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San Juan Island Rest Stops

PostDateIcon August 29th, 2010 | PostAuthorIcon Author: admin
Boats moored at the marina, Friday Harbor, Was...
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When you are on a long vacation, seeing all that can be seen, often there comes a time when you need a vacation from the vacation. If you plan your excursion right, you can do that while visiting the San Juan Islands. Port Townsend, which is a short ferry hop from Whidbey Island on the Olympic Peninsula, and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, are perfect stops to park the car and get back to civilization for awhile. Plan your trip right and you can hit both between your exploratory jaunts.
Port Townsend is loaded with relaxation based palaces to go. It is a small historical town with Victorian homes, many of which can be toured. There are bed and breakfasts, art galleries, and Centrum, an arts foundation that gives you the chance to absorb jazz, classical music and even fiddle festivals. Fort Worden, one of three 19th century forts on the Puget Sound, houses a museum and a theater. An interesting note: the film, Officer and a Gentleman, was filmed here. It is a town in which you can relax and have some fun.
Friday Harbor? Luxurious in a tucked away setting. Hotels, cottages, bed and breakfasts, fine restaurants. It’s all there: hot tubs, in room massages and pet friendly. Interesting mix. They know what you need. And in case you are one who can never just relax: sea kayaking. Once you dry off, Friday Harbor has its own historic district and museums. The town has some history, being started by the Hudson’s Bay Trading Company in 1845, beginning as a salmon curing station. Ask a local about the “Pig War”, a skirmish between Canadians and Americans at the time. Yes, it was a long time ago and quite humorous.
Finished with these two towns but want more of the same? Roche Harbor is your next stop. But don’t let the evening regalia there surprise you. Every night at sunset the colors ceremony commences with anthems and cannon. The cannon is there to wake you up from your vacation away from the vacation and get you kick started again!
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Traveling with Your Pet

PostDateIcon August 27th, 2010 | PostAuthorIcon Author: admin

Traveling with Your Pet

According to the Travel Industry Association, 29 million Americans take their pets on vacation annually. Seventy-five percent of that travel is by car, which can be stressful for the pet, especially if your dog or cat isn’t used to car travel. What can you do to make traveling less stressful for both your pet and yourself? Here are some tips.

Car Travel Tips

If your pet simply cannot withstand the rigors of traveling arising from temperament, illness, or injury, the best thing you can do for him is to let him stay behind rather then putting him through the stress of travel. Speak with your veterinarian to find a highly reliable pet sitter or pet boarding facility.

If your pet is able to travel by car, make sure your dog or cat will be comfortable in the vehicle. Bring the pet’s favorite bed, blanket, toys, etc. Provide enough drinking water and an appropriate travel container to dispense the water. Have enough food for the duration of the journey so you won’t be relying upon food you buy along the way. Your pet should wear a collar and ID tag at all times. If possible, your pet should also be microchipped with imbedded identification data (this is an easy, painless outpatient procedure that can be done by your vet). Carry proof of rabies vaccination as well as a current health certificate, along with a printed photo of your pet for identification purposes.

When booking accommodations, ensure that wherever you stay allows pets. This applies to hotels, motels, campgrounds, parks, and staying with others. Do not assume that your pet will be welcome – find out in advance. If you leave your pet in your hotel room, put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and let the front desk know that your pet is alone in the room. A portable kennel is helpful in this situation to keep the room from damage. You may want to consider a vacation rental – many allow pets, while hotels generally do not.

Happy pet travels!

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Mount Baker

PostDateIcon August 26th, 2010 | PostAuthorIcon Author: admin
Mount Shuksan as seen from Mount Baker
Image via Wikipedia
Mounts Rainier and Saint Helens seem to get all the press due to Rainier’s size and Helen’s recent activities. But Baker is perhaps the more interesting and its beauty will be scored into your memory for a number of reasons.
Although Mount Baker has a number of native names, its most often heard native name is Koma Kulshan: Great White Watcher. It is the northern most volcano in the Washington State Cascade Range and is also the youngest, estimated to be somewhere between 80,000 and 120,000 years old. That is very young as volcanoes go and it is the most active volcano in the range, second to Helens. At 10,778 feet, it actually has more snowfall than any other place on the planet. Tough to believe? Jog your memory about the history of rainfall in Washington State, touting its own coniferous rain forest. Moisture in this state dose not suddenly stop at higher elevations. Try on 95 feet of snow in a single season. That explains why Baker also has a widely popular ski resort.
When driving through the state, examining the terrain, Baker’s snow covered cone is by far and away the most beautiful, set off by its neighboring contrast, Mount Shuksan, with its off centered ragged edged peak. Mount Baker’s snow cone can easily be seen on a clear day from the Edmonds Ferry Terminal, I5 at Lynnwood, from as far north as Vancouver, B.C. and south into parts of Seattle.
If you want a closer look, It is about 30 miles due east of Bellingham. One of the easy accesses is near the ski resort. There is a trail head and path from there. The hike is a combination of heather covered hills that look professionally landscaped by Mother Nature and moonscapes covered with fields of shale and a brilliant blue ice lake. You can camp safely with a view of Baker that looks as if you could touch it. Morning sunrise is beyond shocking as the pink and orange glazes the ice covered mountain. This single event will permanently score Baker into your memory.
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