From the Editor: Making summer memories close to home

This summer, with gas prices high, many families may rethink faraway travel plans and opt for shorter day trips to destinations closer to home. Fortunately, we live in an area that offers plenty of family-friendly destinations. Mountains, saltwater beaches, lakes, rivers, parks, campgrounds, zoos, museums, farms, and farmer's markets are all easily available to us, many right in our neighborhoods. And Pacific Northwesterners don't need much coaxing to get outside and enjoy the summer weather once it finally arrives.

Our family always enjoyed day trips to Mount Rainier, just a couple of hours from home. We'd pack a picnic and drive round the mountain, with stops for short hikes or to throw rocks in the raging White River. Mt. St. Helens can also be visited in a day, but if you can, take more time to explore this fascinating "laboratory" where life renews itself on nature's timetable.

On longer road trips, our family would find a city park where we'd have lunch and let the children play. In Missoula, Montana, the city park offered a great wading pool-a cool respite from the hot car. One memorable trip found us in a city park in tiny Crawford, Nebraska, which was being readied for the Fourth of July. Local patriots decorated the bandstand with red, white, and blue buntings, and boys lined up picnic tables, ready for the community celebration the next day. We wished we could stay and join in the old-fashioned fun. Check out our special events calendar.

On a summer's evening, you might have found our family at Coulon Park by Lake Washington, again enjoying a picnic, letting the kids run free and play hard until just before bath and bedtime. Many city parks offer free concerts on weeknights-a great way for the whole family to unwind.

Another fun and free outing on a summer's night is watching softball or Little League teams play at local parks. Of course, a trip to Safeco Field for a Mariner's game is a real treat, but local teams also offer exciting games closer to home.

Western Washington offers many great saltwater beaches where families can explore the world of sea creatures at low tide.

Summer means visiting a U-pick farm to pick berries or buy produce. Many local farms offer children's activities, picnic areas, or other family attractions. Or visit a farmer's market-more crop up each year in the greater Puget Sound region. The sights, sounds, and smells of a lively farmer's market make you want to eat healthy, fresh food! Encourage your children to sample and choose vegetables and fruits at the market or on the farm, and you won't have food fights later.

Don't forget the simple summer delights of your own neighborhood. You could even leave the car at home and just take a walk, and enjoy each other's company.