Take A Hike, It’s Easy Trekking With Llamas Llovely In Oregon

We’ve been having some llovely weather recently, which means it must be llama season.

Hurricane Creek Llama Treks offers a variety of multiday llama camping trips throughout northeast Oregon, including Hells Canyon. Guests do the hiking; llamas carry all the food and gear.

Prices begin at $525 per person; for information, call (800) 528-9609 or (503) 432-4455.

Great moments in travel history: The Pacific Northwest has its first-ever Howard Johnson Plaza, located in Everett, joining more than 600 HoJo properties or franchises around North America.

Short takes: Bits and bites from around the Northwest:

The annual Bite of Seattle runs July 21-23 at the Seattle Center, featuring more than 60 restaurant booths, exhibits by 36 food companies, four beer gardens and four outdoor stages. Every restaurant offers at least one item for $2 or less, plus more expensive offerings.

The Air National Guard band will perform from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on July 29 in the park below Grand Coulee Dam, followed by the usual laser light show on the face of the dam. Both shows are free; for information, call (509) 633-3074.

An international ballroom dancing competition, the Northwest Star Ball Dance Championships, is July 21-22 at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. The contest attracts professional performers from around the world competing for $50,000 in prize money. Amateurs and newcomers compete in other categories. For information, call (206) 623-9556.

Apples and cheese: Two new tourist attractions are scheduled to open this summer in the Yakima Valley region:

The Darigold cheese factory, which opened this month, offers tours of the factory and hand-dipped ice cream.

The Washington state Tree Fruit Interpretive Center, scheduled to open in September, will provide information on the growing of apples and other soft fruit.

For more information, call the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau at (800) 221-0751.

Music and more: The Summer Nights at the Pier outdoor concert series at Seattle’s waterfront runs July 14 through Aug. 23, featuring performers in jazz, folk, pop funk, rock, blues, reggae and opera. For information, call (206) 682-4-FUN.

The 24th annual Victoria International Festival, a classical music extravaganza, runs from July 11 through Aug. 20, featuring dozens of performances at six different sites in the Vancouver Island community. For information, call (604) 736-2119, or (604) 595-4522 from July through mid-August.

Thar she blows: Northern Lights Expeditions offers six-day sea kayaking adventures along the Inside Passage of Vancouver Island to bring paddlers in close contact with killer whales, dolphins and bald eagles.

Kayaking experience is not essential. Some trips feature camping; others luxury accommodations. Prices range from $799 to $1,295 per person, depending on the trip and departure date. For a brochure, call (206) 483-6396.

Island Mariner Cruises offers tourists the chance to observe killer and Minke whales, porpoises, seals, sea birds and other wildlife around the San Juan Islands. Daylong Whale Search/Nature Watch Cruises leave Bellingham every Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 10 and Tuesdays and Thursdays in July and August. Call (360) 734-8866 for reservations.

Still for sale: A few copies of The Spokesman-Review’s annual guide to summer travel are still available, featuring 36 pages of recreation ideas around the Inland Northwest.

The section, which originally ran on Sunday, May 14, includes information about balloon rides, dude ranching and cattle rides, Native American events, unique museums, houseboats, cycling, rodeos, hiking with children, music festivals, river rafting, touring the wine country, and much more.

You’ll also find dozens of phone numbers for more information, plus advertising from resorts, hotels and other travel providers.

For a copy, send $2 in cash, checks or Marilyn Monroe stamps to the address below.

Send information about travel opportunities around the Pacific Northwest to: Travel Editor, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

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