2009 Natural Areas Conference

Pacific Northwest Adventures & Events

Make the 2009 Natural Areas Conference your primary professional educational event this year. Add your family and friends and make your trip to the Pacific Northwest your primary vacation of the year. Check out the pre-conference and post-conference field trips for educational conference add-ons. For recreational add-ons, consider the following Pacific Northwest resources.

Washington State Tourism

Welcome to Washington… A phenomenon—naturally
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And whatever you call beauty, you can feast your eyes on it here: ocean beaches, glacier-fed rivers, alpine lakes, old-growth rainforests, wildlife sanctuaries, deep-cut gorges and majestic mountains. Soothe your soul with Washington State’s Natural Beauty.

Welcome to Washington… The actively great outdoors
Climb, ski, hike, bike, paddle, float, pitch a tent, cast a line or tee up. With two major mountain ranges, a stunning variety of national parks, state parks, recreation areas and reserves, vast stretches of rural and often wild Pacific coastline, and countless rivers, lakes and trail miles, Washington State has spaces and places for all your favorite Outdoor Activities.

Welcome to Washington… A delicious state
Take a wine tour off the beaten path. Raise a glass in a brewery that led the microbrew renaissance. Dine out at a great restaurant (pick a cuisine, any cuisine). Or rediscover the true meaning of “fresh” at a local orchard, farmers market, fishermen’s terminal or sushi bar. Help yourself to Washington Wine & Cuisine. Also, visit the Washington Wine Country Website.

(Source: ExperienceWA.com)

Southwest Washington Visitor Bureau

Website: southwestwashington.com

Washington Pacific Beaches

Website: funbeach.com

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, where you can discover the natural beauty of sandy ocean beaches, sheltered Puget Sound islands, old-growth forests, and desert and Columbia River Gorge landscapes in Washington’s 121 state parks and other recreation areas.

National Parks Service

Learn about the national parks of Washington state, including Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and the many locations along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, managing nearly a million acres of land in 32 designated Wildlife Areas across the state, including 150 sites providing boating access to lakes, rivers and marine areas in or near state Wildlife Areas.

Portland, Oregon

Visit Travel Portland, the main source for tourism information about Portland, Oregon.

Travel Info

See the conference transportation page for travel and car rental information.

Add Flexibility to your Trip

When booking airline travel for the conference, consider flying into Portland, Oregon (PDX), and returning via Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle, Washington (SEA). Many airlines offer one-way fares that are as affordable as round-trip tickets. And remember to arrange a one-way reservation for your rental car!

Regional Airlines

• Alaska/Horizon Air service throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• United/United Express service throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• San Juan Airlines scheduled, charter and scenic flights from Anacortes, Bellingham, and Seattle to the San Juan Islands and British Columbia.
• Kenmore Air scheduled and charter service from the Seattle area to the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands and Victoria/Vancouver Island.

Washington State Ferries

Find the current (and upcoming) ferry schedule for Puget Sound at the Washington State Ferries Website.

More Happenings

Friday Night Outings in Portland

Stay overnight on the final day of the conference!

Plan to stay over on Friday night, September 18, and join your colleagues for one of these outings in Portland, Oregon, just 15 minutes from the conference hotel.

Enjoy dinner and a Portland tour on the water aboard the Portland Spirit!

Fresh Northwest cuisine, live entertainment and grand scenery are all the ingredients you need for a memorable evening aboard the Portland Spirit Dinner Cruise.

Portland’s Microbrewery Tour

Join your colleagues and Eco-Tours of Oregon for an evening on the town in Portland, the new microbrewery capital of the world!

Before and After the 2009 Natural Areas Conference: Washington and Oregon Happenings

These are some of the types of events scheduled in the region before or after the conference.

• Natural History Events
• Culture, Art and History Events
• Music Events
• Community Tours
• Sports Events

Photos at top of page, clockwise from upper left: Seattle by John Marshall, WST; Mt. Shuksan by Kevin Head; Pika, Columbia Falls by Joe Bettis; Camas at Mima Mounds by Jasa Holt.