TRIP PLANNER: LOPEZ ISLAND PG. 80
Modern Ski Suits With Retro Flair
Savory Sablefish Recipes
Washington’s Community Forests
COZY FALL GETAWAYS FOR TWO
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Set atop a hill with 360-degree views of the vibrant Methow Valley, the lodge offers abundant fall colors that light up the landscape.
Somewhere in the Methow Valley, Sun Mountain Lodge (and her visitors) is having its best day. (photo: Sun Mountain Lodge)
WINTHROP
Sun Mountain Lodge Just four hours from Seattle, Sun Mountain Lodge is a cozy fall getaway, blending rustic charm with a touch of luxury. Set atop a hill with 360-degree views of the vibrant Methow Valley, the lodge offers abundant fall colors that light up the landscape. Guests can unwind in rooms featuring fireplaces and soaking tubs with sweeping views, or opt for one of the lakeside cabins. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, the lodge provides horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking opportunities. If you’re lucky, on a clear night, the magic of the Aurora Borealis might make an appearance. {www.sunmountainlodge.com} MORE TO DO: For fall travelers at Sun Mountain Lodge, the Sun Mountain trail network is a must-explore gem with more than 40 miles of trails winding through vibrant meadows and forests. Whether you’re up for a peaceful 4-mile stroll on the Beaver Pond Loop or a thrilling ride on the Black Bear Trail with its stunning views of the Methow Valley and North Cascades, there’s something for everyone. And if you didn’t bring your own wheels, no worries—Sun Mountain Lodge rents out mountain bikes so you can easily hit the trails and soak in the autumn splendor.
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Take an autumn mountain bike ride with your sweetie in the Methow Valley near Winthrop. (photo: Stephen Matera)
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Community forests in Washington preserve the woods while serving local values and needs written and photographed by Daniel O’Neil
Nason Ridge Community Forest offers hiking, occasional old-growth ponderosa pines and views of Lake Wenatchee and the Cascade Range.
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Forests have a natural tendency to unify the diverse. Plants and trees, mammals and birds, and humans from all walks of life can call the same forest home. Rather than just a bunch of trees, a forest is an ecosystem, a web of life. By providing wildlife habitat, wood products, drinking water, carbon sequestration, recreation, a good dose of serenity and plenty more, forests offer innumerable benefits to all involved, especially when managed by and for the common good. Second only to Oregon, Washington is one of the country’s main providers of forest products. Essential for the state’s economy and for the nation’s growth, timber must be cut. But when the value of Washington’s forests is only measured in board feet and in dollars, the forest’s other range of values diminishes, and its ability to cultivate community unravels. Enter Washington’s community forests. Owned and stewarded by and for the local community, the community forest model manages a forest’s many values so that ecosystem health, jobs and logs, access and recreation opportunities can all coexist. The forest stays whole, and all of its communities find what they need in the dominant feature of the Evergreen State. At 95,000 acres, community forestry in Washington looks like a sapling compared to other forestland ownership in the state. But with twenty-three community forests now established, and the purpose, unity and momentum gathering behind this movement, community forestry here has the potential to grow tall and resolute like a legacy cedar.
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trip planner Being one of the smaller islands, Lopez Island is completely manageable on bike.
Lopez Island
A small San Juan Island with a big embrace of small farms and local food written by Ryn Pfeuffer
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Robert Harrison/San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
LOPEZ ISLAND, known as the “Friendly Isle,” is the perfect fall escape with its fiery autumn colors, quiet trails and welcoming community— don’t be surprised when people wave to you from their cars. Whether biking the island’s flat roads, exploring local farms or savoring local crab, clams, mussels or oysters, Lopez offers a laid-back charm that’s hard to resist. Here’s how to make the most of a fall weekend.
Trevor Eiler/San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau Barbara Marrett/San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
Stephanie Forrer/San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT A meander along Iceberg Point. Hyper-local fare from Ursa Minor. Spencer Spit State Park has some of the most highly sought campsites.
Day COTTAGES + CAMPING • COCKTAILS • SUNSET HIKE Start your day with a scenic, thirty-five-minute ferry ride from Anacortes to Lopez Island. Keep an eye out for whales, seabirds and other marine wildlife. Upon arrival, check in at Lopez Farm Cottages, just 2.6 miles from the ferry terminal. This charming, 29-acre organic farm—run by Mariko McKittrick and her husband, Jordy Hamilton (both relocated from Los Angeles in 2021)—features cozy, Scandinavian-style cottages. Enjoy private hot tubs (Cottage #1), pet-friendly accommodations (Cottage #5), gas fireplaces, luxe bathrobes, plush linens and a well-stocked kitchenette. For a more rustic experience, glamp in one of Lopez Farm Cottages’ five wall tents with hammocks and Adirondack chairs or opt for a classic walk-in tent site. These sites share a camp building with hot showers, on-demand hot water, a large fireplace and plenty of picnic tables. There are also a few drive-in sites designed for pickup trucks and vans. And don’t forget to greet the resident felines, Nori and Kombu. Keep in mind that cell service on Lopez Island is generally spotty, with the best coverage near Lopez Village, especially with T-Mobile. Lopez Farm Cottages offers free wifi, but why not use this island escape to disconnect and embrace nature instead? Other camping options include Odlin County Park and Spencer Spit State Park. Odlin County Park offers thirty campsites
with waterfront and forested options, a sandy beach and a boat launch. Campsite #6 is always in hot demand for its privacy and proximity to the beach. Spencer Spit State Park features thirtyseven campsites with views of Lopez Sound and Frost Island, picnic areas, hiking trails and beach access. The walk-in beach sites have the best views, especially numbers 44 through 50. Ease into your evening with a cocktail or glass of wine at Ursa Minor. There are also some knockout nonalcoholic options. While dinner reservations are highly recommended, you might be able to grab a bar seat when the airy, sunlit space first opens. The restaurant hosts Polaris Pop-up on Monday nights with a more casual service style and comfort food fare. After drinks, walk around the block to Setsunai for dinner on its intimate, heated patio. Renowned for its hyper-locally sourced ingredients, chef and founder Josh Ratza offers handmade ramen and udon noodles, rice bowls and the chef ’s eightcourse omakase tasting menu on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are recommended. Unwind after your first day on Lopez Island with a sunset at Iceberg Point. A scenic, 1.5-mile hike leads to this peaceful spot, where the sky lights up in pink, orange and purple. Along the way, watch for bald eagles, seals and grazing deer, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of migrating orcas or gray whales. OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2024
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