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High Adventure: The 10 Best Day Trips From Seattle and Tacoma

Home to multiple art museums, glorious views of the Cascade Mountains and a trendy downtown area, Tacoma is a picturesque city in the Pacific Northwest that’s full of fun things to see and do. But if you find yourself longing for a break from Tacoma, consider taking a day trip to one of Tacoma’s surrounding cities or attractions.

No matter what your preference, whether it’s hiking, shopping, skiing, eating, wine-drinking, nature-watching or sightseeing, you’re sure to find it within a 200-mile radius of Tacoma. Here are the 10 most worth a road trip:

  1. Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park (Vancouver, B.C., Canada): If you dare, cross the 450-feet long Capilano Suspension Bridge, which stretches 230 feet above the Capilano River. For more adventure, scale Treetops Adventure, a series of suspended footbridges with stunning views from up to 100 feet above the forest floor. If you’re not into heights, check out the rain forest nature trails, a collection of totem poles and a performance by the Pioneer Players.
  2. Butchart Gardens (Brentwood Bay, B.C., Canada): Formerly a limestone quarry, the Butchart Gardens is the brainchild of Jennie Butchart, who transformed the area into a 20th century Victorian sunken garden. Now the public area of the Butchart Gardens covers more than 55 acres, with heated show greenhouses, breathtaking seasonal flower displays, such as an outdoor rose “hallway,” ancient trees, the Blue Poppy restaurant, the Rose Carousel and a seed and gift store.
  3. Wine-Tasting Tours (Spokane, Wash.): Just because you’re north of California does not mean there are not any options for wine tasting. Home to 17 wineries and cellars, Spokane produces Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and proprietary blends of both reds and whites. At the Spokane Winery Association site, you’ll find a wineries map so you can plot your own tour.
  4. Experience Music Project (Seattle, Wash.): Walk past the Space Needle, and instead visit the Experience Music Project that’s located across the street. This museum is dedicated to both popular music and science fiction and features permanent exhibitions such as the Guitar Gallery, which traces the development of the guitar; and rotating exhibitions on robots, Jim Henson, album covers and artists such as Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix.
  5. Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest (Everett, Wash.): Located on the west side of the Cascades between the Canadian border and Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. Baker is one of the most visited forests in the country. Year-round activities such as forest hiking, fishing, river rafting, bird watching, snowshoeing and skiing, as well as educational exhibits, are always in a gorgeous setting of glacier-covered peaks, mountain meadows and old-growth forest.
  6. Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood (Portland, Ore.): Turn your road trip into a day trip by driving along the Historic Columbia River Highway. This 80-mile stretch between Portland and the town of Biggs features awe-inspiring basalt bluffs and more than 77 gorgeous waterfalls cascading from the glaciers and snowfields of Mount Hood, including Multnomah Falls, America’s second-highest waterfall.
  7. Oregon Coast (Astoria and Tillamook, Ore.): On the northernmost tip of Oregon, Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies. Here, shop at boutiques and seafood markets, visit the historic Hotel Elliott and Liberty Theater, take the kids to the Astoria Children’s Museum and enjoy the parades, performances and food at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. In Tillamook, enjoy the cheese the town is famous for, and tour the Three Capes Scenic Drive.
  8. Cape Flattery (Neah Bay, Wash.): Accessible by a half-mile cedar-plank boardwalk constructed by Makah tribal members, Cape Flattery is America’s northwestern most point. See the lighthouse of Tatoosh Island and the caves carved by the crashing and churning of the waves. Watch gray whales in April, and sea lions, harbor seals, harbor porpoises and sea otters year-round. Discover the natural history and tribal culture of the area at Makah Cultural and Research Center.
  9. Local Breweries (Missoula, Mont.): Though more of a weekend trip than a day trip, whether you crave a frosty pale ale on hot summer days or a spicy porter or stout in winter, Missoula breweries offer up everything from traditional English Ales to German Lagers to a local favorite, hemp-infused brews. Get your German fix at Bayern Brewery, extinguish your ale cravings at Big Sky Brewery and indulge your lust for craft brews at Kettle House Brewery. Don’t forget to bring along a designated driver.
  10. Salt Spring Island (near Victoria, B.C., Canada): Known as one of North America’s top art destinations, Salt Spring Island is home to thousands of artists and curators. Find inspiration in one of the island’s 10 galleries showcasing paintings, sculptures, prints, weavings, pottery, stained glass and jewelry, and enjoy free art exhibitions, concerts and theater performances at ArtSpring, a venue featuring local creative professionals.

Restaurant

Restaurant Construction – Simple Tips To Follow For Running Good Business

A restaurant should look appealing to attract customers and run on profit. For this design, painting, lighting effects and theme of the restaurant should be carefully created. If you are planning to open a restaurant several factors are to be considered. The location, size of the rooms, furniture, fittings etc. is important for running any business. Before starting the restaurant construction finalize the documents using an engineer. Then it has to be approved by the architect who is listed in the state. It is better to take help of computer engineer who would craft every design of the place with more flexibility so that you can view them on the monitor. Apart from size of the restaurant, allot some portion for elevator and a good reception area. The final sketch would have to be submitted to the health department of your county for necessary approval.

Any type of construction requires planning. It does not matter whether it is a house or store or a restaurant, it should be constructed using quality materials and expert contractor. However in case of a hotel the area or location is the main criterion which decides the business. You can expect good sales and turnover if the hotel is located near the railway station where many people gather every day. The customer of the place is to be taken into account and according to their taste you can choose the menu. If the restaurant is located in main city market you can expect good range of customers. In case you plan to open a hotel in suburban area you can plan for budget menus and dinner. The same is true with the interior design and other furniture. For a country side hotel it is enough if you provide quality lunch and dinner and you need not spend so much dollars for designs and decoration.

The climate of the place is to be considered before completing the restaurant construction. For a sunny hot region you have to use air conditioners inside the dining zone so that customers can eat at comfort. In case the region is very cold consider including paintings and designs that bring warmth to the customers. Menu items also vary considerably to the customers. People who live in proper city choose to dine quick lunch and snacks instead of having a whole meal. The lighting effect provided should add glamour to the place and not irritate the eyes of the audience. Use all shades of blue while decorating the walls. Consider using wall hangings and antique drawings on the main area which add attraction.

Travel

3 Best Options for International Air Travel

Air travel is any day less tiring and less time consuming than any other mode of travel. Primarily, when it comes to traveling to an altogether different country, there is no availability of any other mode of travel than an international airline. With the easy availability of numerous international airlines, the distance between two countries has shortened. If you are confused of which airline to choose for an international air travel, then read the write-up to know the best three airlines that can make your international travel worth a memory.

• Jet Airways
Jet airways is indeed one of the finest international airlines from India that can offer world class experience of travel. It bestows o the travelers a journey that is worth every penny spent by them. From courteous staff to comfortable flight, everything about Jet Airways is classy. International air travel in Jet Airways is truly a delight. Besides, the travel fares of this airline are quite nominal and an individual can easily afford it. Quality services and disciplined travel makes travel in Jet Airways a worthwhile experience.

• Kingfisher Airlines
An airline group based in India, Kingfisher Airlines offers an amazing experience of international air travel to the traveler. It offer unparalleled travel experience that any other airline cannot offer. This airline has been acknowledged with many prestigious awards including Business Leadership Award for Aviation by NDTV Profit, Brand Leadership Award, Avaya Award in 2006 by Economic Times for Excellence in customer responsiveness, and many more. Travel by a first-class international airline i.e. Kingfisher Airlines is actually worth spending money.

• Indian Airways
State owned airline of India, Indian Airways offers adequate services, excellent hospitality and is quite economical. Besides, it is easy to book ticket of Indian Airways. It is the fastest growing airline that is par excellence in terms of services, hospitality & prices. It is perhaps the most sought after airlines for travelers. Indian Airways is a brand that you can actually trust and dote upon at the time of international travel booking.

So, for connecting to the people inhabiting in other parts of the world, avail the luxurious traveling services of any of the above mentioned international airline. You can be rest assured of the high-end hospitality that all the three of them offer. Besides, the air fares of these three international airlines are priced nominally that a common man can afford.