Visit Experience Music Project (EMP) In Seattle For Free Every First Thursday Of The Month

Every first Thursday of the month Experience Music Project (EMP) is  free from 5-8pm.

EMP is the brainchild of Paul Allen, Microsoft-cofounder and well-known figure in the Pacific Northwest. Allen's passion for all things Jimi Hendrix led to an extensive collection of Hendrix memorabilia. His initial desire to share this collection with the public grew in scope to become the Experience Music Project.

The museum takes you through music history by immersing you in nearly 80,000 artifacts including photos, sound archives, costumes and musical instruments from notable artists.  Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, this shrine to rock music and sci-fi is covered by 21,000 aluminum shingles, each painted to emulate the finish of an electric guitar.

It's not just a museum, here you have a chance to try your hand at making music in EMP's Sound Lab, where individual stations quickly teach you to play guitar, drums, or keyboard. Other offerings include the special exhibitions, the Digital Lab, and ( the only feature that got me interested) a performance stage , where you can get on "real " stage and have you 15 minutes of fame (with pictures/DVD to remember).

The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is co-located with Experience Music Project.

Sci-Fi fan ?

Than you'll love it here ! It's a mini version of California's Universal Studio with a number of costumed characters and memorabilia from your favorite movies: Terminator, Planet of the Apes, Matrix, and of course Star Track.

Another cool thing I personally liked - Sky Church, a dramatic hall where a "video frieze" spans on a large wall and you can listen to live music, dance and have fun !

Cross Country Skiing At The Summit At Snoqualmie

Looking for some winter fun beyond snowboarding or downhill skiing? Try cross country skiing !

Using the recommendations from 100 Best Cross Country Ski Trails in Washington that I mentioned in my previous post, I went XC ( cross country skiing ) at the Summit at Snoqualmie.

Nordic Center at the Summit at Snoqualmie ( also known as The Summit East ) offers an incredible system of trails that boasts a network of over 50km. It's an amazing place for cross country ( nordic ) skiers and snowshoers of all ages and skill levels. Beginners and families can easily hone their skills, while experts can take on the challenge of steep terrain and an array of un-groomed runs.

100 Best Cross Country Ski Trails In Washington

Cross country skiing is a great, invigorating, affordable, and simple-to-learn sport. Not a lot of gear required – just good, healthy fun! It is both easy and accessible.
According to Vicky Spring and Tom Kirkendall the authors of  100 Best Cross Country Ski Trails in Washington

The mountainous terrain throughout the entire Washington state ensures that all of Washington's residents have access to excellent cross-country skiing, whether on groomed trails, on scenic logging roads, or on open slopes of glacier-covered volcanoes.

That's true. Almost all ski areas in our state have groomed/ungroomed XC trails that are easily accessible, withing driving distance form Seattle and well maintained.

But you don't have to limit yourself to the same places.

Winter Hiking And Sledding At The Snoqualmie Pass

As I previously wrote, sledding or tubing are not allowed around the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area during operation hours. The only two places you can do are : the Summit's tubing center or Hayak Snow Park ( also known as John Wayne Pioneer Trail at ex 54 on I - 90 ).

Another option is to come to the Summit during off- season to enjoy your snow toys.

If you and your little ones don't mind a short hike, you can try PCP ( Pacific Crest Trail ) trailhead that offers a steep approach that you can use as a hill. But since it's a popular snowshoeing, winter hiking, and ski touring trail, make sure you use caution when sledding.

This weekend we decided to combine a bit of backcountry hiking and sledding at a popular Snow Lake trail.

The Best Surf Towns In America - Westport, WA

The beauty of great surf towns is that they combine great waves with a laid-back beach atmosphere.

The West Coast is dotted with dozens of diverse and attractive surf towns. While California and Hawaii remain the most popular surfing destinations, their PNW neighbors - Oregon and Washington - are gaining popularity and respect among the more hard core crowd of cold water surfers.

Wesport's Westheaven State Park is probably the  most popular surfing destination in Washington state.

Winter Activities In Leavenworth, WA : Snowmobiling

North Central Washington is the most startling and diverse region of our state, and Leavenworth is an ultimate adventure travel destination year round. No matter what season is outside, you can always find tons of exciting and adventures things to do in this beautiful town.

Winter in Leavenworth is the perfect place to capture the magic of the Christmas season !

Couple some of the best snow and terrain in the country with a charming Bavarian village complete with activities, events, dining and lodging and you have the ultimate winter getaway.

Leavenworth has a long and rich winter sports heritage. Winter brings the opportunity for all kinds of snow activities including downhill and cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, horseback/sleigh riding, and snowmobiling.

Mountain boarding BPA trail in Federal Way

We expected La Nina to be pretty intense, with temperatures in the single digits and lot's of snow in the mountains. But I don't think anybody ( including Seattle officials ) expected snow in November, and arctic weather in December. Washington State and Federal Way in particular got snow off and on. The weather was so frigid that the snow didn't melt away for a few weeks.

I, personally, had no problem with that. The next day after the snow fall, I headed out to BPA trail in Federal Way, one of the best places in our state for hiking, biking, and now, my favorite place for mountain and longboarding.

10 Adventures To Try In The San Juan Islands

The Essential San Juan Islands Guide

I call the San Juan Islands - "Hawaii of the Pacific Northwest" !

The coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest, between mainland Washington and Vancouver Island, contain hundreds of islands, some little more than sandbars, others rising 3,000 feet. Among these, the San Juans are considered by many to be the loveliest.

The San Juan Island offer something for everyone. The islands are especially attractive to adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.

We spent a few gorgeous early fall days, exploring the two of the most fun islands - Orcas and San Juan. Below, I offer a few suggestions if you plan to do more than just sitting on the beach and enjoying the sun :

Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day At Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park

TKMBD is an annual celebration held on the first Saturday of October. The event, developed and coordinated by IMBA, strives to encourage communities around the world to join together and ride mountain bikes with youth. Over the years we’ve had tens of thousands of kids participate from across the globe, including: Italy, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Malaysia, and Mexico. Informal or formal, one child or 100 children, TKMBD celebrates the joy of riding in the dirt.

Besides being good, healthy fun, the goal is to develop a connection between kids and the natural world around them. Today’s children are tomorrow’s land managers and politicians — future decision-makers for important matters like recreation and access to public lands. How different might our current access landscape look today if previous generations of policy makers had grown up riding bikes on natural-surface trails?

In the past, almost 200 kids and 100 adults turned out to explore the trails at King County’s Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park. Duthie, located in Issaquah, is a bike trail park built for all ages and ability levels – from first-timers to advanced riders.

This year’s event included guided trail rides, an obstacle course for the little ones, an exciting jump show from local and pro riders, costume bike parade and barbecue, and tons of prizes!

It’s a terrific way to get kids outside in the woods having fun on bikes. Come join us at this family event! All ages are welcome – from tots to teens – they just need a working bike and helmet to participate!

Skimboarding - Fun For All Ages !

This summer I finally got to try skimboarding !

As I wrote in my previous post, most people know skimboarding as “that thing kids do on the sand,” but the truth is , skimboarding is not just for kids. I have to admit, I didn't see too many adults skimming along the beach. And after the first ( dozens ) of falls I realized why :)

Skimboarding is as simple as : throw the board down, run after it, and hop on. Yet, for adults, it can be quite intimidating and frustrating.  It takes technique, balance, good hand and eye cordination, and allows little room for mistake. But once you can grasp the nack of jumping onto the skimboarding without falling you'll never loose it.

But at first, expect to wipeout a lot, nearby kids will make fun of you, and by standing adults ( quietly ) judging you. But pay no attention to naysayers and their negativity. Skimboarding is tons of fun ! Besides, it can be done anywhere there is a pool of water !

In fact, tumbling into sun-toasted water can be a pleasurable experience. Then there’s the simple joy of wiggling one’s toes in sandy flats while watching skimmers slap their boards down and race to hop on.

Like the fleeting days of summer, catch ’em while you can.

Tips On Visiting The San Juan Islands

The San Juan Island Archipelago consists of a staggering 172 islands, some only visible during extreme low tide, and well over 300 miles of shoreline. The three largest islands are geographically unique: Orcas being the hilliest, Lopez the flattest, and San Juan Island is a combination of both.

Though, there are a few bigger islands that are popular among see kayakers and boaters, the three big ones ( Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan ) are most visited by "leisure travelers" ( with Lopez Island being more popular among "recreational cyclists" ).

Below I want to share a few tips that I wish I new before visiting Orcas and San Juan Islands this September :

1 - When To Go

Any time !  There is no better time than island time !
Ideally, the best time to visit the islands is during summer : the views are simply amazing !
But summertime is also the busiest ( not to mention more expensive ! ). You can always travel during the week, but even that won't guarantee you short lines at the ferry terminal, or a camping spot on the same day.

That's why, for this particular destination, in my opinion, the best time to travel is either early fall or spring.
In Washington state, summer "extends" well into September/October : the weather is still warm, and the sun is still shining ! Plus, it's less crowded, and the hotels and local businesses start charging "off-season" prices.

2 - Taking A Ferry To The Islands

The trip by a ferry is an adventure of its own !
The trip from Anacortes to San Juan island is about an hour long, with a few stops at Shaw, Lopez, and Orcas islands.
In summer time, the lines are long, and you're recommended to arrive to the terminal at least an hour before the departure time.In September we got on a ferry just 30 minutes before its departure.
Though in Anacortes you pay for round trip, if you want to travel from Orcas to San Juan, it will cost extra ~$20 ( round trip ).

3 - Take a car...or not

At some point I was debating whether to take a car or not. Since my son and I were camping for 3 days, and we had our bikes and a kayak with us, I had to take a car.
But some adventurous people do choose to take just a bike to explore the islands. This way, you can pitch a tent at one of many camping spots ( or even better, anywhere by the water ! for FREE ! ), or get a room at a hotel/resort.
Just keep in mind, Oracs Island is considered to be the largest, and the hilliest ( with Mount Constitution at almost exactly a half-mile elevation ). But you always have an option to rent one of the islands' cute scoot-cars from Susie's Mopeds.

4 - Where To Stay

The islands  offer you a whole world of choice when it comes to where you want to stay. Depending on your preferences you can choose from primitive camping to high priced hotels and resorts, or somewhere in between ( B&B's, cabins, bungalows ).
Since the islands are extremely popular, even prices for camping go as high as $25 + per night. Plus, reservations ( even for camping ! ) are recommended week(s) ahead.
But again, in early fall, we were lucky to get a camping spot right by the water on the same day !

5 - ( Active ) Things To Do

Though the most popular (touristy) activity is considered to be whale-watching, each island has its own fun things to do and places to explore. It all depends on your personal preferences and fitness level ( some people choose to hike or even bike to the top of Mt Constitution ! ).

But I'd definitely recommend to bring ( or rent ) a bike ! It's such a pleasure to ride along the coastline, and enjoy the views !

Another must do activity would be kayaking ! You have more chances to spot orcas from a kayak, not to mention the thrill of being so close to this amazing creatures !

Click on the link below to find out more about the adventures and outdoor activities that you can do on islands.

 6 - Bring Your Camera And Binoculars  !

How else do you plan to spot orcas from your kayak or the shores of Lime Kiln State Park ?!  Did I mention the views from the top of Mt Constitution are breathtaking ?!

I promise you, this trip will create a lot of memories, and you're guaranteed to come back for more !

If you like this post, check out "10 Outdoor Activities And Adventurous Things You Can Do At The San Juan Islands".

Picture credit Teren Photography

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Best Biking Seattle Has To Offer

If you have out-of-state friends or family who love to ride visiting Seattle for the first time, where would you take them ?

My personal picks would be : Colonnade Bike, Elliott Bay, and Burke-Gilman Trails.

These places have a lot in common : conveniently located in the heart of Seattle, easily accessible with lots of parking, suitable for riders of all ages and fitness levels, and all three of these places offer great sightseeing opportunities !

Also, if your friends/family are ExtraHyperActive ( like us ), you can bike all three spots in one day !

We started our "Seattle bikothlon" in Ballard on Burke-Gilman trail, rode our bikes to Magnuson park, hitched a ride to Colonnade park, where my 7 year old got to learn his first basics of technical mountain biking, and then we made our way from Smith Cove to downtown Seattle to enjoy the beautiful city at night !

There is something special ( and spooky ) to walk around your favorite Pike Place Market at night.

Did you know that in the Market stands the city's first mortuary, part of an old graveyard, and a former brothel that still has a red glow cast on its side ? And that it has been voted the most haunted location in the northwest ?

Even if you don't believe in paranormal activities, walking around the market is a very exciting experience ( not to mention the lack of crowds is perfect for taking iconic pictures ! ).

Sailing Adventure On Historic Tall Ship Lady Washington

The Lady Washington, a replica of the original 18th century ship Lady Washington, was built in Aberdeen, Washington, USA in time for the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebrations. Named Washington State's Tall Ship Ambassador, as well as the State Ship, it is operated by a professional and volunteer crew under the auspices of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority. The Lady Washington portrayed the HMS Interceptor in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Learning how to sail has been on my Bucket List for quite some time. 

As I've read somewhere: "Sailing is the closest we can get to nature - it's adrenaline, fear, a constant challenge and learning experience, an adventure into the unknown."

Unfortunately, it's not always the way you expect it to be...

We signed up for what was promised to be a "Battle Sail" - "Our popular three-hour Battle Sails feature booming cannons, close-quarters maneuvers, and a taste of 18th century maritime life aboard tall ships. Passengers are invited to raise the sails, verbally taunt their opponents, and sing the chorus on a sea shanty."...

Instead, we got to sail ... 200 feet away from the dock, circle around and shoot guns ( do you know the difference between cannons and guns ? That's probably one of few things I learned during the sail ), tour the area where the crew sleeps ( that conveniently had a "store where you can buy useless knick-knacks ), and listened to the crew sinning songs, and telling stories.

It wasn't completely waste of time. We did learn a few interesting facts, like where the word "knot" originated from, how to use a sextant, or where the phrase "son of a gun" came from.

Bedsides, it was pretty cool to sail on a famous movie ship !

I would say their educational part of the sail was more interesting than the battle sail itself. So, may be next time we'll sign up for an actual sail...