Black bears, an octopus tree, a blimp hangar, museums, the Winter Olympics, ice skating, winter gardens, a castle, and a space center are but a few of the hundreds of settings for day trips in the Washington Puget Sound area.
With winter break just a little over a month away, it's not too soon to make plans for a day trip. Here are some ideas for things you can do with your family that are four or less hours away.
Washington
Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island (www.bainbridgeisland.com) is a 30-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Check out Winslow, (www.visitkitsap.com) the historic downtown shopping district which includes a local travel store and candle shop. At Eagle Harbor Book Co. (www.eagleharborbooks.com) books written by some of the island's almost 200 published authors are available. Another shop sells more than 100 styles of jeans. Bainbridge also has its own performing arts center and arts and crafts gallery featuring regional artists.
Port Angeles
Port Angeles (www.portangeles.org) provides the boundary for the U.S. and Canada. It also serves as the headquarters for Olympic National Park. While in Port Angeles, visit the Spruce Railroad Trail (www.portangeles.org/SpruceRailroadTrail) which offers scenic views of Harrington Point, which is .8 miles into the trail, and Devils Point, only .3 miles past Harrington Point.
Oregon
Tillamook County, Oregon
Tillamook County Oregon (www.co.tillamook.or.us) is the home to the world's largest wooden structure - The Tillamook Air Museum (www.tillamookair.com) which is housed in a World War II blimp hangar; an octopus tree (www.capemeareslighthouse.org/Octopus_Tree) that was featured in Ripley's Believe it or Not; some of the state's best crabbing; Cape Lookout State Park; (www.oregonstateparks.org) Three Arch Rocks, a National Wildlife Refuge; Munson Falls, the highest waterfall in Oregon's Coastal Mountain range; five estuaries, four bays, oceanic wildlife, and coastal rainforests.
Canada
British Columbia
Victoria
Victoria (www.tourismvictoria.com) has things for everyone in the family. In February, animal lovers can take a tour by Whale Safaris (www.whalesafaris.com) during which they may take a bear watching tour. For the sportsmen, join the annual ice skating on the rooftop festivities. For this event, a large 80'x40' ice rink will be set up on the rooftop of Mayfair Shopping Centre. Also the city hosts the largest public tea exhibition in North America featuring tea tastings, delectable tea-food selections, complimentary presentations on a variety of topics, and opportunities to purchase hundreds of teas, tea-related products, and tea wares.
Vancouver
For people interested in visiting Vancouver during February, don't forget it's the month of the Winter Olympics. There are Olympic based activities and festivals throughout the month, but plan ahead. Visit the city Web site at www.tourismvancouver.com for scheduled events and information pertaining to passports. Besides the Olympics there are a variety of other activities to consider. Perhaps a visit to Granville Island, the H.R. MacMillan Space Center, or a tour through Sightline Tours (www.sightlinetours.com). Sightline offers packages for locations such as Whistler Mountain that include activities such as riding a Peak 2 Peak gondola, a floatplane sightseeing tour, or a return train ride aboard the Whistler Mountaineer.