Taking an in-state vacation this month?  Need ideas of things to do?  Well Shirley has done it again! August is the last month in the series but she tells us she’s barely scratched the surface of interesting things happening around our beautiful state.

From the desk of Shirley Lewis

August 1

Hungry? The Washington State Department of Agriculture created the Savor Washington series of online publications to tempt taste buds and satisfy nutritional needs from “Seattle to Spokane, through diverse landscapes and great local food.” Happy traveling and bon appétit!

August 2

Nine men from the University of Washington made a splash at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. Their inspiring story is vividly described in The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. A Public Broadcasting System (PBS) American Experience documentary entitled The Boys of ’36 will debut on August 2, 2016. For more reading about rowing at University of Washington, try Ready all!: George Yeoman Pocock and Crew Racing by Gordon Newell (First paperback edition, book was originally published in 1987.

August 3

Speaking of Olympics, visit the diverse wilderness of Olympic National Park. Explore rainforests, high peaks, and the beautiful peninsular coast. Tim McNulty’s classic guide, Olympic National Park: A Natural History, is the perfect book to plan your adventure.

August 4

It’s a big election year and the best place to get the official information on elections in Washington is at the Elections Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. For more help with information on issues, elections, and voting, contact the Washington State Library’s Ask a Librarian service.

August 5

Head to Joyce (Clallam County) on the Olympic Peninsula for the Joyce Daze Wild Blackberry Festival. These wonderful berries are a lot of work to pick, but the pie is worth the trip. While you are there, check out the Joyce General Store.

August 8

Washington State Parks presents a Centennial GeoTour to celebrate our state park’s centennial. This GeoTour will end on September 30, 2016, so start enjoying these geocaching activities now and watch this page for future fun.

August 9

Visit the Northwest Carriage Museum in Raymond (Pacific County) to see what hot wheels were when the horse supplied the power.

August 10

Explore Okanogan Country in north central Washington. Check out the history, arts scene, Native American Heritage, and recreation opportunities in this beautiful area. Frank Matsura, a Japanese native who came to Washington in the early 20^th century, captured Okanogan County’s people and scenery with excellent photographs.

August 11

Whatcom Museum celebrates 75 years of “art, nature & history” today with an open house and free admission in all three buildings. Activities for children, tours, music, and food trucks will all be available to make a memorable anniversary.

August 12

Are your boots made for walking? Evergreen State Volkssport Association is ready for you. Finding your way? Discover orienteering at the Cascade Orienteering Club. When you’re tired of walking, explore the Washington State Library’s Northwest Collection in person or through the WSL online catalog.

August 15

Let your flights of fancy soar at the Washington State International Kite Festival in Long Beach on August 15-21. Also in Long Beach, check out the World Kite Museum website to learn all about these delightful kites.

August 16

Here’s a new Washington State Library created resource: Historic Fire Lookouts of Washington. Enjoy this map featuring historic photographs of fire lookouts and read more about fire lookouts at WSL’s blog.

August 17

Hot enough? Sure, it’s warm now, but you’ll wish you had a quilt this winter.  Check out the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum for beautiful displays of weaving, quilting, and other textile arts.

August 18

Pullman (Whitman County) hosts the National Lentil Festival which has been celebrating lentils since 1989. Food, brews, wine, fun run, a parade, posters, and more: this lentil festival has it all.

August 19

Chief Seattle Days, a three-day public festival, began in 1911 to honor Chief Seattle, the leader of the Suquamish People and namesake of the City of Seattle. The 2016 festival runs August 19 – 21 in Suquamish (Kitsap County). Later this month, the Makah Tribe of Neah Bay celebrates the 92^nd Annual Makah Days on August 26-28, 2016.

August 22

Take a walk on the wild side and/or enjoy the writings of those who do. Washington’s natural beauty can be enjoyed by getting outside or reading these works for a sense of the place called Washington:

• Winter Brothers: A Season at the Edge of America by Ivan Doig
• Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
• Island Year by Hazel Heckman
• Singing Grass, Burning Sage: Discovering Washington’s Shrub-steppe by Jack Nisbet
• Sky Time I Gray’s River: Living for Keeps in a Forgotten Place or Wintergreen: Rambles in a Ravaged Land by Robert Michael Pyle.
• Columbia Highlands: Exploring Washington’s Last Frontier by Craig Romano
• The Street-Smart Naturalist: Field Notes from Seattle by David B. Williams

August 23

Apples – why just one a day? The Washington Apple Commission declares Washington is the state for apples. Adam and Eve never had it so good.

August 24

Football fans don’t have much longer to wait:  the Seattle Seahawks, Washington State University Cougars, University of Washington Huskies, and numerous other Washington football teams will soon take the fields. Go ___________ (fill in the team mascot of your choice)! Enjoy some armchair quarterbacking with these titles:  Seattle Seahawks: One Super Season; Defense, Dominance and the Emerald City’s First NFL Title, Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Cougar Stories Ever or Go Huskies!: Celebrating Washington’s Football Tradition.

August 25

Set sail on the Lady Washington or the Hawaiian Chieftain or visit them at the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport.

August 26

From WSL’s Northwest Collection, read some fiction with Washington settings:

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

Horse Heaven Hill by Zane Grey

Snow Falling on Cedars  or East of the Mountains by David Guterson

Border Songs; The Highest Tide; or Truth like the Sun are all by Jim Lynch

August 29

Tired of the same old grind? Consider the Cedar Creek Grist Mill in Clark County. This working museum in a lovely wooded site is a great example of water-powered history.

August 30

Jump into Washington’s lakes – we’ve got great ones – try Soap Lake, Lake Crescent, Moses Lake, or Lake Chelan. Read all about them in the classic reference book, Lakes of Washington.

August 31

Summer’s going by – is it time to go back to school? Consider taking a class at your local library, community college, or online. School days were different not-so-long ago: Early Schools of Washington Territory and The Wooden Bench: Inkwells, Slates, and Coping Saws both tell it like it was.