Bike The Cascades At Leisurely Pace
A summer tour may resemble a triathlon in that participants bicycle 370 miles in seven days, but it will be much more pleasant.
The bicycle tour begins on Whidbey Island and heads over 5,477-foot Washington Pass in the North Cascades and down into the fruit orchard country around Lake Chelan. On a layover day, cyclists take a whitewater rafting trip, or there’s time for horseback riding or enjoying the swimming pool at Sun Mountain Lodge.
There’s a trip through Leavenworth and then back to Seattle. The tour runs Sept. 14-21 and cost, which includes accommodations, guides and support facilities, is $1,588 ($128 more if you need to rent a bicycle). For info: Bicycle Adventures, (800) 443-6060 or fax (360) 786-9661.
Jazzin’ on the peninsula
The annual Jazz Port Townsend festival draws hundreds of jazz buffs to the Olympic Peninsula each summer. This year the festival that Downbeat magazine describes as “among the world’s leading jazz events” will be Thursday through July 28.
This year the festival pays tribute to artistic director Bud Shank. For a schedule of concerts and ticket info: (800) 733-3608.
Hit the slopes
Summer on the slopes brings scenic lift rides, music festivals, mountain biking and hiking to some Northwest ski areas.
Whistler/Blackcomb and, closer to home, Crystal Mountain recently opened for the summer and offer the most recreation and accommodations.
Crystal has 35 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails; chair lifts take visitors up the hills. There are motels, condos, campsites and restaurants at Crystal, including Summit House with a sweeping view of Mount Rainier. All-day lift tickets are $10 for adults; discounted $8 tickets are available at businesses in Enumclaw and on Highway 410. Information: (360) 663-2265.
Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia this summer offers classical and rock/blues/folk music festivals, plus lift rides, glacier skiing and snowboarding, mountain-biking and all-terrain vehicle tours. As of last week there was still about four feet of snow at the top. Information: (800) WHISTLER.
Eco-tours, heritage tours
The Royal British Columbia Museum is offering several dozen eco-tours in British Columbia this summer and fall, from day-long trips to archeological sites, beaches and forests to overnight sailing and rafting trips. The tours focus on the native and/or natural history of an area; resource people, including naturalists and historians, accompany them. Information: Royal B.C. Museum tours, (604) 387-5745.
The Oregon Historical Society is offering a series of heritage tours in Oregon and southwest Washington this summer and fall, from a historic train ride and tour around Bend in central Oregon to an exploration of Washington’s Long Beach peninsula. Information: (503) 306-5192.
Beer, beer, beer in Portland
About 80 specialty-beer brewers will show their stuff at the Oregon Brewers Festival, July 26-28 at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland. Beyond the brews there will be food booths, music and displays on brewing your own beer. Admission is free although a $2 souvenir mug is required for tasting. Information: (503) 778-5917.
Making music
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival will bring dozens of performers from around the world to seven outdoor stages in Vancouver, B.C., on July 19-21. The weekend of music at Jericho Beach Park ranges from Celtic and African to blues and gospel - plus poetry, story-telling and special performances for kids. Tickets are available at the gate or in advance through TicketMaster or Seattle’s Red and Black Books and Cellophane Square.
In southern Oregon, Britt Festivals is offering its annual summer of music, from bluegrass to classical and world music. There are 44 performances this summer at the Britt Pavilion and grounds in the historic gold-rush town of Jacksonville, 15 miles northwest of Ashland. Information: (800) 88-BRITT.
After the slide
The Mountain Loop Scenic Byway in Snohomish County has reopened, seven months after portions of it were washed out in floods. It links Darrington with the Monte Cristo/ Verlot areas, and gives access to campgrounds, trails and fishing.
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