Washington State Getaway Guide Available
The free spring-summer edition of the Washington State Getaway Guide is available by calling (800) 890-5493 and will be accompanied by the free 1997 Washington State Lodging and Travel Guide.
The getaway guide has ideas for places to see waterfalls, museums where native art is displayed, a rodeo guide and a map to public gardens in the state.
Thousands flock to see flowers
Tiptoe through the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley in April but let someone else do the driving.
The country roads near La Conner, Wash., are jammed with vehicles and bicycles during the popular Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Not to worry, though. The Victoria Clipper departs from downtown Seattle’s Pier 69 daily March 29-April 13 and cruises to downtown La Conner. There, cruisers board a motorcoach to tour the acres of blooming tulip and daffodil fields.
Prices vary depending on the day but generally are $38, $27 for seniors, $19 for children; advance ticket discounts are available. For cruise information, call Victoria Clipper Cruises at (800) 88-2535.
Gentlemen, start your chainsaw
Hundreds of loggers will flock to Deming, Wash., 12 miles east of Bellingham, in June for the annual Deming Log Show.
The event features competitions in log rolling, bucking, timed cutting events and other activities. In addition, there will be displays about the history of logging, a loggers breakfast and a salmon barbecue.
The Deming Log Show runs June 14-15 and admission is $5, $3 for seniors and kids. For information: (360) 592-3051.
Leave your trowel at home
Gardeners heading east in April might want to swing by Richmond, Va., where the 64th annual Historic Garden Week in Virginia will be going on April 19-26.
While Richmond will headquarter the event, more than 250 gardens throughout the state will be open for public viewing. Visitors can sign up for any of the more than 30 tours that will be conducted across the state.
For most of the tours, visitors drive to the tour areas and are greeted by hostess guides at each home/garden on the tour. Prices range from $10 to $20 and single house/garden admissions range from $3 to $5.
A brochure outlining tour dates and locations is available for $3 from Historic Garden Week in Virginia, 12 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219; (804) 644-7776.
Sort of like tents
Campers need not head for Mongolia to spend the night in a yurt. No, now campers can rent a night in a yurt at Fort Canby, Wash., for $35 (for four people, additional people are $4 apiece).
Fort Canby is a 1,880-acre park 2.5 miles southwest of Ilwaco on the Long Beach Peninsula and is home to two lighthouses and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.
If yurts aren’t your style, cabins are also available, at the same rate. To make reservations: (800) 452-5687.
For serious addicts
Those thinking they did not eat enough chocolate on Valentine’s Day can plan to attend the Chocolate Fantasy March 9 at the Yakima Holiday Inn in Yakima.
The 14th annual Chocolate Fantasy features chocolate pastries, roses, fudges, ice cream and fresh strawberries dipped in hot fudge sauce.
Admission is $4, the event runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For information: (509) 966-6309 from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays.
, DataTimes