They say when you have a problem you can’t quite find a solution to, you should turn to nature for guidance and the answer will appear.
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The Grit City is full of out-of-the-box options when it comes to gift giving. Sure, fill your stockings with the usual necessities–socks, underwear, toothbrushes, and scrunchies–but don’t forget to tuck something unique in there that will utterly stun the gift receiver and fill them with excitement.
It’s fast, it’s furious but it has nothing to do with cars. Spinning wheels for sure but the only engines running at Roller Valley are powered by rage and an intense competitive spirit. After an extended time away from the oval due to Covid 19, The Lilac City Roller Derby is back in action.
Spokane has a great gardening culture. People come from all over the world to explore our award winning public gardens and they’re known as calm places of serenity. Whether it’s the manicured English style garden, a traditional Japanese garden or even a near vertical climb of a garden, Spokane has a park for everyone.
Runners can find just about any type of race to participate in these days. Whether you’re a princess on the go, a spartan looking for a conquest or you want to run 5 kilometers naked through the woods. Yup, I said it. How did this happen?
Summers in Spokane are tough to beat. The long days during the summer provide an excellent way to enjoy this city in many ways. If you’re a golfer, you can enjoy one of the four nationally recognized municipal courses.
Going away for a weekend can often be even more exciting than a long trip to a faraway destination. Weekend getaways are popular among couples who want some excitement after a long work week, families ready for some weekend fun, and groups of friends getting together for an unforgettable time.
Bellingham is home to a plethora of amazing local finds. Surrounded by the waters of the Puget Sound and the foothills of the north cascades, Bellingham’s fertile soil and excellent growing conditions have made the area rich in locally grown food. There is nothing better than buying things like produce, honey, and bread from local farmers and bakers who put their livelihoods into the quality of their products. Spring is the perfect time to locate your farmer’s markets and sign up for a CSA and track down all the best spots to round up your local produce every week. Bellingham Local Goodies are readily available in the spring.
Spring brings flowers, fresh produce, and an awakening of all the local shops and farmer’s markets. It is a great time to reconnect to your local farmers and rediscover all of the local goods that you may have missed over the wintertime. If you are looking to support locals and eat right from Whatcom county, spring is the time to plan out your summer harvest plans.
Bellingham Saturday Market
The Bellingham Farmers Market is an excellent way to connect to local goods and vendors from your area. The Saturday market is from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. January- March the market is held on the 3rd Saturday of the month. And, every Saturday during the rest of the year. While the Saturday market is open year-round, late spring is an excellent time to see the harvest begin. You will see an excellent selection of local harvest goods from spring to late fall. Such as strawberries, lettuce, kale, root vegetables, and more.
At the Saturday Market, there are rotating groups of over 35 farmers from Skagit and Whatcom counties. They offer produce, cheese, mushrooms, honey, beef, and other meat products, eggs, flowers, fish, nuts, potted plants, and more. In addition to the range of local farmers, the Saturday market has locally made bread, processed artisan foods, prepared foods, crafters, and more.
If you are looking for ways to buy most of your groceries locally, you can find everything that you would normally fill your cart with at the farmer’s market. Supporting local farms helps the local economy, supports sustainable small-scale farming, and gives you access to local, organically grown goods. Bellingham Local Goodies are easy to find at the Bellingham Saturday Market.
Beeworks Farms
Beeworks Farms is a small family-owned, bee farm located in Whatcom County, Washington. Their mission is to keep strong and healthy bees in order to supply a unique range of honey from the backyard of the PNW. All of their honey is raw and unfiltered. Their honey season begins in April every year, and different crops bring different kinds of honey throughout the spring-summer and early fall.
Their honey season begins with big leaf maple and raspberry in the spring. The summer brings blackberry, thistle, wild rose, sweet pea, numerous herbs, and wildflower honey. In August, at the end of the honey season, they end their season with fireweed honey from bees above 3,500 feet in the Mt. Baker National Forest. Each harvest brings unique flavors. Did you know that eating honey from the local area can actually help mitigate seasonal allergies?
In addition to honey, Beeworks Farms also makes nectar and supplies honeycomb. If you are ready to taste all of the seasons and harvests of the PNW in a unique way, sampling honey from each specific time of the season is a wondrous experience.
Joe’s Gardens
Joe’s Gardens has been offering produce, vegetable starts, hanging baskets, and more since 1933. Located in Bellingham, Washington, Joe’s is open seasonally from Early March until Fall. Joe’s Gardens supplies Bellingham with excellent, locally grown food from vegetables like kale, carrots, broccoli, and more to fruits like locally harvested raspberries and strawberries.
Vegetable Starts are available every year from March until May. They have hundreds of herbs, peppers, lettuce and kale varieties, root vegetables, and cole crops like cauliflower and broccoli.
Good’s Nursery and Produce
Good’s Nursery and Produce in Bellingham is open March-august with Produce and Nursery items. They offerWashington grown produce, and an assortment of plants from seasonal veggie starts to flowers. During the Holidays, Goods is also open to supply local Christmas Trees.
Good’s is another local Bellingham business ready to supply all of your local shopping needs. Depending on the month, they source from Washington Farmers and have everything from peaches and zucchini to watermelon and strawberries.
Dandelion
Are you looking to experience local goods from the comfort of your own home? Dandelion Organic Delivery is a produce delivery service that offers local fruits and veggies from the Whatcom County area straight to your door. Dandelion sources local growers first and prides itself on sustainability and commitment to green practices.
This seasonal delivery box is similar to a CSA. Every week they deliver you a box of produce from local farmers. They offer a harvest box or you can opt for an all fruits or all vegetable box. The week prior to your box delivery, you can head online and see what’s slated for this week’s delivery. You can also make changes to the types of products you are getting.
They offer a few different-sized boxes and are ready to cater to your favorite foods and exclude your least favorites. This is a great option for folks who want a bit more flexibility with the same local abundance as a traditional CSA. Dandelion offers many Bellingham local goodies
Bellingham has a wide range of locally sourced Bellingham Local Goodies. The fruits and vegetables that are sold at local Bellingham markets are of top quality. . Instead of traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to wind up on the shelves of your grocery store, they come from just down the road and pass from the farmer’s hand into yours. We are uniquely blessed in the PNW to have bountiful harvests from March through late fall. Other goods, including artisanal bread, locally grown beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and homemade cheese, are all part of the goods offered in the Bellingham area.
Check back into the Bellingham Clever Neighbor to find more local businesses to support!
Boise is rightfully called the City of Trees – a city famous for its multiple outdoor opportunities and unique natural setting. It is a charming place, full of cultural, fun, and recreational activities. And even though the Downtown has a thriving social life, the suburbs are tranquil and safe. However, unlike most state capitals, finding unique and fun things to do won’t require you to leave the city territory. Everything is very close, accessible by public transport, a short drive or a pleasant walk. If you’re new to the area and want to introduce your kids to the fun amenities of their new home, here are the top 5 family-friendly activities in Boise, ID.
family homes1. World Center for Birds of Prey
A trip to Boise Zoo might be the first choice for families with kids, but a visit to the World Center for Birds of Prey is a new, refreshing experience. It is an exotic and original way to introduce your children to the mightiest creatures of the wilderness. Focused on predator birds, such as eagles, owls, falcons, hawks, and vultures from all over the world, the Center is not a typical Zoo. Here, you get to interact with the birds and see the raptors in action! It is guaranteed family fun for all ages, even toddlers.
2. Idaho Botanical Gardens
Cozily tucked into Boise Foothills lay Idaho Botanical Gardens. On 15-acres of space, you can enjoy exploring exotic and vibrant flora from all over the world. It is a perfect place for nature lovers of all ages, especially if you visit the site in spring. But even if you come here during other seasons, there are 800 plant species to see and learn about.
Also, if you’re new to Boise and you enjoy DIY landscaping, it is an excellent opportunity to learn about gardening using domestic and native plants. Even though the weather here is fit for many plant species, it is always good to use self-sustaining native plants when landscaping your new home.
3. Boise National Forest
Technology and office jobs are keeping us indoors every day. Not to mention that “screen time” for our kids it’s no longer a privilege but their new reality. What better way to spend healthy and quality time with your family than reconnecting with nature in one of the prettiest national forests in the US? Countless rivers, hot springs, and campsites will make you instantly fall in love. During your stay, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, and sightseeing. Your kids will be busy exploring some of the most popular kid-friendly trails in Idaho. In the meanwhile, you can relax and restore your “batteries” from everyday stress. To fish in Idaho, anyone over the age of 14 must have a valid fishing license check out the tackle village complete guide of license discounts and exemptions for anglers with a disability.
4. Planet Kid Indoor Playground
Families with toddlers and young kids often have trouble finding ways to spend that immense amount of energy their little ones have. If you want to challenge your kids’ boundaries when it comes to pure physical fun, take them to Planet Kid Indoor Playground. Any type of fun you can imagine is available here. From tackle, rope swings, slide to the cargo net, and web climbing. And the best part is, it’s fit for all ages up to 12 years old. The area is split by activities and age, separating toddlers in their own special corner – the Toddler Town! We can assure you that this will be your kids’ favorite from all the family-friendly activities in Boise, ID.
5. Discovery Center of Idaho
If you have curious kids that enjoy history and science, Discovery Center of Idaho will be their favorite place in Boise. There is something for every age, from dinosaurs and Ancient Egypt to virtual reality and many other interactive workshops. The Center has over 150 unique stations, guides, and live programs. All that will provide hours and hours of quality fun and education for your family!
Moving to Boise, ID
Even with the growing popularity in recent years, Boise is a relatively small and calm city. However, the city itself is part of The Boise-Nampa Metropolitan Area, also called the Treasure Valley. The district attracts many investors, millennials, and young professionals in advanced manufacturing, food production, and technology. Still, magnificent nature, a healthy environment, and affordable living costs make the city quite popular among families.
The median home value is approximately $300.000. Although, with a bit of luck, you can find great family homes for $200.000 or less. And even though the real estate market is competitive, finding the home of your dreams is not that hard. The Boise housing market offers magnificent homes in many different styles, from historic to mid-century modern. Just take your pick and settle down in your new family home stress-free with the help of reputable local moving services.
Unlike the housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries in Boise cost less than the US average. With relatively affordable costs of living and many cultural amenities, the city has excellent growth potential. Thus, no wonder many students, business people, and families chose Boise as their new home.
Conclusion
Whether you plan to relocate to Boise or take a family road trip from across the country, there are many activities to explore in the Treasure Valley. Especially for families with kids! And even though there are plenty of indoor family-friendly activities in Boise, ID, we’d recommend you to get the best of the great outdoors. Still, all the above-mentioned natural and recreational amenities are just a glimpse of what this delightful city can offer. To get a full image of Boise life, it’s essential to consider all aspects of the place. To enjoy yourself with family, you do not have to take a day or a weekend off. A simple stroll Downtown will be refreshing. It is clean, walkable, with a mix of charming shops, top-notch restaurants, and beautiful unspoiled green surfaces, such as Military Reserve Bike Park and Boise Whitewater Park.
Like most of the Pacific Northwest, Bellingham and the surrounding area is full of outdoor adventures. Whether you like the Mountains or the ocean, in Bellingham you don’t have to choose. From the Bay, you can often see the North Cascades, and from the surrounding hill areas, you have stunning views of the San Juan Islands. It truly is the best of both worlds for outdoor enthusiasts, which is why many flock to the area during the summer months.
While the Pacific Northwest, Bellingham included, is often known for its rainy, gloomy weather, Bellingham gets 160 days of sun a year. Most of those days of sun happen from Early June to late September. The moderate temperatures, often in the mid 70s in the summer, make for the perfect outdoor weather. If you are looking to check out the sound and the summits, Bellingham is the perfect place to plan a few adventures.
Hikes
While the hikes highlighted below are specifically in the outer reaches of Bellingham, there are hundreds of stunning hikes in the area. Whether you are hiking in Bellingham or the greater Whatcom County or using Bellingham as a hub to reach the North Cascades, there are too many hikes to count. The Cascades provide a plethora of unmatched hiking and backpacking trails that are only a quick car trip away from Bellingham. Hikers in Bellingham can experience some of the best alpine hiking in the world while also enjoying coastal hikes in their own backyards.
Oyster Dome
Oyster Dome is an exceptionally popular hike on Chuckanut drive. On any given Saturday or Sunday in the summer, Chuckanut drive will be lined with cars from hikers headed up to Oyster Dome. Oyster Dome is a 6 mile out and back hike with an elevation gain of 1050 feet. This hike does not have a trail parking lot, so you will need to park on the side of the road on Chuckanut Drive. This is a busy road with limited visibility, so make sure that you park as far off the road as possible.
You will hike in the woods for most of the 3-mile trip, quickly gaining elevation as you go. This is a family-friendly hike, so there are no cliffs as you are making your way to the summit. The hike up is mostly in the woods, providing hikers with shade from the summer sun. Once you reach the top, there are stunning views of the Sanu Juan Islands. The top has a reasonably large opening from the trees where many hikers set up hammocks, eat lunch and take in the views.
Fragrance Lake Trail
Fragrance Lake is also on Chuckanut drive and is another very popular hike in the Bellingham area. Just as the name suggests, Fragrance lake trail leads you to fragrance lake. The lake is an excellent swimming hole with clean, cool water. Some hikers are known to bring floaties with them to spend the afternoon floating in the lake. Parking is limited, so be prepared to park on the road.
This hike is 5.5 miles round trip and has an elevation gain of 950 feet, making it accessible to most hikers. It features a wide dirt trail to the top where the lake is located. While many hikers choose to stop when they reach the lake, the trail does circumnavigate the entire lake, providing many different spots to get down to the water. Pack a lunch and a towel because you will want to spend time hanging out here during warm days in the summer.
Walking Trails
In addition to the many hiking trails, there are several great walking paths and trails as well. The below trails have paved portions that are wheelchair accessible and offer great views of the Bay and lakes.
Lake Padden
Lake Padden is home to swimming areas, a dog park, a baseball field, seven miles of trails. On any given day, this area is packed with all sorts of recreational, from runners, walkers, and hikers to horseback riders, bikers, swimmers, paddleboarders, and kayakers.
The lake Padden features a large section of trail on the north side of the lake that is pavement. The back half of the lake and a number of trails that branch out are not paved, but many of them are exceptionally wide. There is minimal elevation gain on the north side of the lake and only a few hundred feet on the south side. If you are looking for a family day full of activities, Lake Padden is excellent for its trails and other activities.
Bellingham Board Walk
The Bellingham Boardwalk is another popular spot to check out. Spanning from Taylor’s dock to Boundary Bay Brewing Company in Downtown Bellingham, this walking path is stunning. The entirety of the path offers views of Bellingham Bay, and several parts offer walking on docks. The trail begins in the Fairhaven area of Bellingham and expands into the downtown area. This beautiful walking path goes through Boulevard park, where you can stop at Woods Coffee. Gravel trails supplement the boardwalk section through some sections, but you get to enjoy ocean views the whole walk.
Activities near the Water
While you can’t do anything in Bellingham without being near the water, the below activities are for those who want to venture into the Bay. With calm waters and reliable tides, Bellingham Bay is great for water activities of all kinds.
Teddy Bear Cove
Teddy Bear Cove is a beach area off of Chuckanut Drive that is perfect for swimming, beachcombing, kayaking, and more. This area is well-known and is a great way to feel like you have a private beach with a view of the San Juan Islands. While many people know Teddy Bear Cove as a swimming location, there is an even better reason that it made it onto this list.
Teddy Bear Cove is also known for Bioluminescence. Bioluminescence are living organisms that produce light. These microorganisms produce a blue, glowing light in the water in Teddy Bear Cove during the summer months. In particular, during July and August, Bioluminescence can be found in the cove when the moon is at its least dark. In order to see this magical show, head to Teddy Bear Cove on Hot summer nights when there is little light pollution and no wind. These will be the best conditions to try and catch a glimpse of the blue glow.
Some people enjoy night kayaking in this area to catch the Bioluminescence. If you carefully check for ideal tide conditions, the cove gives your protection from the broader Bay and allows kayakers to experience peaceful conditions. Make sure to check the weather, tides and wear a life jacket if you are going to put any watercraft into Teddy Bear Cove at night.
Kayaking Larrabee
Just up the road from Larrabee State Park is a public boat launch. This area is a trendy kayaking spot because of the incredible sunset views. On clear, warm days, there will be a few dozen kayakers and paddleboarders just off the shore waiting for sunset. This spot is ideal because you do not have to kayak very far to get a view. Just a few hundred feet from the launch will put you in a perfect viewing area for the summer sunsets.
As with any water activity, make sure to check the tide and be aware of which way you are moving once you put it into the water. While most tides are mild in this area, occasionally 12-14 foot tides move in and out of the Bay very quickly. There is a $10 fee to park at the boat launch that is cash only.
Kayaking and Paddle Boarding Bellingham Bay
Kayaking and Paddle Boarding is a Pacific Northwest pastime. Because the weather is only suitable for a short window during the year, June, July, August, and September are very busy water sports. If you head to any body of water in the Bellingham area during the summer, you are sure to catch someone enjoying the water.
Kayaking or Paddleboarding Bellingham Bay is a fun way to spend the day. There are a number of places you can launch from, and the water off of Boulevard park is often very calm. If you do not have access to a paddleboard or kayak, there are a number of companies that do tours and rentals to help you get in the water.
Bellingham has an amazing collection of outdoor activities. The beautiful, mild weather in the summertime makes it perfect for outdoor activities, and the Mountains and Ocean provide a playground for outdoor enthusiasts.
Check back into the Clever Neighbor to find out more about things to do in Bellingham.