STORIES

A local super fruit salal contains compounds high in antioxidants that are full of health benefits, such as decreasing inflation, promoting cardiovascular health as well as a myriad of nutritional benefits.

Little Home Lake lies on a rugged and remote ridge tucked between some of the highest and most impressive peaks in the Olympic Mountains. Fed by springs and surrounded by clusters of subalpine firs and flowering meadows, Home’s setting is quite serene. But cast your attention beyond its placid waters and be blown away by the staggering beauty of its neighboring mountains—especially of 7,756-foot Mount Constance, whose sheer western rock face towers above the lake.

A year after the Bear Gulch Fire swept through the forests above Lake Cushman, a walk into Staircase in the Olympic National Park reveals something unexpected among the blackened trees: life. Lots of it.

Hood Canal looks like a bay but it technically isn't. It's a fjord, which is a long, deep arm of saltwater carved out by glaciers during the last ice age. The water is cold and rich, the kind of cold that is very good for shellfish, which is why Mason County has become one of the best places in world to dig clams, eat oysters, mussels and geoduck. The farms and  tideflats along the canal have supplied restaurants and raw bars for decades, and recreational harvesting has been a local tradition for even longer.

For many people, above the surface, sea lions and seals blur together. Both are sleek marine mammals with whiskered faces, dark eyes, and the unnerving ability to look adorable and deeply competent at the same time. Both haul out on rocks, beaches, docks, and floating logs around the Salish Sea. Both vanish into the water with enviable grace. But spend any real time with them, especially underwater, and their differences become obvious.

Fjordin Crossin embraces an old world Scandinavian tradition of the spirit “aquavit”, with a series of unique events at the beach in Hoodsport, WA – a nordic parade, a barrel crossing, a family-friendly paddle race, drinks, vendors and food and, after the tide pushes the celebration back to the shore, the after-party continues on the streets of Hoodsport.

Cooking Around the Sound is a visceral celebration of the Pacific Northwest, bringing elevated, regionally-inspired cuisine to the rugged fringes of the Washington coast. Led by creator/chef Daniel, each dish is a tribute to the landscape, crafted on driftwood-strewn beaches and islands accessible only by kayak.

Bluegrass From the Forest returns for its 21st year bringing another weekend of national bands  campground picking circles, late-night jams, and family celebration to Shelton. Book now, early bird ticket pricing is available until June 20.