Armchair photo tours: Whitman Mission National Historic Site near Walla Walla

A covered wagon on the Oregon Trail at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site near Walla Walla, Washington Photos by Cheryl Landes In the spring of 1836, five years before anyone traveled west on the Oregon Trail, newlywed couple Dr. Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman left their home in upstate New York for Oregon Country. … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Whitman Mission National Historic Site near Walla Walla

Armchair photo tours: Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve near Arco, Idaho

Photos by Cheryl Landes The Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve near Arco, Idaho, is a surreal landscape of black lava rock, cinder cones, and gray sagebrush. The rock and cinder cones are the remnants of a volcanic eruption more than 2,000 years ago. You can see many signs of the aftermath on a … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve near Arco, Idaho

Armchair photo tours: Sunset at the Presque Isle Lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania

Photos by Cheryl Landes Located on the north shore of Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Presque Isle Lighthouse has been a beacon to mariners on the Great Lakes for almost 150 years. Originally, the lighthouse was designed to be built entirely of cut stone, but when the cost became prohibitive, bricks were … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Sunset at the Presque Isle Lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania

Armchair photo tours: Spring at Kubota Garden in Seattle

Photos by Cheryl Landes Kubota Garden, a hidden gem of beauty and history in of South Seattle, is my favorite garden in the city. It's the work of Fujitaro Kubota, a self-taught gardener who immigrated from Japan to Seattle in 1907. He dreamed of creating gardens that showcased the Northwest in a Japanese manner. In … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Spring at Kubota Garden in Seattle

Armchair photo tours: A spring walk in Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle

Photos by Cheryl Landes The 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum is on the shore of Lake Washington in Seattle's University District. The arboretum is managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle. Trails wind through seven themed gardens, from Azalea Way to the Japanese Garden. On today's tour, we'll spend the … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A spring walk in Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle

Armchair photo tours: Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden in Eugene

Photos by Cheryl Landes Hendricks Park, Eugene's oldest park, is a beautiful retreat at the northern end of the 12-mile Ridgeline Trail near the heart of the city and the University of Oregon campus. This 80-acre forest of Douglas fir trees contains world-renowned rhodendron and native plant gardens. Trails wind through the gardens, attracting walkers … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden in Eugene

Stanwood’s Lights of Christmas ignites holiday cheer with activities for all ages

Colorful reflections of lights and swan on a frozen pond at The Lights of Christmas festival in Stanwood, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) Every December, Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood transforms into a 15-acre holiday park with light displays totaling more than a million lights. But there’s much more to The Lights of Christmas festival … Continue reading Stanwood’s Lights of Christmas ignites holiday cheer with activities for all ages