Best Way to Travel from Seattle
Seattle is a great city, but sometimes it's good to get out of town. Outrageous gas prices have encouraged me to look at other ways of traveling this summer, so I have decided to take the train on a couple of trips. Amtrak prices have gone up with gas prices, but traveling by train is not only cheaper but also much more enjoyable than driving or flying, in my opinion.
A couple of weeks ago I took the train to Portland, OR, for $54 round trip (including tax). The ride is about 3.5 hours each way which is about the same amount of time it takes to drive to Portland from Seattle, and it's less expensive than driving.
This weekend I'm going to Whitefish, MT, for a little vacation to visit friends and enjoy the mountains. Yes, this liberal California native has friends in Montana, if you can believe it. They tolerate me as long as I don't live there. My train ticket is $195 round trip, and the ride is 14 hours each way. That's the same amount of time it takes me to drive, and it's cheaper than driving. Plus, the train has amenities like food and movies in the lounge car.
Traveling longer distances by train takes a long time and is more costly, but it's a great way to travel short distances for weekend getaways. Check the Amtrak website for discounts on tickets. I got a 10% discount on my tickets because of my AAA membership.
Ride Green Build Green Bicycle Trip
.png)
Planning is fully underway for this summer's Ride Green Build Green (RGBG) bicycle trip. From July 25th to August 25th, 20 bicyclists will make the 1,000+ mile journey from Seattle to San Francisco to raise funds and awareness for affordable green housing.
Prior to the ride, each participant is raising a minimum of $2000 each to support LEED certification for a home built by Habitat for Humanity of East King County. Fundraising will include benefit concerts, T-shirt sales, and donation solicitations. All donations will be tax deductible through Habitat for Humanity. Riders also plan every aspect of the trip, including the route, nightly stop locations, work days at affordable housing sites, community forums, and bicycle and gear procurement.
Along the way, riders will also have opportunities to visit sites and organizations devoted to affordable and green housing and thus gain a greater understanding of the different methods, techniques, and plans for making both affordable and sustainable buildings and housing. Stops might include housing for the homeless, green affordable-housing projects, self-built green homes, and meetings with advocacy organizations to learn about their work.
Among scheduled stops: Olympia Habitat for Humanity (7/26), Cowlitz County Habitat for Humanity (7/28), and Olson Woods Community Partners for Affordable Housing (7/30).
RGBG believes that some of the biggest impacts we have on the environment lie within the structures we build to accommodate our lives. Buildings in the US account for:
- 40% of total annual US energy
- 25% of water use
- 20-30% of municipal solid waste stream
- 30-40% of wood and materials use
- 25% of greenhouse gas emissions
RGBG is seeking financial and volunteer assistance and additional riders. Please visit the RGBG website for more information.
Portland Zoobomb
Last weekend I went to Portland for Zoobomb Minibike Winter V. It was awesome. It was crazy. And best of all, it didn't rain. Zoobomb is a bicycle club in Portland in which members and friends dress in costumes and ride minibikes (child size bikes) down the hill towards the Portland Zoo every Sunday. Once a year for the past 5 years, they have hosted the Zoobomb Minibike Winter Olympics, with events such as Ben Hurt Chariot Wars, minibike limbo, live music, bicycle dance troupe performances, and general silliness and fun.
The bicycle festivities took place Thursday - Monday. I arrived in Portland late Saturday morning just in time to grab some food at the potluck brunch. I was really impressed with the hospitality and friendliness of the local bicycle folks I met at the Zoobomb event in Portland. They all are open and enthusiastic to invite other bicycle enthusiasts to join them for their fun bicycle activities. Many bicycle clubs have strict rules about becoming a member, but the Zoobombers seem to hold the attitude that all who love bikes are welcome, and that's an attitude I like.
After brunch, we all rode to the first event of the day: The Ben Hurt Chariot Wars. In order to compete in the chariot race, competitors needed a bike with a trailer and two people: one to ride a bike and one to stand or sit in the chariot being pulled by the bike rider. All chariots were custom made beautiful monstrosities designed in the vein of the mutant bike culture.
The race had rules, but it turned into ridiculous mayhem to the point where I was not really sure what was happening:
The winners were the last team standing.
This guy did not win, although he had spirit trying to ride on a tire that could no longer technically be called a tire:
After the Chariot Wars, I needed a break and took off and got some dinner. I met up with the festivities again that evening at a warehouse space. The weekend Zoobomb events took place at different locations all over Portland, and event maps were distributed which displayed the best bicycle routes to each location. The evening's entertainment including music, dancing, a fashion show, live music, and a performance by the Canadian bicycle dance troupe the B:C:Clettes.
The next day I showed up at Sunday's first event location by the river downtown ready to watch some bicycle limbo and a performance by the Portland bicycle dance troupe The Sprokettes. Things didn't get started until later in the afternoon and I had to head back to Seattle, so I begrudgingly headed home just as the blindfolded minibike race was about to begin.
Last weekend was the first time I have bicycled around Portland, and that town truly lives up to its reputation as being one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the nation. The Minibike Winter Olympics are over for this year, but if you are interested in going on the zoobomb, they do it every Sunday evening. You can check the zoobomb website for details.
Click "Continue Reading" to see more pictures.
New Years Eve
I must admit, I am not an expert on New Years Eve activities in Seattle proper because I have been celebrating New Years Eve and New Years Day at Crystal Mountain for the past 5 years. Personally, I like to get out of the city on New Years because people go nuts on New Years and I'm afraid of crazy people. At Crystal Mountain, the resort provides fireworks and a free champagne toast at midnight, live music and, of course, the Shot-Ski. Also, my favorite thing to do on New Years Day is get up early and go snowboarding while everyone else is sleeping off their hangovers.
If I were celebrating New Years Eve in Seattle, I would probably go to Science Friction at Youngstown in West Seattle. A lot of the deejays are part of the Decibel Festival crew and one of my favorite local deejays, Recess, will be playing. 4 rooms of good electronic music, not just any ol' techno crap.
.jpg)
There are also some other big parties happening, but, really, anywhere you go on New Years Eve is going to be rockin'. Seattle might shut down at midnight on non-holiday weeknights, but this town knows how to party on holidays and weekends.
Be A Zombie In A Movie
I have zombie mania. Zombie is the new hip trend and I have caught zombie fever. Zombie is the new pirate. Zombie is the new black.
If you like zombies as much as I do (I even like Rob Zombie), then listen up; a new zombie movie is being filmed in Kitsap County called Zombies of Mass Destruction. Cool, eh? Well, they are looking for zombie extras to be in the movie! The movie is being filmed now through November 17 in Port Gamble, WA, and they need a bunch of zombies.
If you are interested in being a zombie in a feature film, please contact:
- Email: foregroundbackground@gmail.com
- Phone: 425.246.2725
Shooting Schedule and Other Zombie Details
Get Out, Go East
Seattle has great Fall weather, and Fall is especially beautiful on the east side of The Cascades. The vibrant colors of the leaves on deciduous trees are absolutely breathtaking, rivaling the fall colors of New England.
If you need an excuse to get out of town this weekend, here is my suggestion: drive east of Seattle on Highway 2. After a 2 hour scenic drive on a portion of the Cascade Loop, you can enjoy Oktoberfest this weekend in "Washington's Bavarian Village," Leavenworth. However, I must say that I am not a fan of Leavenworth's Oktoberfest, because I am not 70 years old, nor do I travel in an RV. If you do not understand what I mean, just go to Leavenworth and find out for yourself. I do not want to tell you to avoid the festival, because a lot of people like it. But, if you are like me and would like to avoid the Oktoberfest crowds, there is still plenty to do around Leavenworth in October.
DINING
- My favorite breakfast spot in Leavenworth (which also serves lunch and dinner) is The Renaissance Cafe. This restaurant offers vegetarian options in a town full of bratwurst.
- Uncle Uli's is where the locals hang out. They offer a nice selection of beer, outside seating with heaters, and hearty food.
- If you are looking for a fun diner, stop at the 59er Diner at Cole's Corner on Highway 2 (about a 15 - 20 minute drive west of Leavenworth). They have THE BEST milkshakes, and they give you half a stick of gum with your bill. Yes, that is weird. They have fascinating bathrooms as well.
- If you want to go for a hike, there are many day and overnight hikes around Leavenworth. Again, this time of year the scenery is breathtakingly colorful and gorgeous.
- The area surrounding Leavenworth is also renowned for its excellent rock climbing, and if you grab a beer in the early evening at Uncle Uli's, you will probably be sitting with some really skilled rock climbers who are enjoying a beer and sharing stories after a day of climbing.
SHOPPING
- The Alps candy shop has great peanut brittles; my favorite is their hazelnut brittles. Downstairs they sell a wide variety of delicious mustard and sauces. The Alps is literally on the side of Highway 2 right on the Wenatchee River, so be careful when you pull off the highway and make sure you use your turn signal. You will find this shop just before you get into downtown Leavenworth. If you go to The Alps, don't forget to go downstairs. They usually offer free samples downstairs.
If you do not want to drive all the way to Leavenworth (or you want to make a stop on your way to or from Leavenworth), you can stay on the west side of The Cascades and go to a pumpkin patch and corn maze just outside of Monroe, WA, on Highway 2 (you will see the signs from the highway). My friends went to a pumpkin patch last year and they had a great time, so I am going with them this year. For a list of pumpkin patches, hay rides, and corn mazes in the surrounding Seattle area, click here.
