As far as outdoor terrains, the Evergreen State has it all, from high mountains to temperate rain forests, from lakes and rivers to a long stretch of the Pacific. Its natural treasures include the Cascade Mountains, Olympic National Park, Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, among a host of others. Here are eight great outdoor adventures that groups can organize during their Washington state meetings.
HIKING MT. RAINIER
www.evergreenescapes.com
Considered Washington’s crown jewel, Mt. Rainier reaches 14,410 feet above sea level and stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. Encased in more than 35 square miles of snow and ice, Mount Rainier also spawns six major rivers. Companies such as EverGreen Escapes can organize group hikes as day trips from Seattle. Attendees pass through the active volcanoes surrounding old-growth forests, wildflower-filled subalpine meadows, lakes and waterfalls. Wildlife along the mountainsides includes marmots, coyotes, elk, deer, foxes and black bear. There is a 93-mile Wonderland Trail that encircles the mountain, but EverGreen Escapes organizes hikes or snowshoeing in winter on shorter routes such as the Nisqually Vista trail.
Stand-Up Paddleboard
www.hydrologysup.com; www.bluewaterdistilling.com
Hydrology Stand Up Paddle, with main locations at the Port of Everett Marina and Everett’s Edgewater Beach and Silver Lake, offers stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lessons and guided tours for groups.
“We can put 14 people on the water at once in any of our offerings,” says Hydrology co-owner Erin Matthews. “For larger events of more than 14 people, we have a list where individuals can sign up, and they can go out as often as they want during the event or in groups of 14.”
SUP N’ SIP outings include a paddle boarding tour at the Port of Everett followed by a cocktail at Blue Water Organic Distilling’s tasting room in Everett. Other options for groups include SUP yoga classes.
Rafting the Spokane River
www.riverrafting.net/spokane-river
A trip on the Spokane River can vary from a tranquil float to a whitewater excursion on Class III rapids at spots like Devil’s Toenail. Wiley E. Waters provides a scenic trip that starts in downtown Spokane and passes attractions such as a disc golf course, the Spokane Rifle Range and Fairmont Memorial Park. The company can accommodate up to 90 people at a time.
“Other ways we like to add uniqueness to our rafting trip is by providing a catered lunch or dinner option in Riverside State Park afterward,” says Josh Flanagan, owner of Wiley E. Waters.
Another choice could be its Wine and Dine Float, with local wines provided.
Kayaking the San Juan Islands
www.outdoorodysseys.com
A mecca for outdoor adventure, the San Juan Islands are a prime kayaking destination with opportunities to observe sea lions, seals and porpoises, among other creatures. Each island offers a slightly different experience, with tours ranging anywhere from three hours to three days.
For kayaking tours, Outdoor Odysseys can cater to groups with custom trips. Typically 20 to 25 go out at a time, though larger groups can be split up, according to company owner Tom Murphy. One-day trips paddle out of San Juan County Park, which is a prime orca-spotting zone.
Resorts like Rosario Resort & Spa on Orcas Island and Roche Harbor Resort & Spa on San Juan Island can also offer group trips.
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“Whale-watching, kayaking and fishing charters leave direct from our marina and great hiking is located steps away in neighboring Moran State Park,” says Christopher Peacock, general manager of Rosario Resort & Spa.
Northwest Trek Ziplining
www.nwtrek.org
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, located in Tacoma, offers adventures for groups that include zipline tours called Zip Wild experiences. The Adventure and Sensation courses, two of the park’s most popular, can each be used as teambuilding activities.
The park offers a total of five zipline/challenge courses that run through the tree canopy. Each course contains sections of zipline separated by barriers that must be walked, climbed or crawled over, and challenges vary depending on each course. Some include swinging log bridges while other courses incorporate balance beams and tight ropes.
Zodiac Tours
www.schoonerzodiac.com
The Schooner Zodiac, which sails out of the cruise ship terminal at Fairhaven in Bellingham, is a wooden, 160-foot schooner built for the Johnson & Johnson family in 1924 and now on the National Historic Register. The Zodiac’s 12-story main mast is the largest on the West Coast.
“The Zodiac is an excellent option for holding organizational events,” says Bob Boroughs, director of marketing and sales. “There is an inherent teambuilding aspect to sailing on the Zodiac. The passengers need to join together to raise the main sail and also the foresail.”
Attendees can be divided into smaller groups and assigned to sailing stations, each supervised by a crew member.
“Everyone on board needs to coordinate and work together to harness the power of the wind to propel this 160-foot, 220-ton windjammer across the Salish Sea,” Boroughs says.
Schooner Zodiac can accommodate up to 49 passengers for day sails. Cocktail or dinner cruises on Bellingham Bay are also available.
Rainforest Excursions
www.olympicnationalparks.com
Lake Quinault Lodge, at the southern gateway to Olympic National Park, organizes extensive tours of the Quinault Rainforest on a 14-person passenger coach replete with an interpretive guide. The nearly four-hour tour includes photo stops as well as short walks and an informative history of the area, including the history of the Quinault Indian Nation. Wildlife sightings may include black bear, Roosevelt elk and a variety of birds.
The lodge also offers interpretive guides for its shorter Maple Glade Trail Rainforest Tour, as well as its boat tours on Lake Quinault for up to 13. Group hikes can be organized for up to 20. Options include the Pony Bridge trail, which leads through old-growth forest and is a short walk to the world’s largest Sitka spruce tree, as determined by the American Forestry Association.
Horseback and Wagon Rides
www.cherrywoodbbandb.com; www.redmountaintrails.com
Experiencing the wines and vines of the Yakima Valley can be organized through Cherry Wood Bed Breakfast and Barn, which offers customized itineraries and private outings with space for up to 12 on its hay wagon ride. The tours stop for up to four wine tastings along the way.
Red Mountain Trails also caters to groups of 12 for its hay rides, but can make special arrangements for larger groups. Horseback rides through the vineyards are for smaller groups, but can be customized as well.
“Our horseback and wagon rides give visitors exclusive access to the vineyards of Red Mountain and vistas they would not be able to experience anywhere else,” says Teresa Owen, owner of Red Mountain Trails.
The company can tailor the experience based on a customer’s request, anything from wine-tasting wagon tours to wagon ride dinners through the vines featuring local wine.
