February 2010 Archives
Walking the Labyrinth at Harmony Hill
Harmony Hill is perched just above the southern part of Hood Canal in Union. It is a retreat center started 25 years ago, growing from a small lodge to a campus with a large garden, greenhouse and meeting hall. Its primary mission is to provide support for people with cancer and their caregivers through free retreats and workshops. But it is a welcoming place for anyone who desires a tranquil place for reflection. There is an incredible sense of peace here. On a clear day, the Olympics dominate the sky above the water.
We had been to Harmony Hill several times but this was our first trip by bus. One of the things about this trip was our awareness of the different vantage point of bus travel. High up, we could see more of the scenery. Walking the Labyrinth at Harmony Hill- continue reading
Yelm—Traveling to the Edge of Thurston County
Traveling to Yelm is easy—just hop on Bus 94 from Olympia’s Transit Center. Buses leave about once every hour and within 45 minutes, I was in downtown Yelm. Unlike our other trips, this one was to meet a professional editor at the Blue Bottle Espresso Café to talk about publishing books.
Yelm—Traveling to the Edge of Thurston County- continue reading
Seattle History Museum and Aboretum Nature Walk
The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) and the Washington Park Arboretum
The Museum of History & Industry is the quintessential walk through Seattle’s history. Fun and interesting for all ages. The Seattle Historical Society was formed in 1911 (on the 60th anniversary of the Alki landing of the Denny Party), officially founded three years later, and eventually known as the Seattle-King County Historical Society. The Museum of History & Industry, opened on February 15, 1952, has grown to become the largest private heritage organization in the State of Washington. MOHAI collects, preserves and presents the rich history of the Pacific Northwest. Exhibits and programs change regularly, reflecting an appreciation for the Northwest’s diverse cultural, social and economic history.
Long-standing exhibits include a diorama of the landing of the Denny Party (Seattle Pioneers), the glue pot which started the great Seattle fire of 1888, and the Slo-mo-shun hydroplane from the 1950’s. There are always new, temporary exhibits, such as in the summer and fall of 2009 the “Arts and Crafts movement of the Pacific Northwest” exhibit covered all aspects of this simplistic, yet lovely, art form, including architecture, furnishings, printing, crafts, and art.
Seattle History Museum and Aboretum Nature Walk- continue reading
Destination: Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor, founded in 1888, is a picturesque Puget Sound community across the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma. Commercial fishing, boat building, and sawmills were the economic lifeblood of this community.
The harbor is the center of the downtown area and is where we spent our time. A one mile walk along Harbor View—starting at the Tides Taverns and ending at the Finholm marketplace– celebrates Gig Harbor’s long maritime history and the many immigrants from Sweden, Norway and Croatia who fished the Puget Sound. Heritage markers on this Waterfront History Walk highlight points of interest, sharing facts about the people who settled in Gig Harbor and helped it grow.
The Skanski Brothers Park, which is a large, open, waterfront space with grass and docks, is home to the Fisherman Memorial. This large bronze statue depicting a fisherman hauling in his catch honors those who lost their lives at sea. The Finholm Hill Climb behind the market provides a stunning view of Mount Rainier, which on a clear day towers over the harbor.
Exploring Centralia
Every town has something truly unique and in Centralia, it is RichArt’s place, aka the Styrofoam House, located on the corner of Main and M streets. Seventy-something Richard Tracey has been creating outdoor art for the past 25 years, using Styrofoam, metal, bicycle tire rims, yo-yos, plastics of all kinds and whatever else he can find.
The sign at the door said to come on in and we did. Every available space on the outside is covered and there are many “rooms” in the yard with very specific sculptures.
Seattle: Theo’s Chocolate Factory Tour
Who knew that the history and chocolate making process could be so interesting?! Theo is NOT a person (in this case). Theo is short for the Latin name of the Cacao tree, Theobroma Cacao, Food of the Gods.
Kate, our tour guide, told us the story of chocolate, which began in ancient times in the Amazon, as well as the incredible process of turning those bitter seeds rich in anti-oxidants into this confection that heals broken hearts. The story is amazing. How anyone figured out how to make something good to eat out of those bitter cocoa beans is a miracle!
With our hairnets on, about 25 people went into the factory to learn about the multi-step, complex chemical process to turn the beans into bars. Looking much like a Rube Goldberg contraption of yellow, green and steel containers and piping, it makes it way through the different steps.
Vashon Island: A Pleasant Time-Traveler Journey
A short ferry ride from Seattle or Tacoma takes you to a microcosm of a friendly, slower-paced life style. The Washington state ferry system is admired worldwide. And for good reason. What better way to enjoy our water and mountain views than a trip on a ferry?
As of summer of 2009, the Rhododendron gracefully flows from Pt. Defiance (Tacoma) to Vashon. The Rhododendron is the smallest car ferry on line (the Hiyu is the smallest car/passenger ferry, but as of summer 2009, did not have a regular run), with only one lane of traffic loading at a time. The route provides a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier, with Tacoma’s Commencement Bay in the foreground.
The more popular Fauntleroy/Vashon route is served by three different ferries, departing twice an hour from each end of the 20 minute run.
Once on the island, the Metro bus 118 is waiting for you. To get an overview of the island, stay on the bus for the 1 ½ hour route. The 118 travels Vashon Highway, the north/south route between the two ferry terminals, as well as a loop around Maury Island. The Maury Island side-trip passes through the small villages of Portage (at the isthmus connecting Vashon and Maury Islands), Burton (at the lovely and protected Quartermaster Harbor), and Dockton.
The town of Vashon: Get off the bus as it passes through the town of Vashon. Vashon is the largest town on the island, the busiest intersection (Banks Road and Vashon Highway) has a four-way blinking light. There are several choices of restaurants within two blocks of this intersection, as well as bookstores, art galleries, grocery and hardware stores, as well as gift and boutique shops. One could spend all day wandering in and out of the shops. The pace of the town is soothing; the shopkeepers are friendly and clearly proud of their island community. Even the dogs are friendly, and welcomed everywhere (as evidenced by dog water bowls at many store entrances).
Vashon Island: A Pleasant Time-Traveler Journey- continue reading
Welcome to Rebels By Bus!
Follow our on-the-bus adventures around the greater Puget Sound area–from simple one-bus trips to complex ones taking us around the Olympic Peninsula.
See our brand new 3 trips brochure–easy trips from Olympia!
Gail Johnson and Mary Williams
Surprising Shelton
A small town 35 miles northwest of Olympia, Shelton was once served by a small fleet of steamboats that were part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. The local industry is still centered on lumber and forestry products, but commercial shellfish harvesting adds to the economic diversity. Small shops and first-class restaurants contribute to the vitality of the downtown area.
We arrived at the Shelton Transit Center, which is located in front of City Hall. The heart of downtown Shelton is along a 5-block stretch of Railroad Avenue, just one block west. In addition to the Shelton Museum, restaurants and unique locally-owned shops, public art and art walls capture its history.
Seattle’s Gold Rush History
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: Tucked into the historic Cadillac Hotel in downtown Seattle is a national park that preserves the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands hoping to get rich poured into Seattle in 1897 when gold was found in the Klondike, Yukon Territory, Canada. This is a great American story about the people and the journey but it also provides a sense of the history of Seattle, as it was at the end of the 19th century. As the main supplier of goods needed to meet the one-ton requirement (food and gear) to enter the gold rush territories, Seattle was transformed from a small waterfront city to a regional trade center.
The journey was rough. Some headed up the Chilkoot Trail while others headed up the White Pass out of Scagway. These were narrow passes over mountains that were impassible once the snow began.
The exhibits show pictures of the many people who embarked on that journey. They also have a sled loaded with a ton of food and gear, effectively translating a vague term like “ton” into something tangible. Looking at the pictures of the narrow trails over the mountains, it is not surprising that many did not make it with all their food intact. In fact, you can play the wheel of fortune to see likely you would be to come home with gold.
