Featured image credit: Weston Ski Track Celebrate Winter Trails Day on Saturday, January 6, by learning how to snowshoe or cross-country ski at Weston Ski Track in Weston, Massachusetts, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. If you're interested in snowshoeing, simply show up; no registration is required. Weston Ski Track will have free demos of snowshoes from Tubbs, … Continue reading Free snowshoe and ski lessons at Weston Ski Track January 6

Photo by Cheryl Landes From January through March, as many as 5,000 Rocky Mountain elk migrate to the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, 15 miles northwest of Yakima, to feed on the hay provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. WDFW started this program in 1940 to reduce conflict between the elk and local … Continue reading Winter elk and bighorn sheep watching near Yakima

Photos by Cheryl Landes During a recent late afternoon trip to downtown Seattle, I grabbed a latte at a coffee shop and watched passersby along Sixth Avenue near Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. This neighborhood has always been active with people, but there was something different--more people walking dogs. Everyone headed in the same direction, north along … Continue reading Doggone downtown fun awaits at Amazon Spheres Dog Park in Seattle

Featured image: Homolovi State Park in Winslow, Arizona (photo credit: Arizona State Parks & Trails) Updated December 29, 2018 Take a hike for the new year! Choose from more than 400 hikes in state parks nationwide during the annual First Day Hikes on January 1. Explore nature and get a good workout at the same … Continue reading Get outside on New Year’s Day with these First Day Hikes

"Children's Dreams The World's Potential", the Kiwanis International float at the 2017 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California (photo by Prayitno, Wikimedia Commons) I grew up watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Rose Parade in Pasadena on TV. Although this is an enjoyable experience, attending the parades in person provides … Continue reading Start the new year by seeing the Rose Parade live in Pasadena

Featured image credit: geralt, Creative Commons Looking for fun activities for the entire family on New Year's Eve? Or you and your friends? Or maybe you and that special someone? These four First Night celebrations in Washington State and Montana have something for everyone. Washington First Night Tacoma Photo credit: First Night Tacoma Now in … Continue reading Four First Night celebrations in the Northwest

Featured image: The Christmas tree in Boston Common, with the State House glowing in the background (photo by Cheryl Landes) In 1912, several cities had public Christmas trees, and apparently there was a race to be the first to light theirs. New York City and Boston are fierce rivals in sports, and it appears they … Continue reading Which city lit its public Christmas tree first?

Featured image: This is not the goat who will eat your flowers, but the two who do are absolutely adorable. (photo by Cheryl Landes) It's always nice to receive flowers for a special occasion, but what do you do with them? You can admire them for a week or two until they die. Or when … Continue reading Goatgrams: Receive bouquets, watch goats eat them in Portland-Vancouver

Photos by Cheryl Landes Updated November 25, 2018 More than a half million lights all colors of the rainbow, 90-plus animated displays, and 3D displays and glasses. A holiday village with a tree that dances to Christmas music. Wagon rides and visits from Santa. And the World's Largest Nutcracker. It's all at River Forks Park, … Continue reading Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights in Roseburg spreads holiday cheer, gives back to community

Featured image: The curtain waiting to rise for The Nutcracker at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon Photos by Cheryl Landes, except where noted The Nutcracker is one of my treasured holiday traditions. For years, wherever I travel, I attend performances by different ballet companies. Sometimes I even plan a trip … Continue reading Eugene Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker a masterful tale in dance