During the sunny, warmer months, citizens of the Northwest find as many opportunities to get outdoors as possible. One of the best ways to enjoy the sunshine and soak in some music is by visiting a few of the many bluegrass, folk, Americana, and other local music festivals scattered throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. […]
Summer Festival Guide: Hit the Road for Some Music in the Mountains Read More »
If you’re waiting for warmer temperatures or mellow river conditions to book a river trip, don’t. Floating lazily down the river on 80 degree days in sandals and board shorts is pretty nice, but waiting also means you’re missing out on some of the season’s biggest, thrilling whitewater. It’s a secret that’s kept many seasoned
Big Water, Big Fun: Early Season Rafting on Inland NW Rivers Read More »
For all of its 37 years, a special group of men and women has held Spokane’s 7.46 mile Lilac Bloomsday Run sacred. Since 1996, a Bloomsday tradition has been to honor these perennials—now 99 people strong—who have completed every race since its inception. Without fail, despite significant personal hardships and challenges, and because of their
One Race, 37 Years: Meet the Bloomsday Perennials Read More »
Your Guide to Indoor Fun and Fitness for the Fall Shoulder Season Resist the urge to hibernate during the colder, grayer “shoulder season.” Perhaps easier said than done. After all, it’s often too ______ (fill-in-the-blank with current nasty weather condition) for ________ (whatever you most like to do outside). And there’s not enough snow in
CrossFit has quite the reputation for being extreme, causing injuries and making women “buff”. However, it is also described as friends, fitness and fun, like when you were a kid, “running around, jumping, playing.” So, what is the reality? As a proven awkward klutz, I am a walking testimony that CrossFit isn’t just for the
Is CrossFit for you? Read More »
By: Bradley Beck, Robin Hartikainen, Derrick Knowles and Erika Prins Autumn in the Inland Northwest is prime hiking time. The summer heat has passed, there are fewer people out on the trails, and the combination of fall colors, crisp air, and birds and other wildlife preparing for winter can make for an exhilarating hiking experience.
By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Camping provides rituals for family bonding: the road trip, meals around the picnic table, playtime, and the campfire. Days stretch long for children to immerse themselves in nature. It’s as transformative as it is fun. “Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events
Six Kid-Friendly Campgrounds Read More »
Amy McCaffree Amy (Silbernagel) McCaffree enjoys paddling, camping, biking, hiking, alpine skiing, and gardening. She is the Out There Kids columnist and has been writing for OTO since 2006. Amy has a MFA in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University and lives in Spokane with her husband and their two children. View Articles Connect Carol
MY DAUGHTER SCORES a hat-trick in a soccer game. Girl on the other teams says to her, “You’re gonna need those goals.” My daughter wants to know, “Was that girl being mean to me?” How do you explain trash talk to a seven-year-old? Or that her best teammate from last year was “poached” by a
Editorial: Open Letter To The Soccer Gods Read More »
Spokane Area Students Learn How to Bike Safely Keep your eyes out for a string of bicyclists practicing left turns, riding on neighborhood streets, and looking at intersections around schools. Physical education classes for 5th through 8th graders will look different this spring. Middle school students in 6 school districts will be learning how to
Students learn how to bike safely! Read More »
