If your child has ever expressed interest in fishing, but you just don't have a lot of experience with that and aren't sure where to begin, then you have a great opportunity in front of you next weekend.  Washington and Idaho are both offering free fishing days  this coming Saturday June 11th where no fishing license is required.  Actually, kids under 14 don't need a license to fish in either state, but this is an opportunity for you to show them the ropes without incurring additional expense for yourself.

In Washington you get both days of the weekend where anyone can fish without a license.  More info here.

Idaho goes further in offering events aimed at kids where they have information booths, food, and sometimes free giveaways of gear to youngsters.  We've benefited from these over the years as the photos will attest, and you don't have to be an ID resident to partake.  More info is available here.

So if you are wanting to get your kids started fishing but are a little intimidated, this is a great place to start.  Go to the Idaho link and find a place close by where they are offering clinics, and you won't be disappointed.  These days are really all about showing the kids a good time and they do a good job of making it fun to help get kids interested in fishing - and away from the electronics!

So go out and make it happen next Saturday.

Another nearby gem of a place to get outside that is close to Spokane is the Dishman Hills.  This is actually comprised of 4 different sections, and this Spring we have already visited the Iller Creek portion a couple times and the Dishman Hills Natural Area once.  The latter is just off Appleway in the Spokane Valley, and the main access is Camp Caro across the street from auto row.  It has a number of great trails through rolling hills that go to hidden ponds and beautiful vistas.

Iller Creek is found a bit further south off Dishman Mica road with a trailhead in the Ponderosa development.  Trails here climb to sweeping views from the eastern ridge, or stay low in the cool creek valley which is great for escaping the heat on a warm day.

Any way you do it, it is a great place to escape outdoors for a short excursion.  More details can be found at the Dishman Hills Conservancy website, including a list of upcoming events in May and June that look very interesting.

We wrote earlier this year about this nearby gem, the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area.  Back then it was an early season hike when winter was losing its grip and we had a warm afternoon to sneak away.

Well, Spring is in full bloom now in the Saltese Uplands, with wildflowers and trees blooming and the grass greening under your feet.  One of my boys and I snuck away the other day to get in some mountain biking, and we were glad we did. A quick video highlight of our trip is to the right.

So get out in this beautiful Spring weather we are having and make some memories of your own!

 There is a travel brochure for Spokane that describes our town as "Near Nature, Near Perfect."  And indeed, one of the things we love about living here is that a short drive from our house in most any direction will provide us with places to be outdoors. This Spring we plan to review some of our favorites  - all the nearby State Parks, Conservation Areas, Natural Areas, County Parks, etc. that we can go and play in.  And the first of these is the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area.

Just this past weekend I found myself alone with my youngest son because all the other boys had activities.  The weather was nice for February and so the mountains called.  I only had a couple hours to get out so I immediately thought of this nearby retreat.

This area is roughly 550 acres of rolling hills that overlooks the Saltese flats below to the west, Liberty Lake to the east, with views of Mica Peak and the surrounding mountains above.  There are 7 miles of trails that gently rise and fall with the terrain making it a great destination for hikers, dog walkers, hikers, bird watchers, and mountain bikers alike.  The pictures will show you what it has to offer, and all of this is located but a 5 minute drive south of the Barker exit of I-90 in the Spokane Valley. Perfect for a quick getaway.

One thing to keep in mind when visiting here is that there are no trees on this parcel, so consider that on a hot day.  But for that same reason we love to visit on bluebird days in the Winter and Spring so we can soak up the sunshine.  The mountain bike trails here are well maintained, and the boys and I patrolled them a number of times last year.  And we almost always see a raptor or two out there, and occasionally a whitetail at dawn or dusk.

cont'd with map at the bottom...