About Okanogan County, WA

Winthrop Washington is a yet another great get away for people in Seattle seeking a weekend escape or a vacation destination. Winthrop is located in the northern Methow Valley and has a western theme that attracts tourist to our little town every year. We are about 4 hours from Seattle making this a logical choice for those seeking to get lots of sun, find a relaxing spot and or world class outdoor recreation in a mountain setting.

Since it is certainly getting chilly outside with record low temperatures I am starting this blog series with places to stay in Winthrop. Stay tuned for my sequel blogs of places to eat in Winthrop, followed by places to play in Winthrop. For my blogs on these topics about Mazama Washington visit http://activerain.com/blogsview/1280033/mazama-washington-places-to-stay-eat-and-play

There are many places to stay in Winthrop including motels, hotels and resorts. The town of Winthrop will tend to fill up and get booked out on the big holiday weekends so be sure to call ahead to ensure you have a place to stay. Here you will find some highlighted lodging.

Starting with the most affordable, Winthrop has the Virginian. There is nothing particular fancy about the Virginian but if you are just looking for a place to stay and want the least expensive, the Virginian is it. They are located right on the Methow River and just across from our Methow Valley real estate office. If you are staying at the Virginian please feel free to come by the John L. Scott Office and say hi. The Virginian puts you in walking distance of just about everything in Winthrop.

Looking for a very nice place with friendly staff and outstanding customer service? The River Run Inn is located just out of Winthrop Washington within walking distance to the downtown area, yet it has a very relaxing and secluded feel. There is a full indoor pool and hot tub, barbeque, deck, and picnic tables right on incredible sandy riverfront. My parents checked out every lodging and chose this one for their visit each year.

Right in town is the River's Edge Resort, Duck Brand Hotel and Hotel Rio Vista.

Within a 6 mile radius there are two special resorts to mention. Sun Mountain is a world class destination. You will be about 15 minutes from downtown Winthrop Washington, but the views are spectacular, with fine dining and beautiful rooms. Sun Mountain runs specials that are really fantastic for a resort of this quality. Look out for the specials for a really superb experience. They have everything from cafes and bar to full fine dining, exercise room, pools, spa, hot tubs and much more.

The oldest resort located right at the center of the MVSTA Ski Trails system in Wolf Creek Washington is Wolfridge Resort. All the lodging at Wolfridge has a log cabin rustic elegance feel with full kitchens. There is a parkland, play area for children, river trails, club house, barbeque, hot tub, pool and much more. There are no restaurants so you will want to stock up on groceries before you arrive. To learn more about Wolf Ridge Resort visit http://www.wolfridgeresort.com/. If you need extra groceries during your stay the nearest grocery store is located about 6 miles away in Winthrop Washington and right next to our John L. Scott real estate office. Please stop by to say hi.

Mary Lockman is a Realtor at John L. Scott Methow Valley for more information plcase feel free to email her at marylockman@johnlscott.com or iphone at 509 322 3008. For the most comprehensive Methow Valley real estate online search visit www.methowrealestateservices.com .

This is one of three blog posts about Mazama Washington Places to Stay, Eat and Play. Please see my blog about Mazama Washington: Places to stay at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1277843/mazama-washington-places-to-stay-eat-and-play and Places to eat at http://localism.com/blog/wa/mazama/mazama/posts/1278448/Mazama-Washington-Places-to

Perhaps the most unique feature of Mazama Washington, are the things you can do. There is endless adventure for every skill level of athlete, and recreational passion offered up right here in the Methow Valley.

Here is a short list (tip of the iceberg) of easy and somewhat strenuous suggestions that are all very affordable or just about free. These locations are very easy to find, do not require special technical skills nor special equipment, yet they provide a world class experience.

Starting with the easiest and ramping up to a bit more strenuous is the MVSTA Trail System that traverses the valley floor in Mazama. From this virtually flat section of the ski trail you can go biking, cross country skiing or walking all over Mazama Washington. The Trail Map can be found online at http://www.mvsta.com/summer/mazmap_summer.html . Perhaps the most popular activity is putting on the ski gear and zooming along the trails covering tremendous distance in a short time frame. The views are of the river, surrounding mountains, and valley views; all a spectacular feast for the eyes.

One of the most popular hikes near Mazama is Blue Lake just North of the Washington Pass lookout, whether you are climbing the spires or just want a jaunt out to the lake, you will more than likely bump into the family of mountain goats that live there. See my website for a photo of a goat I bumped right into on the trail at www.methowrealestateservices.com . The hike is around 3 miles and about 2000 vertical. It is a very popular hike and you will need a Forest Pass to park at the trailhead. Information on the Northwest Forest Passes and a host of other good information can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/oka/passes/index.shtml

Moving further along scenic Highway 20 our next suggestion is the world famous Maple Pass Hike located at Rainy Pass. This is a very popular day hike with many lakes in the region. You will pass Rainey Lake and Lake Ann on your loop.

If those lakes are not enough and you would like to see some of the higher alpine lakes you can hit Lewis and Wing Lake by taking the fork at Heather Pass, but be prepared for that boulder field. The hike in and out of Wing is a bit more strenuous and because it is so spectacular some hikers choose to go overnight. Heather Pass is a long gentle incline up and the Rainey Lake side is much steeper so deepending on how you like to tackle the steep part of your hike can help you decide which way to do the loop. I always take the Rainey Lake side because my knees feel the down now after 35 years of skiing and hiking in the region.

Just across the road from Maple Pass is Porcupine Creek and the Pacific Crest Trail. This hike is really deluxe, the trail is in primo condition and the views take your breath away. In fact this trail can be made into a loop and many people run this loop in the Cutthroat classic. It is 5 miles to the top, but it feels like much less because of the condition of the PCT and its design.

Mary Lockman is a Realtor at John L. Scott Methow Valley. For more information please fell free to contact her at 509 322 3008 or email Mary Lockman . You can visit her sister sites at www.methowrealestateservices.com (to register for the most comprehensive Methow Valley Real Estate Search Features) or www.methowearth.com to find open source listing information, and buyer and seller resources.

This is the sequel to my blog on Mazama Washington places to stay. Now that you have settled in and unpacked, where can you get a snack, a deluxe meal or a solid value to your dinning experience in this small and exquisite Mazama Washington?

For cabin rentals with full kitchens, menu planning before you arrive is imperative. This is because you will want to load up on groceries before you land in Mazama. Not to worry, the Mazama Store has some common items like milk, eggs, wine, and coffee, but our nearest grocery is 14 miles to the Southeast in Winthrop Washington at the Red Apple Grocery Store. If you happen to be grocery shopping there, please stop in my office at John L. Scott Methow Valley and say hi. We are located right next door!

If you are planning to eat out you have several options in the Mazama area. For light snacking there is the Mazama Country Store, and Elsie's Cafe (located at the Freestone Inn).

The Mazama Country Inn offers solid value in a lovely setting with affordable yet fabulous meals. It is advisable to make a reservation as the Mazama Country Inn dinning room fills up quickly, and has various events reserved during the year.

For a deluxe full on fine dinning experience in relaxed elegance the Freestone Inn offers gourmet luxury at its restaurant. Calling ahead is wise to ensure they can accommodate your group.

For more information feel free to email Mary Lockman or call at 509 322 3008. Mary is a Realtor with John L Scott Methow Valley. For the most comprehensive online Methow Valley and Mazama Washington Real Estate Search visit www.methowrealestateservices.com .

KING5.com Staff

TONASKET, Wash. - Police issued an AMBER Alert Wednesday for a newborn baby boy who has a potentially life-threatening health condition. He was found around 9 p.m. in Sedro-Wolley.

ACTIVE: joshua pier - tonasket, WA - AMBER Alert
20 May 2009, 6:54 pm
Child has been abducted in violation of court order to place child in specialized foster/medical care. The child has been diagnosed with PKU metabolic disorder that impairs his ability to process amino acids. This is an immiment threat to his health.

Contact: Okanogan County sheriff office 509-422-7232
ABDUCTION INFORMATION Case Number: WA0240000 Date Last Seen: Monday, May 18th, 2009 Time Last Seen: 2:00pm Location Last Seen: tonasket, WA	INCIDENT INFORMATION Child has been abducted in violation of court order to place child in specialized foster/medical care. The child has been diagnosed with PKU metabolic disorder that impairs his ability to process amino acids. This is an immiment threat to his health.
VICTIM Name: joshua pier DOB: 2009-05-03 Age: 14 D Race: white Gender/Sex: M Hair Color: brown Eye Color: brown Height: 0' 21" Weight: 9 Clothing:
SUSPECT Name: gretchen pier DOB: 0000-00-00 Age: 18 Y Race: white Gender/Sex: F Hair Color: brown Eye Color: brown Height: 5' 4" Weight: 165 Clothing:
VEHICLE Type:1989 honda accord Color:gold License: wa 351YOU Description:

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Seem impossible? I invite you to think outside the box.

Buying raw land can be intimidating. The journey from a lot with no improvements to a finished home is a long one. Some call it a labor of love- some call it a nightmare. It is no secret that you will always spend more on custom contruction than if you purchased a home someone else built.

The alternative is to buy property that already has a home. The good news is that the perfect home is out there. The bad news usually is that the perfect home is out of your price range. The second vacation home is looking like it's going to cost as much as your primary residence.

Let me offer you an alternative.

Open your mind to the idea of the next generation of prefab homes. No longer a close cousin to the mobile home- you can chose homes that complement the landscape and give you that modern feel that suits your style and vision.

A Seattle based company called Method Homes has joined minds with Seattle based Balance Associate Architects to launch a line of green built prefab homes called the Balance S-M-L Series that gives you just that.

The Balance S-M-L series, which consists of a choice of 3 simple structures designed to arrive 95% complete within 2-3 months of purchase. All three series of custom built prefab homes function as full time residencies, vacation homes & cabins, and even self contained prefab studios and in-law cottages. The best part is that prices start at under $100,000.

According to Balance Associate's Principal Tom Lenchek, "The concept behind the S-M-L Series is to provide a series of small, smartly designed, prefabricated homes that make it quick and affordable to create a personal retreat without sacrificing style. Intended as a modern refuge, they create a strong connection between interior and exterior spaces through the use of decks and large glazing sections and use sustainable and low maintenance materials and products throughout."

There are around 50 lots available in the Methow Valley right now for under $100,000.

You can have your dream at a price you can afford.

Curious? Check out www.methodhomes.net for yourself. Let them know Heather Marrone sent you.

Need to refresh yourself on things to look for when purchasing raw land? Visit my website blog http://www.methowvalleyland.com/My_Blog/page_1727238.html where I archive all the info e-mails I send out to my clients.