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CASE HISTORY: INVESTIGATION NOTES: VIDEO NOTES: submitted by Lisa Russell Beautiful surroundings and a variety of indoor and outdoor activities make Washington State a romantic destination. In central Washington, deserts and farmland host quiet retreats, like agricultural tours and wineries. The Cascade Mountains are a cooler place where adventurous couples can enjoy skiing, hiking, camping and forest activities. On the coast, cooler temperatures and a picturesque coastline give visitors a good reason to snuggle. Rattlesnake Hills Wine TrailThe Yakima Valley is known for its wineries and 15 of them have joined forces to form the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. It starts at the Rattlesnake Hills winery. Ask for a complementary tour of the vineyards and stroll hand in hand while you learn about the wine making process from start to finish. Afterwards, follow the wine trail map through the sunny Yakima Valley to visit each winery. The winding country roads and charming scenery make for a relaxing day with plenty of opportunities for conversation. Wine tasting is available at each winery and most also have gift shops, a cafe, fresh local produce and gourmet grocery items. The Yakima area is east of the Cascade mountains, meaning it’s sunny almost all year-round, a stark contrast to the west side of the mountains, which is notorious for its rain. Lodging packages are available on the Rattlesnake Hills website and some wineries offer guest cottages for overnight stays. Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail Friday HarborA charming little town located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is accessible by ferry, personal watercraft or plane. Small, artsy shops, galleries, museums and restaurants occupy the downtown area, while the interior of the island is mainly organic farms and ranches. Stroll together in and out of the shops, pick up mementos and enjoy the ocean breezes while dining at an outdoor cafe. From mid May through October, Orca whales migrate through the area and can be seen from the shore or, more certainly from one of several boat excursions. There’s a bicycle rental in Friday Harbor for couples who prefer to explore the island by bike. On the opposite side of the island, less than ten miles away, Roche Harbor has an old-fashioned boardwalk with a gift shop and an ice cream parlor. A grassy lawn adjacent to the harbor is a lovely backdrop for a romantic picnic. Also at Roche harbor, adventurous couples may want to try their hand at sea kayaking. Kayak rentals and instruction are available at the marina. The Highland Inn at Friday Harbor is a quiet bed & breakfast that overlooks the sea for prime whale watching. Every morning a full gourmet breakfast is served. Highland Inn Salish Lodge and SpaThe Washington Salish Lodge and Spa is located in the scenic Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. This region has thousands of places to lay a picnic blanket, sneak a kiss behind the trees or take an impromptu dip, with over 700 lakes and a host of beautiful waterfalls to delight hikers and picnickers. The breathtaking Snoqualmie falls is 270 feet tall and has an observation bridge, a salmon ladder and interpretive signs that help visitors understand how hydro-power generates electricity. The surrounding hills are great for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in the warmer months. In the winter, Alpental Ski Resort opens and visitors enjoy downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and inner tubes. The Salish Lodge, overlooks the river, just above the falls and provides guests with luxury rooms with romantic over-sized, jetted tubs and wood-burning fireplaces. The lodge has 2 restaurants and a spa. Salish Lodge and Spa Long Beach Peninsula is aptly named, for at 28 miles, it is the longest natural beach in the United States. 1,000 year old western red cedars thrive on Long Island in Willapa Bay.
Ocean Shores City Information City of Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce – Ocean Shores Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce Ocean Shores Transportation Bus Line in Ocean Shores Grays Harbor Transit Ferry from Ocean Shores The Westport-Ocean Shores Passenger Ferry is called “El Matador.” It operates on weekends only from mid-April through mid-June, then daily from mid-June to Labor Day, then in September reverts to weekends only. Rates: one-way $7.00, round-trip $12.50. Children under 5 years old ride for free. Check out all of our Ocean Shores investigations. The Okanogan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northern and western Okanogan County in north-central Washington State, United States. The 1,499,013-acre (2,342.2 sq mi, or 6066.3 km²) forest is bordered on the north by Canada, on the east by Colville National Forest, on the south by the divide between the Methow and the Stehekin-Lake Chelan valleys, and on the west by North Cascades National Park. Pasayten Wilderness and the northeast portion of Lake-Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness are part of the forest. The western part of the forest is wetter than the dry and less temperate east. The vegetation varies similarly, from the western boreal forest, to the eastern high-elevation steppe. A 1993 United States Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the Forest was 316,000 acres (128,000 ha)[1], a majority of which was Lodgepole Pine forests. The closest significant communities are Omak and Okanogan. Managed by the Forest Service together with Wenatchee National Forest, its headquarters is in Wenatchee. There are local ranger district offices located in Tonasket and Winthrop. It is the second-largest National Forest (after the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho) that is contained entirely within one county. Okanogan National Forest was established on July 1, 1911 from a portion of Chelan National Forest. On July 1, 1921 the entire forest was transferred back to Chelan, but on March 23, 1955 Chelan became Okanogan.[2] Ocean Shores, Washington has a fantastic championship golf course and a great miniature golf course. The Ocean Shores Golf Course is an 18 hole course that claims to have “the openness of a links style course and the shot-making challenges of a narrow, wooded course.” Golf Digest ranked this as one of the best places to play in 2008 and 2009. Ocean Shores Golf Course President Curt Zander is a 31 year PGA Pro and is about as hands-on a leader as he could be, he’s also the Maintenance Supervisor. Zander and his wife run the course as a family business, maintaining a pro shop and snack bar on site as well. Call (360) 289-3357 to reserve your tee time, or check them on the web at oceanshoresgolf.com. Ocean Shores Miniature Golf Pacific Paradise Mini Golf has over 70 arcade games, plus bumper boats and a 36 hole miniature golf course. Beautifully landscaped with waterfalls, streams and tons of flowers, the Pacific Paradise Family Fun center is located at 767 Minard Avenue NW in Ocean Shores. Other Golf Courses near Ocean Shores A beautiful 25 mile drive drive along the coast of North Bay brings visitors right to Aberdeen, to play at the Gray’s Harbor Country Club*, which is just 3 miles from Cosmopolis, home of the Highland Golf Course. Golf Courses in Raymond, Washington 50 miles from Ocean Shores, in Raymond, Washington, is the Willapa Harbor Golf course and the Maple Grove Golf Course. *Gray’s Harbor Country Club is the only private course on this list, all the rest are public. Truth is, you never know what you might find. Flotsam can be carried by currents and circle the globe for years before landing on the beach. About 1,000 shipping containers a year go overboard into the oceans. Reportedly 18,000 Nike Shoes are on their way to a beach near you. Another container, this time limited to one style of shoe, was lost and should keep the trademark swoosh a common sight on Northwest beaches. For most people, beachcombing is about finding things more traditional. Beachcombing is Beachcombing doesn’t require any special skills, just some common sense. High tides carry To find the most desired beachcombing treasures you’ll need to find them first, so serious Sand dollars are a common beach find along the sandy shores of the northwest Pacific coast. The sand dollar is a member of the sea urchin family and can be more than three inches across or smaller than a dime. When alive, the sand dollar is covered with a “crew-cut” of tiny purple spines. The gray or white sand dollar found on the beach is the skeleton of this unique sea creature. Several kinds of clams inhabit Northwest coastal waters and their shells are common
The Northwest coast is also known for agates. These smoothly polished stones come in a Agates don’t come from the ocean, they are washed loose from eroding shorelines. So, the There are many interesting pieces of the natural marine world to observe on a beachcombing adventure. Not all of them collectible and in fact, many of them are still alive. Mole crabs are commonly seen digging themselves into the sand and endless blobs of stranded jellyfish dot the shoreline (these don’t preserve well in your box of keepsakes). During the winter, it’s common to see the long rope-like bull kelp washed up on beaches. A gas filled balloon at one end keeps this amazing plant afloat. The beachcomber will also occasionally encounter beached sea mammals including seals, sea lions & occasionally whales. If you find a stranded animal, keep a distance, keep dogs away & notify authorities with a location and description. What will you discover today? Maybe nothing, but beachcombing is always good for the soul. So get your feet wet, keep your eyes open & who knows what you’ll find. Combing the beach all day, eating fresh clams or playing golf can make anyone work up an apatite. Italian Restaurants in Ocean Shores, Washington For Italian food, try Waves restaurant, Bravo’s New York style Pizza or Dugan’s Pizza and Pasta. Ocean Shores Steak Restaurants and Seafood Restaurants in Ocean Shores Alec’s by the Sea serves both seafood and steak, so does Emily’s Restaurant, Ocean Crest, North Shore Grill, and Homeport. Sandwich Shops in Ocean Shores There is a Subway Sandwich shop on Ocean Shores Blvd. Mr B’s Diner serves “homestyle” foods, which probably means they have sandwiches and Cafe Amici serves Mediterranean and American food (which surely includes sandwiches, right? Go Dog, Go is a gourmet hot dog shops (gourmet or not, a hot dog definitely qualifies as a sandwich.) IGA Deli is also a grocery store, but what deli doesn’t sell sandwiches? Shilo Inn and Mariah’s are listed as “variety” restaurant and surely that means they have a few sandwiches, right? Last but not least, Sandcastle Drive-in and McDonalds in Ocean Shores serves sandwiches, too. Places to Get a Drink (Coffee shops and Bars in Ocean Shores) Cadillac Jack’s Lounge, the Porthole Pub, Pirate’s Cove Pub and Shore’s Bowl (bowling alley) list themselves as bars, serving bar foods. The Cellar Wine Shoppe looks more like a place to buy bottled wine. The Galway Bay Restaurant is billed as Irish Food, but I’ll bet they have some Irish whiskey, too. Get your latte on at Mocha Madness Other Ocean Shores Restaurants For Japanese, go to Kyoto Teriyaki. Las Maracas serves Mexican food and The Lucky Dragon serves chinese food. Believe it or not, there’s only one seafood restaurant on this list, Mike’s Seafood. In a beach town, imagine that. Our Place Restaurant serves soups and salads. Ocean Shores has two ice cream parlors, Murphy’s Candy & Ice Cream and Peppermint Parlor Alphabetical List of Ocean Shores Restaurants Alec’s By The Sea, 131 East Chance A La Mer NE, 289-4026. What could be more romantic than a seaside horseback ride? You can rent horses in Ocean Shores, or you can visit one of the ranches along the coast to ride there. There are plenty of horseback riding trails in Ocean Shores. Ocean Shores Horseback Riding Chenois Creek Horse Rentals Honey Pearl Ranch/Golden Spur Ranch Nan-Sea Stables Rising Star Horse Rental The Bureau of Travel Investigations Agency has just cause to believe that Cape Disappointment is harboring some amazing sights and attractions behind their sneaky choice of names. Our agents will be visiting Cape Disappointment in January of 2010 to collect the evidence and interview key witnesses. |
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