Northwest US Travel

In addition to all the special 50th anniversary events and activities taking place this year, here are two more huge reasons why a visit to Seattle Center should be high on your list for 2012:

• Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs - opening at the Pacific Science Center on May 24, this exhibit concludes it's US travels with over 6 months in Seattle. With many more artifacts than the famous King Tut exhibition of the 1970s, this exhibit features over 100 objects from King Tut's tomb and from ancient Egyptian sites spanning 2,000 years of history.
• Chihuly Garden and Glass - opening adjacent to the Space Needle on May 21, this brand new museum/garden facility includes an exhibition hall, outdoor garden plaza, and a 40-foot-tall glass house, all designed to showcase Dale Chihuly's colorful glass art installations.

Long in development, the expansive Lemay-America's Car Museum will hold it's grand opening on Saturday, June 2. Opening day festivities include a concert and slot car racing as well as a free outdoor car show. Lemay-America's Car Museum (ACM) will focus on the automobile's role in shaping American society. ACM's collection includes cars that are historically-significant as well as motor vehicles that are just plain cool. The four-story museum building can house up to 350 cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including not only those from the famous Lemay collection but special exhibits and restoration projects. Other ACM facilities that visitors can enjoy include an educational center and library, a 3.5-acre show field, a theatre, a café, and a banquet hall and meeting facilities. The 9-acre Lemay-America's Car Museum campus is located next to the Tacoma Dome.

Washington State's city of Vancouver lies across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. One of the earliest settlements in the Northwest, Vancouver is rich in interesting history. The city is surrounded by gorgeous scenery, from the mighty Columbia River to nearby Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. Many of Vancouver's best attractions and activities involve history and outdoor activity. My picks for fun things to do in Vancouver include a visit to the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and a walk along a riverfront trail.

Seaside, Oregon, one of the oldest tourist destinations in the Pacific Northwest, is a fun place for families or for the young at heart. There's a huge sandy beach, lots of opportunities for play, and tasty treats of all kinds. While in Seaside you can stroll the Promenade, fly a kite on the beach, feed the seals at the Seaside Aquarium, or learn a bit about Lewis and Clark history. Here are my recommendations for fun things to do in Seaside.

You won't have any problem finding something fun to do in Helena, Montana's capital city. Whether you're interested in outdoor activities, historic attractions, or arts and culture, Helena has a lot to offer. The highlights include Montana's Museum, the Archie Bray Foundation, and Mount Helena City Park. I've also included a list of fun things to do that are within a short drive of Helena.

The Seattle region is home to a number of great outdoor concert venues, with more being added all the time.  Many of these amphitheaters and parks spaces offer evening outdoor concert series during the summer months. Old favorites like Woodland Park Zoo, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Marymoor Park have been joined by outdoor spaces at Tulalip and Snoqualmie Casinos. As I gathered together the concert lineups for each of these venues - well over 60 performances - I was surprised to see that there was very little overlap between venues. You'll find everything from adult contemporary to classic rock to heavy metal.

The annual opening of boating season in Seattle is always celebrated with a number of special events, including a boat parade on Lake Union. The 2012 parade - "Porthole to Paradise" - will include all the usual yachts, sailboats, and working boats along with one truly unique addition. This year, a 26-foot statue of Anubis will be a part of the parade. The huge Anubis will be arriving in Seattle as a part of the upcoming Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, opening at the Pacific Science Center on May 24.  Anubis will be transported aboard a 72-foot long barge through the parade route, which starts at Portage Bay and ends at Webster Point. Following the parade, the great Anubis will travel to another location in Seattle, where he will hang out during the run of the King Tut exhibit, May 24 through January 6, 2013.  Seattle's Pacific Science Center will be the final destination of King Tut's treasures before the priceless artifacts retire to Egypt permanently. I look forward to the parade photos featuring Anubis and the Space Needle!
(photo: Anubis and Statue of Liberty with Tug from 2010 NYC exhibition ©Chris Lee)

There's something about lounging back on a lawn under the stars, enjoying live music with your favorite beverage in hand, that is quintessentially "summer."  The Northwest is blessed with many amazing venues for outdoor summer concerts, including Northern Quest Casino's Pend Oreille Pavilion.

Here's what's on the 2012 summer schedule for outdoor concerts at Northern Quest Casino, located near Spokane, Washington:

• June 15 - John Fogerty
• July 13 - Ringo Starr
• July 19 - Earth, Wind & Fire
• July 22 - Kelly Clarkson
• July 29 - Journey, Pat Benatar, and Loverboy
• August 4 - Darius Rucker
• August 16 - Sugarland
• September 9 - Heart

Tickets to the outdoor summer concerts at Northern Quest Casino are on sale now.

It has always struck me as funny that the Oregon Zoo is in Washington Park. Which is in Portland. Oregon. In any case, every summer the Oregon Zoo puts on a series of outdoor concerts that are always extremely popular. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster or at the zoo box office.

Here are the Zoo Summer Concerts scheduled for 2012 at Portland's Oregon Zoo:

• June 22 - The B-52s
• June 24 - Jimmy Cliff
• June 29 - Leo Kottke with Jake Shimabukuro
• July 1 - kd lang
• July 19 - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• July 20 - The Head & The Heart
• July 22 - Ziggy Marley
• August 4 - Johnny Clegg with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• August 10 - Supertramp's Roger Hodgson
• August 11 - Melissa Etheridge
• August 17 - Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang
• August 18 - Pink Martini
• August 19 - Pink Martini
• August 24 - Trombone Shorty with Robert Randolph
• August 26 - Rosanne Cash with Madeleine Peyroux
• September 14 - Chicago

When it comes to Northwest travel and recreation guide books, there are three distinct types - those that serve as a reference directory, those that recommend specific destinations and itineraries, and those that rate accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. Before you buy a Northwest guide book, it's wise to familiarize yourself with these types in order to make the best choice. To help you out, I've put together some guidelines and descriptions of these different types of Northwest travel and recreation guide books.