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

Head to Nearby Franklin Falls for a Magical Wintertime Hiking Experience

Franklin Falls is located about an hour’s drive from Ten Trails and is a popular hiking destination in the summer months. In the winter months, however, the hike takes on a uniquely different quality because the majestic waterfall partially freezes as temperatures drop. At just a few miles roundtrip, this is a quick and easy hike that can be enjoyed by hikers of all ages.

Location and Driving Directions for Franklin Falls Trail 

Franklin Falls Trail is located near the Snoqualmie Pass and can be reached via I-90 and exit 52. During the winter months, the trail can be accessed via National Forest Road 58 (NF-58) which closes to vehicle traffic due to snow. Park in the West Summit lot and walk along NF-58 for about 1.4 miles before taking a right into the woods at the Safety Corridor sign. A five-minute descent through the wooded trail will reveal the waterfall.

Alternate Hike Along Denny Creek Trail

You can opt to take a shorter path along Denny Creek that is relatively flat with sweeping views of the river and cabins. Old growth trees provide ample shade and the river is fast-flowing much of the year.

Make Sure You Have the Proper Hiking Equipment

Because the trail is covered in snow in the winter, you will want to make sure you bring the proper snow hiking equipment for a safe and enjoyable excursion. Waterproof hiking or snow boots equipped with microspikes or crampons are essential for ensuring you do not slip on the snowy trail. Snowshoes would also be handy to have for the hike on snowy NF-58 and gaiters to keep snow from going into your shoes. Many snow hikers also opt for stability with trekking poles and other winter hiking gear. For suggestions of what gear and supplies you may need for your winter hike outing, visit REI’s website. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043      

Take a Virtual Tour of Local Museum Exhibits from the Comfort of Your Ten Trails Home 

While visiting museums in person isn’t possible right now, some local museums decided to bring the exhibits directly to your home! Take full advantage of Ten Trails’ ultra-fast 1-gig internet to keep kids entertained, augment at-home school learning programs and take part in fun puzzles and challenges with online programs offered by some Seattle area museums!

Take Flight at Home with the Museum of Flight

Ten Trails residents can take a 3D virtual tour of dozens of different aircrafts including the NASA space shuttle trainer via the Museum of Flight’s website. The Museum of Flight is also offering downloadable STEM workshops created by museum educators for kids in grades K-12. Kids can also get challenged competing in online puzzles and other interactive and educational games offered by the museum.

Pacific Science Center’s Curiosity at Home

Seattle’s Pacific Science Center is offering a new program, Curiosity at Home, which features live streaming science shows and hands-on STEM activities and tutorials for kids of all ages to do at home. The programs are intended to inspire young minds and create excitement about all areas of science. Every Wednesday at 11 am PST, the museum goes live on Facebook with educational programs related to the museum’s exhibits, live animals and even live science experiments.

Stay Home with SAM | At-home Art Programs from the Seattle Art Museum

While it is temporarily closed to the public, the Seattle Art Museum is offering weekly programs to inspire families to take part in at-home art activities. The museum’s blog features a new art object each week with information about its history, origination and the artist who created it. The weekly object is then connected to a suggested at-home activity for the entire family to take part in with tips on technique. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

Visit the Enumclaw Wine and Chocolate Festival

Just a short drive south of Black Diamond, Enumclaw offers Ten Trails residents fun activities to enjoy as well as a quaint downtown district with restaurants, shops, bakeries, and coffee shops to explore. Ten Trails residents will want to head to Enumclaw this weekend to take part in the annual Wine and Chocolate Festival.

Wine and Chocolate Festival at the Enumclaw Expo Center

The event takes place this Friday, February 7^th from 4 to 10 pm, and Saturday, February 8^th from 2 to 10 pm at the Enumclaw Expo Center. Sample a wide variety of Washington State wines and browse crafts and goods from local vendors. The event also attracts many great local chocolatiers with decadent cocoa concoctions to please your palate.

Be a Part of Local Festivals and Events as a Resident of Ten Trails

Taking part in local festivals and events is just one of my many great activities you can enjoy as a resident of this award-winning master-planned community! In addition to all the wonderful events put on by the City of Black Diamond and events in nearby Enumclaw and Maple Valley, Ten Trails also has public events like our annual Easter Egg Hunt, Hometown Harvest event, Hometown Holiday as well as summer concerts, vendor markets and movie nights. Follow us on our Hometown Social Facebook page for updates on our next community event! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043    

Crystal Mountain, a Winter Sports Destination

About an hour away from the community, Ten Trails residents can find the largest ski resort in Washington State! Crystal Mountain Ski Resort encompasses 2,600 acres and has more than 50 named runs.

Crystal Mountain Resort Now Open

Winter has arrived and Crystal is now open for skiing, snowboarding and a host of other winter sports activities! In addition to the downhill runs, there are two terrain parks for visitors to enjoy as well as six snowshoeing trails for those who prefer winter sports with a slower pace.

Gondola Rides and Dining

Crystal Mountain offers dining options in the ski lodge as well as at the Summit House Restaurant. At 6,872 feet in elevation, the Summit House is the highest dining experience in the state of Washington. Take a scenic gondola ride to climb nearly 2,500 feet to the summit and cap off your meal by admiring spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

Head to Ten Trails for our Annual Hometown Harvest Event!

Join us for Hometown Harvest at Ten Trails featuring fun activities for the entire family on Saturday, September 14^th from 12 to 6 pm. Throughout the day, we will have bouncy houses, pumpkin painting, a beer garden, game truck, more than 30 craft vendors, face painting, balloon animals, food trucks, dessert trucks and a petting farm! All these activities will take place in our Civic Park and Village Green.

Tasting Tour at Our Ten Trails Model Homes

In addition to all the fun activities at our parks, we will also have a tasting tour at our model homes! There will but a shuttle service bringing guests to seven different stops at our models and Welcome Center with sample items to eat or drink at each stop! Featured vendor samples are from Farm Shed Wines, Bordeaux Wine Bar, Schilling Cider, Café Pacific Catering, Gracene’s Cupcakes and more!

Hometown Harvest Event Giveaways 

The Hometown Harvest event will feature a number of great giveaways including a Yeti Tundra 35 cooler, Mariner’s tickets, and a trip to Friday Harbor with a ride aboard the Victoria Clipper! To be entered to win any of our giveaways, grab a passport from our Ten Trails Welcome Center, get your passport stamped at our other six tasting tour locations, and turn in your completed passport to our Welcome Center or Ten Trails event tent at the Civic Park.

Relay Races, Live Music and Hot Air Balloon Rides 

From 3 to 4 pm in our Civic Park, we will have relay races with prizes and the Seahawks’ Blitz will be signing autographs and taking photos with guests! Stay at the Civic Park from 4 to 6 pm to watch a comedic dueling piano performance on our park stage. The event will conclude with hot air balloon rides, weather permitting. Don’t miss this day of fun at Ten Trails! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043  

Join us for Our Hometown Social Event at Ten Trails July 26^th 

It’s time for another Hometown Social at Ten Trails! Meet your friends and neighbors in our Civic Park for an evening of fun, food, and entertainment!

Hometown Social with Sunset Market Friday, July 26

Our Hometown Social on July 26^th  features music by the Blue Wave Band, delicious food from local food trucks, a vendor market with more than 30 vendor booths, a beer garden, and bouncy houses.  Join us from 6 to 9 pm in our Civic Park!

Free Food Truck Meal Giveaway 

Prior to our event, tour any of our 12 model homes, register your name and email address, and you will receive a coupon for a free meal valued at up to $12 at one of our Hometown Social food trucks! Stop by our Welcome Center to grab a map to the model homes and learn more about the community from our friendly team.

Attend Events all Summer Long at Ten Trails 

Can’t make it this Friday? Save the date for any of our upcoming summer events like our Sunset Market on August 9^th with special performance by country music star, Aaron Crawford! We will have another Hometown Social event on August 23^rd, and our Fall Harvest event on September 14th. In addition to our events, be sure to attend one of our free yoga classes, held in our Village Green every Sunday through August 25^th from 1 to 2 pm. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043  

Head to the Black Diamond Miner’s Day Festival this Weekend

Ten Trails families looking for a fun activity to do this weekend can head to nearby downtown, historic Black Diamond on Saturday, July 13^th to take part in their annual Miner’s Day festival! The event kicks off at 9 am with a 5k race that begins with the sound of the historic coal mining siren. Fun activities will be held throughout the day, with entertainment for all ages including a donut-eating contest held at 11:30 am. For a full festival schedule, visit the Black Diamond Miner’s Day festival website.

Women’s Suffrage Theme

The theme of this year’s Miner’s Day is “Women’s Suffrage Centennial” to commemorate the 100-year anniversary that women were given the right to vote. The festival’s traditional fashion show will give a nod to the theme with many examples of women’s attire in the early 1900’s, along with a women’s suffrage skit that will take place at noon.

Stop by our Ten Trails Tent

Don’t forget to visit our Ten Trails tent at Miner’s Day to learn more about the community, meet our friendly team and grab some Ten Trails giveaways! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043