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...

Exploring Guler Ice Cave Near Mt Adams, WA

As I wrote in my previous post, Mt Adams area is another great place for outdoor enthusiasts in Washington state to explore. Along with climbing, skiing, hiking, camping, mountain biking Mt Adams, the area around Trout Lake is famous for another landmark - Guler Ice Caves. Since attracting notice as a source of cocktail ice in the high summers of the 1860s, the Guler Ice Caves have been a favorite local attraction for travelers to the area for over a century.

Guler Ice Caves in Washington’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest provides spelunkers a chance to mix a little ice into their routine. In the lava tubes of the Mt. Adams volcano, caves formed and ice filled up the space with winter spectacles. Noted for their coldness, the caves were, at one point, nearly turned into a cold food storage area by Mr. Christian Guler. The failure of Mr. Guler’s attempts leave us with spectacularly undisturbed caves that are transformed annually by a fresh coat of ice. Join the ranks of those brave enough to venture underground and into an exquisite winter wonderland.

The caves consist of six hundred and fifty feet of beautiful formations of rock and water that can be explored by cavers of all experience levels. The footing is rocky, however, so be certain to bring footwear with adequate ankle-support. Also, be prepared for the chilly air (they are ice caves, after all!) and low light. Flashlights, warm clothing, and head protection for the low ceilings are highly recommended.

 The caves are conveniently located just a mile away from Trout Lake Ranger station. Very accessible in summer, but, as I heard, in winter requires a two-mile over-snow trip, either with cross-country skis, snowshoes or snowmobile. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest has built a stairway down to the cave, but the steps can be slippery during winter.

Many of the ice formations are just inside the cave entrance, so it's not necessary to explore deep inside. In late summer, as I was told, many ice formations start to melt.

The parking lot is big enough to accommodate cars even on a busy weekend. Since the caves are located on the National Forest property, National Forest Recreation Pass is required.

If you are into caving/spelunking, another famous caves - Ape Caves of Mt St Helens, are located just and hour and a half away ( in summer ).
But honestly, in my opinion, both caves are pretty mediocre, and unless you combine visiting the caves with other outdoor adventures in the area, they are not worth the drive from Seattle.


If you liked this post, you may also like:

Inside Guler Ice Cave Video

Exploring Mt St Helens: Camping, Hiking, And Caving

Climbing/skiing Mt Adams

Washington Best Getaways

Long Beach Peninsula: surfing, biking, camping

  
This was my first trip to the Long Beach Peninsula, and now, it has become my favorite coastal destination in our state. I found a whole lot more to do here than at other small coastal towns like Ocean Shores or Westport. It is a perfect vocation destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

My original plan was to check out local surfing scene here. Though, recognized as one of the longest and most drivable beaches in the United States, it's not that easy to find a good break. A few places I heard about are : Seaview , Klipsan Beach, and Leadbetter State Park. Surf conditions are the same as at Ocean Shores - small, foamy , but consistent waves. Dangerous rips are a hazard of surfing here, so I wouldn't go any deeper than waist high. If you are a beginner, a local area surf shop Skookum Surf Co. offers premium surf lessons, and surf gear rentals.


Since recently, on every trip I go, I take my bike with me. I found it to be easier, healthier, more fun ( and you save on gas ! ) to discover visiting area by bike.

One feature that completely blew my mind here was the Discovery Trail.

This 8.2 mile trail stretches from the northern city limits of Long Beach and goes all the way to Ilwaco ( a small fishermen town, also known as " Fishing Capital of the World " ). This is the best leisure biking trail I've ridden so far ! The trail is paved, relatively flat, and the scenery is amazing ( with the ocean just a few feet away ) !

Cape Disappointment State Park is the most visited park in the Washington State Parks system. The park's most famous and visited landmarks are two lighthouses ( North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse ) and Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. A Lighthouse Keepers Residence is now offered as a vacation rental through Cape Disappointment State Park. Fronted by the Pacific Ocean, the park offers breathtaking ocean views, great camping ( tent, RV and yurts ) and it's only minutes away from Long Beach. The park links a few short hikes ( I did Westwind Trail, which gets wet and muddy when it rains and really unpleasant to hike ).



All in all, I had a great first impression from this area. Besides the activities that I've listed, there is something to do for everybody : horseback riding, kiting, fishing, paddling, clamming ( something that I haven't tried yet :)...

The Long Beach Peninsula is remarkable for its continuous sand beaches and dotted with many small towns along the way, so if you can't find what you are looking for in one town, you can always just go to another one. Once in Seaview, stop by local Visitor Bureau ( Intersection of Highways 101 and 103 ) to get more detailed information.

Surfing In Washington : Kids Have Fun In Cold Water

While thoughts of surfing may evoke summertime and warm, sandy beaches, there also exists an entirely separate sect of surfers who brave freezing temperatures to catch waves on frigid waters.

Washington is not Hawaii, and though, surfing remains an outdoor activity for a very dedicated and tight group of people, the sport is growing in popularity !

A new generation of surfers brave cold water, gusty winds, and pouring rain to get stoked catching mushy waves at the popular Wesport's Westheaven State Park, Washington most popular surfing destination.

As I wrote in my previous posts, the best way to introduce your kids to surfing is to do it in some place warm. But if your kid is brave/crazy enough to surf in the cold waters of Pacific Ocean, you know you have a life-long surfer on your hands.

My son celebrated his 7th birthday by learning how surf in the most miserable conditions one can only imagine. Yet, the smile on his face told me he had the time of his life !

You might also like:

5 Tips To Teach Your Kid To Surf

Mountain Biking Mt Adams, WA

Mt Adams area offers more than one thousand miles of trails that are woven throughout the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and many are open to mountain bikers.

If you're ExtraHyperActive like me, Mt Adams is a great little getaway from Seattle for a perfect multi-sport weekend.

Though my main goal was to climb/ski Mt Adams, having heard a lot about the abundance of opportunities for both road and mountain biking, I decided to take my bike along to explore the area and a few local mountain bike trails.

Conveniently for me, Cold Springs trail #72 was located at the same camping ground as the main climbing rout - South Climb #183

Open to mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians, Cold Springs trail is  3.7 miles long, and offers amazing wildflowers viewing and the sights of A.G. Aiken Lava Flow.  Much of the trail travels through an area heavily burned in the Cold Springs Fire of 2008.

The trail interacts with a few other major trails making a great way to explore the area by bike. If you decide to ride this trail one way, keep in mind, it's pretty steep, and the way up could be more  than you bargained for ( especially if you have to climb Mt Adams the next day like I did :)).

But riding my bike with Mt Adams in the background was one of the highlights of my trip !

This Summer Try Mountain Boarding !

For Sale Atom 95X MountainBoard

Dirt doesn't melt !

That's why mountainboarding is a great alternative to snowboarding ! In my previous post, I mentioned several ski resorts that allowed mountainboarding during summer on their property.

But a great thing about mountain boarding is that you can do it anywhere there is a hill ! Dirt, grass, pavement, bike trail, a skateboard park... anywhere will work ! Where's there's a hill there's a way to enjoy the thrill of mountain boarding.

In South King County, a great place to carve a few turns is Celebration Park in Federal Way.

BPA trail that starts in the park is a 3.6 mile paved path with many hills of various sizes. You can ride on the pavement, or you can find a few dirt trails. One of the soccer fields in the park offers small grassy hills that are fun to ride on for your little ones.

Another great option is to combine hiking and mountain boarding ! Many wide logging roads or mountain biking single tracks ( like the 3.7-mile Preston Railroad Trail on Tiger Mountain ) will work great for an easy hike and a fast and fun ride down.

If walking uphill is not your thing, how about  'horse boarding' ? Check out this video to see what its like to be towed behind a horse at 35 miles per hour.

Tacoma Hosts A New Mountain Bike Park

I said it years ago : Washington is becoming a new mountain biking mecca in US !

With Stevens Pass mountain bike park, Duthie Hill in Issaquah, and thousand of miles of well maintained trails around the state, Washington easily competes with such famous mountain bike places like Whistler, Utah, and Colorado.

And now a new mountain bike park in Tacoma has become a great addition of places to ride around the state. It's nice to finally have an area in the South Sound we can rally around.

Swan Creek Park is a 290 acre greenspace nestled on the boundary between East Tacoma and Pierce County with a salmon bearing stream, wooded canyon, upland forest, paved and natural trails, a new community garden, and new mountain bike trails.

The park is popular for bird watching, hiking, walking, picnicking and other recreational uses, and is also used for driver training by public safety and utility departments. And now it's the home of Tacoma's first trail system for mountain bikes!

Developed and operated in partnership with Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, the newly completed Phase 1 includes an easy perimeter trail, advanced trails and a technical skill building zone. There is something there for everybody from little kids to full-grown rippers.

May be because it's a new park, and not many features have been built yet, I felt the park was more suitable for novice to intermediate riders like me. I especially liked "Hustle & Flow" - a 1.75 mi cross country loop that circumnavigates the ~50 acre Douglas Fir Forest. Designed to be similar to Bootcamp at Duthie Hill -- smooth and flowy with lots of rollers and banked turns, max sustained climbs and descents, optional features. Skill level: Green (entry) level and kid/family-friendly but fun to rip for all ages and skill levels. Some more difficult options.

Since the park is relatively new, the skill building features only include : skinny practice zone, drop zone and pump track on the north side of the park.

But if all goes well at Swan Creek, Metro Parks and Evergreen hope they can soon start building more trails in the forest.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/03/23/3111832/local-mountain-bikers-blaze-their.html#storylink=cpy

In my opinion, Washington is one of the best places to be a mountain biker in the continental United States ! From freshwater lakes to towering peaks and green valleys, Washington's landscape is as exciting as it is diverse.

 Below, check out Mountain Bike! Washington (America by Mountain Bike) the guidebook that will introduce you to the thrill of exploring Washington's wilderness while you experience its most unforgettable rides.

Seattle Is My Home ! 13 Amazing Pictures Of Seattle

Since I came to the United States in 1999, I've lived and traveled a lot around our beautiful country. But I haven't seen as much beauty, scenery, contrast, diversity as in Washington state, and in my opinion, Seattle is ( OK, one of ) the most beautiful cities in US !

Here are 13 amazing pictures that represent the spirit and beauty of our beloved city ! Also, check out the video at the bottom why so many people call Seattle their home...