Columbia Gorge Is Good Reason Not To Put Away Hiking Boots Yet

Many hikers put away their boots at this time of year, but there’s good hiking and sightseeing all year-round in much of the Columbia Gorge.

The region attracts bird-watchers looking for a variety of feathered visitors, including bald eagles, tundra swans and other migratory water and shorebirds. There are also special Christmas tree hunts by rail, offered by the Mount Hood Railroad, on Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17.

For more information, call the Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association at 800-98-GORGE. For more information about the railroad, call (503) 386-3556.

Short takes: Bits and pieces from around the Northwest:

Fireworks will be shot off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on Dec. 31. For more information, call (509) 633-3074.

SuperMall of the Great Northwest is now open in Auburn, 25 miles south of Seattle, featuring outlet stores in a mall-type setting. A power shopper on our staff describes the place as “great.”

The lineup includes Nordstrom Rack, Incredible Universe electronics, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, Oshman’s Super Sports and more than 160 other stores. For information and directions, call (800) SAY-VALU or (206) 833-9500.

Seattle stuff: What’s new in the Emerald City:

The Woodland Park Zoo has received the 1994 Best Exhibit award from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for its newest exhibit, Northern Trail.

The exhibit, which opened a year ago, showcases animals and plant life of cold, rugged regions in Alaska, Canada, Russia and Scandinavia, including bears, otters, wolves, owls, bald eagles and a range of plant communities. For information, call (206) 684-4800.

Seattle now has a coffee company where visitors can watch the actual roasting of the beans while also sampling a variety of coffee drinks. The Caffe Appassionato Roastery and Tasting Bar is near the Fisherman’s Terminal; for information, call (206) 281-8040.

A new, first-class hotel has opened in Pioneer Square, featuring 75 guest rooms and suites and offering convenient access to the Kingdome and downtown. The Pioneer Square Hotel is located in a 1914 building formerly known as the historic Hotel Yesler. For information, call (800) 800-5514 or (206) 340-1234.

Children 12 and under can ride free from November through March on the Spirit of Washington dinner train, which runs Tuesdays through Sundays from suburban Renton, Wash., to the Columbia Winery near Woodinville, Wash. For information, call (206) 227-RAIL.

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