1000 Things To-Do

The last week of summer vacation: The best summer had to offer!

I always hate to see the end of summer. With me, even though it is not officially over yet, when school starts it signals an end to the outdoor activities I love to participate in. For most of us in the Vancouver area, that last day is Labor Day. With one week of freedom left now is the time to go over all of the posts at Vancouver.onethousandthingstodo.com and pick out one or two that really piqued your curiosity. Then go have some fun!

For some of you that might be a day trip to the beach, for others a family outing at a park, for still others a chance to see some of Vancouver’s early history while the sun is still shining.

I have been trying to stick close to home this summer and have visited many of the local parks. My personal favorite comes as a surprise even to me and it was not so much because the memory of that day is warm and pleasant, and the park is local and free; but that Camas Heritage Park offers so much variety: boating, skiing, swimming, picnicking and hiking while amenities include restrooms, parking, a playground, benches and picnic tables. You cannot ask for more in a favorite spot.

Some of the other great posts include:

Cascade Springs “Earth Friendly Garden Tour”

Sailing on the Columbia
Be sure to check out the comment for another sailing idea!

An early dinner capped off with a scenic ride on the Aerial Tram

Unique Ambience in Astoria, OR.

Tide Pooling and Café Hopping In Cannon Beach

Not Your Ordinary Dinner-and-a-Movie Date Night

Esther Short Park on a Saturday afternoon–Vancouver

Affordable Golf With a View–Troutdale, OR.

Mighty Mouse of Vancouver submitted this article.

I’m a little late in filing this report this week, sorry about that.  I’m actually vacation in Western Montana and looking for more great things to do here.  I took my kids to the local school in Hot Springs Montana to play on the park this morning, it’s supposed to be 101 today, and it gave me the idea for today’s Monday Morning Spotlight.  I’d like to highlight some great family activities that our writers have participated in and wrote about at the Tacoma.OneThousandThingsToDo.com site.

Now, we don’t have it all covered, but there are some great things to do with your family in and around Tacoma.  I used to live in Sumner, so we spent a lot of time hiking, fishing and huntin’ on the Carbonado Glacier (spelling might be wrong).  Our writers have taken their family to see wolves, play in nature areas and many of the great parks and playgrounds around Tacoma.

So sit back, read through a few 1kToDo posts and plan your next family outing!  Oh, if you would like to write for OneThousandThingsToDo.com, just email us at contribute@onethousandthingstodo.com.

• Brown’s Point Playfield - Last week I went to Browns Point Park not expecting a whole lot. Mainly, it was just convenient. It seems like the proposed renovations were either on hold, or just being done sporadically. But I had a pleasant surprise two weekends ago. After months of being under renovation and patiently waiting, the park and playground is complete.
• China Lake Nature Area - While battling traffic down busy South 19th Street near Fircrest, it is not surprising that most people don’t even notice the small gravel parking lot of the China Lake Nature Area.  The parking lot might not be much to look at, but if you venture a little further you will discover one of the most surprising nature areas in Tacoma.
• Pioneer Park - Like most people, I look forward to Saturday all week. This is especially true in the summer time when the weather is nice and it creates the perfect opportunity to venture out with my two year old and enjoy the sunshine after a long winter cooped up indoors.
• Wolf Haven - Today my treat to my family was taking them to a place I have enjoyed since I first went when I was just a little girl. Today we took a trip to Wolf Haven International. Wolf Haven is one of the world’s largest and most respected wolf sanctuaries right here in the Pacific Northwest.
• Meeker Mansion - Today we went to the Meeker Days in Puyallup, WA. Besides our family enjoying the food, music, and different stands we also took a little time out to go in and see Meeker Mansion. I loved the mansion and had always wanted to see it. While there I learned all about it, and the things that came before. I enjoyed every minute of being inside it, and even enjoyed the little bit of ghost stories that were shared too.
• Point Defiance Zoo - What a better way to spend a Sunday with the family then to head down to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. I took my family to the zoo this past weekend and found that it was a great way to sped time together. From tigers to fish we all found something special there that we really enjoyed. My oldest enjoyed watching the tiger with dad, my youngest was all excited about the sharks and fish, but me I found the new area just finished there that holds the ring-tailed lemur to be my favorite part. I enjoyed my time at the zoo much that not only did we get a seasonal pass, but I also applied to work there too.
• Washington State History Museum - As the sun raised so did my family. And today we decided to take a trip back in history. Today I took my family to the Washington State History Museum. My favorite part of our trip today besides being with my family were all the statues and such that taught me things that even I didn’t know about the state we live in. My husband enjoyed the railroad exhibit that they have there. And of course our boys enjoyed everything. My oldest told me that he could just pick one part he liked, because it was all fun to him.
• Fort Steilecoom Off Leash Dog Park - Being the owner of two energetic dogs, I have learned that no matter where I live, I should always know where the nearest off-leash dog park is. My dogs are never happier than when they are bounding across a wide-open space with boundaries bigger than my modest backyard. They can run to their hearts’ content; and, when we get back home, I can benefit from the peace and quiet in the house while they lie on the floor exhausted.
• America’s Car Museum - Today I wanted to try going somewhere different with my family so I decided to take them to the LeMay American Car Museum. I fell in love with these cars many years ago when Harold LeMay was still alive, and my father would take me to his car shows. Today I wanted to share with my little ones that same experience. My oldest son fell in love with what he called, “the pretty cars.” I myself found it to be enjoying as always to see the car I grew up looking at every year in my life. But my most favorite part was the American Muscle Cars.
• Mt Rainier - This past weekend my other half and I decided that it was time to take our youngest son who is 1 years old to his first trip up to Mount Rainier National Park. Once we arrived at the park, we first stopped at Narada Falls where we sat and enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch, while getting the chance to see some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Washington State. After lunch we continued up the mountain stopping at the many viewing areas along the way. Finally by mid day we made it to the top at Paradise.
• 5 Mile Drive - Tacoma - I always remember this route like an old reliable friend. Before the drive you have to enter at Point Defiance Park; I love being greeted by the large pond with the waterfall, ducks and birds relaxing, enjoying their life. There are families and friends lying on the grass so peacefully. It’s funny to think that annually I walk through this very same park in a people-congested hunger frenzy during the Taste of Tacoma.

Wow, that sure is a lot and I could go on, but wouldn’t it be more fun to discover them yourself?  If you want more just go to our Tacoma site and browse or search!

Don’t forget that we want to hear from you too!  You can use the comments section below to let us know what’s on your mind.  Go check out a few of these things and come back and let us know.  But I have a question for you - what is your favorite place to take your family in Tacoma?

Welcome to our newest feature at OneThousandThingsToDo - Thursday’s What To Do This Weekend! We’ll be highlighting some great activities to do over the weekend in one city each Thursday morning, just in time for you to plan your activities. Today we are discussing some great things to do in Vancouver Washington, but don’t forget to come back each week or subscribe via email or our RSS feeds to keep up to date on new posts!

Spend the weekend discovering the rich history Vancouver, Washington has to offer. It all started in 1792 when Lt. William Broughton navigated 100 miles upriver from the mouth of the Columbia and named the area Point Vancouver, to commemorate having served under Capt. George Vancouver. In 1828 Dr. John McLaughlin renamed the area Fort Vancouver and moved the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company here, making the location one of many firsts: The oldest non-native settlement in the Northwest.

The downtown area features several “things to do” for anyone interested in our history. You can make a day of it by parking and walking to many of the locations, or spend a few days to really enjoy some of the features available. My favorite experience at the fort was attending a Brigade Encampment some years ago. Everybody was dressed in authentic gear for a trip across the Rocky Mountain to the east coast in several covered wagons. I can’t even imagine doing it on today’s roads, let alone when you had to forge your own trail!

• Vancouver’s Oldest Apple Tree:he Old Apple Tree Park is located at 112 Columbia Way and is scheduled to host a festival the first week in October from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm after a two-year hiatus. It used to be that a trip to see the Old Apple Tree was, if not for it’s age, boring; at least for me. It was planted near the old Fort in 1826 when Hudson’s Bay Governor, Sir George Simpson, was given the seeds from an apple eaten at a farewell dinner and asked to plant them. The tree bore its first fruit, one apple, in 1830.
• Vancouver Officers Row–beautiful and historic: Do you like to get outdoors now, while the trees are turning green and the birds are learning to sing again? That’s the way I feel, too, and I found a great place for walking this weekend; along Officers Row in Old Town Vancouver. There are paved paths, mostly level, and all of them accessible to strollers or wheelchairs. There’s parking across the street.
• Fort Vancouver heritage garden–beautiful!: The garden at Fort Vancouver is a heritage garden, meaning that it contains plants that we would have seen here when the fort was in operation in 1845. Notice the arch over the entrance to the garden and the snowball bushes on either side of it. Snowball bushes are European, and would have been brought by ship from England—a journey that took the better part of a year.
• Clark County Historical Museum Vancouver: An important part of old town Vancouver’s history—you may have noticed that I like history—is the Clark County Historical Museum on Main street. This first photo was taken before the huge and beautiful old elm out front had to be removed due to terminal root-rot.
• Historical Fort Vancouver: Before we go to the fort itself, let’s stop in to the Visitor’s Center, up the hill from the fort on the corner of E Reserve and Evergreen Blvd. The visitor’s center is free, and there’s lots of information here about the history and archeology of the fort. There’s a gift shop, too, where we can buy replicas of items used at the fort, and items made by hand in the smithy or carpenter’s shop.
• Esther Short Park on a Saturday afternoon: Esther Short Park is 155 years old and over the decades has served as the town square, hosted a wading pool and skating rink and has come to be considered Vancouver’s centerpiece, its hub of community, culture and history. The park is host to the open air Vancouver Farmer’s Market on the weekends and is bordered by a variety of shops, cafes, and boutiques.

So don’t miss out on these activities and more to come! Don’t forget to comment if you like, we love to hear from our readers. If you have more ideas, just let us know!

Special thanks to MightyMouse, our Vancouver editor, for all these great ideas!

The beaches of Honolulu and Oahu, today on our City Spotlight! It’s another wonderful Monday morning here at OneThousandThingsToDo.com and as I sit here in the rain in the continental United States, my mind floats to my friends on Oahu who write for OneThousandThingsToDo.com. So much can be written about this amazing island, but one of the most written about are the beautiful beaches on Honolulu and the entire island of Oahu. If you are planning a vacation to Hawaii, or just looking for another beach to enjoy, you definitely have to read all our posts here. We really have a beach for everyone, so you’ll be able to enjoy your stay in many different ways. The beaches in Oahu are amazing, and I think you’ll agree! Check these out:

• Kulamanu Beach: When my wife and I wanted to find a beach that’s off the beaten track but still on the south shore, we found it in the form of Kulamanu Beach. This is a public but little known beach that is roughly in between Waialae Beach and the easternmost beaches of Diamond Head. To get there you pass through a very nice residential neighborhood. When you see the corner of Kulamanu Street and Kulamanu Place, you’re almost there—just walk downhill toward the ocean.
• Ala Moana Beach:A friend of mine recently invited me to spend an afternoon at Ala Moana Beach Park with her and her family. It was the day of their annual family picnic, and she promised I’d have a great time. I enjoyed my drive to the beach, which is located right across from Ala Moana Shopping Center.
• Waialae Beach: My wife and I and another couple live in Waikiki and decided to do two interesting things in one: we rented little scooter-bikes and drove them to Waialae Beach. I call them “scooter-bikes” for lack of a better term—they are motorized three-wheeled vehicles with seats for two people, including the driver, and a small trunk space in back. They are painted bright colors like yellow and red, and have orange bike flags attached to them for better visibility to traffic.
• Diamond Head: When my wife and I want to go to an un-crowded beach right next to Waikiki, we head for the shores of Diamond Head. The iconic landmark of Oahu, Diamond Head is the extinct volcano on the east end of Waikiki. There are upscale neighborhoods such as Hawaii Kai that border the land side of Diamond Head, but the side that faces the oceans has some of the best beaches on Oahu’s south shore.
• For DeRussy Beach:My wife and I have made a few visits to Fort DeRussy Beach, on the west end of Waikiki (towards Ewa), and have always done something different each time we went. It’s an excellent beach to spend the day at. We found that the beach here is wider than on Waikiki Beach proper (i.e. the area in front of the Royal Hawaiian), and there is a protected area inside the reef offering calm and shallow water. There are also beach rentals on the sand for kayaks, floats, and aqua bikes.
• Walls: Bodyboarding (also known as “boogie-boarding,” after Morey Boogie, a popular brand of bodyboard) is a form of wave riding where riders use a short foam board to ride waves, usually in a prone position, but also sometimes knee-boarding or even standing up. In Waikiki there is great bodyboarding spot called “Walls,” named after a prominent seawall there with a gazebo on the end of it. This structure is formally known as the Kapahulu Groin. To get there, go to the intersection of Kapahulu and Kalakaua in Waikiki.
• Oahu Circle Island Tour: There’s no reason to limit your visit on Oahu to Honolulu and Waikiki. The diverse island of Oahu is small enough to drive around in one day, and it is well worth the effort. In fact, driving tours of the island are so common that one of the more popular general routes has a name: the “circle island tour.”
• Oahu East Side: I recently moved to Hawaii and I’m pretty much seeing and learning things first hand here. I have to say, I think I made the right decision. My cousin recently bought an LR camera and he took me to a beach-hopping drive starting from Waimanalo to take his toy on a field test.
• Makapuu Tide Pools: Oahu’s Windward side is packed with abundant natural treasures. One really fun treasure to explore is the trail to Makapuu Lighthouse. On the way to the lighthouse, you can hike down to the lava rock surface that houses the warm tide pools.
• White Plains Beach: If you live in Ewa Beach or Kapolei, you don’t have to drive very far to get to some great beaches. One of these is White Plains Beach, near Kalaeloa. From what I understand, this used to be a part of Barber’s Point Naval Station, but is now open to everyone. Finding it, however, isn’t that easy unless you know where you’re going. Maybe this is why it’s not super crowded like some of the more touristy beaches. White Plains is definitely off the beaten path, and as you’re driving there, you may even wonder if you’re going to the right place!
• Eternity Beach: The next really cool, out of the way place I’d like to tell folks about is one of our favorite beaches on the planet. It’s known to the locals as Eternity Beach. Some of my friends will probably want to kick me for telling the world about it, so let’s hope it remains a secret!

But don’t worry if you didn’t read about a beach in Oahu that you liked here, just search for “beaches” at honoulu.onethousandthingstodo.com or go here, Oahu Beaches, to read about all the amazing beaches our writers are visiting right now!

Today we are highlighting all the great parks available to you in the Spokane, Washington area.  My family spends an awful lot of time in our local parks.  With gas prices what they have been, and climbing everyday, the parks in Spokane and the surrounding area sure provide some great outdoor fun without the cost of a full-on vacation.

Spokane offers just about everything you could think of when you are looking for a park.  Our writers have put together some amazing posts of their favorite places.  Spokane parks, my favorite is Manitou Park, offers disc golf, basketball, unlimited picnic opportunities, bird feeding and watching, hiking, fun outings with your pets and have something for everyone.  Check out these Spokane parks for all your summertime fun!

• Lincoln Park-Spokane South Hill: Heading out early to the South Hill’s Lincoln Park this morning, with dog and kids alike, tongues hanging out, eager with expectation, the sweet, cool air promised yet another magical summer day to come and reminded me that the early mornings of summer definitely top my list of “the closest things to heaven on earth.”
• Comstock Park-Spokane’s South Hill: Comstock Park on Spokane’s South Hill has many options. There’s the public pool, the free tennis courts, the full basketball court, acres of grass and trees, and even a fire pit if you’d like to roast some marshmallows on a summer night.
• Disc Golfing at Highbridge Park: Highbridge Park is a great little secret nestled just west of Browne’s Addition, underneath the high train bridges (hence the name). The course is quite challenging and fun, and includes some great hiking. It isn’t the most well-marked progression of holes, so if you want to play disc golf, go with someone who knows the trail, or just show up and you’re sure to find some friendly disc golfers who will show you the way, or even let you join their group. Also, Highbridge Park doesn’t have the best reputation for safety after dark, so go in groups and keep it confined to daytime. Other than that, this place is a gem for disc golfers, picnickers, and families looking to enjoy a great summer day near downtown Spokane.
• Homlberg Park-North Spokane: Holmberg Park located at 9615 N. Wall Street just a few blocks north of Wall and Country Holmes. It was a good thing there was a play structure, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and lots of open green grass. We first made a beeline for the toys, which were fun if mom played too. The toy structure is definitely geared for older kids, but with a little help from mom we were able to go down the slides and climb the ladders. Holmberg Park has a swimming pool that opens at 1 p.m. and costs $1 and kids 5 and under (up to 3 per paid adult) are free.
• Audubon Park-Northwest Spokane: Since we live in West Spokane, we decided to take a walk over the Audubon Park, our favorite free place to go with kids in Spokane. Audubon boasts majestically tall pine trees, two big toys, a swing set, and acres of well-kept grass for the frolicking delight of our little friends. In the summer, this place is the epicenter of the neighborhood, with the sound of the ice-cream truck echoing across the park, competing with the joyful shouts of children and the bouncing of the basketball on the full court (which always has great pickup games going). We packed some snacks and weren’t disappointed that Saturday: the toys were busy with kids and watchful parents, and the weather was perfect for letting the kids’ legs get out and run off some energy.
• Millwood City Park-Spokane Valley:  Millwood City Park boasts a wadding pool, splash pad, play equipment, tennis courts, basketball courts and a horse shoe pit. There are also dozens of picnic tables, covered eating areas and a lots of wide open grass area to play on.  My son headed right to the wadding pool, which is only a few inches deep and has 2 lifeguards to watch over the kids while they play. The wadding pool is limited to those kids 7 and younger and is open 7 days a week; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a ½ hour lunch break from 2:00-2:30 Monday through Saturday and 1-5 with a ½ break from 2:00-2:30 on Sunday’s. Swimsuits are required.
• Manitou Park:  One of the beautiful attractions of Spokane, Washington can be found on the South hill at Manitou Park and Gardens. Take 25th Avenue or Grand Avenue to find the park and gardens for almost any family event or outing.

Welcome to our Monday City Spotlight, we are highlighting all the great opportunities to camp that Coeur d’Alene and North Idaho have to offer. Coeur d’Alene Idaho and all of North Idaho offers some of the best camping anyone could ask for. It’s one of the favorite things for myself and our family to do.

I tend to camp on and around the Coeur d’Alene River just east of Coeur d’Alene near Cataldo and Kingston. It is also one of the best places to float during the dog days of summer. Most of the camping is easy to get to and our area, with the multitude of national parks, state parks, formal campgrounds and public access areas, you really are in God’s country and will find it difficult to choose a spot from all the great opportunities around.

I camp with a family of 6 so it is always quite a deal getting everyone together, all the camping gear, the food and, well everything that is involved in spending 3-5 days in the woods with 4 kids, 2 of which are under 2. But with so many campgrounds in the area, a quick trip north to Beaver Bay in Ferragut or Round Lake near Sandpoint are always good options for a quick getaway.

If you are wondering where to go camping this weekend, try one of these areas that our writers have already visited this summer:

• Bumblebee Campground on the Coeur D’Alene River - If you are looking for a good camping spot that is not too far from Coeur d’Alene, try Bumblebee Campground near Kingston. The campground is located right off I-90, thirty miles from Coeur d’Alene and is close to the river and several good fishing and hiking spots. The campground is a fee area and prices are $14 a night and $7 for an extra vehicle.
• Graham Creek Camping - Graham Creek is located about 45 miles east of Coeur d’Alene on I-90. Take the Kingston, #43 exit and go north on Forest Highway 9. You will pass Bumblebee Campground and will start seeing several camping areas about 10 miles out. We always seem to camp after mile marker 15. On the left side of the road is an area right on the river with several spots and even an enclosed toilet and to the right are some secluded spots that lead straight to the creek and some great hiking trails.
• Beaver Bay Farragut Park, Bayview Idaho - Farragut State Park is located just north of Coeur D’alene about 20 miles from downtown. The park sits along side Lake Pend Oreille, our largest lake. The park used to be a military base and although most of the buildings are gone now, you can still find historical markers and some foundations of barracks on some of the hikes that are available. It is some of the best hiking, picnicking and camping in north Kootenai county.
• Crystal lake - If you are looking for an adventure with a great view, try hiking into Crystal Lake. With a rugged hike over rocks and down steep paths, the trek to the lake is good exercise and well worth the trip. The lake is a great spot for swimming, fishing, or snorkeling. Crystal Lake is located about 65 miles southeast of Coeur d’Alene at an elevation of over 5,000 feet.
• Elk River Recreation District - Camping in an area where you can also fish, swim and hike is always a good thing, so when my family found out about the Elk River Recreation District camping we thought we would try it out. From Moscow the city of Elk River is only 51 miles east on Hwy 8 so it is relatively nearby. The drive is very scenic and you can even follow through onto the Scenic Byway if you have a little more time.

There are many other options for camping in North Idaho and Coeur d’Alene. If you know of a great spot, let us know here or submit your own article to http://coeurdalene.onethousandthingstodo.com.

Welcome to our newest feature of OneThousandThingsTodo.com, our Monday City Spotlight! Each Monday we will be highlighting different categories of activities in one of the cities covered by OneThousandthingsToDo.com. You’ll read about hiking in Coeur d’Alene, picnicking in Tacoma, date nights in Bend and so much more. We hope this helps you find more things to do in your city! Now onto this week’s City Spotlight:

Vancouver has some of the nicest parks in the country and our writers have explored many of them for you. If you are looking for a fun place to get your kids to burn some energy or a place for a romantic picnic to watch the sunset, you’ll definitely have to read the many articles at Vancouver.OneThousandThingsToDo.com.

From well equipped picnic areas, walking trails, dog parks and educational centers, you’ll find just about any type of park you are looking for within the area surrounding Vancouver Washington. Check some of these out:

• Marine Park - South of SR14 Exit 1, on Columbia Way and SE Marine Park Way. The park has a nice mix of sun and shade, trees and bright green grass, a baseball field, playground, restrooms, and water to a small group of picnic tables, including a covered area. There is also a boat ramp at the far western portion of the park, but it is a fair walk from where we parked the car so we did not visit it.
• Discover the Labyrinth at Hazel Dell - First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1220 NE 68th St - The trees are fully grown and woodsy, but the area is still garden-like. There are tall fir, cedar, and maple trees, an ivy-covered bank, and on the other hand there are tidy privets, lilacs, rhodies, lavender, and azaleas.
• Fort Vancouver Heritage Gardens -The garden at Fort Vancouver is a heritage garden, meaning that it contains plants that we would have seen here when the fort was in operation in 1845. Notice the arch over the entrance to the garden and the snowball bushes on either side of it.

These are just a few of the great parks you’ll find in and around Vancouver. Get out and check them out today! And don’t forget to come back here to leave your comments, we’d love to hear how your trip was.

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Did I just read that right? I paid $3.95 for one gallon of gas right here in Coeur d’Alene? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised when gas is above $4 nation-wide. Well, there went our planned trip to Yellowstone and Disney Land. Not only is gas up, but everything else is up, it’s not only keeping us home, but many others to. I guess we’ll just have to stay here in North Idaho and find things to do.

I think we need a Staycation! What the heck is that you ask? Read the rest of Staycation in Coeur d’alene and North Idaho »