Reason 5: Know your farmer, know your food

“Garden Treasures family farm is committed to providing quality products to our customers using environmentally-friendly practices, and to promoting a sustainable lifestyle to help build a strong local economy and thriving community.” – www.arlingtongardentreasures.com

You can go to any chain grocer and pick through a limited selection of produce from all over the nation, but do you really know what you’re putting into your body? Most all commercial farms use pesticides that are harmful to the environment, you, and your family, and according to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants “nine of the twelve most dangerous and persistent organic chemicals are pesticides.”  Meaning that those chemicals can stick around long after they’ve been sprayed, causing health complications, polluting the air and underground water sources, and killing the good enzymes that make produce so healthy. With an organic local farm like Garden Treasures in Arlington, WA, you can browse through a large produce selection while looking out on the very fields your food has been grown in. Instead of using harmful synthetic chemical pesticides, Garden Treasures uses tried and true methods like crop rotations, low-impact drip irrigation systems, and nature’s natural pesticides; birds, enzymes in soil and compost, and beneficial insects. To read more about their program click HERE.

Reason 4: Stimulating your local economy

Did you know that buying your food and clothing in the town and county you reside in actually boosts your area’s economy? By patronizing local markets, farms, and retailers you’re putting your money to use for you. The taxes you pay go back into your county to pay for things like safer roads, better buildings, and bringing in tourists to stimulate the economy even more. Farms also create jobs for your economy, the money you put into your local farm or nursery goes to pay an honest worker living in your area, not a corporation hiring cheap labor at the cost of their integrity. Not to mention when you buy locally you get to know your business owners, and you can physically speak to the people who make and grow your food for you. Who would you trust to answer questions about farming methods: the farmer who labors with pride and care over the crops he produces, or a minimum-wage wal-mart employee still enrolled in high school?

Tune in next week for part 2, and be sure to buy locally! Check out Garden Treasures in Arlington, WA

The Festival of the River is held at River Meadows Park in Arlington and is put on by local Native American Tribes as a celebration of culture and heritage. You’ll taste traditional Native American cooking (the salmon bake is to die for), check out the amazing local Native American artists, enjoy listening to stories that have been passed on from generation to generation, and even get to attend an authentic POW WOW demonstration that’s open to the public! Gates open at 1:00 PM Friday, August 12th. Check out their website for more information and to see the event line up so you don’t miss anything! http://www.stillaguamish.nsn.us/festival.htm.

The Arlington Chainsaw Carving Show will be from August 12th –13th, and features LIVE world championship chainsaw carvers and their amazing carvings! Watch as artists carve magnificent creations with nothing but tree stumps and chainsaws, and don’t miss the live auction on Saturday August 13th where you can get your very own chainsaw carving! This event takes place at Arlington’s Legion Park, and goes from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM August 12-13th. The live auction begins at 4:00 PM on the 13th. For more information email the hosts at aleutartist@aol.com.

Call 360.403.7014 to book today!

You’ll see historic war birds, small private planes, helicopters, incredible airshows, and so much more. Don’t miss out on this exciting Arlington event!

For all the travelers or pilots looking for a place to stay, we have rooms available. Book with us quick though, we only have a few rooms left! Just call 360 – 403 – 7014 and mention this post to get a FREE gift upon arrival!

We know you’re proud of the special man in your life; whether he is your devoted husband or your loving dad, give him a big “Thank you!” We’re here to make this Father’s day gift a no-brainer for you and an unforgettable experience for the dad in your life!

Upon arrival at Arlington’s River Rock Inn he’ll be greeted with a plate of warm cookies fresh from the oven. He’ll love checking out the architecture of our lodge-style Great Room, massive fireplace, and exploring acres of hiking and walking trails.

After spending a long restful night in a large Suite with private spa-bathroom, he will wake to the scent of fresh-brewed coffee, ready to feast on an all-you-can eat breakfast with specialty pancakes prepared just the way he likes them!

Tell him to pack his fishing gear; he’s going fishing for huge bass or trout on a private lake (catch-and-release only)! He’ll love swapping fishing stories with Innkeeper Bob over a few brews or specialty beverages as he tries to land the “big one”.

Later he’ll savor a delicious meal with a $50 gift certificate to Anthony’s Homeport in Everett or Arlington’s Bistro San Martin; restaurants renowned for expertly cooked seafood and steaks.

Fern and Woodland Suites: $539

Stilly, Cedar, and Homestead Suites: $599
Also available as a Gift Certificate!!

This amazing package made just for the special man in your life includes:

• Two nights in a large Suite with private bathroom and tub for two
• Warm cookies upon arrival and each afternoon
• Fishing and beverages on a private secluded lake (bring your own gear)
• $50 gift certificate to Anthony’s Homeport in Everett or Arlington’s Bistro San Martin
• Breakfast each morning including an all-you-can-eat specialty pancake breakfast
• Complimentary snack-bar and beverages

Book online or call 360-403-7014!

~Innkeepers Bob, Lisa, and Lacey

Visit www.tulipfestival.org for a bloom map and other great information.

Here are a few local ways to get out and have a great time:

1) Check out the Skookum Brewery! This amazing local brewery is a treat for all beer connoisseurs, and is located between Arlington and Smokey Point. The brewery, fired up for the first time in January of 2007, is a 10 barrel Century brewing system.  Oak-clad and copper-banded fermenting vessels, mashtun, and brew kettle give a traditional look but still have all the modern brewing technologies. Visit their site for hours and tasting events!

2) The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is almost here! Beginning April 1st, 2011 and ending the 30th, you can walk through fields of brightly-colored blooms and enjoy various displays including a Kiwanis Tribe salmon barbecue, a “Chili, Chowdah, and Chocolate Cook-off”, boat tours, and much more. Check their website for bloom dates and other information. Call Arlington’s River Rock Inn to hear about our “Two-lips” special! 360.403.7014

3) Starting March 1st, 2011, visit the Outback Kangaroo Farm! Located in Arlington, Washington, just a short drive from Arlington’s River Rock Inn, this is a zoo like no other; you’ll have a chance to see emus, kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, lemurs, miniature donkeys, and much more. Get a real “down-under” atmosphere with this great Australian-inspired interactive zoo! Check their website for operating hours and tour times.

Does your lover love to be pampered? We have luxurious beds, large two-person soaking tubs, private bathrooms, an on-site spa, and a relaxing hot tub that they’ll just die for.

Maybe you know the way to your partner’s heart is through their stomach, but cooking just isn’t your specialty? Well it IS ours! We serve up a romantic multi-course dinner that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you satisfied and smiling.

Perhaps your darling is the traveling type. He or she is always dreaming of far away places, daring adventures, and distant escapes, while never quite being able to get there. Well the River Rock Inn is located on 5 secluded acres with hiking and walking trails on-site, and near hikes to glacier lakes and the Ice Caves.

Arlington’s River Rock Inn has something for everyone, and Snohomish county has a little of everything from artisan farms to 4 star dining to premium outlet shopping. Make your escape today, and make the inn “home base” for all your exciting adventures.

5) Little Love Notes – Using scraps of paper, post-it notes, or little pieces of stationary, write a few sentences about how much you love and adore your partner and leave the papers for them to find as they go about their day. Tie one to her toothbrush, stick one on his favorite coffee mug, leave one on the windshield. These little reminders are sure to make your lover feel more loved than ever!

4) “The Way to My Heart” scavenger hunt! – Write up a simple scavenger hunt of three or four steps with clues that tell your darling how much you appreciate them. You could say “I love how you make me coffee every morning before work, there’s a surprise in the coffee pot for you this morning!”, the next clue would be in (or on) the coffee pot and could lead them to the bedroom, bathroom, living room, garage, garden, etc. Reward them for their hard work with a fresh bouquet of flowers, a Starbucks card, or chocolates at the end of the hunt.

3) “You Make Me Feel so Special” massage! – Maybe your loved-one has a stressful or straining job, and just cant relax. Well you’ll banish the stress with a soothing massage! Buy a massage oil or lotion that he/she will like, pick up a book on the art of massage, light a few candles, and use your hands to loosen the muscles and ease away the worries of the day. *Not confident in your massage skills? Many local day-spas have gift certificates you can purchase to get your lover the treatment they deserve.*

2) “Let ME help YOU!” coupon book – Everyone has that one chore that they just dread; whether it’s washing the dishes, folding the laundry, sweeping the floors, or weeding the yard. You can show your love by making a simple coupon book! Type or write-up “honey-do” coupons, good for one chore “anytime, anyplace, no complaints!”. Your sweetheart will love the help and cherish the time they can now spend relaxing.

1) “Let’s Get Away” Romantic escape – You love each other so much, but you both have so much to do during the week that it’s hard to find time to just sit together and catch up.  Plan a day away! Grab a picnic basket and take a hike to the amazing Ice Caves or just enjoy lunch in a park away from phones and TV. Make time for the two of you to share about your lives, share about your dreams, and share a tasty meal. *If you’re not the “outdoorsy” type, escape to the River Rock Inn for a night in a luxury suite where you can soak in your two-person tub or have coffee by the fire.*

Arlington’s River Rock Inn has the perfect Valentine’s Day specials if you’re looking to escape for an entire weekend, give us a call to find out more! 360-403-7014

Best wishes!

~Bob, Lisa, and Lacey

There will be traditional story telling, flute circles, guided nature walks, art displays, LIVE BALD EAGLES from Sarvey Wildlife Protection and so much more, don’t miss out on this chance to learn about this great Northwest bird in its natural habitat.

Call for special offers for this amazing event! 360-403-7014

www.arlingtonwa.gov

The wingspan of the Bald Eagle can reach 6 feet!