Tips for Creating a Cozy Guest Room

Many families are reuniting this spring after a long period of not seeing one another due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With out-of-town guests possibly visiting soon for the first time in a while, now is a great time to spruce up your guest room for visitors!

Provide Guests with a Comfortable Mattress

The guest room can sometimes end up being the room where we put things that are no longer needed or that are not quite up to par for the main bedrooms of the house. Instead of furnishing the guest room with an old, saggy mattress, consider buying a new mattress for your guest room so guests will sleep comfortably while they visit.

Clear out the Closet

While it is tempting to leave all your off-season clothes stored in the guest room closet, it is not very welcoming for guests to find they have nowhere to hang their clothes during their stay. Clear out space in the closet so guests can utilize it while they are enjoying a visit to your home.

Provide Basic Necessities

Most guests will remember to bring things they need for travel, but it is always nice to have backup toothbrushes and toiletries in case they have forgotten something. Also be sure to equip your guest room with the basics like a bedside lamp for reading, nightlight for the hallway if your guest room does not have an attached bathroom, and extra pillows and linens.

Make Guests Feel Like They are Staying in a Hotel

For a visit your guests will not forgot, consider stocking your guest room with a small one-cup coffee maker so they do not have to leave the room for an early-morning caffeine-fix. You could also provide a small basket of snacks, a plush robe, and slippers for guests to enjoy. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

New Home Choices this Spring at Ten Trails

Ten Trails has new home choices for potential homebuyers to view this spring! Check out brand new releases from Ichijo, MainVue Homes, and Oakridge Homes, all offering two-story, single-family detached homes in the community.

Oakridge Homes at Ten Trails 

Oakridge is a local builder known for their quality craftmanship and innovative home designs. Oakridge has designed homes specifically for Ten Trails introducing the Northwest Contemporary Farmhouse and Northwest Modern Craftsman designs. Featuring six floor plans, these single-family detached homes start in the $600,000’s.

Ichijo Homes at Ten Trails 

Ichijo has new floorplans to choose from in a brand new phase of Ten Trails.  New single-family home floorplans, the Basswood, the Maplewood, and the Pepperwood range in size from  2,277 to 2,532 square feet. These new homes feature open floorplans, optional electric fireplaces, covered outdoor patios, and two-car garages. Like Ichijo’s duet models and previous release of single family homes at Ten Trails,  these new homes also include energy-saving technologies and space-saving solutions. Ichijo’s new homes at Ten Trails start in the $600,000’s.

New Homes by MainVue Homes in the Enclave

MainVue Homes is offering their luxury homes in a new section of the community called “The Enclave.”  Current floorplan options start in size from 4,126+ square feet with four bedrooms and are priced from the $900,000’s. You can view MainVue’s availability on their website. Contact Tammy Nelson at 206.334.0658 to schedule your tour to view their model home at Ten Trails.

Sign up to Be the First to Know about Upcoming Releases

Ten Trails will continue to offer new homes for years to come! Sign up for our e-newsletter to be the first to know about new releases of homes in the community. Scroll to the bottom of the home page of our website for a quick signup form. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043      

Three Ten Trails Community Amenities You Should be Using this Spring 

Ten Trails has many community amenities for residents and the public to use including our award-winning Civic Park and miles of trails to explore. Here are three Ten Trails amenities that you must check out this spring:

Ten Trails Community Fire Pits 

Something magical happens while sitting around a fire with friends and family that does not happen in other situations. In this time when there is a huge emphasis on virtual connections and reliance on technology for socialization, an old-fashioned fireside chat with family and neighbors is the perfect low-tech way to reconnect. Ten Trails has fire pits for residents to use scattered throughout the community.

Ten Trails Community Ping Pong Table

Did you know Ten Trails has an outdoor ping pong table for residents to use? Grab a ball and some paddles and challenge your neighbors to a game! Ping Pong is a great activity to keep you fit, get you outside this spring, and is by nature a socially-distanced activity to do with others.

Ten Trails Community Bocce Ball Courts

Ten Trails’ bocce ball courts are located in Civic Park near the performance pavilion. If you are not familiar with the game, there is a sign posted next to the courts with instructions on how to play. All you need for a great time outdoors this spring is one other player and a bocce ball set www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Three Great Benefits of Living in a Master Planned Community

There are many reasons why one might choose to live in a master planned community! We wanted to highlight three that are relevant right now. As pandemic restrictions ease,  many people will be seeking to meet new friends and spend time with loved ones they have not seen in a while. Ten Trails offers amazing amenities that not only keep you active, but also give you opportunities to meet new people and gather more safely outdoors. Our current residents also are a great resource for newer residents who may be looking to get more involved with their local community.

Opportunities to Meet New People 

Meeting new neighbors who may become potential lifelong friends is easy in a master planned community like Ten Trails where shared outdoor amenities create natural gathering spaces. Our community fire pits, outdoor sports courts, walking trails, and playgrounds all encourage casual interaction with neighbors. When gathering together with others returns, we plan to bring people together again for some of our well-known community events featuring live entertainment, food and fun for residents from all over Southeast King County.

Amenities to Keep You Active

Our community walking and biking trails offer ample opportunities for residents to get outside and get active. With miles of trails that weave throughout the community and its natural areas, starting a new fitness routine is easy at Ten Trails. We also have an outdoor community ping pong table, basketball hoops and bocce ball courts.

Chance to Get Involved in Your Community

Master planned communities like Ten Trails foster a sense of community-mindedness amongst residents. Things like a resident-only community social media page, community events, and community shared amenities bring residents together in ways they would not be able to otherwise. At Ten Trails, our residents come together to support one another and their local community in countless ways. Recently, in recognition of “National Cereal Day,” we held a community food drive where residents brought non-perishable boxes of cereal to our Welcome Center to be donated to the local Black Diamond Community Center food bank. This is just one of many ways our residents give back to the local community. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Springtime Outings for Animal Educational Experiences

Springtime is a great time of year for people of all ages to connect with animals. There are many local farms in the area around Ten Trails that offer petting farm interactive experiences with domestic animals. For an informative experience seeing wildlife, head to nearby Northwest Trek to see their bears, wolves, big cats, and more. Spring is also a great time of year for a wildlife hike to look for migrating birds.

Fox Hollow Farm

Fox Hollow Farm, located in nearby Issaquah, is now open for visitors for its children’s car track, greenhouse, gardens, trails, river park and animal areas. Guests to the farm are being limited due to Covid-19 restrictions. Check their website for available times and book your visit in advance. Ticket prices are $5 per adult and $8 per child, per session.

Sammamish Animal Sanctuary

Sammamish Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization where formerly homeless, neglected or animals that need a forever home are cared for as they live out the rest of their lives. The farm is accepting visitors this spring in limited numbers due to Covid-19 precautions and requests visitors schedule a tour through their website before visiting. Visits to the farm are free, however donations are appreciated to help pay for the food and care the animals receive.

Go on a Birding Hike

An inexpensive pair of binoculars or a keen eye are all you need to go on a birding adventure with kids this spring. As birds migrate into western Washington for the season, see how many different species you can identify on your hike. For a list of some of the best places for birdwatching in our state, check out the Audubon Society’s website.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Dedicated to conservation and education, Northwest Trek has been a popular attraction for local residents and tourists for decades.  The park is now offering visits to a limited number of guests at a time for all outdoor attractions. Visit this spring to get up close and personal with the park’s many residents like gray wolves, black bears, and grizzly bears. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Visit Local Botanical Gardens this Spring

The Seattle area is home to many beautiful botanical gardens, which are gardens dedicated to the collection, cultivation, preservation and display of a wide range of plants. Botanical gardens are known as such because each plant is labeled with its botanical name. A visit to one of our many local botanical gardens is a great springtime activity for families that is both fun and educational.

Bellevue Botanical Garden 

Located at 12001 Main Street in Bellevue, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is open daily, dawn to dusk, and there is no admission fee. The City of Bellevue owns and manages the garden, which was opened in 1992 and designed to be a space to be enjoyed by the community. The garden encompasses 53 acres of cultivated gardens, restored woodlands, and natural wetlands and showcases plants that thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Bellevue Botanical Garden is also offering virtual gardening classes during the pandemic. Visit their website for more information.

Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center

The Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center is open to the public seasonally, March through November. The 22-acre garden is located on what was originally 200 acres owned by Norwegian immigrant ancestors of Maurice Skagen. The heritage center is devoted to highlighting the farming life of the early settlers on the Soos Creek plateau during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Opening day for the garden in 2021 is March 3, although the heritage center indoor display is closed until further notice during Covid-19 restrictions.

Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens 

The Washington Park Arboretum is open to the public daily and admission is free. Take a self-guided tour through 230 acres of gardens, natural areas, and wetlands that includes species of plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the local area. The UW Botanic Gardens also includes a beautiful Japanese Garden which is managed by the City of Seattle and has a small entry fee. This 3.5-acre urban sanctuary features all the elements of a traditional Japanese garden with stones, water, lanterns, bridges, buildings, and plants.

Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens 

Situated on approximately 11 acres adjacent to the North SeaTac Community Center, the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden is a one-of-a-kind heritage location created to preserve some of the area’s most treasured gardens. Two of the gardens were physically moved to their current location to prevent their demolition during SeaTac Airport’s third runway project. Admission to the garden is free and it is open daily from dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs are allowed at the garden which features displays of roses and a Japanese garden. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

Design spotlight: Kitchen Islands 

Ten Trails’ builder partners offer stunning homes in the community with all the latest features in home design trends. One trend that we do not see going away for a long time is the incorporation of an island in the kitchen. From complementary cabinet colors to oversized sinks, kitchen islands in new homes at Ten Trails are on-trend and will fit your family’s modern lifestyle.

Quartz Countertops 

Durable and attractive, quartz countertops are a popular choice for kitchen island countertops and can be found in many of the homes at Ten Trails. These engineered stone tops can be made into a variety of colors to suit any décor and will last homeowners years to come with proper care.

Oversized Sinks in the Kitchen Island

Large, double, or oversized sinks are a popular addition to many kitchen islands in new homes. A large open sink is preferable to the divided sinks of years ago, and ideal for washing large pots and pans. Placement of the sink and dishwasher in the kitchen island is a common choice with many new home builders.

Seating for Four or More People

It also common in new homes to have an overhang space on kitchen island countertops to provide an eating area for four or more people. For casual meals or more space when entertaining, having seating space at the kitchen island is a wonderful addition to any new home.

Complementary Cabinet Colors

Kitchen islands also allow home designers to make creative color choices by selecting complementary cabinet and countertop colors for the island and the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. By making the kitchen island cabinetry and countertops a different color than the rest of the kitchen, it creates a distinctive focal point for the space. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043    

Fast Pace of Home Sales Shows Ten Trails has What Homebuyers Want Most

Since opening just over two years ago, Ten Trails, the master planned community in Black Diamond managed by Oakpointe Communities, has seen home sales increase at a brisk pace and is well-known in the Puget Sound area as a desirable place to live. There are many reasons why so many homebuyers choose Ten Trails. Here are just a few!

Many Home Builders to Choose From 

Currently, Ten Trails has eight different builder options to choose from with home products ranging from townhomes to single family detached homes and even some apartments for rent currently under construction and pre-leasing.

A Walkable Community

Walkability remains one of the top features homebuyers desire in a new community. Ten Trails has miles of paved sidewalks and walking trails in addition to our nature trails that weave through the community’s wooded natural areas.

A Strong Sense of Community

Homebuyers want to also feel a sense of connection and community with where they live. Ten Trails offers this through our many shared community amenities and community events that bring residents together. Even during the pandemic, we have found ways to connect with one another and are looking forward to coming together in person again when guidelines allow for it.

Proximity Close to Nature 

Home shoppers are also searching for communities with easy access and proximity to nature. The entire community of Ten Trails is nestled in rural Black Diamond, surrounded by forests and with open and natural spaces integrated throughout the community. It is also located just a short drive from some of the area’s finest outdoors destinations like Crystal Mountain Resort, countless hiking trails, campgrounds, and Mount Rainier National Park. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com    

Break out of the Routine this Winter and Try Something Completely New

The Covid-19 pandemic has upended lives across the country and many of us are struggling to find ways to break out of the monotony that can come with many days spent at home, with limited options for socializing. Here are a few ideas of new things you and the family can try this winter to help break up your normal routines!

Go on a Dogsledding Adventure 

Northwest Dogsledding Adventures offers one-hour, seven-mile tours through snowy wilderness with their eager team of 12 dogs. The pack can run up to 20 miles per hour while guests kick back under blankets and enjoy the ride and views. Northwest Dogsledding Adventures is now taking reservations for weekend-only tours through March 31^st, 2021. The cost is $165 for adults and $110 for children under 80 pounds. For more information, visit their website.

Take a Virtual Cooking Class

Cooking is a wonderful skill for anyone to master, and it is a great idea to foster a love of cooking in kids from a young age. Even if you are an adult who is well-adept at cooking, there are always new skills and recipes to learn to keep things interesting in the kitchen! Famous Seattle restaurateur, Tom Douglas, is now offering virtual cooking classes through his company for families or larger groups. Seattle Cucina is also offering virtual classes geared specifically for kids of all ages. You can browse their many class offerings on their website.

Try Sprouting Seedlings Indoors

While we wait for the warmth and sunshine of spring, bring the outdoors inside by starting seed sprouts indoors. When the threat of frost is over, the whole family can enjoy transplanting the new baby plants to an outdoor garden or to a rented garden space in Ten Trails’ pea patches! Some plants that are among the easiest to grow from seed are pumpkins, sunflowers, lettuces, and squash. For information on how to start seeds indoors, check out this website. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com    

Golf Courses Close to Ten Trails

Golf is one of many outdoor activities open during current Covid-19 restrictions. Lucky for Ten Trails residents, they have their pick of many fine golf courses all within a short drive of the community! Check with each of the courses listed below before your arrival to be updated with all current pandemic guidelines and be prepared for indoor dining areas to be closed during your visit.

Druid’s Glen Golf Course 

Located just minutes from Ten Trails in nearby Covington, Druid’s Glen Golf Course is ranked one of the top ten golf courses in Washington and offers championship golf and scenic views. This public course offers memberships as well as daily play fee options and is challenging for golfers of all skill levels.

Lake Wilderness Golf Course

Located in nearby Maple Valley, Lake Wilderness Golf Course is a fun, accessible course open for members and the public. The 18-hole course offers short, narrow fairways that test all skill levels, and the scenic setting is enhanced by the course’s many large fir trees.

Enumclaw Golf Course

Another local public course located just off Hwy-410, the Enumclaw Golf Course is an 18-hole facility that meanders through tall pines in a beautiful setting below Mt. Rainier. Enumclaw Golf Course is known for its reasonable fees, scenic fairways, and accessibility for all players.

Washington National Golf Club

Washington National is a popular local course that is well-known as the home course for the University of Washington’s men’s and women’s golf teams. This 18-hole championship course was designed by award-winning architect, John Fought, and features rugged transitional areas, white-sand bunkers and impeccably maintained greens. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043