Autumn Leaves New State Guide Gets You Away In The Fall

Sun., Sept. 3, 1995

Graham Vink Travel Editor

A free guide to autumn activities around Washington state is now available, featuring 48 pages of driving tours, cycling and wildlife watching information, special events and seasonal offers and discounts.

It’s also got lots of useful phone numbers, and plenty of information for outdoors types, from hiking to hunting and fishing. For a free copy, call (800) 544-1800, extension 101.

Historic homes: The annual autumn tour of historic homes in Port Townsend, Wash., is Sept. 16-17. Eleven homes will be on display, including the Rothschild House, Washington’s smallest state park.

Port Townsend, noted for its Victorian architecture, is one of the four seaports in the nation on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, call (800) 499-0047 or (360) 385-7869.

Party time: The sixth annual Oktoberfest in Portland is Sept. 21-24 in Oaks Park at the east end of the Sellwood Bridge.

Events include performances by two 10-piece oom pah bands from Bavaria; a children’s fairy tale land with gingerbread house; both alcoholic and non-alcoholic entertainment areas; a dog show; and a Volkswalk. For information, call (503) 232-3000.

The 13th annual Testicle Festival at the Rock Creek Lodge, 22 miles east of Missoula, is Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. Its creator, Rod Lincoln, this year expects to serve more than 4,500 pounds of beer-marinated, breaded, deep-fried bull testicles to around 8,000 guests. For information, call the lodge at (406) 825-4868.

Ride ‘em: The 85th annual Pendleton Round-Up, Eastern Oregon’s most famous tourist attraction, is Sept. 13-16. It features a rodeo, Native American pageant, one of the largest non-motorized parades in the United States, country western concerts, an art show and sale, and Main Street shows and carnivals. For information, call (800) 45-RODEO.

Cruising: Seattle-based Argosy Cruises is featuring a narrated cruise around Lake Union and Lake Washington on Sept. 13 that features the homes and hangouts of the area’s rich and famous residents.

The cruise, including a lavish lunch, is $32 per person; for information, call (206) 623-1445.

Historic cruises on the same two lakes aboard the historic Virginia V steamship are offered every Sunday through Oct. 8.

The two-hour cruises cover Gasworks Park, the Lake Union dry dock, University Bridge, the Montlake Cut, the Evergreen Point floating bridge, the Arboretum, Portage Bay’s floating homes, the estate of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the “Sleepless in Seattle” houseboat. The cost is $25 per person; for information, call (206) 624-9119.

Princess Tours says 1995 has been a record season for the company’s cruise tours to Alaska, with 50,000 bookings through midAugust. See any travel agent for information.

Take a hike: A four-day walking tour of the Columbia Gorge is being offered by Bicycle Adventures of Olympia. The trips begin in Portland, visit the Hood River Valley and include river rafting and two nights at a guest ranch at the base of Mount Adams.

The trips, offered weekly through Oct. 23, cost $782 per person, including meals. For information, call (800) 443-6060 or (360) 786-0989.

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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.

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