Northwest Magazines

EDITORS NOTES

If you're tired of the heat by now and looking for a wet and wild weekend with the family, consider heading to Great Wolf Lodge, where writer Tony Dear spent a terrifying 34 seconds on a water ride called the Howlin' Tornado and then, scared out of his mind … went back for more. Located in Grand Mound, Washington, just south of Olympia, the lodge boasts water features for every member of the family. As Tony says of the Howlin' Tornado, "It will arouse parts of your brain that have lain dormant for years. It will activate nerves long since hardened. You will scream your excitement at the top of your lungs and immediately rejoin the line, eager for another go." I don't know about you, but I’d like to check it out!

As you may remember, I was hard up for sunshine when last we chatted. Sometimes the cure for that particular craving is to leave western Oregon, where by June we're usually sprouting moss behind the ears. As promised, I did head up to Alaska's Inside Passage, where I enjoyed an incredible trip and numerous days of sunshine on an intimate luxury adventure cruise with American Safari Cruises. It was incredible … and I'll tell you all about it in the January issue.

And many more days of sunshine were enjoyed just a few weeks ago during my road trip on Highway 97 in central Washington, where blue skies are the rule 300 days per year. This region lies in the rain shadow of the Cascades and is naturally a desert, dotted with sagebrush and pines. But with numerous rivers running through it, it boasts not only plenty of sunshine, but plenty of water for irrigation. Add to that its fertile volcanic soil and you have the perfect combination for agriculture and viticulture. Traveling along the highway, you'll pass verdant orchards and vineyards as well as some really fun towns that combine Old West culture with New West amenities such as great wine tasting, coffee shops, galleries, and museums.

Also in this issue, you'll find two stories on the Palouse, an area farther to the east in Washington's Whitman County and Idaho's Latah County. Rolling farmland, planted with wheat, lentils, peas, and beans, becomes a colorful patchwork quilt. Writer Carol Price Spurling offers suggestions for great places to eat, galleries to visit, and historic landmarks to see.

And last but not least, check out our stories on the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival in British Columbia (also on Highway 97 in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley) and our southern Oregon food tour, featuring delicious cheeses, chocolates, and wines. And in the Travel Green department, Lee Juillerat unravels some of the mysteries of organic wine.

Enjoy!

—Rosemary Camozzi

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