Featured image: A view of Mount St. Helens National Monument from the air (photo by Cheryl Landes) On Tuesday, the National Park Service released the 2018 schedule for free entrance to national parks and recreation areas that charge fees. The number of days are dropping from 10 to four: Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther … Continue reading National Park Service reduces free entrance days for 2018

Featured image: Skiers on Wachusett Mountain Photos courtesy of Wachusett Mountain According to a report in Friday's issue of the Worcester Business Journal, the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, Massachusetts, plans to open all trails and lifts for skiing by Monday. I checked the ski area's website today, and five of the eight lifts … Continue reading Wachusett Mountain plans to open all ski trails and lifts by Monday, December 18

Featured image: New England Brass Band (photo credit: New England Brass Band) The New England Brass Band performs its last holiday concert of the season today, 7-9 p.m., at the Andover Free Christian Church at 31 Elm Street in Andover, Massachusetts. The 30-piece band, founded in 1988, performs in the British brass band style. Since … Continue reading Free brass holiday concert tonight in Andover, Massachusetts

Photos by Cheryl Landes Since 1929, residents of Peacock Lane in southeast Portland have decorated their homes and yards with hundreds of colored lights and elaborate holiday displays of Nativity scenes, snowmen and women, Santa in a sleigh, and Christmas villages. The tradition returned December 15 and ends New Year’s Eve. Many Portlanders consider Peacock Lane … Continue reading Historic Peacock Lane’s lighted holiday displays begin tonight, end New Year’s Eve in Portland

Featured image: Tables set for Thanksgiving dinner (photo by Cheryl Landes) If you're prefer stuffing yourself over stuffing the turkey, the Oregonian has compiled a long list of restaurants open in Portland on Thanksgiving Day to choose from. Some require reservations, so check on availability before showing up. On the north side of the Columbia … Continue reading Don’t want to cook on Thanksgiving? Portland-Vancouver restaurants got you covered.

Featured image: A view from Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine (photo by Cheryl Landes) This is the third year of REI's #OptOutside campaign, which encourages us to replace shopping on the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) with exploring the outdoors. This year, more states are joining the campaign by offering free … Continue reading Get outside on Black Friday with free state parks admission, events

Featured image: A classic car, a common sight in Cuba, parked in front of La California Restaurant in Havana (photo by Cheryl Landes) Because of lower demand and President Trump's tightened restrictions on US citizens traveling to Cuba, Alaska Airlines announced yesterday that it would end its flights to Cuba on January 22. Read Alaska … Continue reading Alaska Airlines to end flights to Cuba January 22

Featured image: Hello, Vancouver! host Temple Lentz behind the scenes at the September 2017 show (photo credit: Bloom Photography NW) Vancouver, Washington's live home-grown variety show, Hello, Vancouver!, returns tomorrow, November 15, to the Warehouse 23's event space at 100 Columbia Street with an eclectic lineup: Susan Armitage, Washington State University Professor Emeritus and author … Continue reading Turkey bowlers and Unicorn Tamers join the lineup for the next Hello, Vancouver! on November 15

Featured image: A view of Mount Hood on the road to Timberline Lodge and Ski Area (photo by Cheryl Landes) It's official! Ski season is now underway at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area at Mount Hood, an hour's drive southwest of Portland, Oregon. Season passes are now on sale. Prices increase November 27. For more … Continue reading Ski season starts at Timberline Lodge

Photo by Cheryl Landes The Suburban Times reported today that two Metro Parks Tacoma attractions, Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek, are collecting non-perishable food for the Emergency Food Network. In return, they're offering a 50 percent discount on adult and children's admissions through November 19. To get the discount on admission, bring two or … Continue reading Donate food to needy, get half-off admission at two Metro Parks Tacoma attractions through November 19