Day Trip Discoveries

When autumn rains begin, duck indoors to see the latest exhibits at a favorite museum or check out one that you’ve never visited. This area offers a wealth of museums, large and small, prominent and lesser known. Exhibits range from serious art, local history and cultural heritage to downright quirky, such as: The Rubber Chicken…

We all admire Mount Rainier when “the mountain is out.” However, visiting its surrounding national park often only happens when we have out-of-town visitors. Don’t wait, do your own local getaway to this spectacular preserve, whether a day trip or overnight stay. The Nisqually Entrance offers the most options for dramatic scenery, wildflowers and waterfalls,…

The Woodland Park Zoo has always provided a wonderful excursion for families — kids and grandkids love seeing and learning about animals from around the world. Now reopened, the zoo provides a safe outdoor experience to enjoy during summer weather. The biggest news is the zoo’s new Malayan baby tapir, born June 10 to first-time…

Looking to get outdoors beyond neighborhood walks, now that Snohomish County is in Phase 2 and summer is starting? Parks have opened, although parking may be limited at some. Here are six parks that offer walking/hiking escapes close-by or a short drive away. All allow dogs on leash. Yost Park is in the heart of…

The Seattle Asian Art Museum in Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park reopened to the public on Feb. 8 after three years and $56 million invested in major renovation and expansion work. Closed since February 2017, the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) now showcases select Asian artifacts from its extensive collection in the 1933 Art Deco building. This was originally…

Every February, snow geese blanket the skies and fields near Stanwood before their annual migration north. Beginning in March, massive gray whales migrate up the West Coast and through Puget Sound toward Alaskan waters. Both offer extraordinary wildlife watching opportunities – during a season when not much other wildlife puts on such a show. So…

Where can you peer up at an ancient mastodon skeleton? Watch paleontologists examine a 60-million-year-old, T-Rex dinosaur skull? Admire a vintage, Coast Salish whaler’s hat and enjoy frybread at a Native American-themed café? The new Burke Museum opened Oct. 16 to offer such experiences — designed to engage as well as educate visitors. It is…

Few trails combine a forest hike with a saltwater beach – plus a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains. Two that do are Meadowdale Beach Park and Carkeek Park. Each encompasses a long, wooded ravine leading to Puget Sound, where you can then walk the shoreline, beachcomb and picnic if you choose. Both are free…

Looking for a different sort of excursion with unusual holiday gift potential? One that may also intrigue family and friends visiting during the holidays? Rather than do the usual Woodinville wine-tasting, discover out-of-the-ordinary tasting experiences at two nearby distilleries, a meadery and a downtown winery. The distilleries each feature award-winning, hand-crafted spirits. Snohomish County’s only…

On Saturday, April 1, the historic Mukilteo Lighthouse opens for its 25th season of weekend tours. Operated by the Mukilteo Historical Society, the Mukilteo Light Station – as it is officially called – welcomes visitors on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 5 p.m. through Sept. 24. Admission is free, but donations are greatly…

Every winter, Snohomish County has two annual events that draw birding enthusiasts – and one very quirky GroundFrog Day. Since groundhogs aren’t native to Washington State – but we have lots of frogs thanks to all our rain – why not a groundfrog adaption? So the City of Snohomish Chamber of Commerce ingeniously invented GroundFrog…

Paine Field near Everett boasts several major aviation attractions such as the popular Boeing Tour at the Future of Flight and the vintage aircraft displays at Flying Heritage Collection and Historic Flight. A fourth, little-known attraction is the Museum of Flight Restoration Center and Reserve Collection on the southeast side of Paine Field. Here vintage…

If your children or grandchildren are intrigued with “critters,” two unusual attractions in Snohomish County offer up-close experiences with exotic animals far beyond neighborhood dogs and cats. The Outback Kangaroo Farm in Arlington and The Reptile Zoo in Monroe both feature amazing collections of unusual animals with an emphasis on educating visitors about their special…

Want to watch a spectacular show of restored vintage aircraft fly again? Head for Paine Field near Everett on Saturday, May 21, for its annual Aviation Day, now in its 21st year. You’ll see such World War II “warbirds” as a B-25D Mitchell, an early 1940s bomber nicknamed “Grumpy” and Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk, plus many…

You likely know the historic town of Snohomish for its long-time reputation as “The Antique Capital of the Northwest.” Yes, antique shops abound, plus many boutiques selling collectibles, unusual gifts, one-of-a-kind clothing and home furnishings. But there are also many other discoveries that make a day trip to Snohomish well worth the visit. Founded in…

Ever wondered how early settlers pioneered Snohomish County? How they wrestled a living from farming, mining and logging? Visit the Western Heritage Center in Monroe to see this history in hands-on, interactive displays such as an amazingly efficient corn-husking machine, rope-braiding device and vintage tractor collection that kids love to climb on. The Western Heritage…

You’ve likely heard of the Boeing Tour at Paine Field in Mukilteo – it’s one of the biggest visitor draws in the state of Washington. You may know it affiliated with the Future of Flight Aviation Center when that facility opened in 2005. But have you taken the Boeing Tour and explored the Future of…

Have you heard of – or visited – the Tulalip Tribes’ Hibulb Cultural Center, just north of Everett? Hibulb (pronounced “hee-bolb”) opened in 2011 but continues to be a relatively undiscovered Snohomish County attraction. Why is the question, because the Hibulb Cultural Center is easily accessible from Interstate 5 (unlike other tribal cultural centers in…

My Edmonds News is pleased to introduce our new monthly column, Day Trip Discoveries, by Julie Gangler You don’t have to be a kid to catch the magic of The Lights of Christmas. This annual holiday event dazzles all ages with more than one million lights spread over 15 acres at Warm Beach Camp in…