Here & There: Find your happy place at Salish

Last year, my Uncle Kelly brought a date to our family’s Thanksgiving feast. Of course, we were all happy he’d met someone, but even more than that we really liked her pumpkin cheesecake.

And we were all ready to welcome her – and her desserts – back again with open arms.

But it seems they broke up. Why, you ask? I could give you 20 guesses, and you would never come up with it.

So I’ll tell you: She believes in fairies. And Kelly just couldn’t take it.

That means Pumpkin Cheesecake Lady needs somewhere else to spend Thanksgiving, and I think I found just the place.

Salish Lodge & Spa marks the end of daylight-saving time on Nov. 4 with the “Negative Ion” package, wherein you get your fill of odorless, tasteless, invisible molecules “proven to have mood boosting qualities.”

Just like fairies.

Apparently, the 268-foot Snoqualmie Falls, located just below the lodge, contains these negative ions in abundance, although one wonders how anyone can tell.

Nevertheless, the package bundles several experiences designed “to create the ultimate ‘attitude adjustment’ as the days get darker and the sunshine fades.” It’s available until daylight-saving time returns on March 9.

Here’s what the lodge thinks will raise your spirits: one night in a guestroom outfitted with a wood-burning fireplace, guided meditation near the falls where you’ll lap up those negative ions, and a “pine needle polish” at the spa – which is apparently a full-body treatment meant to re-create the “calming experience of walking through a pine forest.”

Now, I’ve walked through a pine forest and it wasn’t necessarily calming. But then again, my husband was there, too.

Finally, take your calm, enlightened self to the dining room. The lodge’s chef promises dinner for two full of “good-for-your-attitude and healthy ingredients” high in omega 3 fatty acids and “mood-elevating herbs.”

No, not that. They’re talking about sweet oregano.

Once you’re in your happy place, the lodge will ask you to shell out at least $599 for the favor. See if you can maintain the mood after that.

To make your reservations, visit www.salishlodge.com or call (800) 2-SALISH (272-5474).

White wine, or dark?

I’ve got one more option for Pumpkin Cheesecake Lady: the 25th annual Wine Country Thanksgiving in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Nov. 23 to 25.

The valley boasts more than 120 wineries serving up Oregon specialties like riesling, syrah and pinot gris.

A number of small, family-owned wineries stay open for the weekend so you can cozy up to the winemaker him- or herself. And each organizes activities such as cheese or truffle tastings, musical performances, art displays and other enticements.

You can request a complete list of activities and a map at www.willamettewines.com. Or call (503) 646-2985.

Speaking of the sauce …

If you’re tired of hearing me wax rhapsodic about Garry Cranberry, travel’s cutest cartoon mascot, just skip ahead.

He’s back, promoting “Cran Power” and representing the 2007 Cranberry Harvest Festival, Oct. 13 and 14 in Grayland, Wash.

This is the 14th year for the event on what organizers call the state’s “historical cranberry coast,” otherwise known as 18 miles of beach south of Grays Harbor.

The weekend highlights include a “bog jog” and tours of cranberry bogs. Buses will haul you to watch growers at harvest and along the way your tour guide will tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the tart, red berries.

“Bite of the Beach” will give you a taste of cranberry-based foods, for a mere 25 cents per bite. And entrants in the cranberry cook-off will face off in categories including main dishes, breads, beverages and appetizers.

If that’s not enough for you, there’s a big berry contest, quilt show, cranberry market place, cranberry eating contest and cranberry harvest photo contest. Saturday night features the firefly parade down Highway 105 through Grayland.

Get a look at Barry and find out more about his festival by visiting www.2thebeach.org. You can also call (800) 473-6018.

Regional events

“Legends for Lights Pheasant Jamboree, Oct. 5-7, Havre, Mont. Organizers promise banquets and social hours with “your favorite professional sports legends” but, curiously enough, they don’t identify these luminaries. So don’t get your hopes too high. Regardless, you can hunt in some of Montana’s “finest pheasant country” and compete with these unnamed athletes in trapshooting and hunting contests. ( www.visitmt.com /406-265-4318)

“CroatiaFest, Oct. 7, Seattle. Croatian culture takes the Seattle Center stage with dance ensembles, musicians, artists and sword dancers on their first visit to the U.S. ( www.croatiafest.org/ 206-443-1410)