Activities

Hiking

We are situated in a beautiful valley with hiking trails all around. We have our own “Loop Trail” which is great for people, horses and 4-wheelers. There is also our steep incline “Deer Run Trail” next to the orchards, which leads to the State Forest – a good morning workout! Just 10 minutes due East is our favorite Boulder Falls hike. Not as well known as the others, this is one of the few State parks where you will find 700-800 year old trees still standing. Boulder Falls is an ideal outdoor adventure: scale the large boulders in the river, see majestic waterfalls and enjoy the family friendly hiking. A perfect place for a picnic lunch.

River Fun

The “Stilly” is just 100 feet from the log cabin and is one of our favorite places on the property. It’s all about having fun!  During the summer this North Fork of the Stilliguamish River runs much slower than in the winter months and makes for great leisurely rafting. There are parts of the river that you can easily walk across and other deeper areas for swimming. It’s cold, but on a hot day, nothing is more fun. At night we build a bonfire and if we’re lucky, Steve will play his guitar.

Wildlife

Imagine waking up and one of the first sites you see is a lovely doe with her dappled fawn. This is a frequent happening on the property. Of course our own dogs make up the majority of the animal entertainment and companionship, along with Nero the Bengal cat. However, there is a Kangaroo Farm just up the road which is home to kangaroos, of course, wallabies, lemurs, llamas, goats, donkeys and much more. Ever feel like kissing a llama? This is your chance. If you’re more in the mood for marine life, call up Island Adventures and head to Anacortes for a several hour Orca whale watching cruise. Eagles and seals are a fringe benefit. Just being in the lair of the San Juan Islands is a something you can check off your bucket list.

Vineyards & Orchards

At the top of Brooks Creek Farm, at elevations of 900-1000 feet our young vineyard sets the stage for the stunning landscape of lavender, roses and one of a kind trees. Set among terraced rockeries and on southern slopes, the vines are thriving. But for a true edible experience we have several varieties of cherries (The Lapin is a favorite), apricots, apples, plums, blueberries and more. There are hops lining the orchard fences just in case someone decides they want to have a go at making a home brew.

Entertainment & Dining

Rhodes River Ranch is an extraordinary facility. Not only is it one of the top Reining horse breeding and training facilities in the country, it is also a commercial operation with an excellent full service restaurant open to the public. Great local bands hit the stage on Fridays and much more. If you want to ride a Nakota Mustang, join Dale Offerman on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons as he shares his talented horses with fellow horse lovers.

The Oyster Bar in Bellingham, WA is one of our favorite places for dinner. The restaurant is literally perched on the mountainside overlooking the Pacific Ocean with fantastic views of the San Juan Islands. Known for their mouthwatering oysters, they also feature some of the best wild game and fresh seafood. The Oyster Bar

Here are some more favorites: Nell Thorn in LaConner  Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage (best Bloody Mary’s we have found)

Woodinville, WA is also another great place for fun. There are over 100 wineries represented in this small community. One of the most well known is Chateau St. Michelle

Fishing

For those of you that have heard of Zane Grey…..one of his books is called Deer Creek (our local creek) and it tells the story of the pioneers of fly fishing right here in Oso. This area was once a top fly fishing mecca. Today there is so much more. Head to Alaska for some halibut and salmon fishing on the inland rivers. There are many companies close by that you can hire to take you salmon fishing in the Pacific. If you prefer to take the naturalist approach and just watch the salmon run just head to the Stilly in the Fall. Don’t forget your cameras as the Bald Eagles have their eyes on their next meal.

Cooking at home

The Pacific Northwest is the land of “Liquid sunshine.” The rain may fall in the winter, but by early summer the gardens and farms are taking off with all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Cooking with colors is my theme and add in the local salmon, halibut, crab and prawns, you have a great meal. However, don’t forget the grass fed beef and lamb that is common to our area. The secret to great gourmet cooking is to simply enhance the extraordinary bounty that nature has provided. Cooking is just one of the rituals we share and I love to have fellow foodies in the kitchen. Now with the new garden, we supply almost all of our own vegetables. Coming fresh from the soil, there is no comparison.