Friday, June 27, 2014

Acting Like Tourists at Northwest Trek - Saturday Snapshots

Last week I posted photos of our day trip to Mount Rainier during a visit from out-of-state guests. While they were here, we went to several other nearby attractions, including Northwest Trek Animal Park near Eatonville, Washington, which I'm featuring today. 

I'd never been to an animal safari park and wasn't too sure what to expect, but this experience was delightful. Covered trams transported us through beautiful landscapes with a guide telling us about the animals and terrain, as well as the park's history. We also took advantage of walking paths that wind through the grounds, providing views of animals in naturalistic settings (including grizzly bears and wolves in huge areas surrounded by 12-foot fences.) Our group ranged in age from an 8-year-old to senior citizens, and we all had a good time.
(Click on pictures to enlarge.)


An example of the beautiful vistas within the 435-acre park.

A traffic tie-up!

Shedding his winter coat.


Our eight-year-old visitor on one of the walking trails.

This mountain goat waited by the tram, watching the human zoo pass by.

Senior members of our group, enjoying the cool June day, 
beautiful trees, and uncrowded pathways.


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22 comments:

  1. I do love a forest with such tall straight trees - so soothing and peaceful.

    I also provided a map (of Sydney) to help folks see where everything is today :-)
    I had no idea you were so close to Seattle! My US geography is a little hazy.

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    1. Is my blog header confusing you? I was born and raised in Texas and my books are set there. But I now live in Washington state -- in the far northwestern part of the U.S. My Australia geography is hazy too!

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  2. How beautiful! I love the few animal safari parks I've been through and this looks like a really lovely one.

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    1. It's actually a part of the Tacoma, Washington, parks system. The area was so quiet and secluded that we felt as if we were a million miles from civilization.

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  3. How gorgeous! You have some beautiful settings where you live. Thanks for sharing...you make me want to take a trip! Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST

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    1. Thank you, Laurel-Rain. I've never lived anywhere so green before. I love it!

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  4. The animals are interesting, but I just love the totally verdant green in all your photos- it's absolutely sensational.

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    1. The setting was lovely. Personally, I enjoyed the views as much as the animals.

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  5. Gorgeous photos Sandra, it actually reminds me of our Canadian exhibit at the Toronto Zoo. We have such a big wooded space for our native animals it looks just as green as where you were.
    Thanks for stopping by my SS :)
    -Kimberly @ Turning the Pages

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    1. The Toronto Zoo sounds lovely. I'll definitely check it out if I'm ever in that part of the world. Would love to see it.

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  6. Lovely visit. I am eager to get to Washington one of these days.

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    1. So many lovely places to see all over our world! I'd love to visit them all.

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  7. Sounds like a great trip. You took some wonderful shots.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Jean. We had a lovely day.

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  8. Geat pictures! I love these parks where the animals roam free and the people are contained:)

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  9. That place looks awesome. Most of the safari parks I have seen have been for African animals like gazelles and lions and so forth but this looks interesting. If I am ever in the area I will have to check it out.

    Sean at His and Her Hobbies

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    1. Since we went in early summer, there were plenty of baby animals around, and that was fun. I had no idea that baby buffalo were orange-y.

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  10. Love that mountain goat! Looks like a fun trip.

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  11. My husband and I love safari parks! Northwest Trek Animal Park looks beautiful.

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  12. Great pics! I've never heard of this place, but now I'm thinking I should make the trek up there with the kids!

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  13. Wow, that place is really beautiful! I've never heard of it before. Must put it on my list of places to be seen some day, especially since it's on the way to the coast... sort of. You did some great photography there!

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