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Day Tripping Robert Guyott


Here you are, sitting around on a Friday evening, reading your favorite trade publication (wink wink, nudge nudge) and that same old mantra keeps ringing through your head “I don’t want to be a shut-in, but I am afraid of bedbugs.” Well, friend, this is the article for you. The incredible display of knowledge and creativity provided below are guideposts designed to assist you in becoming a Day Tripper. They can’t fix your life, nor will they deal with your (overnight) commitment issues. Days are measured in 24-hour increments and as of this writing, only weekends are being considered. If you are unemployed or retired and able to travel on weekdays it is pretty much the same thing except less crowded, less expensive and ultimately more enjoyable. Work kills, folks. To be an effective Day Tripper you need to consider the following before embarking on a life of instant gratification:


1. Do I enjoy driving? (The Where)


2. Do I like activities such as hiking and fishing, or maybe just a day of shopping? (The What) and


3. Am I broke? (The How).


Here is where I was going to quote a song by the Beatles (they were popular ages ago) entitled Day Tripper. Turns out the song has nothing to do with day trips and is probably not appropriate for a trade magazine. Moving on. To Lou Reed!


“Just a perfect day, problems all left alone, Weekenders on our own, It’s such fun.” For the sake of the story, don’t read the rest of the lyrics.


The Where: It has been stated that one can get from Seattle to the coast in 3 hours, Leavenworth in 4 and the Tri-Cities in, well, who really cares. Heck, you can get to Glacier in 9 hours. My point is, you can cover a lot of ground in a day. Your love of driving as part of the adventure really matters here. One of the best daytrips (read, my favorite) is to drive around the peninsula, hit a few beaches, ride a ferry and try out one of Washington’s fantastic brewpubs. This trip is 75% driving and takes from morning to evening if you do it right. Hate driving? Try a sandy beach park in Everett that one must take a small people ferry to enjoy. Jetty Beach offers ferry service during the summer and is a great place to take the kids. During non-summer months (the other 10) try driving to the coast, taking a ferry to Point Defiance Zoo, get lost at Discovery Park or go antiquing in Edmonds.


The How: The most beautiful parts of our great state are enjoyed for free*. Public parks, National Forests, walking trails and waterfronts abound. Have a little cash? Spend $30 on an annual Discover Pass and you have access to hundreds of state parks for day use. Spend time on Puget Sound, a local river or one of thousands of lakes with a packed lunch, your favorite person or pet whenever you want. When is the last time you walked the waterfront or shopped the public market? When the tourists leave, its’s not too terrible. Day tripping the North Cascades Loop is a long trip (about 440 miles) but is beautiful and you see a lot of the state. Remember, the road is open seasonally so check for closures. Have an electric vehicle? The loop is now fully electrified. Don’t have a car? No problem. There are plenty of car rental opportunities located near you or for a tank of gas and lunch you can probably convince a friend to drive. If you love the outdoors, utilize your day trips to scout places for longer stays.


Eager, hungry for the road, you are now ready to embark on a Day Tripper lifestyle. There are hundreds of things to do in this great state of ours and many of them can be done in 24 hours or less. So, plan ahead (or don’t), gas up and hit the road. If you are not having fun, you are doing it wrong.


*The author understands nothing is free.


The What: This is something you should figure out on your own. What do you enjoy? Brewpubs, wineries and/or distilleries? There are hundreds within an hour of your home. Like fishing, alone? Try one of the forks of the Snoqualmie river. Beautiful, easy to get to and solitary (most of the time). Prefer a more social fishing adventure? Get up early and drive to Westport or Ilwaco. Schedule a charter in advance, invite some friends and fun will be had by all. Hiking is easy in Washington, there are trails everywhere. From the easy access Burke Gillman to a day on the Summerland hike in Mt. Rainier National Park there is something for you. Or is a day of shopping just what you need? Mega-shopper? Try the outlet malls in Marysville or Centralia. Or, check out the boutique shops in La Connor (eat breakfast at Calico Cupboard) or Leavenworth (Munchen Haus for brats).


www.wscai.org


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