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WASHINGTON STATE

NEWS: (Please note: Cities and towns follow after the news in alphabetical order.

Northwest Washington Fair - Aug 16-21

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden. Besides great grandstand events (Weird Al, Rick Springfield and Kenny Rogers), carnival rides and delightfully delicious fair food (like the infamous moowich and Dutch poffertjies), there's a brand new 41,000-square-foot equestrian arena.

Dakota Creek Winery Hosts Annual Art Festival

Over 60 artists have signed up to participate in the 3rd annual Art at the Winery Outdoor Arts Festival to be held 10 AM -  5 PM on Saturday, August 21, at the Dakota Creek Winery, 3575 Haynie Road in Blaine. Enjoy wine, art, local musicians, food and a personal tour of the winery and cellaring cave.

Check Out the San Juan islands (below) for Lots to do this Summer

There's always fun things to do in Leavenworth. (For details scroll down to Leavenworth).

Check out the Lake House at Chelan for Golf, Wine & Family Time (Below under Chelan)

Check out the Kitsap Peninsula's Events & Activies, below

BELLINGHAM

Bellingham has earned a renewable energy demonstration project. Solar panels have been installed on the Environmental Learning Center rooftop in Maritime Heritage Park.

Enjoy the water whether it's on a multi-day guided tour or just a relaxing paddle amid wave-carved Chuckanut sandstone walls and inviting coves. For those who seek to linger at a slower pace, set sail for just a few hours or splurge on a multiple-day charter that takes you out and away from it all. Rent a private yacht to see the bay in luxury. Or enjoy a glorious sunset tour of the local coastline. Explore the nearby islands aboard the San Juan Island Commuter ferry, or go international on a day trip from Bellingham to Victoria, B.C.

For the animal enthusiast, gasp at what you'll see on a whale watching cruise that departs from Bellingham daily. Legendary salmon fishing is an exhilarating way to catch your next dinner!

Artistic talent abounds in the Bellingham Mt. Baker region--engaging visual art, captivating theatre productions in breath-taking settings, and unique musical delights!
Western Washington University: home to a nationally recognized outdoor sculpture collection. Free walking tour brochures are available at the visitors center.

More than 60 local farms entice culinary experts to taste and savor the treasures of Whatcom County.

A wide range of berries, apples, pears, hazelnuts, wine, and fresh organic meats and cheeses tantalize and satisfy every taste bud!

A few of the many feature farms:

McPhail Berry Farm in Lynden --

features a kitchen for making your own jam.

Boxx Berry Farm in Ferndale --

offers a grassy playground and picnic area surrounded by towering evergreens - a perfect spot for fresh strawberry shortcake.

Appel Farm --

known nationally for its handmade artisan cheeses. Visitors can tour the operation and watch as cheese is made.

For a full listing of events happening in the Bellingham Mt. Baker region, see the official calendar for Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, 904 Potter Street, Bellingham | WA | 98229,

CHELAN

The Lake House at Chelan for Golf, Wine & Family Time

ALocated in the heart of downtown Chelan with stunning lake views, The Lake House at Chelan offers fully furnished, richly appointed residences and vacation rentals. The Lake House is just steps away from Lake Chelan at 402 West Manson Highway, close to award-winning wineries, golf courses, and outdoor activities including beach volleyball, basketball courts, tennis courts, skateboard parks, walking trails and a water park. The Lake House features a unique combination of services and amenities with team members handling everything from housekeeping and grocery shopping to renting recreation equipment, arranging wine tours and making golf tee times or dinner reservations. The adjoining Pool House is a 4,000 square foot activity center for owners and guests, offering a year-round pool and hot tub, Splash Zone, fitness room, game room, indoor/outdoor kitchen and more. Experience The Lake House Lifestyle, as an owner or a resort guest. For more information, please call (509) 293-5982 or visit www.thelakehousechelan.com.

KITSAP PENINSULA

There's Lots Going on In and Around the Kitsap Peninsula

KPVCB Visitor Information Annex In Port Gamble, WA

Hosted by The Dauntless Book Store. Bike Rentals Available. Enjoy over 4,000 acres of beautiful wooded trails in Port Gamble! Norco bikes, supplied by Perpetual Cycle in Kingston.

Bainbridge Island
Second Friday 6 to 8 p.m.

Old Town Silverdale
Second Friday 6 to 8 p.m.

Downtown Bremerton
First Friday 5 to 8 p.m.

Port Orchard
Third Friday 4 to 7 p.m.

Hi-Lo's 15th Street Café in Bremerton

-- is a great place anytime of the day.  Organic coffee from Poulsbo's Grounds for Change, funky atmosphere (don't miss the disco ball in the bathroom and the thermos museum), stylish home cooking, yum! Did we mention the bakery next door?

Ready to boogie?
Head to MoonDogs, Too in downtown Port Orchard, Friday nights starting at 11 and dance the night away with DJ Joe Frank.

Downtown Poulsbo is where you'll need at least a day to spend shopping, but if you only have an hour or so, don't miss Les Saisons. There is so much eye candy at this boutique, you'll be staying a while.

Find farm-fresh products
Bremerton's Fresh Local serves as the link between local sustainably grown and produced food and the consumer. Fresh meat, organic grains, jams, soups, cheeses, you'll find it all!

Take a stroll down Memory Lane with Kitsap History Museum! The First Friday program offers free admission, demonstrations and live presentations.

Get an armchair view! Follow the link to Mike Barnet's Nu Americas video series about life around the Kitsap Peninsula. Enjoy!

Great Peninsula Future's Festival 
July 31 - August 1 -
Silverdale Vendor Sign Up

Kitsap Rugby Football Union now recruiting!

Enjoy a relaxing weekend retreat and take a walk in the woods along the stunning Clear Creek Trail (thank you, Tex) located in sunny Silverdale. It's a perfect time to see the flowers and trees in bloom and hear birds sing. Visit the Kitsap Audubon Society to learn more about the 350-plus species that call the Kitsap Peninsula home.

The Kitsap Peninsula is conveniently located on "The Natural Side of Puget Sound™ and easily reached by one of our famous ferries, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, sailboat, yacht, seaplane and, of course, by eco-friendly bicycle or kayak! For more info, VisitKitsap.com!
                                                                                        
www.VisitKitsap.com  ·   Official tourism site for the Kitsap Peninsula

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

Friday & Saturday 8 p.m. - Through August 14, 2010
Sunday Matinees 2 p.m. - August 1, 8, & 15
One of the most famous plays of the modern theatre by one of our most celebrated American playwrights. Amanda Wingfield, a faded remnant of southern gentility lives with her daughter, Laura, and son, Tom, in a dingy apartment in St Louis. Eager to see Laura married and cared for by some "nice young man," she prevails upon Tom to bring a gentleman caller home for dinner, Humorous and poignant, told beautifully in William's poetic language.

Season tickets give theater-goers six shows for the price of five: $72 for adults, $60 for seniors, students, and military. Ticket buyers who make their purchase before Sept. 1 will receive an additional bonus of two complimentary tickets to any of the season's shows. Those purchasing season tickets after Sept. 1 will receive one additional complimentary ticket. 

Jewel Box Theatre is located in downtown Poulsbo at 225 Iverson St. To purchase tickets call (360) 697-3183 or email jewelboxtickets@gmail.com..

The Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau is located at 9481 Silverdale Way - Suite 281 | Silverdale | WA | 98383

NEW - Port Gamble's "Night on the Town"

Every First Friday - 4:00PM - 8:00PM
Businesses in Downtown Port Gamble are open late. Local Art Walk. Plus a goumet dinner offered each month at the General Store.

360.297.8074 for more information or to make your reservations.

Performances by the Poulsbo Leikarringen Dancers throughout the day. Don't miss this wonderful culinary adventure into the Norwegian Culture. 
Price: $18/adults, $10/Children 10 and under
For more information call (360) 779-5209
www.poulsbosonsofnorway.com

is a convenient walk from the Bremerton ferry terminal.

The museum collects, preserves, and interprets the naval heritage of the Pacific Northwest for the benefit of the U.S. Navy and general public. It offers a variety of exhibits along with a gift shop, children's area, and research library. The museum recently celebrated its one-year anniversary in historic Building 50 with the opening of a new exhibit and the anticipation of more to come.

The Puget Sound Navy Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1954 as the Shipyard Naval Museum. A dedicated group of volunteers ran the museum for the first fifty-four years of its existence. In the fall of 2007, the museum moved into a new building. It became an official U.S. Navy museum in March of 2008, and three professional staff members were hired.
    
Starting with approximately 600 objects, the museum's collection now numbers more than 12,000. Today, visitors can explore the naval history of the region and experience life as a sailor through exhibits about the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the USS John C. Stennis, and much more. The museum's most recent exhibit, Teamwork, Dedication, & Skill: PSNS Shop 31, highlights the tools and equipment used and jobs performed by the men and women of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's machine shop. The exhibit utilizes historic and contemporary photographs, documents, and objects from the shop.
   
The museum is located in historic Building 50 adjacent to the Bremerton ferry terminal, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and the Bremerton Harborside Park. Built in 1896, Building 50 served as the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's first Administrative Office. The 114-year old building underwent a city-funded $6 million renovation after being moved to its current location.
       
The Puget Sound Navy Museum is open to the public: Monday through Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm and Sunday, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. The museum is closed on Tuesdays during the winter months (October through April).

Admission is free and parking is available in free two-hour spots or paid parking lots in downtown Bremerton. For more information call (360)479-7447t

Relax & Refuel: Need a quick getaway? Overnight accommodation for one night, $40 gas card. Sunday thru Thursday - restrictions apply

where each guest is treated like family. Active Military Discount! 

Where hips meets luxury . . . with a splash of history. Overlooking a 160-slip marina that is only steps away, the Inn offers a vast array of vistas and activities, including our 3 story, world class fine art gallery, as well as our new day spa. While you're here enjoy the Stay & Dine Package, overnight accommodations with Dinner and Appetizer for two starting at just $199 plus tax.

LEAVENWORTH

Some of the best white water in the state for extreme rafters.  Start in the Icicle River flowing into Leavenworth or take the Wenatchee River running from the Bavarian town and it’s Class IV, famous for it huge wave.  There are 8 rafting companies ready to give you the thrill of a lifetime.  For those not so adventurous we have scenic float trips where you can watch deer, identify birds, see animal tracks and if your lucky see a beaver and its baby in the water.

Trail users will find about 2,500 miles of recreation trails available for hiking, horse use, trail biking, and mountain pedal bike use. The winter months also bring opportunities for cross-country ski trips along developed, signed trail systems. Some trails are open to a variety of uses, while others are restricted to non-motorized use alone

Make Leavenworth your base camp for Ski spots, mountain biking, kayaking-- biking, hiking, rock climbing, and mountaineering a stone's throw away. Enjoy our Bike & Brew festival an IMBA sanctioned XC bike race, a rigorous 8.6 mile race with 1,800 feet per lap. A beer festival follows. Enjoy 5 and 10k runs, or our annual Hog Loppet—a 30k ski trek. Chicks on Sticks is a 8k ski  race for women gently competing against each other. A portion of the proceeds are donated to breast cancer research. 

Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum is the largest nutcracker museum in North America, tour the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery and watch the return of the salmon, visit nearby Rocky Reach Dam and learn how Leavenworth went from a dying mining/lumber town to one of the top destinations for 2.5 million visitors a year.

Barn Beach Reserve

Visit Barn Beach Reserve—it is the home of an environmental learning center, an arts facility, and the Upper Valley Museum at Leavenworth. The Reserve and an adjacent city park combine to create a protected greenbelt of more than 50 acres of mature, streamside forest that includes Blackbird Island, a popular stop on Audubon's Great Washington Birding Trail.

The Reserve already has begun sponsoring educational programs and, when building renovation is completed in 2007, will provide a first class visitor experience with exhibits and programming that connect science and nature, the arts, and cultural history in the Greater Wenatchee Valley.

Secluded cabins where the river lulls you to sleep, lodges where you have to go up by Snowcat in the winter—Mountain Home Lodge is located above  a secluded 20 acre meadow overlooking the Cascades, and surrounded by forest www.mthome.com  to experience a winter wonderland. Another incredible skiing opportunity where they have to trek you in—Scottish Lakes: www.scottishlakes.com/newlook/Home.shtml all are available a stones throw from Leavenworth. There are over 2,500 miles of trails where you can enjoy incredible alpine scenery and leave civilization behind.

Visit Leavenworth’s 8 wine tasting rooms and 9 local wineries.  You can go by limo, or drive yourself. Gourmet winemaker dinners are also available.  Visit the restaurant showcased in Culinary Travels—Pavz, Alley Café—featured in NW Best Places, Visconti’s featured in Wine Spectator magazine.  Where else can you enjoy Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Thai, German, American and vegetarian choices within blocks of each other.

Mountain Home Lodge

 www.mthome.com/dining.html offers Your dinner begins each evening with fine wines and tantalizing appetizers such as wild mushroom strudel, basil crostini or tomato kalamata bruschetta. This is followed by an elegantly served three course dinner at your private table, featuring Chef Thomas Obregon's seasonal selection of such entrees as aged Angus beef tenderloin with delicately whipped horseradish, fresh wild salmon with seasonal beurre blanc or apple-wood smoked breast of duck with Oregon marionberry compote; preceded by fresh Lodge baked bread and a delicious soup or salad. Your dinner is completed with an exciting dessert accompanied by our delicious Caffe Umbria coffees or selection of fine teas.

Sleeping Lady:

http:www.sleepinglady.com/dining  The freshly prepared food, with vegetarian choices, fish, and lavish desserts, enhance the opportunity for relaxed creativity in the Kingfisher dining hall.

Mountain Springs Lodge

—Enjoy gourmet dining in a mountain setting by a rock fireplace in the Beaver Creek Lodge. www.mtsprings.com/dining.html

SAN JUAN ISLANDS

San Juan Islands -- Washington's Newest Scenic Byway

Joining vacation spots like Myrtle Beach, S.C., Chesapeake Bay, Quebec City and the Glaciers of Alaska, the San Juan Islands are #14 on a list of 31 places to vacation to this summer as named by the New York Times. "Take in the stunning beauty of this popular tourist spot - an archipelago of more than 450 tiny islands roughly halfway between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. The 45-minute ride between San Juan Island and Orcas Island has been described by a writer for the travel section as "the most beautiful trip in the entire Washington State ferry system." 

Washington State has just conferred official Scenic Byway designation upon the ferry routes of the San Juan Islands and the rural roads of Orcas and San Juan Islands. The ferry routes follow the marine waterway system established originally as the canoe routes for the Native people of the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Coast Salish in this region. The Salish Sea surrounding the San Juan Islands is named after them. Now their historic canoe routes, still being paddled during the annual Canoe Journey each summer, are Washington State's first Scenic Byway along a marine route.

San Juan Island's Sculpture Park

Over 100 sculptures and 19 acres of nature trails await visitors. Open Daily - dawn to dusk. Donation Box and trail maps are at the park entrance.

For more information call 360-378-8887.

SEATTLE

For information about Seattle events year-round, contact the Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau, One Convention Place, 701 Pike Street, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98101; 206-461-5800; or check web site www.seeseattle.org.

New Heritage Guides Offer Visitors a Look at Historic Seattle and King County

History buffs traveling to Seattle and King County now have three new, free destination heritage guides to help with trip planning. The guides highlight the history of the area via the themes of maritime, agriculture and industry and feature more than 70 sites, including historic landmarks, museums, festivals and scenic drives. Guides contain historical descriptions, addresses and GPS coordinates for featured sites. Additionally, five featured sites per guide have audio clips that are accessible via listed telephone numbers.

The destination heritage guides are available at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Colman Dock on the Seattle waterfront and at the Seattle Visitor Center and Concierge Services desk, located at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle. The guides are also downloadable at www.destinationheritage.org.

For more information on Seattle contact the Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau
One Convention Place | 701 Pike Street, Suite 800 | Seattle, WA 98101
Tel: 206.461.5800 Fax: 206.461.5855 | Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm
mailto:pr@visitseattle.org or check web site visitseattle.org

Space Needle to Join Seattle CityPass

Courtesy CityPass, Inc. CityPass has announced the addition of the Space Needle to its Seattle CityPass attraction book. The Space Needle joins other Seattle attractions such as the Pacific Science Center, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo and an option ticket with the choice of visiting the Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame or the Museum of Flight. The collection of passes is priced 46 percent less than if each ticket was purchased separately. Effective April 1, adult Seattle CityPasses are $54, while youth passes (ages 4-12) are $39.

Seattle CityPass may be purchased at Seattle’s Visitor Center & Concierge Services located in the upper Pike Street lobby of the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, at any of the included attractions or online atwww.citypass.com/city/seattle.html.

The Woodland Park Zoo has a new Humboldt penguin exhibit. A colony of 20 endangered Humboldt penguins moved into a 17,000-square-foot exhibit that replicates shoreline cliffs and features viewable nesting burrows and rocky tide pools. Special windows and acrylic walls allow spectators underwater vantage points. The exhibit also features crashing waves and a beach that mimics the desert coast of Punta San Juan, Peru, home of the largest colony of wild Humboldt penguins.

As part of Woodland Park Zoo’s commitment to “green” practices, the exhibit has been designed with sustainable technologies, using geothermal energy and a filtration system that will save three million gallons of water and 75 million BTUs of energy each year. The exhibit is also designed to contain and recycle all storm-water runoff, preventing the pollution of natural resources like Puget Sound.

For more information on the Humboldt penguin exhibit or Woodland Park Zoo, visit www.zoo.org.

Featuring a Momentasaurus skeleton measuring 50 feet long and 18 feet tall, Colossal Fossils: Dinosaurs Around the World will hit the big-time. The exhibit includes fossils, skeletons, eggs and artifacts that have helped scientists figure out how the dinosaurs looked, moved and lived. In Seattle for the first time, this 12,000-square-foot exhibition provides a glimpse millions of years into the past, to a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

The exhibit coincides with the IMAX feature Dinosaurs Alive 3D, a three-dimensional film where paleontologists educate and 3-D computer-generated dinosaurs entertain.

For more information, visit www.pacsci.org/colossalfossils or call (206) 443-2001.

Seattle's waterfront is undergoing major changes which are nearing completion, including opening of a remodeled and expanded Seattle Aquarium. The project included replacing the pilings that support the aquarium's primary pier, an 18,000 square-foot expansion to the existing building, a completely new exterior and the addition of a 40-by-18-foot, 55,000-lb. viewing window into the new 120,000-gallon showcase exhibit. The exhibit, called Window on Washington Waters, showcases the salmon, sea anemones and other sea life native to Neah Bay at the northwestern point of Washington, an area with some of the state's most diverse saltwater environments.

For more information, visit www.seattleaquarium.org or call (206) 386-430

Although Seattle is known for having the most pleasure boats in the country per capita, not every Seattleite owns one. For locals and visitors who want to experience Seattle's boating culture firsthand, but are not ready to put a down payment on their own vessel, Seattle Ferry Service offers fun, quirky tours of Lake Union. The narrated tours take visitors around the lake, providing humorous insight into the area's past and present, along with views of the famous houseboats and colorful waterfront. The best option for out-of-towners is the Sunday Ice Cream Tour, departing from Fremont every hour on Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in the summer. The tour costs $10 for adults, $6 for children and for a few dollars more, the crew serves up ice cream, soda, coffee, tea and their signature chocolate root beer float.

For more information, visit www.seattleferryservice.com or call (206) 284-2828.

Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, One Convention Place | 701 Pike Street, Suite 800 | Seattle, WA 98101; Tel: 206.461.5800 Fax: 206.461.5855 | Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm

The Seattle Art Museum unvieled a 118,000-square-foot addition to its downtown Seattle campus, allowing greater display of the museum's permanent collections of contemporary, African, Oceanic, Northwest Coast, American, European and other art. Designed by Allied Works Architecture, the expanded museum offers 70 percent more gallery space, new public space, a new restaurant, expanded museum store and infrastructure for future growth. The addition will also feature two floors of free public space which will include a major installation of Cai-Guo Qiang's Inopportune: Stage I and Illusion, featuring nine actual-size cars suspended from the museum's ceiling. .

The Seattle Art Museum was founded in 1933 and features three locations throughout Seattle. In addition to its downtown campus, the museum operates the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park. The sculpture park, an 8.5-acre public sculpture garden, opened in January on the city's central waterfront in downtown Seattle.

For more public information, visit www.seattleartmuseum.org

Olympic Sculpture Park opened to the public, unifying the Belltown neighborhood in downtown and the Seattle waterfront. The nine-acre sculpture park features a 2,500-foot, descending, z-shaped pedestrian path connecting downtown Seattle with a beach on the waterfront. With sweeping views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains, the path takes visitors past sculptures and major works by world-renowned artists such as Richard Serra, Alexander Calder and Mark di Suvero.

The park also features the PACCAR Pavilion, a glass and steel structure with space for art, performances and educational programs, as well as the Gates Amphitheatre, an outdoor structure that will host performances and films.

Open to the public and free of charge, the Olympic Sculpture Park was commissioned by the Seattle Art Museum to create a green space in the heart of the city for the public to enjoy.

For more information, check web site www.seattleartmuseum.org.

The Flying Heritage Collection (FHC) of rare, historic aircraft and artifacts will relocate to Paine Field, 20 miles north of Seattle, this summer. Formerly located in rural Arlington, Wash., Seattle investor Paul G. Allen’s collection of operational WWII and Cold War aircraft will be housed in a hangar adjacent to the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour. The move will allow the collection room to grow and increase public access to the vintage aircraft. The close proximity to the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour will make Paine Field a one-stop destination for visitors to experience the past, present and future of aviation.

More than just relics from a bygone era, the aircraft in the FHC are kept in flying condition and are flown semi-regularly during the summer months to keep them operational and allow the public a chance to see them in action.

For reservations with the FHC tour coordinator, call 360-435-2172 Thursday through Saturday between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Pacific time. For more information, check web site www.flyingheritage.com or call 360-435-2172.

TACOMA

Amidst Tacoma's rejuvenated downtown, the new Hotel Murano offers a hotel experience unseen internationally. With glass gathered from international artists; high design by corsostaicoff; luxury amenities, such as an iPod Menu and Spiritual Menu; and an ideal location, the Murano quenches one's thirst for art and comfort. From its exterior entrance where Costas Varotsos ˆ internationally renowned artist ˆ has created a large-scale masterpiece of glass called "Orizon" (horizon in Greek) conveying a relationship to the horizon and water to the interior where art is deeplyintegrated in function and design, the hotel will stimulate anyone's artistic sense.

More than 45 artists from around the world are showcased in the hotel from the lobby to the guest rooms making every step in the hotel an artful journey. As its intent, the Murano will educate and inspire guests with its pool of international talent and individual story of each artist.

On every guest room floor, the visitor is greeted with a highlighted artist, his or her story and a final masterpiece. A walk down the corridor and into the guest rooms relays the inspiration and process for the featured piece of art. The most creative and innovative glass artists were handpicked for the hotel from the very established to the burgeoning talent, including: Rick Beck (U.S.), Martin Blank (U.S.), Peter Bremers (Holland), Lucio Bubacco (Murano, Italy), Anna Carlgren (Sweden), Dale Chihuly (U.S.), Cobi Cockburn
(Australia), Steffen Dam (Demark), Maurizio Donzelli (Italy), Miriam de Fiore (Italy), Alberto Gambale (Italy), Susan Taylor Glasgow (U.S.), Allison Kinnaird (Scotland), Steve Klein (U.S.), Karen LaMonte (Czech Republic), Dante Marioni (U.S.), Massimo Micheluzzi (Murano, Italy), Tobias Mohl (Denmark), Andrea Morucchio (Murano, Italy), William Morris (U.S.), Catherine Newell (U.S.), Masayo Odahashi (Japan), Pat Owens (U.S.), Flo Perkins (U.S.), Peter Powning (Canada), Narcissus Quagliata (Mexico), Orfeo Quagliata (Mexico), Seth Randal (U.S.), Kirstie Rea (Australia), Ross Richmond (U.S.), Bruno Romanelli (Italy), Davide Salvadore (Murano, Italy), Deborah Sandersley (U.K.), Preston Singletary (U.S.), Vibeke Skov (Denmark), April Surgent (Australia), Cappy Thompson (U.S.), Jessica Townsend (U.K.), Bertil Vallien (Sweden), Costas Varotsos (Greece), Janice Vitkovsky (Australia), Janusz Walentynowicz (Poland), Richard Whiteley (Australia), Hiroshi Yamano (Japan), Brent Kee Young (U.S.), Dana Zamecnikova (Czech Republic) and Toots Zynsky (U.S.).

Sophistication meets warmth with flat-screen televisions and iPod docking stations for sleek lounging, glass-topped vanities; custom, hand-blown bedside lamps; only-the-most luxurious beds and scrumptiously self-indulgent linens, along with clean contrasting colors ˆ providing an artful and comforting experience after a long day of travel.

To further capture the artful intent of the hotel, the Murano will publish a book telling the individual stories of every artist featured that will be available to guests and visitors alike.

With BITE - the hotel's restaurant - and lobby bar, the hotel hopes to be a center of social and business activity in the Tacoma area. The downtown Hotel Murano is located steps away from the museum district and the theater district, and immediately adjacent to the Tacoma Convention Center. It is only 20 minutes from Sea-Tac International Airport and 15 more to Seattle.

About Hotel Murano

Like its sister hotel in Portland, Ore., the Hotel Lucia (Travel + Leisure's Top 500 Hotels in the World and Condé Nast Traveler's Top 100 Hotels in the World) or the Hotel deLuxe (Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List and Top 100 Hotels in the World) in Portland, Ore., the Hotel Murano (1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, Wash., 98402 - 253.238.8000) will be unique in the Northwest with its art-inspired design and magnified focus on personal guest services. In addition to the Hotel Lucia and the Hotel deLuxe, the Hotel
Murano's family (www.provenancehotels.com) also includes the Hotel Max in Seattle, Wash., opened in October of 2005 and the Hotel Preston in Nashville, Tenn., opened in March of 2004.

For more information in regards to the opening of the hotel, photography or to visit model rooms, please contact Dina Nishioka for details at 503.295.2122 x223. Also, visit
www.hotelmuranotacoma.com for updates.

WENATCHEE VALLEY (Central Washington)

Wenatchee Valley Ice Age Floods Geological Trail

For a place that 'rocks,' head to the Wenatchee Valley Ice Age Floods Geological Trail. Here, you'll find some of the extraordinary geological features created by the Lake Missoula Floods that washed over the area approximately 13,000-18,000 years ago. The entire terrain -- hillsides, cliffs, valleys and canyons -- seen as you drive through the area, and created over millions of years, was dramatically reshaped by an unusual series of events which took place during the last Ice Age. This drivable geological trail is self-guided and takes in the remnants from the Glacial Lake Missoula floods, which scoured the central Washington landscape thousands of years ago, leaving the awe-inspiring geology visible to this day. You'll be following the route illustrated in the Trail map showing each of the 40 sightseeing stops along the way. The trail is divided into two routes on the map; a 30-mile loop around the Wenatchee Valley that lies within the other, a 164-mile loop around central Washington.

Along with the Ice Age Floods came the Ice Age hunters and the subsequent discovery of a cache of enormous spear points and knives known as Clovis Points in May 1987 in the Wenatchee Valley. The cache consisted of 69 artifacts within a contained area and, in July 2006, six of these pieces will be shown in the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.

For more information, contact the Wenatchee Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, 25 North Wenatchee Avenue, Suite C-111, Wenatchee, WA 98801, or check web site www.wenatcheevalley.org. 

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