Spring arrives March 20th and we’re already seeing it’s first signs popping up all around us! Now is the perfect time to be mindful of and seek out these awesome annual displays.
Here are some of my favorite first signs of spring and the places I love to experience them:
“The days are getting longer!”
Semiahmoo Spit
More daylight hours and March 13th’s return to Daylight Saving Time means more time to check out eye popping, wide-open-skies views from Semiahmoo Spit near Blaine. While traveling approx. 2.5 miles roundtrip along trails, paths & beach, get a gander of Mt. Baker, the Twin Sisters, the Canadian Coastal Range, Peace Arch Park, White Rock, B.C., and Drayton Harbor.
“Waterfalls are flowing!”
Moran State Park/Orcas Island
Waterfalls might not the the first thing that come to mind when considering a trip to Orcas Island, but at 40 feet, Moran State Park’s Cascade Falls is the tallest waterfall in the San Juans. Quadruple your waterfall pleasure by checking out Cascade Falls, Rustic Falls, Cavern Falls, and Hidden Falls along Cascade Creek. Thanks to WTA for offering a good suggestion on where to go!
“Trees are budding!”
Western Washington University Campus
With dozens of spectacular varieties of trees on campus, including more than 70 species, there are so many opportunities to see every kind of budding tree. And I love this website – https://treetour.wwu.edu – providing mobile tree tours all over campus.
“Herons are nesting!”
Post Point Heron Colony (behind Post Point Treatment Plant)/Fairhaven
The Heronry is fenced off so as not to disturb the nesting herons, but the nests are easy to see from a safe distance this time of year before the trees fill out with leaves. More info here. https://cob.org/services/environment/restoration/post-point-heron-colony
“Whales are migrating!”
Fort Ebey State Park Bluff Trail
In March, grey whales head to waters around Whidbey Island to stock up on ghost shrimp before resuming their trip north. If you are super lucky you might be able to spot one from the sweeping views from the Fort Ebey State Park Bluff Trail.
“The Earth smells especially earthy!”
Chuckanut Community Forest (100 Acre Woods)/Fairhaven
With a thickly wooded canopy overhead, a squishy forest floor, boggy marshlands, and mossy highlights everywhere, you can literally smell the forest kicking it into high gear this time of year.
The trailhead leading into the forest can be accessed from behind the upper shelter in Fairhaven Park. Once you enter the community forest, there are unmarked trails leading every which way, which makes for some fun exploring, but can be a little confusing. If you are unfamiliar with the area, bring a buddy, pay attention to landmarks and consider initially venturing out on some out and back routes. (Our Chuckanut Recreation Area Map from Square One Maps can be a good resource for this area, too.)
Wishing Everyone lots of blissful first-signs-of-spring discoveries!
Store Co-Owner Genevie
