Looking for a family day trip? Consider visiting Washington state’s most famous waterfall! Snoqualmie Falls tumbles down 268 feet with its width ranging from 50 to 150 feet, depending on water levels. After heavy rains, the roaring cascade takes on a curtain form that is a dramatic sight to behold.
The falls can be viewed from the lovely two-acre park which offers a gift shop, observation deck, the Salish Lodge, picnic areas, restrooms and a hiking trail.
The upper observation platform provides the best view of the falls and is wheelchair accessible. This is a must-stop spot for your family photo-op or selfie! The deck is sheltered, free, and open to the public from dawn until dusk.
Visitors can hike from the parking lot to the misty boardwalk near the base of the falls. The trail descends 1.3 miles through forested land to a powerhouse and a lower observation deck. Hikers can look through the windows of the powerhouse to view the turbines generating hydroelectric power for Puget Sound Energy. The trail includes interpretive signs introducing native wildlife and vegetation. A few sections of the trail are steep and provide a short challenge on the way back up the hill. It is a great introduction to the region for beginning hikers.
Salish Lodge & Spa has been ranked among the best small resorts in the world. This delightful Pacific Northwest lodge overlooks Snoqualmie Falls and offers lodging, spa services, and award-winning fine dining. For more information on this getaway resort visit www.salishlodge.com.
Ten Trails residents will discover that this gem is only 23 miles from home. Parking is free and dogs on a leash are allowed on the trail and lookouts. Winter is a great time to visit this iconic destination because water flow is often high, resulting in a dramatic display of nature’s power. Put this one-of-a-kind day trip on your calendar soon!
www.TenTrails.com
360-469-4043
At the Mt. Rainier Christian Center of Enumclaw, enjoy a synchronized holiday lights show! Tune your radio to 91.7 FM any time between 4 pm and midnight on New Year’s Eve and sit back and enjoy Christmas music combined with a spectacular lights display. Admission is free!
Enjoy live music by Kevin Jones and Doyle Wood this New Year’s Eve at Plateau Wine and Tapas in nearby Enumclaw! Head to 1533 Cole Street Enumclaw around 5 pm New Year’s Eve to catch all the fun!
Take a short drive to nearby Kent for the Kent Event Center’s New Year’s Eve Party featuring musician Andy Stokes and his seven-piece band as well as DJ Mr. Nice Guy! Your $75 ticket includes admission to the party, dinner, party favors, free parking and a champagne toast at midnight.
From 6 to 9 pm at Lucky Strike in Lincoln Square, the whole family can enjoy a host of different arcade games to ring in the new year! General admission is $25 and includes 1, one-hour timeplay game card. For more information, visit Lucky Strike’s website: https://www.luckystrikesocial.com/locations/bellevue/
Recreational razor clamming is one of the most popular licensed outdoor activities in Washington state. If you haven’t tried razor clamming, this is the perfect time to give it a try! This family-friendly activity is enjoyed by children and senior citizens alike, totaling over 75,000 participants each year in Washington. Razor clamming beaches on the Washington coast can be reached from Ten Trails in less than 3 hours. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced digs for this weekend so grab your gear and come along!
Razor clam is a common name for long, saltwater clams (which vaguely resemble a closed straight razor in shape). The Pacific razor clam can grow as long as six inches, in contrast with the common, Manila clam, which tops out at three or four inches. This clam is quite a bit beefier with far more protein that the more widely-known Manila clam.
To harvest razor clams, you’ll need boots, rubber gloves, a clam gun or shovel, a shellfish license, a headlamp—many low tides occur after dark—and a bucket to store what you’ve reaped. The “clam gun” refers to a specialized tube, made of aluminum or PVC pipe, with a handle which you wiggle into the wet sand, pulling up a core sample that, if properly extracted,will contain your prey.
Razor clams are collected in the hours just before low tide,when the receding water leaves behind soft sand. When clams move or feed, the disturbance creates a small hole or dimple in the sand.This is called a “show” and it is your indication that a clam is hidden beneath the surface. When you discover a “show,” you’ll target this area for digging with your shovel or clam gun. You’ll want to keep in mind that razor clams can dig downward about a foot every thirty seconds, and they can be up to three feet deep. They can’t go sideways, but they will move downward fast in wet sand. They will attempt to escape by digging down and away from you. Try to angle the gun slightly toward the ocean, and twist or plunge the tube until the pipe is at least two feet down into the sand. If you hear a crunch, you found one, but that sound means you’ve broken the shell. You are required to keep it and count it toward your daily limit of 15. Fortunately, mangled clams are still edible!
Experienced clam hunters recommend that diggers arrive to the beach an hour or two before low tide for best results. Designated dig times are often in the evening, so be sure to dress warmly and be extra cautious of the ocean as it’s difficult to see large waves coming at night.
The largest concentration of razor clams in Washington is found on a 53-mile stretch of shore on Washington state’s southern coast, where sandy,flat beaches provide an ideal habitat. Razor clams should only be harvested at the designated times and locations published on the WDFW website. Before heading out, always be aware of season openings, closures and adhere to designated times and locations on the WDFW website: www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams
Upcoming digs are scheduled on the following dates, beaches and low tides:
Dec.21, Friday, 5:35 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec.22, Saturday, 6:20 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec.23, Sunday, 7:05 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife tests for levels of a natural toxin produced by certain types of algae to determine if, when, and where to open beaches for harvesting of razor clams. Razor clamming should only be done at the designated times and locations published www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams.
The daily limit per person is 15 clams, no matter what condition they are in, once removed from the sand. That limit is subject to change. Always check with official sources if you have any questions. Digging prior to noon during the Fall-Winter season on the approved days is not allowed. Also, each digger must keep their razor clams in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2018-19 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW’s website and from license vendors around the state.
As part of planning your razor clamming trip, visit the website for Razor Clam Society at www.razorclamsociety.org and the Washington State Parks Foundation at www.waparks.org/razor-clamming-on-the-coast.
www.TenTrails.com
360-469-4043
Join us at Ten Trails on December 15th from 12 to 3 pm for our Hometown Holiday event! Stop at our Welcome Center first for hot cocoa, candy canes and a photo with Santa! We will have a photographer on site taking photos and we will provide one printed photo per family.
Afterwards, head to our model homes for a variety of kids’s crafts and activities including letters to the North Pole, homemade Christmas ornaments, cookie-frosting and more!
Get in to the spirit of the season with us at Ten Trails! We hope you will join us for this fun, family-friendly event!
Right now is the time of year that salmon are embarking in their long journey upstream to spawn. The annual migration is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most awe-inspiring biological phenomenons and it can be viewed in person just minutes from Ten Trails! Just a few miles from community, the Cedar River boasts Sockeye, Chinook, and Coho salmon–all of which can be viewed completing their migration. Within a short drive from the community, you and your family can learn from local naturalists about the annual travels that salmon take from the Pacific Ocean to the Cedar River to spawn.
Photo courtesy Crystal Mountain
Holder Knob Trail is ideal forthose who are new to hiking, or for younger kids, as it is not as challenging as some other hikes in the area. The trail begins with a steep incline, but levels out considerably, with a convenient picnic rest area located right after the initial ascent. The trail offers 500 feet in elevation gain over 3.5 miles, making it the perfect length for an after-work hike for Ten Trails commuters who are looking for a stop on the way home from their commute from the Eastside, or for busy moms looking for a way to entertain kids on a sunny afternoon post-school.
Hiking is just one of the many activities you can enjoy as a new resident of this master-planned community! Ten Trails has a number of first-class amenities, and will feature a park within 1/4 mile of every single home in the community once fully built. In addition to new homes, retail, and parks, the community also has space set aside for 7 new schools: one high school, two middle schools, and four elementary schools. As a resident of Ten Trails, your kids will potentially have the ability to walk to their school, which is located right within the community.
The next time you and your family are looking for a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all, consider heading to Holder Knob Trail!
www.TenTrails.com
360-469-4043 
