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Best Time to See Skagit Valley Bald Eagles

Best Time to See Skagit Valley Bald Eagles

If you’re like me, you love to see bald eagles. They can be soaring in the sky or simply sitting in a tree. It’s just always a treat to see our national bird. And if you live in or visit Seattle around late fall and/or early winter, you can see your fill of Skagit Valley bald eagles. Bald eagles begin to flock to Skagit Valley in late October. They come from all over to feed on salmon in Skagit River, with the eight-mile stretch between Rockport (map) and Marblemount the best place to see them. You can click here for suggested viewing sites around that area. If you’re lucky, you can see more than 100 bald eagles on your visit! According to the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center, the number of bald eagles increases throughout November. But the best time to see Skagit Valley bald eagles is December, with the number of bald eagles usually peaking the week of Christmas. The bald eagle count then starts to thin through January....

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Rainier Glass Studio Blow-Your-Own Glass Activity

Rainier Glass Studio Blow-Your-Own Glass Activity

As the seasons change in Seattle, so do the activities. When fall rolls around, everyone tends to head indoors. There are only so many times you can go bowling, though. That’s why we offer a fun alternative – Rainier Glass Studio blow-your-own glass activity. While October through December are considered the peak season for Rainier Glass Studio (map), the blow-your-own glass activity is actually offered year-round. During the peak season, activities can be booked Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while days vary during the offseason (but are typically offered on Saturday). Each blow-your-own glass activity takes about 20-30 minutes, and you can only book one person at a time. When Tove and I went  to Rainier Glass Studio with our friend Kyle, we reserved three consecutive activities. Members of your party are encouraged to watch and take pictures, so it can be done as a fun group outing. If you’re curious, the blow-your-own glass activity is open to all ages. When you first arrive at Rainier Glass Studio, you get to pick an...

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Piroshky Piroshky Bakery | A Pike Place Market Favorite

Piroshky Piroshky Bakery | A Pike Place Market Favorite

When you step behind the counter at Piroshky Piroshky Bakery in Pike Place Market, it’s like a well-coordinated dance. Workers are gracefully dipping and dodging each other through the crammed 300-square-foot space. Some are hoisting hot trays, others are rolling dough at a work station, while even more are chopping fresh fruits and vegetables. The only thing in the way on this “slow” day in October is me, standing in the middle of the work space with my camera. “Heads up!” and “Behind you!” are just a couple of warnings I hear. People are buzzing all around me, forcing me to keep my head on a swivel. They tell me it’s even crazier behind-the-scenes during the peak summer season. I can only imagine the organized chaos, because it’s already hard for me to understand how they survive. But that’s what happens when you’re committed to fresh, handmade products like Piroshky Piroshky. If piroshky sits in the case for two to three hours, they’re tossed aside and a new batch is moved in....

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Golden Larch March in the North Cascades

Golden Larch March in the North Cascades

It’s an annual tradition in the Northwest: the golden larch march. Hikers, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts flock to the mountains in early- to mid-October to see larches as their needles turn bright yellow in the autumn. Tove and I are among the many who head to the hills, traveling to the North Cascades to enjoy the golden larches. On our recent golden larch march, we tackled two hikes in the North Cascades. We first strolled to Lake Ann, and then we followed that up with a trek to Blue Lake. Here’s a quick breakdown of each hike: Golden Larch March in the North Cascades Lake Ann Starting from the Rainy Pass Picnic Area (map), the hike to Lake Ann is just 3.7 miles round-trip with a 700-foot elevation gain. In other words, this is a hike for all ages and all experience levels. Start on the main trail and moderately climb for about 1.25 miles. You’ll run into a Y in the trail. The path to the left leads...

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Harry’s Ridge | Mount St. Helens Hiking

Harry’s Ridge | Mount St. Helens Hiking

Hiking at Mount St. Helens is unlike any other experience in Washington. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful. It’s fascinating. It’s downright awesome. And I say that in the truest sense of the word – it leaves you in awe of Mother Nature. The hike to Harry’s Ridge provides stunning views, a nice workout, and a journey through the unique landscape. First off, I want to provide a brief history lesson. Mount St. Helens famously erupted on May 18, 1980. The explosion devastated the surrounding area and killed 57 people, including a crotchety curmudgeon named Harry Truman. He was the owner and caretaker of Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake, and he stubbornly refused to evacuate his home despite the pending eruption. This hike – Harry’s Ridge – is named after him. Now to the hike itself. Harry’s Ridge is a 8.2-mile round trip adventure with a 970-foot elevation gain. It starts from the Johnston Ridge Observatory parking lot along No. 1 Boundary Trail, and you actually stay on this...

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Cutthroat Lake | Easy Hike, Beautiful Payoff

Cutthroat Lake | Easy Hike, Beautiful Payoff

As an adjective, the word cutthroat is defined as “(of a competitive situation or activity) fierce and intense; involving the use of ruthless measures.” Luckily, Cutthroat Lake in the North Cascades is named after the colorful trout found in its waters, not an excruciating hike to get there. In fact, “fierce and intense” are the last words that come to mind. The hike to Cutthroat Lake is pretty darn easy, and it has a beautiful payoff. I want to make this clear from the start: Cutthroat Lake is more of a destination hike than a day hike from Seattle. The trailhead (map) is located 164 miles from downtown, all the way on the east side of the North Cascades. If you’re going to hike Cutthroat Lake, it’s best paired with a trip to Winthrop (27 miles from the trailhead) or anytime you’re driving the North Cascades Highway. Driving to the trailhead is the hard part, hiking to Cutthroat Lake is not. There are some ups and downs along the trail,...

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