Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are pretty proud of our ‘hood.
A day trip out of Seattle can bring you to play among the jagged peaks of the Cascade Mountains, soak away your worries in natural hot springs, kayak waterways shared by orcas in the San Juan Islands, float along rivers where bald eagles feed on spawning salmon… the list goes on and on. And as much as I sound like the Travel Channel right now, I am not embellishing. It’s really that awesome.
If you are a visitor to Seattle, therefore, it’s a must for you to get out into nature and take in some of the sublimity. Locals, too, are required to make an active practice of enjoying and exalting our outdoor utopia.
Great news! Daily departures into this wonderland of the Pacific Northwest are available through a great local eco-tour company, EverGreen Escapes.
The crew at EverGreen Escapes offers high-quality sustainable tours to the great natural areas of the region. From their fleet of biodiesel-powered vans and carbon offset options to their fresh organic “on safari” meals, these guys are on the forefront of what I consider to be the changing face of travel, as tour operators around the globe begin to shift to more environmentally-friendly and locally-sustainable models.
I also love the fact that alongside the more physically adventurous “escapes” they offer, (think mountaineering in the Olympics or scuba diving the Gulf Islands) they also offer lighter adventures, such as their Woodinville Wine Trail or the Whidbey Island Farms & Beaches excursion.
Stage the perfect Valentine’s Day kiss next to dramatic Snoqualmie Falls on the Snoqualmie Snowshoe & Starlight Bonfire excursion – a romantic day of adventure of interpretive snowshoeing with a naturalist guide that wraps up with a cozy bonfire complete with hot buttered rum and local Beechers cheeses, Washington apples, NW smoked sockeye salmon lox, bagels and cream cheese…. And of course s’mores. Sweet.