It’s time to talk about some more reasons why I like summer in the Pacific Northwest! (If you missed reasons #1-5, you can find them here.)

6. Yummy Berries to Pick: Whatever your favorite berry, it’s almost certain to grow here. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, thimbleberries, salmonberries … they’re not only delicious, but good for you, too! Western Washington has the perfect weather for these superfoods so they’re easy to grow in your own backyard, and many of them (especially blackberries, huckleberries, and thimbleberries) can be found growing wild along rural roads. Right now we’re heading out of blueberry season and into the beginning of blackberry season. Anybody hungry for some blueberry cobbler or blackberry pie?

7. Farmers’ Markets: In the last decade we’ve become more aware of the benefits of supporting local farmers and craftsmen by attending local farmers’ markets. They happen all over the Pacific Northwest (and right here on the Peninsula), bringing fresh produce and handcrafted wares to us, right where we live!

8. Great Seafood: Have you ever tried to eat salmon (or any seafood) in Colorado, or Iowa? If you have, you’ll know that nothing beats fresh-caught wild pacific salmon, or Dungeness crab, or oysters, or Penn Cove Mussels, or … well, I think you get my point. I’m not trying to pick on those states—I know they have their own unique strengths as well—but great seafood wouldn’t be one of them! *grin*

9. The Washington State Ferry system: Lots of people complain about the lines, but our ferry system is one of only a few in the United States. And there’s nothing like standing on the bow of a ferry, facing into the wind, letting it blow over and around you while you gaze at snow-capped mountains and forested hills rising from the Puget Sound. It clears your head and refreshes your soul.

10. A thriving artistic community: We have craftsmen, painters, musicians, actors, and writers living here and creating works of art for others to enjoy. You’d probably expect to find artists in big cities, and we have many fine artists in our larger cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, but we also have many fine artists living and working in our smaller, rural communities. Take a trip around the peninsula and you’ll find many art galleries, studios, concerts, and book readings featuring the work of local artists.

OK, that’s 10 reasons in two posts, and I’ve barely scratched the surface. We’ll revisit this topic in some future posts, digging a little deeper and getting more specific. As usual, we welcome your comments. What are your favorite things about living in the Pacific Northwest?

The United States boasts lots of great places to live, but I personally think that the Pacific Northwest tops the list. In fact, here are the first five of my top ten reasons why I think summers are great here:

1. Extra Long Days: In the summer time we enjoy amazing long days, with the sun rising EARLY in the morning, and setting LATE at night. There’s nothing like watching the sunset at 9:45 in the evening.
2. An Incredibly Temperate Climate: Most people think of the Pacific Northwest as constantly rainy, but here in the summer we get our fair share of sunny, warm (but not overly hot) days, with moderate humidity. True, we may get a summer sprinkle or two, but summertime here usually brings with it a seasonal drought, and temperatures in the 70s and 80s. In other words, perfect weather.
3. Beautiful Scenery: Do you like mountain views? We have those. Do you like water views? We have those. Do you like forest views? We have those. Do you like forested mountains rising above lakes, fjords, bays, or rivers? We have those, too! There are very few places on earth as beautiful as the Pacific Northwest.
4. Great opportunities for outdoor life: Camping, hiking, sailing, kayaking, geocaching, windsurfing, waterskiing, fishing, hunting, shellfishing, biking, golfing, diving … just to name a few!
5. Great State Parks which provide venues for the activities in #4 (and more). But they’re popular, so you’ll probably need to make reservations early in the year if you want to get space!

We’ll cover reasons 6-10 in a future post, so stay tuned!

If you’re a resident of the Kitsap Peninsula, or the Pacific Northwest, leave a comment below and share your favorite reasons for living here!

One of the most unique concerts I’ve ever attended was held in a barn. And no, I’m not referring to a symphony of moos and bleats from barn animals. Instead, I heard world-class musicians performing great pieces from Beethoven, Handel, Mozart and Bach while wearing my blue jeans and sitting on bales of hay.

I’m talking about the Olympic Music Festival, of course. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this wonderful, idyllic summer concert series held in a pastoral setting. It first began with only a few weekends of concerts held during the summer months, but over the years it has expanded to run from late June through the beginning of September, with concerts held each Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

So if you’re a lover of classical music, or just interested in a new and unique concert experience, you’ll want to check this out. You can find the current season of performers and pieces, as well as directions to the barn, on the Olympic Music Festival web site.

On a side note, on Sunday, July 27th, Alderbrook Properties will host KING-FM classical radio host Steve Reeder along with 10 KING contest winners and their guest(s) to a tour of Alderbrook Properties homes, as well as lunch and a free round of golf at the Alderbrook Golf Course. This is one of KING radio’s “98 Days of Summer” events.

With its rural settings, one wouldn’t necessarily expect classical music to resonate on the Olympic Peninsula, but it does! Join in the fun and check out the Olympic Music Festival. And if you’ve ever attended the festival, share your experience with us in the comments section below!

Summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and it is beautiful! Blue skies, white puffy clouds, green grass and trees, colorful flowers, ripening fruit on vines and trees, picturesque ferries crossing blue-green waters with whitecaps, snow-capped mountains, roaring waterfalls fed by melting mountain snow … summer in the northwest part of the United States (and on Hood Canal in particular) is something special!

It’s not only beautiful, but there’s so much to do here in the summer. Picking (and eating) berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, gooseberries), going for a ferry ride, visiting farmers’ markets, boating, fishing, picnics on the beach, digging shellfish, swimming, scuba diving, hiking, geocaching, gardening, antiquing, horseback riding, bicycling, climbing, camping, collecting seashells on the beach, motorcycle touring, community art walks, bird watching, skateboarding, waterskiing, windsurfing/sailboarding, and of course, golfing at our own Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club (as well as other area golf courses).

So pick an activity you enjoy, and get out there and celebrate summer! And if you’re looking for an extra-unique way to celebrate, check out Bremerton’s East Park “Melt Down” on Friday, June 27th from 5-8 pm. They will have piles of snow for snowmen and snow angels, a snowman building contest, carnival games, music and more – all to celebrate the beginning of summer! (More information available at 360-473-4525.) Sounds like fun to me!

Like much of the rest of the country, we’ve had strange weather here in the Pacific Northwest this year … late spring snows, large temperature fluctuations from day to day, overcast and rainy weather one day, then sunny and warm weather the next. The seasons seem confused.

Some might say this sounds normal; after all, the Pacific Northwest has a reputation as a rainy, cold place. But is that reputation deserved? Overall, the average rainfall here is only 65 inches a year (although the Olympic foothills do get just a bit more rain: 135 inches annually – they don’t call it the rain forest for nothing!) And in the months of July and August (and sometimes September), we usually have a bit of a seasonal drought, with very little rain falling.

And as far as temperatures go, the weather here is, in a word, moderate. It rarely gets below 10 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. And those are the extremes. We’re much more likely to see temperatures in the 30-50 degree range in winter, and in the 60-85 degree range in summer. (Hat tip: weather statistics are from the Shelton-Mason County Journal’s 2008 Visitor’s Guide)

I recently met two different women who had moved here from the southern United States. The first woman told me she planned to move back to the South. “It’s just too cold. I’ve been here for two years and I’m freezing all the time!” she explained. The second woman told me she loved it here and would never move back to the South. “I just called my mama and she told me it was 98 degrees in Alabama. She sounded miserable. I told her it was 68 degrees here and beautiful. I’ll never go back to the South.”

As they say, different strokes for different folks. I guess everybody has their own idea of perfection. But in my opinion, it’s hard to beat the natural beauty and moderate climes of the Pacific Northwest. After all, if we had only dry, warm weather here, we wouldn’t have all the beautiful green trees and meadows, or the stunning snow-clad mountains to enjoy.

I have always associated scuba diving with exotic, tropical locations like Hawaii or the Caribbean. White sandy beaches with warm, clear, azure waters and dazzlingly colored sea life … these are the images that flood my brain when I think of scuba diving. And I know I’m not alone in these stereotypes, thanks to an article on scuba diving by Sarah Kahne in South Sound Lifestyles magazine.

I was surprised to learn that the Pacific Northwest is a popular destination for divers, and one of the most popular dive sites is right here on Hood Canal, at Sund Rock in Hoodsport, just a few miles from Alderbrook Properties.

OK, I know it’s February, and submerging yourself in the cold waters of Puget Sound – even in a wet suit – seems … well … let’s just call it “counter-intuitive.” But I learned that underwater visibility is often better here in the winter, because the warmer summer weather can cause algae blooms which cloud the water.

If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, or want to learn the secret of what makes Hood Canal such a treasure for divers, check out the information in the article linked above.

It’s just another one of the perks of living here on Hood Canal.

All of western Washington has been enjoying beautiful, sunny days this week. Contrary to what many believe, it really doesn’t rain all the time here. And when the sun is out, it’s just gorgeous! Snowcapped mountains outlined against a blue sky, sparkling blue water at the base, vibrant evergreens on the hills … I think there may be no prettier place to live on earth.

Of course, it’s still January, so even though it’s sunny it’s also very cold out (mostly 20’s and 30’s). But that’s easily remedied with a few extra layers of clothes and a hat and gloves, and well worth it. (And still relatively balmy, compared to the northeast part of the country!)

If you happen to be someone who associates the Pacific Northwest with ridiculous amounts of rain, you may be thinking that this week is an aberration, but I can assure you that after living in western Washington for 20+ years, we often have a week or two at the end of January that is sunny, cold, and stunningly beautiful. It’s all part of the appeal of living in this part of the world.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, why not leave a comment and share your favorite aspect of life here?

One great benefit of living in Washington is a good base of snow in local mountains (well, most years, anyways). So far this year, things look promising for a spectacular 2008 ski season, and we’ve got a great way to get you from north Mason County to Stevens Pass in the Cascades: the North Mason Ski Bus!

The Ski Bus leaves Belfair (just a few minutes drive from Alderbrook Properties) each Saturday morning at 6 am, arriving back in Belfair around 7:30 pm that same day. Riders age 10 and up are welcome to ride for $45 per trip (or you can get a special deal: 3 trips for $125). The bus will make a run each Saturday through February 23rd. And don’t think you’ll be riding in an uncomfortable school bus … this 47-passenger bus offers DVD entertainment screens and an onboard restroom.

Stevens Pass offers great opportunities for snowshoeing, snowboarding, and downhill and cross-country skiing for all skill levels. Because of its location on the crest of the Cascade Range, Stevens Pass enjoys cool air from the eastern slopes which helps keep the snow dry (and great for skiing!) on its 37 major runs.

If you’re interested in taking the North Mason Ski Bus, contact coordinators Pam Merrill (360-277-0919) or Cami Geyer (360-275-0852) for more information.

And if you’ve ever enjoyed a ride on the North Mason Ski Bus, or a run down one of Stevens Pass slopes, leave a comment below and share your experience!

Our last post talked about some great indoor activities for the winter months, and using the colder weather and darker days to spur us on to cozier, quieter pursuits. But if you think Washingtonians stay inside all winter, you’d better think again!

Washington residents enjoy the out-of-doors in all seasons. In fact, when it snows in the lowlands of western Washington, you may even see cross-country skiers gliding past your front windows. I know a man who once skied down the very steep counterbalance of Queen Anne hill in Seattle (on Nordic skis, no less) and lived to tell about it! (Kids, don’t try this at home. Adults, well … you can do what you want, but we don’t recommend this to you, either!)

Most Washington residents do their skiing in the mountains, however. One of the huge benefits of living in western Washington is our ready access to both the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. We’re surrounded by mountains. And of course, wherever you find mountains with snow on them, you’ll also find skiing (both alpine and Nordic) and a host of other outdoor winter adventures just waiting to happen (snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding are just a few that come to mind).

Here on the Olympic peninsula, the closest ski lifts are located at Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. If you’re in the mood to travel a few short hours, you can also find good skiing in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle. In either case, you’ll need to call ahead to make sure the roads are passable.

Check out this map of skiing and other winter recreation opportunities at TravelWashington.com, and let the fun begin!

It’s winter in the Pacific Northwest, and we’re in a post-holidays lull here on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s time to settle in for a cozy spell, and enjoy the winter season. In fact, one of the benefits of living in an area which experiences the different seasons is the variety it adds to life. Sure, some people prefer to live where it’s always sunny and 72 degrees outside, but after a while I think I’d be bored. I like the changing of the seasons, the differing weather patterns, and the opportunity to indulge in seasonal activities.

Winter in western Washington is the perfect time to brew a cup of tea (or coffee … this is the land of Starbucks, after all) and cozy up to the fire with a good book to read, or movie to watch. It’s the time to learn to knit, or quilt, or to plan your spring garden. It’s also a great time to play some board games with your family, put together a puzzle, take some great photographs, or write that great American novel that’s been kicking around in your head.

As the English poet, William Cowper, once wrote:

O Winter! ruler of the inverted year …
I crown thee king of intimate delights,
Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness,
And all the comforts that the lowly roof
Of undisturb’d Retirement, and the hours
Of long uninterrupted evening, know.