Jet Boat Runs Still On
A jet boat delivers mail once a week to residents living in Hell’s Canyon, along an 80-mile stretch of the Snake River, and guests can go along for the ride.
Rain or shine, sleet or snow, the mail run departs every Wednesday morning from either Asotin or Clarkston and returns Thursday afternoon. Guests stay overnight at Beamer’s Copper Creek Lodge. The cost is $195 per person; for information, call (800) 522-6966.
Short takes: Bits and pieces from around the Northwest:
Amtrak’s passenger train service between Seattle and Eugene, Ore., has been renamed, from “Mount Rainier” to “Cascadia.” Since the run was extended from Portland to Eugene a year ago, with financial assistance from Oregon, ridership on the train has increased by almost 60 percent. For more information, call (800) USA-RAIL.
The Ashland, Ore., branch of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild has a new toll-free reservation number for its 23 member inns. For information, call (800) 983-4667.
Travelers to the Wenatchee region can now be linked directly to a variety of lodging establishments with one phone call. For information, call the Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce at (800) 57APPLE.
Gail’s Restaurant on Lopez Island, in the San Juans, has received an award of excellence from Wine Spectator magazine for its commitment to Washington wine. The restaurant uses fresh herbs, edible flower and organic produce; for information, call (360) 468-2150.
Too cool: The Glacier Jazz Stampede is Oct. 19-22 in Kalispell, Mont., featuring local and out-of-state musicians performing everything from early jazz and ragtime to swing, big band and modern.
A big jazz party on Thursday night starts the festival. For information, call (406) 862-3814.
Book report: Books of interest to Northwest travelers:
“I-5 Travel Guide” (Bryce Publications, $14.95) is a guide that has a map and descriptions of every intersection along Interstate 5 in Washington state, with information about gas stations, restaurants, fast foods and other points of interest. It’s a self-published book, and I found the most interesting part to be the amateur photos of abandoned gas stations, but it might be handy for people who drive the freeway for a living.
Oregon Family Adventure Guide” (Globe Pequot, $9.95) is a useful collection of family-oriented places to stay and things to do.
It’s organized by city, within regions, making it easy to plan a visit. More photos and maps would have been nice, but overall the book looks like an excellent resource.
, DataTimes MEMO: Send information about travel opportunities around the Pacific Northwest to: Travel Editor, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.