Bear Center, Pullman WA

One of our favorite places to visit (and it's free) is the Bear Center or for us - The Bears. WSU houses a research facility that studies Grizzly Bears. The bears live in a large enclosed space that is easily viewed by the public. There is a parking lot and it's open to the public much of the time (just don't leave your car unattended just in case parking services comes).
The bears are located on the corner of Grimes Way and Pullman Airport Rd. It's easier to access them from the airport road than from the campus road.
If you love the visit - leave some change in the parking meter. The department also sells t-shirts.
Go here for directions and here for everything else.

Cafe Moro, Pullman Washington

It comes to no surprise that Pullman is the home of many coffee shops. Seems to me that coffee is synonimous with Washington. We take our coffee drinks very seriously. We have those who prefer it just black and others who want it with milk, flavor, and so much other stuff that the coffee is barely detected. You, almost, can't spit without hitting a coffee shop. The shops are always in use and some days so full that you have no choice but to take your coffee to go.
I'll share more coffee shops with you over the next month but Cafe Moro holds a special place in my heart. It's a small independently owned cafe that has the most friendly staff (to be honest I don't think I've found a place with unfriendly staff but that's not the point).
What attracted me to Cafe Moro is the creativity in which they have created their signature drinks. The flavor combinations are fantastic. Our summer favorite has been the limeade with matcha (green tea). It's a funky smoothie type drink but it's got amazing flavor.
I will admit that Cafe Moro is a little pricey but not overly so. I usually spend $4 when I get a drink there (probably less than Starbucks now that I think about it.)
What I love best is it's artsy feel and cozy spaces. I hear they have concerts so I guess I may share this place once more when I finally attend one.
Check out their website.

Lily Bees

Lily Bees is one of those places that can entertain anyone. We like walking Main street on a Saturday and stopping in here to see what's new. It is a consignment shop but specializes more in antiques and collectibles. There's a great clothing section in the back. I can go in here with my husband and son. More often than not, I'm ready to go before they are which amazes me because it's often the other way around. It's just a fun place to go.
Find them on facebook.

Hero's and Sports, Pullman Washington

Over the next month, it is my plan to share some of the best places for students to visit. So many places get overlooked because they are not as flashy or as accessible. That doesn't mean you shouldn't make the effort, in most cases you will be well rewarded.
Hero's and Sports is a little (and I mean little) sandwich shop on Kamiaken. It sits at the end of the Pufferbelly Depot (not really a part of the depot) next to the river.

It's more of a carry-out sort of place with limited seating at the restaurant. During warm days, you can sit outside but those days will soon be limited.

It may seem strange to get excited about a sandwich shop but Hero's and Sports does the best sandwiches around. You can get them hot or cold, with soup or salad. They also serve wraps and paninis (which are just other types of sandwiches). They do deliver for a small fee. I can't tell you why you need to try them but once you do you'll understand. They are open 11-8pm Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 11 to 5pm. They have their take away menus outside when they are closed so you can grab one for future reference.

The Students are back

August 22 marks the start of the fall semester here at WSU. It also marks the changing from Summer activities to Fall activities. There are many places that cut back during the summer because the students make up a bulk of Pullman and Moscow's populations. This means that businesses have longer hours, some are now open but for those looking for things to do it means an increase of free and inexpensive events in the community. I'll be posting events as I find them. There are a number of cultural events that are certainly worth the expense as well as a plethora of free activities.
Unfortunately, parking is always a problem on campus but after 5 many of the parking lots open up to the public for free and many of the parking structures offer reduced rates. If you can, take the bus and save the parking for others.

Lentil Festival, Pullman Wa Part Two

If you're in the area, come to Pullman tonight and get your free lentil chili. Tomorrow promises to be an even better day (but no chili). We're planning to attend the Lentil Pancake Breakfast in the Cougar Plaza starting at 8 am. The cost is $7 for those over 12 and $5 for those under (with those real young ones getting in free but I can't remember the age cut off). This is the first year we've gone to the breakfast so I can't tell you how it's going to be. Sounds like they have a great menu.
After breakfast, the parade on main street starts at 11 am. This is really some of the real fun of the festival. The entries are silly and amazing.





The parade is long and there is some waiting for slow participants but there's plenty to keep you entertained.
Follow the parade to Reaney park for the rest of the days festivities.
There's booths set up to sell you lentil inspired wares (not all booths have lentils but a number of them will). Set the kids free at the kids activities and sit back and watch the entertainment from the stage. If you're looking for more activity try the 3 on 3 basketball tournament, the skate competition or the softball tournament at the playfields. At 2 there's the lentil cook-off tasting. Get a free sample of the top entries and help choose this year's winner. There's a microbrew tent for those who want to cool off with a beer. Lots of things for everyone to do.





Check out their website for more information.

I want to close with my favorite picture from last year's fun. This little girl had just finished the parade and walked with the Health Department and their Healthy Veggies.

Lentil Festival - Pullman Washington

The Palouse region is one of the few areas in the US that grows dry peas and lentils. We are also the home of the US Dry Pea and Lentil Council. Every year people gather in Pullman to celebrate this little legume with a fun weekend festival.
Today I will share friday activities and on Friday, I'll share Saturday's fun with you. There's a golf tournament on Sunday but since I don't play golf I don't have any fun pictures.
Most of the activities are free to the public so come and enjoy.
Friday - come downtown for the world's largest bowl of lentil chili. The chili is free (except you could be in line for a little bit) but many groups sell cornbread along the street. There are tons of activities as various organizations share their information. There will be additional food for sale. There have been bouncy castles and the like and some years they have been free. I can't say they'll be free this year and the lentil festival site is not sharing that information.

The Mayor helps serve the chili. Here, he's taken a moment to talk with the media about the event. If you haven't meet Glenn Johnson - he's a really nice guy and does a lot of great service to the community.

Bouncy Castle

View from the Red Cross booth - check them out. I'll be there at 8:30 Friday to share information.

Wawawai park

Just south of Pullman is Wawawai County Park. This is a wonderful little park that has so much to offer.
There is some camping at the park but we haven't taken advantage of it. We go down to forage for blackberries and attempt to catch some fish in the little inlet from the Snake River.
The fishings not great in the park but it's pretty and it's fun. There's better fishing on the river and great swimming.
The park has a few amenities - picnic areas, bathrooms, and running water.
Getting there is easy, Go south on Wawawai rd (turn right when the road ends) and it goes right to the park and the river.
There's plenty of free parking and free camping along the river.
For more information, check out their website.

Hamilton Lowe Aquatic Center - Moscow, ID

Every August we make a trip over the border to spend a day that the "Waterpark". It confuses most people because they can't think of where there's a waterpark in the area but if I said we were going to the Aquatic Center, my family thinks of the one up on Military Hill. It's a never ending cycle.
Needless to say, this is a big deal in our family. I don't know why we only do it once a year because the price is really reasonable ($4-5 a person). We started going once a year because we lived so far away but now that we live in Pullman, it's a really short trip.
I can't tell you enough good things about this place except that I forgot my camera and it made me start my day out frustrated. So I'm going to borrow some pics from their site to share.
This is really a place for everyone. It does get crowded but not that bad (we went to Silverwood the next day and I tell you crowded has a whole new meaning).
So what make's Hamilton Lowe so perfect - They have two slides (one that takes innertubes) for the bigger kids, a lazy river and a play structure for the smaller kids. The lap pool offers diving, basketball and the occasional blow-up obstacle course. There are shaded areas for sitting, a picnic area and even a BBQ grill. For the price, you can't do better. For more info, visit their site.

Cowgirl Chocolates - Moscow, ID

Around here local chocolate has a different sort of kick. Cowgirl Chocolates are amazingly smooth candies with a hint or a punch of spice. What makes them different is that Cowgirl Chocolates have pepper in them. You can get them in mild or hot (we're weeny and always get mild) but they are absolutely fun.
You can buy Cowgirl Chocolates at some of the local stores but you need to stop in to the actual shop on third to get the full effect. They offer free samples and fun little cards that explain the flavors. I had never expected chocolate to have so many flavors. The spice adds to the fun.
If chocolate is not your thing or you want to try something more- try the caramels. They don't come in mild - just Habanaro or Chipotle. They have caramel sauces and so much more than they have listed on their website. It's really an adventure. Buy some daisies for your candy dish and sit back and watch hilarity ensue.

Atom Heart - Pullman WA

A music store might not be everyone's idea of a great place to visit but I guarantee there will be something for everyone at Atom Heart. My son begs to go to Atom Heart - the place where all his music dreams are fueled.

Not only do they have the basic - instruments and sheet music, Atom Heart offers consignments and some fairly strange instruments - the walls are lined in guitars but if you look closely you'll find Ukeleles, accordians, and other fun stuff.
They do offer music lessons for a reasonable price and the guy who teaches some of the classes is so amazingly bubbly and talented that it makes me want to take classes.

Take your time in the store and look over the amazing artwork. It's really worth the time.
Atom Heart is on the corner of Olsen St and Kamiaken St in downtown Pullman. Currently there's some road construction there but don't let that stop, park at the library and make your way across the street. Visit their website for more information or to contact them.

Harrison Tot Lot, Pullman WA

Harrison Tot Lot is a small park on Harrison street just off of State street. It's perfect for little kids but no so much for older ones. I know a few play groups meet at the park so it's a great place to meet other parents with small children. It does have picnic and BBQ facilities so it's great for family outings.
Sometimes it's just nice to have a safe place for the little ones to play. A nice feature is that the park has easy to determine boundaries and is designed to give parents a good view of the playarea.

McConnell Mansion Ice Cream Social - Moscow ID

I want to apologize for being behind this week. I had forgotten my pictures so I had to wait until I could get them on the computer. This past Sunday was the McConnell Mansion Ice Cream Social. This is a yearly event and is free to the community. For those not able to attend the social, the McConnell Mansion is still open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 1-5 (check the website for any changes in the hours).
The Ice Cream Social is a huge event with multiple groups coming together to offer a glimpse into the lives of those who lived at the time the mansion was built (it's not really a mansion but a historical house museum). This year there was a group with a hunting/trapping display.



My son had a great time identifying the furs.
There was also dress up for the inspired.


After dressing up the clothes need to be washed.

We stopped in for a tour of the mansion which included a really great radio display and lace making demonstration.





And, of course, there was ice cream.

We finished the day with a short hay ride around the block.


I highly recommend taking a trip to see the museum. It's a fun peek into another world. We had a blast looking at the closet space and talking about how on earth would we fit our clothes in them. On the main floor towards the back of the house is a gift shop with some fun nostalgic items, including wooden toys.