 near the town of Fairfield in south-central Idaho. In mid-May, the prairie explodes with color in what locals call “The Big Bloom.” More than 3,100 acres at the prairie’s west end comprise the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, worth a visit for outstanding viewing of camas lily, migrating birds and even antelope. The Soldier Mountains rise nearly 5,000 feet above the valley, giving the prairie a dramatic backdrop.

The best time to visit is typically during the last ten days of May. If you arrive too late in the season to see the blooms, the Fairfield Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest has excellent trails for hiking and bicycling, or you can check out one of the area’s campgrounds.

Camas Prairie is about 2 hours from Boise on I-84 East and U.S. 20 East. You can buy recreation maps from the Fairfield Ranger Station in Fairfield during normal business hours and from the Caboose Visitor Center on weekends. For more information, visit fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/intermountain/CamasPrairie or call 208-764-3202. For information about visiting southcentral Idaho, go to visitsouthidaho.com.

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Seaside, on Two Wheels

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:04:50 +0000

OREGON

photo by Don Frank, Seaside VCB

Immerse yourself in Oregon Coast scenery and charm by taking a bike ride through the historic town of Seaside. With an easy 7.81-mile route, three possible starting points and a maximum elevation of 16 feet, the Seaside Bike Tour is a ride doable for all ages and skill levels.

A stop at the estuary allows time to do some bird watching or a moment of relaxation. Steps also allow riders to go down to the sand at the water’s edge. Ride across the 12th Avenue Bridge and keep an eye out for people crabbing and fishing, and watch for the salmon mural displayed at the west end.

Pedal along the famous “Prom,” home to the Seaside Aquarium and the statue of Lewis and Clark. Here, the route brushes downtown where you can check out the local food scene.

Watch the waves roll by at the cove along Beach Drive. And, if the time of year is right, you might just spot a whale.

If you didn’t bring your own bicycle, you can rent them for the whole family at Wheel Fun Rentals, 407 S Holladay, Seaside; 503-738-8447. For more information about the Seaside Bike Tour and a map, go to seasidenaturally.com/bike/seasidebiketour. For information about visiting Seaside, Oregon, go to seasideor.com.

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11 Plays, 3 Theaters, 1 Enticing Festival: Ashland’s OSF

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:55:20 +0000

OREGON

photo by Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Playwright Tennessee Williams once wrote, “The theatre is a place where one has time for the problems of people to whom one would show the door if they came to one’s office for a job.”

Since 1935, people have been flocking to Ashland, Oregon, to watch stories concerning such characters unfold at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). Originally, OSF plays were performed—and only Shakespeare plays—on one outdoor stage. Reputation and demand expanded the not-for-profit fest to today’s three theaters and several plays throughout a nine-month season. This year, eleven plays occupy OSF stages, only four by Shakespeare.

While attending OSF, many theatergoers see more than one play during their stay. For instance, if you’re visiting over a long weekend in mid- June, you could go on OSF’s morning backstage tour, attend a matinee of “The Taming of the Shrew,” dine at one of many restaurants (try Cucina Biazzi, cucinabiazzi.com, or Standing Stone Brewery, standingstonebrewing.com), and catch an evening show of “My Fair Lady.” The next day, explore Ashland’s boutiques and galleries, stroll 93-acre Lithia Park beside the OSF campus and enjoy an evening performance of Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” at the outdoor Elizabethan Stage.

Lodging choices include the art deco Ashland Springs Hotel (ashlandspringshotel.com), the Plaza Inn & Suites at Ashland Creek (plazainnashland.com) and many others. Learn more about OSF and purchase tickets at osfashland.org. To plan your Ashland visit, go to southernoregon.org or ashlandchamber.com

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Le Puy, A Wine Valley Inn, Newberg

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:43:59 +0000

OREGON

photo by Marcus Berg, Unique Angles

Inspired by a stay in France’s Loire Valley wine region, Lea Duffy and Andy Kosusko came home with visions of transforming their property in Oregon’s wine country into a luxury inn, one that reflects the tranquil atmosphere they experienced in the Loire village of Le Puy Notre Dame. They borrowed the term Le Puy because it reminded them of the sense of tranquility and nature so important to them at their soon-to-be inn.,/p> A stay at Le Puy, A Wine Valley Inn, overlooking a bucolic Willamette Valley scene and Chehalem Ridge, is like taking three deep breaths of fresh air; the serene setting instantly acts as a de-stressor. The inn’s offerings—well-appointed, relaxing rooms; organic cuisine; spa amenities—invite guests to unwind and embrace the spirit of the surroundings.

The inn’s public spaces include a graceful great room with a massive fireplace and views of the valley, a large balcony where guests can opt to take breakfast al fresco in warmer weather, the Loire Room with its casual pub atmosphere for small parties and gatherings and the courtyard with its stone and water sculpture, a space that’s perfect for weddings and other outdoor events. The eight wellappointed guest rooms possess their own individual personalities and carry names inspired by primal elements in nature: Earth, Water, Fire, Mountain and others.

From Le Puy, guests are within easy reach of many great wineries, mostly notable for their fine Pinot Noirs. lepuyinn.com, oregonwinecountry.org

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Tillamook Creamery Tour

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:37:25 +0000

OREGON

photo by Tillamook.com

You and your family can learn the answers to all your cheese-related questions at the Tillamook Creamery, located about 1.5 hours west of Portland on U.S. 101. Built in 1949, the existing factory—owned by a co-op of farmers that began in 1909—plays host to nearly 1 million visitors each year.

At Tillamook Creamery you can take a self-guided tour while learning about cheese making’s past and present, including the creamery’s modern environmentally friendly practices. Watch from special viewing platforms as the cheese-making and packaging teams work to churn out the 167,000 pounds of cheese that Tillamook produces each day. Taste the cheese yourself and decide which kind you prefer with special tour samples. Interactive kiosks and viewing windows only make up part of the experience.

When you finish the tour, pay a visit to the Ice Cream Counter, the only place in the world with every flavor of Tillamook ice cream. You can also enjoy a wide-ranging selection of Tillamook-infused dishes in the Creamery Café. If you are in the mood for chocolate visit the Fudge Counter which features over 30 different fudgy flavors, including Butterfinger, Marionberry Cheesecake and Rocky Road.

Before you leave, stop at the Tillamook Cheese Shop to pick up your favorite Tillamook products to take home. tillamook.com, gotillamook.com

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Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill, Salem

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:29:53 +0000

OREGON

photo by Ron Cooper

Spend an afternoon getting lost in the nooks and crannies of the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill. The five-acre site features nine historic structures including the only woolen mill museum west of Missouri.

Founded in 1889 by Thomas Lister Kay, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill has since been named an American Treasure by the National Park Service. During its time of operation, the mill produced fine woolen blankets and fabrics which contributed to the economic stability of Oregon State. Now a museum, the mill allows visitors a glimpse of the industrial revolution in the Pacific Northwest.

Four other heritage buildings, moved to the grounds during the 1970s and 1980s, also attract visitors because of their historical value. The Jason Lee House and Methodist Parsonage are said to be two of the oldest wooden frame houses still standing in the Pacific Northwest. Other buildings include the John D. Boon House and the Pleasant Grove Church, the oldest remaining Presbyterian Church in Oregon.

The site also houses one of the few water power turbines still capable of generating electricity from the millrace.

After meandering through the museums, browse the fine textiles of the Heritage Center Gift Shop or take a break at the Mission Mill Café. willametteheritage.org, travelsalem.com

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KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:07:37 +0000

WASHINGTON

photo by Merrill Images

Little ones can climb a tree house, tinker with tools in a garage or splash around in a water exhibit at KidsQuest Children’s Museum, a non-profit organization in Bellevue.

Opened in 2005, this interactive children’s museum is all about learning through play. Geared toward children up to age eight, KidsQuest places a special emphasis on technology, science and art.

Visit the Backyard, an exhibit for children three and younger, to build your own blanket fort, perform your own puppet show or climb through a structure made out of giant leaves. The Garage exhibit lays the foundation for scientific comprehension by experimentation and inventiveness through mobile making, gravity, gears and more. Check out the tree house, a secret hideaway, with a chance to look at everyday objects magnified under a microscope. Explore the wonders of water in the Waterways exhibit with water painting, water chimes and drums, a contraption table and much more. Splashing and spilling are allowed.

KidsQuest also has field trip opportunities along with a private party room for birthday parties. During the summer the museum offers a variety of summer camps including a fairy science camp and another devoted entirely to pirates.

For more information on how to plan your next family trip to KidsQuest visit kidsquestmuseum.org. For more information on visiting Bellevue, go to visitbellevuewashington.com.

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Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast & Barn, Yakima Valley

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:41:53 +0000

WASHINGTON

photo by Wild Dog Studios

Travel writer Lauren Kramer experiences teepees, horses and tranquility in Washington’s fertile Yakima Valley.

It’s dusk as I approach Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast & Barn in Eastern Washington’s Yakima Valley. A sign at the gate quips “horses prohibited.” You’d have to know Pepper Fewel, the owner of this bed, breakfast and barn, to understand it was a joke. Horses are her passion and the backbone of her Triple T Ranch in Zillah.

Pepper opened her B&B a decade ago, but quickly found demand outpacing space. With a 78-acre ranch stretching before her, she bought some teepees and stylishly outfitted them with comfortable beds, linens, lights, air conditioners, refrigerators and down-home accents. A few feet from the teepees are toilet facilities, open air showers and roofless bathtubs for starlit bathing.

Guests loved the novelty of sleeping in a teepee. But to let them experience more of life on a working ranch, Pepper began offering winery rides on her 28 horses. Her excursions take riders through acres of fertile land where hops climb 20 feet, and orchards and vineyards follow the contour of the land in perfect rows.

At Cultura Winery (culturawine.com), one of the stops, Pepper’s son Tad and his wife cultivate red wine grapes. Their celebrated Bordeaux-style reds speak of dark fruit, desert sun and fertile earth, capturing in a single glass the bounty that surrounds them in the valley.

That night I relax in the soft glow of light inside the teepee and drift away. The silence is complete until the guttural whinny of a nearby horse reminds me exactly where I am: on a ranch surrounded by miles of fruit trees, ensconced in a teepee with nothing but a tie-down flap to prevent the desert wind from exposing my tranquil little sanctuary inside.

For more information about Cherry Wood, go online at cherrywoodbbandb.com. For information about visiting Yakima Valley, go to visityakima.com.

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A VIEW TO THE PAST AT FORT VANCOUVER

Wanda — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:25:34 +0000

WASHINGTON

Just north of the border between Oregon and Washington, Fort Vancouver gives visitors the opportunity to connect with the region’s rich history through costumed programs, hands-on educational activities, a world-class archaeology collection and more. Founded by the Hudson’s Bay Company during the winter of 1824 to 1825, the fort was originally a supply depot at the center of the fur trade. For more than 150 years the fort also housed military soldiers and their families.

Now a national historic site, the fort offers a rare glimpse of early 19th century frontier life by allowing visitors access to this still-active archaeological site. Visitors can tour the reconstructed British trading post as well as a reconstructed Hudson’s Bay Company employee village outside the walls of the fort.

Visitors can participate in the Public Archaeology Program, which includes special tours, educational opportunities and lectures on the history of the fort. An on-site curation facility houses more than 2.5 million artifacts, 90 percent of which have been excavated since 1947.

Outside the walls, a kitchen garden with herbs and vegetables grows just as one did when the fort was occupied. Across the lawns sit Douglas firs and Oregon oak trees that help retain the same general character the park had during the era when it was fully operational. nps.gov/fova,visitvancouverusa.com

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