Know where to go, what to do

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, June 7, 2006

The high price of gas could prove to be a boon for local businesses after all, if people take advantage of the recreational activities in their own backyard. After all, if tourists can travel from Nebraska to enjoy a week on the shores of Hood Canal, or a hike in the evergreen forests of Kitsap County, why can’t we?

An updated guidebook by local authors Meredith Arseneau and Christina Rude is a goldmine of information on where to go and what to do, all within a tank of gas from home base.

“Great Adventures for Kitsap Peninsula, Family Fun in the West Sound,” published locally by KitsapKids.com, is sectioned by both locations, such as parks, hikes and museums, and by seasons.

Along with a description of what to see and do at each site, the book gives helpful hints such as what to wear, what to do in the car on the way, and driving directions from Silverdale to each destination.

This book tells you virtually everything you need to know to keep the kids and visitors happy. Some of the locations are obvious, such as Poulsbo’s Waterfront Park, while others are more obscure, but worth checking out.

For example, the Anna Smith Children’s Park is tucked away in Tracyton, near the county fairgrounds. Here adults can admire the flower and vegetable gardens cultivated by the Kitsap County Master Gardeners while children can check out the sun dial, worm bins and amphitheater. The shore access provides a chance to shift rocks to look for crabs, or dip toes into Dyes Inlet.

Where can you fish with the kids in Kitsap County? How about Long Lake County Park, outside of Port Orchard? The book tells us that the park has a large playground, a swimming area and a pier that is perfect for fishing with children. A simple fishing pole rigged with a bobber and a worm on a hook could land a bass, bluegill or perch.

The book also tucks in “Making Memories” activities that would be good to pass the time on rainy days, such as making homemade ice cream using a zip-top plastic bag, or edible “Beach Blobs,” with ingredients such as “brown rocks” (chocolate chips) and “seaweed” (green-tinted coconut).

You’ll need a county map to go with the book, as it doesn’t include one. With literally hundreds of locations cited it would be difficult to include each one on a map in the book’s smallish format, but maybe that’s a family activity that could accompany visits.

While sites and activities are grouped together by category, they often take large geographical leaps. One page describes activities at South Kitsap Community Park in Port Orchard, while the next page tells about Strawberry Hill Park on Bainbridge Island. Locations aren’t always prominently noted either, which could be a challenge for those who are new to the area — one of the prime users of the book.

Still, the book has gotten good reviews from users, who are on a first-name basis with the authors.

Jennifer from Poulsbo raves, “I have loved the convenience and detailed information, which has truly been a timesaver. Your extra efforts have taken all of the guesswork out of planning successful outings.”

Doug from Silverdale writes, in Hemingway-esque prose, “Great book. We just got back from Green Mountain. We had a terrific adventure. Thanks for some very helpful suggestions.”

Arseneau and Rude will present a slide show and talk about their book, 3 p.m. June 10 at Barnes & Noble, 3108 NW Randall Way, Silverdale.