European Tours Designed For Gardeners
Right now a sightseeing tour of the gardens of Italy or France or Holland seems pretty appealing. Our gardening season is several long wintry months away and a California travel company has put together five tours with European destinations designed for garden enthusiasts. For a free brochure detailing the tours, call Lucas & Randall, (800) 505-2505.
Seasonal tour
Those bound for the Puget Sound area this week will be able to take in the Deck The Halls Bed and Breakfast Tour on South Whidbey Island, noon-4 p.m. each day. The tour benefits Hospice. Tickets are $8, available at the Langley Chamber of Commerce on Frick Lane. For accommodations information on Whidbey Island, call (360) 221-6765.
A first-rate hotel
Kudos to the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia. The hotel has been awarded the American Automobile Association’s Five Diamond Award for the eighth straight year. The Sutton Place is located at 845 Burrard St., for information: (800) 961-7555.
Strap on those snowshoes
The snow’s on the ground in the Cascades and thoughts have turned to playing in the white stuff. Just in time for a wintry getaway, the North Cascades Lodge, located at the north end of Lake Chelan in Stehekin, is offering a Winter Ski & Shoe for Two package. The $199 per couple package includes two nights lodging, one breakfast for two, round-trip fares aboard the Lady of the Lake to Stehekin, snowshoes for the weekend and transportation to the groomed trails.
Special moonlit snowshoe walks will be conducted Jan. 25 and Feb. 25. For information: (509) 682-4494 or on the Web at http://www.LadyoftheLake.com/lodge
Throw a party with a view
The Washington State Parks commission will be opening eight historic buildings and gardens to public gatherings next year and the sites include a lighthouse overlooking the Columbia River.
Other buildings and gardens available for parties, weddings or other gatherings of up to 200 people include a 1930s dining room that overlooks Lake Washington, a secluded garden grotto, Emel House on Hood Canal, Fort Columbia State Park in Ilwaco, St. Edward Park in Bothell and Log Hall which overlooks the Olympic Mountains. For information: (360) 902-8562.
Looking ahead
If an extended visit to Alaska is part of your plans for the new year, here’s a way to visit that wilderness state with a mission. The Alaska State Parks is looking for volunteers to be campground hosts, ranger assistants, natural history interpreters and members of trail crews. There is a catalog and it includes an application. For a copy of the free catalog, contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Alaska State Parks, 3601 C St., Suite 1200, Anchorage, AK 99503-5921; (907) 269-8708 or fax (907) 269-8907, e-mail: volunteer@dnr.state.ak.us; or on the web at http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks
, DataTimes