Category Archives: Tours

Experience Natural Attractions in Colorado Bend State Park

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I’m excited to offer you a glimpse of a wonderful park in Texas, written by one of my travel writer friends there. Colorado Bend State Park is a two-hour drive from Austin.  –Heather

By Beverly Burmeier

www.beverlyburmeier.com

www.goingonadventures.com

www.stripedpot.com

http://tinyurl/bevtrvl

Photo by Larry and Beverly Burmeier

Towering rock canyons, more than 350 caves, and two spring-fed creeks make Colorado Bend State Park an absolutely fabulous place to explore.  With 16 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles suitable for mountain biking, there are plenty of opportunities for visitors to enjoy nature at its best, including beautiful scenery along river trails and at Gorman Falls. I was surprised by the various recreational opportunities available at this central Texas park for birding, fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping, and photography.

Located along six miles of Colorado River frontage, Colorado Bend is a large state park, covering 5,328 acres.  Partly because of its size, the intent is to keep it natural and easy to care for, says Park Superintendent Cory Evans.  At present it is one of the lesser developed state parks, although future plans may change that. Primitive tent camping is allowed in 38 numbered sites, and there are two backpack areas where guests can pitch tents.  No electricity is available, which makes it a great getaway from the workaday world.

Photo by Larry and Beverly Burmeier

Native pecans, ferns, and cacti are abundant in the park, and beautiful wildflowers sprout up in the spring.  Wildlife includes coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions—although most visitors aren’t likely to encounter these species.  White-tail deer, armadillos, and squirrels are more common. You might also see wild turkeys, endangered golden-cheeked warblers (if you’re lucky), black-capped vireos, red-tailed hawks, and eagles (they nest on the canyon walls).

Several geological features in the park are unique to this region. Spicewood Springs is a popular hiking trail with numerous creek crossings that leads to a refreshing creek where families often picnic and swim.  Adding to the beauty of this spot are the painted rocks, formations colored by minerals seeping through. 

On weekends, staff will take visitors on a two-hour guided tour to spectacular Gorman Falls on the western bank of the Colorado River, approximately 10 miles above Lake Buchanan.  This impressive 90-foot-high waterfall, tumbles over a cliff and mists ferns and other lush vegetation as it descends. Comprised of travertine, the top layers of calcium deposits are extremely fragile, so the area is protected. A deck allows amazing views of the falls and the meandering Colorado River directly behind the viewer.

Photo by Larry and Beverly Burmeier

Also available are guided cave tours.  Gorman Cave is the 40th largest cave in the state, and you can explore with staff on weekends or belly-crawl 800 feet into the cave on a self-guided tour. Other than the falls and cave, visitors are free to explore and enjoy the park—on its own primitive terms.

March is the busiest month—with April next–because that’s prime time for white bass fishing and birding (214 species of birds have been identified in the park).  Also flowers are beginning to bloom, and the weather is generally agreeable for camping or hiking. 

Originally an old Indian camp, the site near Gorman Falls is protected for archeological study.  During the 1950s-1970s that area was a fishing camp and RV park.  The state bought the land in 1984, adding more land from the former Lemons Ranch in 1987.  These areas were combined and opened to the public as Colorado Bend State Park in 1988.  Still, only 40,000 visitors per year journey the 18 miles from San Saba, through the tiny town of Bend, and over gravel roads to reach the park. But, it’s definitely worthwhile to discover the natural attractions of this Hill Country jewel.

More Top Travel Trends for 2011: The Washington State Version

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More of Thomas Stanley’s predictions and the Washington State destination that matches.

Train display at Freighthouse Square made completely out of Legos

  • Ride the Rails:  We have train travel covered here – from short 45-minute excursions to crossing the country on Amtrak – it’s all available for travelers in Washington State. My favorite short rides include a stop at the train museum and a jaunt from Snoqualmie to North Bend (www.trainmuseum.org) and the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (www.mrsr.com) that departs from Mineral.

 

Longer excursions are available on Amtrak (Amtrak.com) going north/south or east/west. But the best news of all is Amtrak opened a new stop at the Icicle Station in the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth last year. Daily service is now available.

  • Experiential Family Travel:  A simple definition of experiential travel says it is travel we live through, instead of look at. That can mean dining where the locals eat like Downrigger’s in Friday Harbor (www.downriggerssanjuan.com) or drinking coffee at Undertown in Port Townsend. Staying at a Bed and Breakfast also qualifies. States Inn and Ranch (www.statesinn.com), also in Friday Harbor, ranks as one of my all time favorites. The locally cooked breakfast from scratch was so delectable, I couldn’t eat regular food for a week afterwards.

Hurricane Ridge, courtesy of the Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau

If you want an all-inclusive experience, try hiring a Native American Guide to tour the Olympic Peninsula (www.nativeamericanfootprints.com). Highlights of these tours include dining on salmon cooked the Indian way, which is by far the most delicious way of cooking salmon, speaking with the elders of the tribe and hearing their stories, making your own hand drum and much more. This tour has now taken a spot on my Bucket List.

  • Bucket List:  Just a few suggestions here – The Space Needle, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, snowshoeing, winery touring and The Museum of Flight.

 

  • Top Picks for 2011:  These are my choices. Whether they turn out to be trends or not, you can’t miss with visits to the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Lake Chelan or taking the North Cascades Scenic Drive.

Top Travel Trends for 2011: The Washington State Version

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Happy New Year to you all.

View of Mt. Rainier

Thomas Stanley, COO of Cox & Kings laid out his top predictions for the kinds of travel people want to take in Luxury Travel Magazine recently. Lo and behold, I discovered that every one of his trends can easily be experienced right here in Washington.

Here’s how:

  1. Travelers will be taking Multi-destination Vacations to basically get more bang for their buck or their time off. Since we have almost every kind of terrain from mountains to forests to desserts to the Pacific Ocean and you can easily drive from one to another in less than a day, this is ideal. One way to do this would be to start in Seattle (www.visitseattle.org) for city activities, drive to Mt. Rainier (www.visitrainier.com) and stay overnight and then go to Tri-Cities in eastern Washington (www.visittri-cities.com) to experience wine country.

 

  1. Group Tours will increase in popularity. I can easily recommend the eco-friendly Evergreen Escapes tours (www.evergreenescapes.com). This winter you can choose from the Woodinville Wine Trail, Olympic National Park, Mt. Rainier and more. Or tour Seattle by land and water with Ride the Ducks of Seattle (www.ridetheducksofseattle.com), a laugh-a-minute tour.

 

  1. Then there’s Contemporary Cultural Travel. We’ve got this one more than covered with the Seattle Art Museum (www.seattleartmuseum.org), the free Frye Art Museum (fryemuseum.org) in Seattle, Tacoma’s Art Museum (www.tacomaartmuseum.org) and Museum of Glass (www.museumofglass.org); and if you’re on the far side of the mountains take a gander at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture (www.northwestmuseum.org) in Spokane.

 

  1. Resurgence of Tour Guides and Travel Agents. I don’t know any tour guides personally, but what about checking out some of the tours offering guidance via a CD at www.washingtonfolkarts.com. There’s Othello to Omak, Leavenworth to Maryhill, the Cascade Loop and several more.

 

  1. Learning Vacations rank high on the charts.  This February you can learn how to make cheese over a three-day period in Lynden (www.wsu.edu/creamery/basicplus.htm). Roadscholar.org (formerly Elderhostel) offers many learning opportunities for seniors including the study of  “Seabirds and Shorebirds of Coastal Washington in Port Townsend. We also have the Stonerose Interpretive Center (www.stonerosefossil.org) in Republic where you can dig your own fossils.

 

More to come on top travel trends for 2011.

Letting Someone Else Drive: Olympia During the Holidays

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View from the dining room of the Budd Bay Cafe

Yesterday I tried something new – a tour with seniors sponsored by the Federal Way Community Center. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I loved the luxury of having someone else drive and being able to watch the sights instead of the road and traffic signs.

As a bonus, I saw an elf running down the road and Santa in his sleigh. Might have missed both had I been driving.

We took back roads and avoided Interstate 5 as much as possible. Roy, McKenna and Yelm passed by the van window slowly – small towns you never get an opportunity to see from the freeway. The driver told us Yelm has been totally unaffected by the economic downturn. I wonder why that is. But all the businesses did appear to be thriving.

Our first scheduled stop was for lunch at the Budd Bay Café, which boasts a 180-degree view of Budd Bay. Anytime I can dine and watch the sea while doing so makes me calm and joyful. Add to that a Dungeness crab and shrimp Louie that attained perfection and I will definitely be returning to this restaurant. Others in our party savored gigantic bowls of clam chowder, French dips and salmon. Most any local seafood you can imagine graced the menu. Just the names of the desserts – mile high chocolate cake and white cake peach pudding – made me salivate, but alas the salad was all I could conquer in one sitting.

On to the Capitol Legislative Building where we gazed and commented on the Christmas tree filled with lights and ornaments obviously hung by professionals. It makes our trees at home seem like pathetic miniatures. But then we could all enjoy this tree without having to exert any effort in getting it ready. That was the good part.

The decorated tree is located in the Rotunda which features the largest chandelier ever created by the Tiffany Studios in New York. Our driver (yes, I do feel a little like I was chauffeured) told us a Volkswagen could fit inside the chandelier.

Christmas tree in the Rotunda of the Olympia Capitol Legislative Building

The marble, Tiffany chandeliers, heavy red velvet draperies and elaborate décor in the Reception Room scream opulence, is hard to swallow given all the budget cuts currently being considered by the legislature. But I have to remind myself that the building was designed long ago when that was the norm. And it really makes for an elegant and beautiful building.

Public tours of the Legislative Building are free and offered hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about sites, dining options and activity options, visit www.visitolympia.com.

Tramming It Through Northwest Trek

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Let’s face it. Animals are fascinating to watch and even more so when they roam in their natural habitat. At Northwest Trek in Eatonville, the lakes, trails and meadows that make up the 725-acre park host bighorn sheep, deer, elk, caribou, mountain goats, bison and more.

Trams take visitors on a ride to see which animals have made themselves visible that day. It’s always different. The animals are not at all bothered by the trams and might choose to block the road. Or put on a show for you.

The seasons make the experience unique, also. During the winter, the park remains quiet and the animals frisky in the chilly temperatures. Spring marks the beginning of baby season and during the summer you’ll see all different varieties of animal babies. In the fall the cycle starts again with rutting or mating season.

Besides the above animals, you can also see grizzlies, black bears, wolves, bobcats, lynx, cougars and wetland animals in natural exhibits, which are a little more confining, but necessary for safety’s sake.

My favorite part of Northwest Trek is the wealth of activities they offer like S’mores and Snores Family Camps where you spend the night with the animals, the keeper tours, photo tours and the educational workshops and tours.

Because it’s winter now, Trek is only open Fridays through Sundays, but it’s well worth a visit.

Why not give someone in your family the experience of visiting Northwest Trek as a holiday gift?

Visit www.nwtrek.org to find out more.

Haunted Happenings in Yakima

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I love free, fun activities and here’s one that shouldn’t be missed this month.

Shorty, a stage hand has been caught haunting the Capitol Theatre. Hear all about his handiwork on this tour.

Yakima's Capitol Theatre courtesy of the Yakima Valley Visitors Bureau

The P.A.S.T. is Present Paranormal Investigation Team is offering free guided, narrated walking ghost tours in downtown Yakima. Are the rumors of ghost-like activity on the third and fourth floors of Yakima City Hall actually true? Find out on this tour. Confirmed paranormal activity has been detected in the Yakima Valley Sports Center and The Depot Restaurant.

The Depot Restaurant courtesy of Karl Corpron

Recently published and written by Heather Caro for Yakima Magazine:  “The Depot was built in 1910 by the Northern Pacific Railway to be a focal point for the growing city of Yakima. Over the years, an untold number of people have passed beneath its signature white tiled dome (including a famous traveling hobo who used the pseudonym “A#1” to escape capture by the authorities … his signature is carved into the marble of what is now the ladies bathroom).”

The paranormal investigators who host this tour seek out the truth of spiritual claims by using commonly practiced scientific methods. They rule out all naturally occurring phenomenon, human influence, environmental factors and scientific based processes so what’s left is either inexplicable or paranormal in nature. Since the Yakima-based group formed in August of 2008, they have conducted investigations at private residences, businesses and historic outdoor locations throughout Washington State. http://www.pastispresent.net

Tours take place each Friday in October at 6 p.m., and Saturdays at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Reservations are requested, but not required. However, a minimum of five people are needed to conduct a tour. To make a reservation, call 509.945.9830.

While you’re in Yakima, visit the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail, have a spa treatment, shop or engage in any of the many outdoor activities like fishing, hiking or golfing. Find out more about what’s happening in Yakima at http://www.visityakimavalley.org.

Market’s Grisly Ghost Tour

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We met at the Gum Wall. I’d heard about the Gum Wall, seen photos of it and thought it sounded cool – until I saw it. The brick wall filled with chewed gum truly is disgusting and ranks as the second most germy place in the world, topped only by the Blarney Stone. However, the Gum Wall draws a lot of tourists – ones who pose close to the wall with their tongues hanging out. I just hope they have other remembrances of Seattle, too.

Penny, our tour guide, introduced herself to the five of us, and gave us a short history of the Gum Wall.  It began in the early 1990’s when people waiting in line to attend productions at the Market Theatre began placing their gum on the wall. They used it to anchor coins to the wall, but the coins were stolen leaving only the gum. No matter how many times it was power washed, people continued to stick gum there, so now they only power wash in front of it.

The Gum Wall is located below Pike Place Market in Seattle, next to the Market Theatre.

 

Then we were off to hear the details of the hauntings in and around the Pike Place Market which gave me a whole different view of what goes on there. I’m used to buying ultra fresh produce, seafood and other food items, but at night the market gives off other vibes.

In the Market Theatre, they reserve chairs for their ghosts. “Down Under” in the lower level of the Pike Place Market, we were told about the large woman who owned the barber shop there many years ago. She would sing operatic arias to her customers until they fell asleep and then pick their pockets – made a great deal of extra money that way. Then, her health failed, she had a heart attack after closing and the next day, the owner of the store beneath her barber shop found her legs had sticking through his ceiling.

The owner of Grandma’s Attic, a store from the market’s past, used to come to open up in the morning, find the front glass broken and a tea set configured on the floor for a little girl’s tea party.

That’s just a taste of what you can learn on the Market Ghost Tours, which run year round. Voted second best ghost tour in the nation by Trip Advisor, the guided tours are reasonably priced at $15.

By the way, while we were on Post Alley hearing tales of drunken soldiers, my grandson told me he felt heat, a sure sign spirits were present – or is that cold? He also said to call him right away if my photos revealed any orbs. They did not. Maybe I’m too much of a skeptic, but I loved the rich history divulged during the tour – whether the ghosts revealed their presence to me or not.

For more information, visit www.seattleghost.com.