I was probably the last person to know this. But it happens sometimes, even to me.

Here at Northwest Cheapsleeps, we’ve gone on and on for years now about great yurts at state parks in Oregon and Washington. And all along there have sat six shiny yurts in a King County Park just 30 miles or so from my very own home in Seattle. This adorable cluster of yurts are at Tolt MacDonald Park and Campground in Carnation along the west shore of the Snoqualmie River.

The yurts at Tolt are great for families or small groups because they sleep up to seven people. Each has two double futons, a double/single bunk bed, night stand, heat, electricity, deck, picnic table and fire ring. Two of the Tolt MacDonald yurts have wheelchair accessibility. All yurts are located on the west side of the park across the Snoqualmie River. The park provides wagons to haul your stuff to your yurt across the 500-foot suspension bridge that spans the river.

If you haven’t stayed in a yurt, or haven’t even heard of a yurt, you’re probably scratching your head about now. What the heck is a yurt? Hopefully the photo above, provided by King County parks, will give some clarity. These circular, domed tents are made of extra-heavy, durable canvas. Yurts evidently served as traditional shelters for nomadic people in Asia. Now, they’re a comfortable, semi-affordable way to “glam camp.” (Yes, I just made that term up. Please forgive me.) In other words–stay in a yurt, rough it a little less.

Affordable? Certainly. The yurts at Told MacDonald Park are $50 a night. And like I said before, I am obviously one of the last people to know about the existence of these domes. Helen from King County Parks tells me that all weekend dates from now until Labor Day weekend are fully booked already. There are weekday slots available, but reserve soon. For reservations call 206-205-5434 or email regional.scheduling@kingcounty.gov.

I know an awful lot of hikers.  After all, this is my day job. To many of these hiker types, a “cheap sleep” is their tent. And in truth, a tent is probably the cheapest sleep of all. But it’s not a top choice for everyone, all the time. Sometimes after an exhilarating, sweaty hike I want nothing more than a hot shower, a cold beer and a soft bed. You with me?

There’s perhaps no better way to experience the natural splendor of our incredible outdoor landscapes in the Pacific Northwest than hiking.  And the good news is, even a soft-bed enthusiast can hike a mountain or enjoy a beach stroll without ever setting foot (or head) in a tent. Last month I penned an article for Washington Trails magazine titled Cheap Sleeps and Day Hikes. You can read it here. For three of the state’s great hiking regions (Mount Adams, the Methow Valley and the Olympic rainforest) the article divulges spectacular spring day hike suggestions paired alongside good and even great cheap sleeps nearby. Check it out.  And just for you, just right here, I’m adding a fourth region–the state’s best springtime hiking destination for wildflowers, wildlife and vistas– desert landscapes of Central Washington.

Both Washington and Oregon have large swaths of desert steppe country east of the Cascades. Colorful in places and intensely stark in others, these canyons and sagelands have lightly-treaded trails that provide much-needed relief for spring fever. This time of year, the steppe is warmer, drier, and under far less snow than the Cascades and Olympics. If you’ve not experienced the immense beauty of the steppe, you’ll be dazzled by the colorful wildflowers, musical migratory birdlife and mild temps. Go from now through mid-May for the best displays of wildflowers.  I particularly like some of the trails south of Ellensburg and north of Yakima. Oh, and an added bonus of hiking in this region? Wine tasting after your hike!

Where to Hike

Black Canyon L.T. Murray Wildlife Area southwest of Ellensburg. 7 miles RT, 1250 feet gain.

Avid birdwatchers probably wish they could keep this special trail all  to themselves for the nesting Western Bluebirds, Yellow-breasted Chats and occasional Lewis’ Woodpecker. But the word has gotten out about this stunning canyon, with its hillsides of colorful flowers and black basalt cliffs. As with all of these desert hikes, tread carefully to protect the vegetation and avoid stepping on a rattlesnake. Oh, and check for ticks when you return to your car. For more information on this hike, visit WTA’s online hiking guide.

Umtanum Canyon L.T. Murray Wildlife Area south of Ellensburg. 6 miles RT, 700 feet gain.

A perennial favorite of mine, the trail into Umtanum canyon starts across a huge suspension bridge over the gently rushing Yakima River and slowly winds its way up along Umtanum Creek. Look up the steep hillsides for possible sightings of Prairie Falcons (they nest here) and bighorn sheep. A handful of tent sites make an overnight hike a possibility.  For more information on this hike, visit WTA’s online hiking guide.

Whiskey Dick Washington Dept Fish & Wildlife land northeast of Ellensburg. 8 miles RT, 1750 feet gain.

If you’ve never seen the brilliant and fluorescent fuchsia-hued flowers of the hedgehog cactus, this is your next hike. If you hit the blooms at the right time, wildflowers carpet the desert floor before you, from the top of the ridge down to the coulee bottom. Blooms to spot include balsamroot, phlox, lupine, daisies and rock penstamon. For more information on this hike, visit WTA’s online hiking guide.

Where to Sleep

Ellensburg makes a great base for exploring these three desert trails. You’ll get the most warm hospitality for your money at the quaint Wren’s Nest Bed and Breakfast, a 1912 beautiful craftsman home right in the heart of town. Marcia’s gourmet breakfasts are legendary and bring visitors back again and again. Rates are $95 – $110 nightly, no kids under 14 and no pets. Contact: www.wrensnest.com or 509.925.9061.

For the more adventurous, choose yourself a uniquely-themed room at the Inn at Goose Creek in Ellensburg. Are you a sports enthusiast? You’ll feel right at home in the sports fan room, complete with basketball hoop, tennis balls and trophies. Are you a Christmas fanatic? There’s a room for you, too, complete with a decorated tree, Santa and holiday music. Rates are $89 – $129 nightly and your stay includes a continental breakfast. No pets, but children are welcome. Contact: www.innatgoosecreek.com or 509.962.8030.

Near Yakima, check out the Apple Country Bed and Breakfast on the Old Naches Hwy. During harvest season, your delicious breakfast is likely to include a special treat made with one of the several varieties of apples grown on the property. Rates are $79 – $95. Contact: www.applecountryinnbb.com or 509.972.3409.

Looking for a kid-friendly B&B? Head to Orchard Inn B&B set in a charming cherry orchard in Yakima, in full bloom in April. Your fabulous breakfast is served in a sunny room overlooking the orchard–enjoy dishes like baked French toast stuffed with apricots from a tree right outside your window. Rates are $109 – $129. Contact: www.orchardinnbb.com or 509.966.1283.

Photo credits: Hiker on Umtanum Ridge by Rik_C. Balsomroot in bloom by Eldan. Hedgehog cactus flowers by brewbooks.

Have you ever been on a hiking trail and thought, “I wonder how this got here?” Look at the trail the next time you go on a hike–really look at it, and notice the footbridges, boardwalk, rock steps, and switchbacks. Whether you’re at Mount Rainier or the Hoh rainforest, that trail under your boots was built by someone, probably several people, and is likely maintained regularly by hard-working volunteers in brightly-colored hardhats.

Last year, volunteers with the Washington Trails Association (WTA) logged over 90,000 hours building and maintaining hiking trails on public lands. Many of those generous volunteers spent their vacation–yes their vacation–helping these trails. WTA hosts Volunteer Vacations all over the state.

Inexpensive? Check. Beautiful location? Check. Totally unique? Check. Incredibly rewarding? Check!

Imagine taking a Volunteer Vacation to a place like this: the trail to Hart Lake in the Glacier Peak Wilderness near Lake Chelan.

WTA’s Volunteer Vacations are extended trail maintenance work parties, lasting a whole week.  The first of 42 Volunteer Vacations scheduled for this summer begins March 27 on the Hoh Rainforest Trail in Olympic National Park. Enormous towering trees, rich moss-covered forest canopy, perhaps some dappled sunlight and the gentle calling of the Hoh River. Does it get any better?

So, what can you expect on a WTA Volunteer Vacation? There will be great meals, chats by the campfire, and llamas for companions. You might find yourself lingering over your lunch on a sun-drenched granite ridge top, awed by the natural scenery around you. Maybe you’ll form some friendships with kindred spirits that last a lifetime. Perhaps you will encounter a wild animal you have longed to observe, or make great strides in your plant identification skills. Oh, and you’ll probably want to hike a little, too. They give you a whole day off just to do that, like these folks did on a Volunteer Vacation to the Upper Stehekin Valley in North Cascades National Park.

And you will most definitely be making a difference, a contribution to hiking trails that will serve generations of hikers to come. That’s right, there’s some work involved– the “volunteer” part. Your crew might be responsible for building a new bridge across a stream, or restoring a damaged alpine meadow. You might be logging out a trail littered with downed trees after winter storms, or building a rock wall to support a slumping portion of trail. And after all that work each day, you’ll be ready to eat.

It’s a real community out there on a WTA Volunteer Vacation, and everyone contributes. In the morning and in the evening, everyone takes turns sharing in-camp chores like helping the cook, washing dishes and pumping water. But there will be plenty of time left over to sleep under the stars, eat and eat some more, explore, and relax.

No prior trail experience is necessary to take a Volunteer Vacation with WTA. There are variety of trips to choose from. Some are strenuous (vacationers backpack in to the work site carrying their own tent, sleeping bag and other personal gear.) Some are car camps.  WTA packs in the food, tools and other supplies on horses or llamas. A Volunteer Vacation with WTA costs only $165 ($125 for WTA members) and includes all your food, tools, and training.

So, where will you be spending your summer vacation?

More information: http://www.wta.org/trail-news/volunteer/vacations

Volunteer Vacations for youth: http://www.wta.org/trail-news/volunteer/youth

All photos are courtesy of Washington Trails Association.

By now you’ve probably heard about the wildly-popular cedar cabins for rent at Cama Beach State Park on Washington’s Camano Island. They’re such a hot commodity that if you don’t already have reservations to rent one this summer, you probably won’t be going. A Cama Beach employee recently posted on Northwest Cheapsleep’s Facebook page that “there are only a handful of one night stays during the summer left.” Hmmm….I guess now is the time to book your autumn or winter 2010 stay at Cama Beach State Park! Note that rates just inched up once again; 2010 rental rates range from $23 – $95 per night.

For those of you lucky enough to have an upcoming trip planned to Cama Beach, we’ve got some tips to help you make the most of your cabin stay. My sister Lesley just returned from a quiet, peaceful three-night stay in a waterfront cabin, and has shared her impressions and practical tips with us. Thanks, Lesley!

My overall impression of the cabins at Cama Beach State Park? They live up to the hype. This is an incredible escape during the off-season months.  The value is simply sensational (our deluxe waterfront cabin was just $41 a night–about half the price we’d have paid in the summer months).

This is not luxury living; a basic cabin stay at Cama Beach is just a notch or two up from a deluxe camping trip, but the amenities sure feel like luxuries during the winter months compared to winter camping:  an actual roof over your head, heat, on-demand hot water, electricity, and refrigeration. If you’re looking to keep a few more of the conveniences of home, the Deluxe cabins offer a great value at just a few additional dollars per night over the Basic cabins.  In addition to all that the Basic cabins provide, the Deluxe cabins have a bathroom with a shower, a phone, and internet access. 

We were blessed with mild and mostly dry weather during our February visit. We also enjoyed plenty of solitude–there were only a handful of other visitors there during our stay. The cards and board games we brought along came in handy, and we spent a lot of time sitting outside, taking in the views and the water, or stargazing at night.  Even in poor weather, we would’ve had an excellent vantage point for the view; the kitchen table looks out the front window right onto the beach. I wished there were a covered front porch large enough to sit on, though.

The price of these cabins literally doubles in the summer months, which slightly diminishes the value for me.  The park is far more crowded then, too.  Personally, I’d rather camp in a tent in the summer. I think Cama Beach is particularly attractive to families in the summer because  your kids will have other kids to play with, the Park sponsors educational programs, and you can grill out. And to stay on the beach an hour from Seattle, what more can you ask for, really?

If you go, here are a few practical tips.

• There are no cars allowed near the cabins. You’ll park your car at one of several parking lots up on a hill above the waterfront. There is a shuttle van available during “business” hours (ending at 6pm) that will cart you and your stuff down to the beach.  To get the shuttle, you may have to call a number provided to you in your check-in materials, and it will pick you up at the upper parking lot with your luggage and take you to your cabin.
• Will you arrive after 6pm? Be prepared to carry your luggage down a steep, possibly wet hill, possibly in the dark, to your cabin.  Luckily, we didn’t pack a lot and were able to fit everything in the provided cart (kind of like a giant wheelbarrow) and on our backs, but we were tempted to bring more, which would’ve required two trips.
• Be sure to bring warm bedclothes and warm pajamas in the winter and shoulder seasons.  Though there is electric heat in the cabin, the heat is in the living space and in the bathroom; there is no heat wall unit in the bedroom.  And, the cabin is not insulated in any way, as far as I could tell.
• You may want to bring earplugs to sleep, especially during a busy time of year.  The walls are just thin wood and actually seem to resonate the noises inside.  We were clearly able to hear our neighbors in the cabin next door as they talked, walked, and scooted chairs across the floor.  Also, keep this in mind when you are making noise yourself.
• You are expected to clean the cabin upon leaving, which includes wiping off surfaces and sweeping and mopping the floor.  Be prepared and allow time to do this.  Cleaning supplies are provided.
• If you don’t want to use a microwave to cook, you are limited to eating cold food, grilling outside, using your campstove outside (though there aren’t a lot of places to set it up), or being more creative.  That’s right – the cabins have no stove. We brought our trusty electric tea kettle and were making tea and coffee, instant oatmeal, instant soup, etc.  There are some strict rules about appliances you are able to bring. Though electric kettles are not on the forbidden list, they may be looked down upon.  We kept ours under wraps! There is a rather large refrigerator in each unit with a real freezer.
• What is there to do? There are board games available to check out at the Welcome Center. In the summer, there are boating workshops, boat rentals, horseshoe rings, and educational programs for kids.
• Camano Island State Park next door is a very beautiful excursion if Cama Beach State Park is feeling too limited.  The beach there is much longer and there are plenty of hiking trails.

Contact Cama Beach State Park at (360) 387-1550, or visit their website.

I spent my recent birthday at the day spa, sweating away in a vat of minerals. Now, this isn’t a regular occurrence for me. It was a total treat. But I realized something. It should be a regular occurrence. Because the healing power of hot, bubbly water on a mess of stress is, well–pretty amazing!

Fortunately, the Pacific Northwest is pretty close to paradise for the geothermal-inclined. Here are a few fun overnight destinations for natural hotspring-dipping:

Breitenbush Hot Springs Breitenbush retreat center is a worker-owned co-op community on 154 acres of wildlife sanctuary in the Willamette National Forest of the Oregon Cascades. They offer relaxing pools, yoga, meditation, hiking trails, and more. It is simple and rustic, but not uncomfortable. Take a tour of their website to get a feel for whether or not this place is for you. Lodging ranges from dormitory-style to cabins with private baths, and rates are $61 – $115 per person, which includes all meals (organic, vegetarian) and 24-hour access to the hot springs. Bring your own bedding, towels and toiletries, and leave pets and laptops at home. Reservations required. Contact: www.breitenbush.com, office@breitenbush.com, or 503.854.3320.

Lehman Hot Springs It’s one of Oregon’s oldest hot springs resorts, enveloped in green by the  Umatilla National Forest. Lehman offers variety, both in its lodging choices (from nice lodge rooms to RV spots) and pool temperatures, so there is more or less something for everyone here. Rates range from $12 for camping to $95 double occupancy for a lodge room or small cabin. Contact: www.lehmanhotsprings.com, info@lehmanhotsprings.com, or 541-427-3015.

Carson Hot Spring Resort On the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge is this no-frills hot springs resort where a little money goes a long way. The towels aren’t particularly generous or fluffy, but the water is hot and the soaking tubs are private.  The massages and wraps are a steal. A king-bed room here is just $75, double occupancy. Contact: www.carsonhotspringresort.com, carsonhs@hotmail.com, or 1-800-607-3678.

Pssst… if Carson Hot Spring Resort  just isn’t your thing, the nearby luxurious Bonneville Hot Springs Resort has rooms starting at $179 a night.

So, where’s your favorite Northwest hot spring?

Photo: Breitenbush hot spring pool by Sparkle Glowplug.

I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus lately. My goal is to post once a week, and it’s been three since I last posted. And although I would love to say it’s because I’ve been chillaxin in some remote corner of the Pacific Northwest with no internet access in site, that would be a lie. I’ve been at home, just feeling a bit under the weather, which has been hard, because the weather has been pretty awesome.  But it did give me a chance to catch up on some reading. And I’ve been reading about Lake Chelan.

If you look at a map of Washington state, you will notice a long sliver of water right in the north central part of the state, bordered on its west side by the Wenatchee National Forest. Lake Chelan is actually an eighty mile long glacial valley, and for most of its length lies deeper than the Grand Canyon. This fjord-like lake is fed by more than 100 Cascade glaciers, filling it with water is that crystal clear and deeply blue. Its banks rise steeply towards the glacier-capped, rugged peaks of the North Cascades, resulting in a truly dramatic landscape.

The lake’s south end, including the town of Chelan, is more developed. Just a 3-hour drive from both Seattle and Spokane, the lake’s south end offers orchards, wineries, golfing, boating, swimming, and hiking. However, a little bit of quiet is hard to find with the roar of a jet ski always in the distance. This post is about the lake’s north end, where most of the landscape is wild, and all of it is remote, with the quiet villages of Stehekin and Holden accessible only by boat.

Life slows down the minute you walk onto the Lady of the Lake boat ferry in the town of Chelan to begin your journey north on the water. (Round trip ferry rates are $34 – $39 per person. Click here for the schedule and here for a list of what you can and cannot take with you on board the vessel.)

All who have to do after that is decide where to get off the boat.

Slow down in Stehekin. The remote and picturesque town of Stehekin is reached only by boat, floatplane, horseback or hiking boot–which explains why there are only about 100 full-time residents! Come summer, though, the village is crawling with visitors, including thru-hikers that take a much-needed rest here as they make their way north on the Pacific Crest Trail.  You’ll find a few good places to stay in Stehekin, though none as cheap as the tent you could pitch along a nearby trail. My top pick is the Stehekin Mountain Cabin which sleeps seven for $90 a night. It’s a screaming deal. The best-known accommodation is the Stehekin Landing Resort, part of the North Cascades National Park complex, where you can get a very basic room in the summer high season for $112 a night. The “resort” has a restaurant and general store. Also run by the Courney Family is the Stehekin Valley Ranch, where a perfectly acceptable tent cabin and all meals runs about $95 a person (an adult person, that is–kids are cheaper).

Retreat to the Wilderness. Holden Village is a year-round Lutheran wilderness retreat center about 11 miles up into the mountains from the Lucerne landing dock. Situated on the edge of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, this retreat village has so much to do regardless of your religious denomination, from art projects to crafts to spiritual renewal to wilderness exploration. It’s a day hiker’s dream come true, with several stunning trails departing from the village into the Glacier Peak Wilderness. While at Holden, you are invited to find your own pace and pursue your own unique renewal and interests. But don’t expect to connect with the outside world – Holden has no phones or television, no cell phone reception, and limited radio. Rates are about $70 per person (cheaper for kids) and all delicious meals are included in your stay.  Holden is not a resort, it’s a community. (NOTE: The Holden Village folks also operate Holden Bed and Breakfast, a fabulous deal at $30 per person, but this is separate from the Village and instead accessible by road from the town of Chelan.)

Take a hike. Looking for a totally unique way to experience Lake Chelan? Hike the lakeshore! The Chelan Lakeshore Trail is a 17.5 mile backpack, and perhaps the only trailhead in Washington state that requires a 20-mile boat ride. Begin your backpack adventure at Prince Creek and make it a 2-3 day journey to, pitching your tent at fabulous lake view campsites along the way to Stehekin,  where you will board the Lady of the Lake once again for the return trip to Chelan. It is also possible to take the boat to Moore Point and dayhike 6.8 miles to Stehekin, which some feel is the best part of the trail – you can overnight at the campground in town or stay in the lodge. Make sure to consult the boat schedule carefully! If you are up for a really unique adventure, consider a Volunteer Vacation with Washington Trails Association – they host several working vacation trips in the north Lake Chelan area each year.

Photo of the Lady of the Lake by Kingfox.

Photo of hikers along Lake Chelan by Dan..

When my subscription issue of Sunset magazine arrives in our mailbox each month, my husband knows just what to do. He leaves me alone! It takes a good couple of hours sprawled out on the couch for me to make my way through a new issue. I pore over the home decor ideas, daydream about travel destinations, take detailed notes for my garden, and plan out meals from the recipes.

It’s true, I’m a HUGE Sunset magazine fan, and so of course was overjoyed to see my May issue arrive yesterday, on a Saturday. A day when I actually had some time to sit around and read a magazine! And, this month’s cover story is on one of my favorite topics–camping!

Fifty campgrounds were selected as the best places to pitch a tent in the West. I have no bones to pick with their list – the writers clearly did their homework. Not only does the article recommend great sites, it tells you how to book your reservation and has great tips on scoring even the most popular sites (hint – it’s a little like getting tickets to a rock concert that you know will sell out within minutes). Never been camping before? The May issue of Sunset also has an illustrated guide to all the gear you will need as a beginning camper, from your sleeping bag to a quality first-aid kit.

I often camp at least a night or two when I travel throughout the West–from hiking trips in southern Utah to visiting family in New Mexico–and I admit I’ve struck out more than once.  For instance, we once made an unplanned stop for the night at a remote National Forest campground in southwest Idaho. It was already a bit crowded with some nice folks on a religious retreat, but they made room for us. The problem? They spent the better part of the night speaking in tongues. Then there was that time I booked a waterfront campsite on Lopez Island for our wedding anniversary, only to discover upon our arrival that each campsite was about 10×10 feet in size and separated from each other by a thin string of rope. Of course, we were sandwiched between a family of six on one side and a group of high school boys on the other. Great view? You bet! Romantic? Not so much.

Needless to say, I will now be keeping Sunset’s list close by as a reference so I’ll know just where to go!

One thing that really impressed me about their list is the variety of campgrounds they highlighted – from geography to topography, from state parks to national parks. Also, several are quite off the beaten path. I’ve been to a good many of their recommendations here in the Pacific Northwest, and they are all campgrounds I would gladly return to. Here are a few unexpected picks that stood out on their list:

OREGON: Strawberry Campground, Malheur National Forest. Only 11 campsites at 5700 feet! Right near the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. This is a great area of the state for hiking, and a perfect side trip if you are headed in this direction for the John Day Fossil Beds or to go birdwatching at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

WASHINGTON: Lone Fir Campground, Okanogan National Forest. This campground is off Highway 20 in the Methow Valley, west of Mazama. Although this campground is not far off the highway, its beautiful and is in a great location for nearby hiking trails into North Cascades National Park and the Pasayten Wilderness. The only drawback is it tends to melt out a little late in the season.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Nairn Falls Provincial Park, north of Whistler. This campground makes my list not because I’ve been there before, but because I hope to go! I hear the hiking in this region is phenomenal.

For more great budget travel ideas, I keep up with the Sunset Traveler blog. It’s in my blogroll to the right, in case you hadn’t found it already.

Happy camping!

Photo: That’s Brian setting up camp at a lovely spot in the Escalante region in southern Utah.

It’s hardly a secret that I’m a bird nerd. In fact, I hold a locally-esteemed title, “Master Birder,” obtained after a year of study and classes with Seattle Audubon where I learned such things as the paritization habits of the female Redhead duck and how to definitively tell a Lesser Yellowlegs from a Greater Yellowlegs. And yet, I haven’t been “birding,” save for seeing the occasional chickadee or Steller’s Jay in my backyard, for a good long while.

Maybe, then, I should head over to the Washington state coast this weekend for the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. If I do, it is almost guaranteed I’ll have the chance to try out my ID skills on some Greater Yellowlegs!

Truth be told, you don’t have to be a Master Birder, or anything close to it, to thoroughly enjoy the hundreds of thousands of northbound migrating shorebirds that make a pitstop in the Grays Harbor estuary each Spring. You will, however, need a pair of binoculars, a spotting scope, and a map that will get you to such bird-rich locales as Bowerman Basin and the Sandpiper Trail. A good field guide is an essential, too; I recommend the National Geographic guide to the birds of North America. No spotting scope? You will likely meet other birdwatchers along the way, often with their scopes already perfectly focused on a Ruddy Turnstone or Semipalmated Plover, and it’s always okay to politely ask to take a peak through a fellow birdwatcher’s scope.

For a day or two of coastal birdwatching, plan for varied weather. It may be warm and sunny, but it could be chilly and rainy. You will most certainly want to dress warmly, preferably in layers that you can shed as the day warms up. Having good rain gear on hand is essential. Wear sturdy boots, like hiking boots, over wool socks to keep your feet dry. Most birders carry their field guides and a notebook to take field notes in a waterproof satchel or backpack. Bring plenty of water to drink and snacks to munch on, and pack a thermos filled with a warm beverage like coffee or cocoa to warm up with between stops.

When to go see shorebirds? As The Olympian’s outdoors writer Chester Allen so aptly pointed out, the shorebirds stick around for several weeks after the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, so for the best shot at seeing the greatest numbers and varieties of migrating shorebirds in and around Gray’s Harbor County, plan your trip for sometime between now and mid-May.

Where to stay? The Glennacres Historic Inn in Westport is a terrific comfy choice on this part of the coast for the choosy cheap sleeper. Lovingly-decorated rooms range from $50 – $75 a night and include a generous dose of warm hospitality. Call 1-800-996-3048 or click here for reservations.

Shorebirds on the Washington Coast by Steve Voght.