Lime Kiln Lighthouse

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Friday, December 5, 2014

No. 301 Save Big on 2015 Whale Watching Tours

2014 was an incredible season.  From christening the Island Explorer 4 to seeing whales every day since May 2014, this year will go into the record books.  Check out the whale report to re-live all of the 2014 tours!   View the Whale Report 

ALL GIFT CERTIFICATES AND TOURS FOR 2015

Save 50% off the regular ticket price now through December 24th, 2014 .
You can take advantage of the huge savings one of two ways:
  1. Call or stop in to purchase a gift certificate to put under the tree. This would also make a great gift for yourself if you are unsure of when you would like to join us for a trip.     OR
  2. If you already know when you'd like to go whale watching, book your 2015 tour online with the promo codes below and instantly receive the incredible savings.
With this great deal, you have the choice to depart out of any of our three departure locations:
  • Everett 3 hour guaranteed whale watching tour - March 7 through May 8
    • Adults -- ONLY $34.50 + taxes (regular price $69)
    • Children -- ONLY $24.50 + taxes (regular price $49)
    • Book for a specific date online with code HOLIDAY1
  • Anacortes (April - October) or Port Angeles (May - October) guaranteed whale watching tour 
    • Adults -- ONLY $54.50 + taxes (regular price $109)
    • Children -- ONLY $24.50 + taxes (regular price $49)
    • Book for a specific date online with code HOLIDAY2
Hurry! This deal expires on December 24, 2014 at 3PM - call 1-800-465-4604or book your 2015 tour online to take advantage of 50% savings!


Whale Watching Reviews and Highlights 


Naturalist trade microphones for dock lines
Island Explorer 4 Arrives in Everett, WA

New to Island Adventures in 2014, the Island Explorer 4 is the little sister to the Island Explorer 3. She is 85 ft long and 24 ft wide, with a full walk around lower deck, spacious upper viewing deck, galley with hot food and beverage for purchase, his and her restrooms, over 300 sq. ft. of outdoor rail viewing space, and has comfortable booth style seating in her indoor heated cabin.



Male Orca Whale Breaching Puget Sound Island Adventure Tour from Anacortes, WA

Based out of Anacortes, Washington, only 90 minutes north of Seattle and 90 minutes south of Vancouver, BC. Anacortes is located on the mainland and is known as the “Home Port” to the San Juan Islands, providing the perfect departure point for our Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruises.
Island Adventures operates a 101 ft. long, 24 ft. wide, 2 story, 99 ton whale watching vessel called "Island Explorer 3." The vessel has a range of 750 miles but daily wildlife excursions are limited to 5hr & generally are 60-90 miles in duration. 
Port Angeles, WA Tour





Humpback Tour from Port Angeles, WA 


Introduced in 2014 Island Adventures adds a new destination for marine life viewing in the Puget Sound. Island Explorer 4 departs   Port Angeles, WA in late summer for humpback whale sightings 

Monday, December 1, 2014

No. 300 Wildlights at Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo
Entrance addressesSouth Entrance address: 750 N. 50th Street, Seattle WA 98103
West Entrance address: 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle WA 98103
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See the Zoo brighter than ever during Wildlights nightly from November 28th through January 4th 5:30pm to 8:30pm (Closed Dec. 24 & 25)
Tickets Adults (13+) $9.75    Children (3-12) $6.50       Toddlers (0-2) FREE
Tickets can be purchased online here or after 5:30pm at the gates.


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Philadelphia Toboggan Company No. 45 carousel (1918), December 2014
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Trails and trees are lit up with thousands of LED Lights 
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A bear tries his luck at catching a jumping salmon 
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Tigers crawl down the trees. Tiger Exhibit to arrive in 2015
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While the rest of the Zoo Animals are sleeping the Day Exhibit, which houses reptiles and amphibians is open nightly to get some relief from the cold and warm up under the hot lights. 
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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

No. 299 8 Walks to Burn Off Thanksgiving Carbs in the Seattle Area

Here's 8 easy to moderate walks/hikes that can balance out the Turkey Day meal and experience the pacific northwest outdoors around Seattle.

Seattle 

1. Discovery Park - http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2011/09/west-point-lighthouse-discovery-park.html


The site is one of breathtaking majesty. Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park offers spectacular view of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams.





East of Seattle
 Kirkland, Washington

2. Juanita Bay http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2012/05/juanita-bay-kirkland-washingotn.html

Juanita Bay ParkJuanita Bay Park is a 110 acre open area that features paved trails, raised boardwalks, open lawn areas with benches and picnic tables. The park is at the bottom of Kirkland's north hill and surrounds the northeast shoreline of Lake Washington. Just steps away from Kirkland's Marke Street begins this Urban WIldlife Habitat. The seemless mix of tall trees, green space, wetlands, marsh, and lake water provide protection and large selection of food source to sustain a large variety of animal


3. Waverly Beach Park   http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2012/10/131.html


Waverly Beach ParkWaverly Park is one of those hidden lake side parks that only locals seem to know about. It is a few blocks off the main road which makes it hard for passers by to easily stumble up on this waterfront park. Located at the bottom of a hill his park offers nearly 500 feet of waterfront on 2.76 acres of prime waterfront real estate right on Lake Washington. Features public dock, picnic tables, benches, restrooms, children’s playground, open lawn areas, on-site parking, enclosed swimming area, fishing area, and windsurfing area. During the summer months a privately run refreshment stand serves up drinks and ice cream to cool off.

 Snoqualmie 

4. Snoqualmie Falls  http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2012/05/snoqualmie-falls.html


Snoqualmie FallsSnoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft (82 m) waterfall on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington,USA. It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series Twin Peaks. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the Falls every year, where there is a two acre (8,000 m²) park, an observation deck, and a gift shop.







5. Northwest Railway Museum   http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2012/07/northwest-railway-musuem.html

The Snoqualmie DepotThe Snoqualmie Depot was constructed in 1890 by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway. It was used by successor companies Seattle and International Railroad, Northern Pacific Railway, and the Burlington Northern Railroad. The Snoqualmie Depot is open 7 days a week year 'round (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day; there is limited access during Day Out With Thomas and Santa Train events).


North of Seattle 
6. Arlington 
Centennial Trail - http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2014/01/no-233-nakashima-heritage-barn.html
NAKASHIMA HERITAGE BARN NORTH TRAILHEAD

Started in 1989 during Washington State's 100th centennial celebration, the Centennial Trail is a 30 mile long paved pedestrian walkway. At 12 feet wide, slight grade this trail is popular for walkers, hikers, dogs, cyclists and even riders on horseback with the flanked grassy path running parallel to the trail. The Centennial Trail runs from downtown Snohomish to the north to the Skagit Valley County Line. With future plans to expand and connect it other popular area trails in the north and the south such as Woodinville's Burke-Gilman Trail. Since 2011 Snohomish County has added 9 miles to the Centennial Trail which runs through the towns of Snohomish, Lake Stevens, Marysville and Arlington as a "Rails to Trails" project repurposing a former Burlington-Norther Railroad line.

3. Everett 

7. Spencer Island - http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2013/01/154.html


Spencer Island Foot BridgeSpencer Island lies in the heart of the Snohomish River Estuary, an ecosystem formed by mixing a freshwater system (the Snohomish River) and a saltwater system (Port Gardner Bay). It is one of the best places in the Snohomish River Estuary to view waterfowl and shorebirds such as ducks, heron, hawks and bald eagles. If you watch your steps you might see some small and larger mamals such as river otters and deer. On clear days the snow capped tops of the cascade mountain range and Mount Baker are visible to the east and to the north. The island is co-owned by Snohomish County and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Snohomish County owns the south half of the island, while WDFW owns the north half.

4. Gold Bar 

8. Wallace Falls State Park http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2013/09/wallace-falls-state-park-gold-bar-wa.html



Wallace Falls State ParkWallace Falls, named after homesteaders Joe and Sarah Kwayaylsh members of the Skykomish tribe, is a 4,735 acre forest land on the western slope of the North Cascade Mountain range in Snohomish County. The park has three back country lakes, Jay Lake, Shaw Lake and Wallace Lake which are connected via the Wallace River. The river trickles, snakes, gurgles and plunges its way through the park until the valley basin. Some where within the park there has to be a waterfall worth of a title right? Well there are more than 9 waterfalls in the park. Some small some larger, some are running year round while others only run in late winter/early spring with the snowmelt run off. The 4 falls that are more easily accessible can be found along the Woody Trail, a 2.3 mile / 3.7 km long dirt trail that is well maintained and well marked. After recent rain fall, the trail might be come very muddy and slippery in spots. There are numerous switch backs and steep inclines that have tall raised steps. At 6'1 I did not have much trouble navigating the steps and switch backs, but those shorter might have more difficulty with the high steps. 2.3 miles may not seem like much, just remember its 2.3 miles each way (5.6 miles round trip) and its up and down hill sides with incremental elevation gains of 500 feet in short distances. Proper footwear and good to better conditioning is required to make it a safe and enjoyable hike. We made Wallace Falls into a mid morning hike and returned to the trailhead in about 3 1/2 hours with stops along the way

Monday, November 24, 2014

No. 298 5 Places to take Dad and the Family to over the Holiday Season

If you have Dad or Grandfather in town here are some great places to take him in and around Seattle over the Holidays (other than the shopping malls)


Lockheed M-21 Blackbird Museum of Flight SeattleThe museum collection boasts over 85 different aircraft displayed in 9 different galleries starting with the early manned flying machines to more modern jet aircraft.
Museum Hours
Daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
First Thursday of each month:
10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.)
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Free First Thursday Evenings

Thanks to sponsor Wells Fargo Bank, Museum admission is free of charge on the first Thursday evening of every month from 5-9 pm   

No.2 LeMay Car Collection 


LeMay Americas Car Museum
http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2012/11/139_20.html
The museum is located next to the Tacoma dome and resembles an oblong entry that resembles a giant hood scoop to drivers passing by on I-5. The 4 level building houses 165,000 sq f of show floor for more than 350 cars, trucks and motorcycles from private owners, corporations and the private LeMay Collection, which is in the Guiness Book of World Records with more than 3,500 vehicles.

 No. 3 MOG Museum of Glass Tacoma, WA 
http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2011/09/museum-of-glass-mog-tacoma-wa.html

MOG Inside the landmark Hot Shop dome is an amphitheater where you can sit and watch resident and visiting art glass blowers performing their craft live with narration. At the MOG they are making glass blown art, not 4 glass bottles a second, so depending on what the current piece will be the process from start to finish can take 30min to over an hour. I started off in the amphitheater for about 30 min then went to the gallery and came back to see the last phase of making the art piece.





 No. 4 Seattle Pinball Museum 



Come play an amazing collection of pinball machines! Over 50 games arranged in chronological order, 7 decades of pinball history on free play! 
From 1960's Swing Along & King Tut to 2013 The Wizard of OZ Limited Edition & 2014 Star Trek Limited Edition. Enjoy soda, snacks, beer,cider & pinball swag!







 No. 5 Seattle Great Wheel and Aquarium
http://pugetexposure.blogspot.com/2012/07/seattle-great-wheel-ferris.html
Seattle Ferris Wheel
Great Wheel is a 175 foot tall Big Wheel type "Ferris Wheel" with 42 enclosed gondolas that rotates 40 feet out over Elliot Bay behind Pier 57. The 42 air conditioned gondolas each hold up to six passengers, and there's also a VIP gondola with a glass bottom floor and four leather seats

Saturday, October 11, 2014

No. 297 Humpack Whales with Island Adventures

Island Adventures
http://www.island-adventures.com/
1801 Commercial Ave
Anacortes, Wa
1-800-465-4604

Back out on the waters with Captain Scott and Tyson for my first humpback whale watching tour on
Island Explorer 4 from Port Angeles, Wa
If you have not taken the drive to western Washington you are missing out on some stunning mountain and sea scenery.
Port Angeles, WA sits along the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains. For more information on events happening in Port Angeles check out the city's website
http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/

Area Attractions near Port Angeles
Hurricane Ridge 
Olympic Game Farm
City of Sequim
Point Wilson Lighthouse 

Images from the day on the water


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