Camano Island is 55 miles north of downtown Seattle. Take Exit 212 from Interstate 5 and travel west on Highway 532 for seven miles. Cross the Mark Clark Bridge from Stanwood. The island has 52 miles of shoreline.
Visitor information including helpful links for finding lodging, dining or special events is on the Web at www.donothinghere.com.
Stanwood Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.stanwoodchamber.org or 360-629-0562.
April 22, 2004
Sheltered by the peaks that form the heart of the range, the eastern flank of the Olympic Mountains gets less precipitation -- and for some reason less attention -- than the more famous approaches on the west side.
But they're every bit as spectacular, and for springtime hikers hungry to dust off their gear, several trails in the eastern Olympics open early enough to provide a taste of the backcountry, even while many of the state's more popular hikes still are buried under snow.
By Andrew Engelson | April 22, 2004
Birders' Top Spots
Location: Near town of Index, Snohomish County.
Habitat: State-owned 400-foot granite wall with mixed forest at base along North Fork of Skykomish River.
Best seasons for birding: Spring and summer.
Birds commonly seen: Peregrine falcons nest on cliffs. Check the Skykomish River for harlequin ducks and hooded mergansers, and the riparian willow and cottonwood trees for warblers and swallows.
Viewing tip: Walk to the base of the cliff to view peregrine falcons April-August.
April 22, 2004
Take a Walk
Location: Bellevue.
Length: Several miles of trails.
Level of difficulty: Flat to moderately rolling; paved walkways around the visitors center give way to dirt/gravel paths.
By Cathy McDonald | April 22, 2004
CAMANO ISLAND It's tough to compete with Mother Nature.
At last year's Camano Island Studio Tour, held annually over Mother's Day weekend, visitors rushed past artist Diane Hill's studio shouting:
"Is this the place with the gray whales?"
Yes, it was. The migrating pod was frolicking off Hill's bluff that overlooks Saratoga Passage. In previous years, eagles stole the thunder.
By Sherry Stripling | April 22, 2004
Hike of the Week
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, established in 1986, is famed for its waterfalls, and wildflower enthusiasts are drawn by the hundreds of species that grow there. For me, the hiking season feels incomplete without a visit to the gorge.
Wahclella Falls is on the Oregon side and much too long a drive for a short hike if you live in Seattle. Better is to plan a weekend; then the long drive is a scenic pleasure and you can include other hikes and points of interest, such as a visit to the Bonneville Dam Visitor Center (Exit 40, off Interstate 84).
By Karen Sykes | April 22, 2004
