0306, 2015

Take a ride on the steamship Virginia V

Washington Our Home
June 3, 2015
Events, History, Puget Sound, Recreation, Western Washington
0
1121

In honor of the Seattle flagship’s 93rd birthday, the Steamship Virginia V Foundation is offering the public a limited number of tickets to join them for the birthday cruise on Sunday, June 7th. They’re celebrating 93 years of “Keeping The Steam Up!” around the Puget Sound with the annual celebratory cruise. Proud to continue the tradition of steaming in the northwest, the foundation says it’s looking forward to welcoming you aboard. The cruise is presented

2105, 2015

History lives on Orcas Island

Washington Our Home
May 21, 2015
History, Puget Sound, Recreation, State Parks, Western Washington
3
4715

There are very few places in Washington where you can hike through the woods, trip over a 200-year-old cannonball and land amongst an assortment of arrowheads and prehistoric bison fossils. In fact, there’s likely only one place where that amazing scenario could potentially play out, and that is on Orcas Island in the San Juans. As the largest island in San Juan County, Orcas is surprisingly not named after the

3004, 2015

Campbell’s Resort has something for everyone

Does the idea of sunning yourself on a white sand beach listening to gentles waves lap against the shoreline sound appealing to you? Or are you more of a traveling foodie (a trudie?) who loves discovering gourmet quizine in the most unlikely of places? Maybe you’re a history buff looking to learn more about the past while enjoying the present. Whoever you are, Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan is for

1601, 2015

Wintering the Pacific with Lewis and Clark

Washington Our Home
January 16, 2015
History, Pacific Ocean, Recreation, State Parks, Western Washington
4
1612

In southwestern Washington where the mighty Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean are a string of sites that no historical tourist or lifelong resident of our state should leave unvisited. Between Hungry Harbor and the Long Beach Peninsula are three places that hold not only state but national significance. They are the three places that Captain Meriwether Lewis, Lieutenant William Clark and the entire Corps of Discovery expedition met with

0201, 2015

Uncertain future for “American icon”

In December of 1966, the City of Lacey was celebrating its incorporation. The small settlements of Woodland and Chambers Prairie had united to form what was then a bedroom community to nearby Olympia. But just a few months earlier that year, Lacey residents got a chance to attend another celebration, as one of the Northwest’s first modern indoor shopping malls opened for business at South Sound Center. When it opened,

2912, 2014

Long on coastline, longer on history

Washington Our Home
December 29, 2014
History, Pacific Ocean, Recreation, Restaurants, Western Washington
1
2179

Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula is well known for many reasons. The prolific oyster and razor clam harvests, Jake the Alligator Man at Marsh’s Free Museum and one of the longest beaches in the world (28 continuous miles of sand-filled fun) are just a few. But there’s more to the iconic arm of Pacific County than just having a good time which, incidentally, is far too easy to do. Many

1812, 2014

LeRoy Tipton’s take on local lodge history

Washington Our Home
December 18, 2014
Family, History, Olympic National Park, Recreation, Western Washington
2
1796

I introduced myself and my wife to our Lake Quinault coach tour guide, LeRoy Tipton. He said our names twice and quipped, “I have a really good memory. But my recall does not work very well. In fact, I have a very good memory except for names…faces, places, events, dates…stuff like that.” During the twenty-minute introduction where LeRoy (pronounced “luh-ROY” not “LEE-roy”) eloquently set the stage for our three-hour tour

2011, 2014

A memorable meal at the Lake Quinault Lodge

Washington Our Home
November 20, 2014
History, Olympic National Park, Recreation, Restaurants, Western Washington
0
2511

“Yes, Mr. President. It is, indeed, breathtaking.” Those are the words I imagine Washington State Governor Clarence D. Martin spoke in 1937 after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt first commented on the beauty of what was then known as the Mount Olympus National Monument. Of course, Governor Martin would likely have been hiding a smirk at having to reinforce such an obvious statement by FDR. After all, it was a natural

3110, 2014

Port Ludlow: From industry to opportunity

Washington Our Home
October 31, 2014
History, Puget Sound, Recreation, Restaurants, Western Washington
0
1489

When most folks want to unplug for a weekend, they are often disappointed to find that their secret hideaway has suddenly become everyone else’s destination hot-spot. Many of Washington’s smaller beach communities can end up crawling with tourists during the busy season…good for their local economy, sure, but the bane of travelers looking for peace and quiet. However, a few places still remain where individuals, couples and families can find

1510, 2014

More than just parks: Olympic National Park

Washington Our Home
October 15, 2014
Olympic National Park, Pacific Ocean, Recreation, Western Washington, Wildlife
0
1906

I got an e-mail recently from a team of brothers who are traveling around the country documenting the wondrous scenery of America’s 59 National Parks. Their first stop? Right here in Washington, in one of my favorite places…Olympic National Park. Their video is a culmination of a month’s time spent videoing some of the most incredible parts of Olympic National Park. It’s a dazzling 4 minute short film that takes