Holiday in Centralia

April 2013

5 Great Urban Paddles

One of the greatest assets of living near so much water is getting out into it. In much of the Pacific Northwest, our cities and neighborhoods are literally surrounded by sparkling bodies of water—rivers, small lakes, large lakes and even a big, beautiful saltwater sound. And while all this water is lovely to look at, it’s […]

Read more.

Q: Old Growth Hikes Near Seattle?

Dear TripFinder, My son is only five and he is already obsessed with forest ecosystems. He can identify several trees, mosses and ferns! I’d love to take him on some local hikes through old-growth forests. Can you recommend some old-growth hikes near Seattle? -Lara in Seattle Dear Lara, I remember the first time I hiked […]

Read more.

Wine Tasting: Vino Vocab

Do you know what fruit-forward means? How about tannin, or terroir? Students, gather ’round. You don’t have to be ultra-knowledgeable about the world of wine to enjoy visiting wine regions and tasting rooms. In fact, like we told you in Wine Tasting 101, the point of visiting wineries is to learn. Still, you might feel […]

Read more.

Nature Notes: Name That Owl

Who, Who, Who are you? Even looked up to see two big brown eyes silently returning your gaze? Owls are more common than you might think, even in urban parks of the Pacific Northwest. This curious owl in the photo is a Barred Owl (notice the vertical bars of brown on its chest). These owls […]

Read more.

CAMP: Scenic Beach State Park

Never heard of this Washington State Park and campground? Some of the best-kept secrets are that way for a reason, and in the case of Scenic Beach State Park, it’s simply far enough off the beaten path to fly under the radar. Located on the upper arm of Hood Canal’s eastern shore near Seabeck, Scenic Beach State Park’s 52 spacious […]

Read more.

Wine Tasting 101: Tips for First-Timers

So, you’re a tasting room virgin. It’s okay, we’ve all been there. Maybe you’re in the camp that thinks wine-tasting is a silly pastime for urbanites who can say “nice residual sugar” with a straight face. Or perhaps you’re just deathly afraid to walk into one of those granite-clad tasting rooms with no freakin’ clue what to do […]

Read more.