Head to Local Pick-Your-Own Blueberry Farms this Summer

A visit to a local u-pick blueberry farm is a great summertime activity for the entire family! Get outside, learn about plants and farming while bringing home nutritious berries for the whole family to enjoy. There are many farms within easy driving distance to Ten Trails that offer pick-your-own options throughout the summer. Here are a few to consider visiting:

Canter-Berry Farms

Canter-Berry Farms is a small, family-owned farm that has been in operation with one family since 1954. The farm once sold blueberries at Pike Place Market where they were famous with customers for their quality. These days, the family only grows blueberries for the u-pick season. Located just southeast of Auburn in the upper Green River Valley, Canter-Berry Farms is just around the corner from Ten Trails. For updates on when blueberries will be available for picking for the 2021 season, visit the farm’s Facebook page.

Blue Dot Farm

Located a few miles north of Enumclaw on SE 416^th Street, Blue Dot Farm has over 500 plants with sixteen varieties of blueberries that ripen throughout the summer months. Some of these varieties produce the largest blueberries available in the country. For details on planning a visit to the farm this season, check out their website.

The Rusty Plow

The Rusty Plow Farm also offers u-pick blueberries with five main varieties at the farm, each with its own unique flavor and qualities. The Rusty Plow Farm is family-friendly, and great place to bring kids for an afternoon of blueberry-picking. Located in nearby Enumclaw, the farm is just a short drive from Ten Trails. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

PopUp StoryWalk at Ten Trails

Ten Trails is happy to share that PopUp StoryWalk has an installation in the community June 3rd-20th! Come walk our trails and read The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield. PopUp StoryWalk is a local program promoting literacy, health, and art appreciation using deconstructed children’s storybooks installed in outdoor community spaces. Begin a children’s story at the start of a trail, read posted pages along the way, and end the trial as you end the book. PopUp StoryWalk is empowered by the Arts of Kenmore.      

   

Visit the Community June 3rd-20th

The PopUp StoryWalk installation is in the community June 3rd-20th, located at the intersection of SE Stevens and Glacier Ave. Grab a map from our Welcome Center for easy navigation or follow the QR code directions on our website’s home page.

   

Hidden Treasures Along the Trails

While children read along the trail, we will have some hidden treasures that correlate with the book’s theme for them to spot along the way.  PopUp StoryWalk will be at Ten Trails for three weeks so there is plenty of time for families to visit the trail more than once and see how many fun new things they discover on each visit.   www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

Springtime Outings for Animal Educational Experiences

Springtime is a great time of year for people of all ages to connect with animals. There are many local farms in the area around Ten Trails that offer petting farm interactive experiences with domestic animals. For an informative experience seeing wildlife, head to nearby Northwest Trek to see their bears, wolves, big cats, and more. Spring is also a great time of year for a wildlife hike to look for migrating birds.

Fox Hollow Farm

Fox Hollow Farm, located in nearby Issaquah, is now open for visitors for its children’s car track, greenhouse, gardens, trails, river park and animal areas. Guests to the farm are being limited due to Covid-19 restrictions. Check their website for available times and book your visit in advance. Ticket prices are $5 per adult and $8 per child, per session.

Sammamish Animal Sanctuary

Sammamish Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization where formerly homeless, neglected or animals that need a forever home are cared for as they live out the rest of their lives. The farm is accepting visitors this spring in limited numbers due to Covid-19 precautions and requests visitors schedule a tour through their website before visiting. Visits to the farm are free, however donations are appreciated to help pay for the food and care the animals receive.

Go on a Birding Hike

An inexpensive pair of binoculars or a keen eye are all you need to go on a birding adventure with kids this spring. As birds migrate into western Washington for the season, see how many different species you can identify on your hike. For a list of some of the best places for birdwatching in our state, check out the Audubon Society’s website.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Dedicated to conservation and education, Northwest Trek has been a popular attraction for local residents and tourists for decades.  The park is now offering visits to a limited number of guests at a time for all outdoor attractions. Visit this spring to get up close and personal with the park’s many residents like gray wolves, black bears, and grizzly bears. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Fast Pace of Home Sales Shows Ten Trails has What Homebuyers Want Most

Since opening just over two years ago, Ten Trails, the master planned community in Black Diamond managed by Oakpointe Communities, has seen home sales increase at a brisk pace and is well-known in the Puget Sound area as a desirable place to live. There are many reasons why so many homebuyers choose Ten Trails. Here are just a few!

Many Home Builders to Choose From 

Currently, Ten Trails has eight different builder options to choose from with home products ranging from townhomes to single family detached homes and even some apartments for rent currently under construction and pre-leasing.

A Walkable Community

Walkability remains one of the top features homebuyers desire in a new community. Ten Trails has miles of paved sidewalks and walking trails in addition to our nature trails that weave through the community’s wooded natural areas.

A Strong Sense of Community

Homebuyers want to also feel a sense of connection and community with where they live. Ten Trails offers this through our many shared community amenities and community events that bring residents together. Even during the pandemic, we have found ways to connect with one another and are looking forward to coming together in person again when guidelines allow for it.

Proximity Close to Nature 

Home shoppers are also searching for communities with easy access and proximity to nature. The entire community of Ten Trails is nestled in rural Black Diamond, surrounded by forests and with open and natural spaces integrated throughout the community. It is also located just a short drive from some of the area’s finest outdoors destinations like Crystal Mountain Resort, countless hiking trails, campgrounds, and Mount Rainier National Park. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com    

Break out of the Routine this Winter and Try Something Completely New

The Covid-19 pandemic has upended lives across the country and many of us are struggling to find ways to break out of the monotony that can come with many days spent at home, with limited options for socializing. Here are a few ideas of new things you and the family can try this winter to help break up your normal routines!

Go on a Dogsledding Adventure 

Northwest Dogsledding Adventures offers one-hour, seven-mile tours through snowy wilderness with their eager team of 12 dogs. The pack can run up to 20 miles per hour while guests kick back under blankets and enjoy the ride and views. Northwest Dogsledding Adventures is now taking reservations for weekend-only tours through March 31^st, 2021. The cost is $165 for adults and $110 for children under 80 pounds. For more information, visit their website.

Take a Virtual Cooking Class

Cooking is a wonderful skill for anyone to master, and it is a great idea to foster a love of cooking in kids from a young age. Even if you are an adult who is well-adept at cooking, there are always new skills and recipes to learn to keep things interesting in the kitchen! Famous Seattle restaurateur, Tom Douglas, is now offering virtual cooking classes through his company for families or larger groups. Seattle Cucina is also offering virtual classes geared specifically for kids of all ages. You can browse their many class offerings on their website.

Try Sprouting Seedlings Indoors

While we wait for the warmth and sunshine of spring, bring the outdoors inside by starting seed sprouts indoors. When the threat of frost is over, the whole family can enjoy transplanting the new baby plants to an outdoor garden or to a rented garden space in Ten Trails’ pea patches! Some plants that are among the easiest to grow from seed are pumpkins, sunflowers, lettuces, and squash. For information on how to start seeds indoors, check out this website. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com    

Visit Nearby Lake Sawyer Regional Park for Spectacular Walking Trails

Located less than three miles from Ten Trails, Lake Sawyer Regional Park boasts some of the area’s best walking pathways! The newly-expanded trail system connects to Black Diamond Open Space which, in turn, connects to Henry’s Ridge and Summit Ridge. Avid mountain bikers or hikers who live in Ten Trails can spend a day exploring trails just outside their doorstep!

Lake Sawyer Trails

The Lake Sawyer mountain bike trail system is located in the area on the west side of Hwy 169 in Black Diamond adjacent to a mix of private property and King County Parks land. Used primarily for mountain biking, the trails consist of a mix of ladder bridges, drops and other free-ride obstacles. If you are looking for easy walking trails, access the park from the parking lot on Lake Sawyer Road Southeast. Here, residents can get to the park via a wooded trail that leads out to open space, picnic areas, and the lake itself.

Lake Sawyer Boating and Fishing

Lake Sawyer is King County’s fourth largest natural lake, and is used primarily for boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing. The lake’s public boat ramp can be accessed via Lake Sawyer Road Southeast and visitors pay just a $5 parking fee. Launch motorboats or kayaks for a day spent enjoying spectacular views of Mount Rainier from these calm waters. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043        

Head to Nearby Franklin Falls for a Magical Wintertime Hiking Experience

Franklin Falls is located about an hour’s drive from Ten Trails and is a popular hiking destination in the summer months. In the winter months, however, the hike takes on a uniquely different quality because the majestic waterfall partially freezes as temperatures drop. At just a few miles roundtrip, this is a quick and easy hike that can be enjoyed by hikers of all ages.

Location and Driving Directions for Franklin Falls Trail 

Franklin Falls Trail is located near the Snoqualmie Pass and can be reached via I-90 and exit 52. During the winter months, the trail can be accessed via National Forest Road 58 (NF-58) which closes to vehicle traffic due to snow. Park in the West Summit lot and walk along NF-58 for about 1.4 miles before taking a right into the woods at the Safety Corridor sign. A five-minute descent through the wooded trail will reveal the waterfall.

Alternate Hike Along Denny Creek Trail

You can opt to take a shorter path along Denny Creek that is relatively flat with sweeping views of the river and cabins. Old growth trees provide ample shade and the river is fast-flowing much of the year.

Make Sure You Have the Proper Hiking Equipment

Because the trail is covered in snow in the winter, you will want to make sure you bring the proper snow hiking equipment for a safe and enjoyable excursion. Waterproof hiking or snow boots equipped with microspikes or crampons are essential for ensuring you do not slip on the snowy trail. Snowshoes would also be handy to have for the hike on snowy NF-58 and gaiters to keep snow from going into your shoes. Many snow hikers also opt for stability with trekking poles and other winter hiking gear. For suggestions of what gear and supplies you may need for your winter hike outing, visit REI’s website. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043      

Achieve Your 2021 Fitness Goals Without Going to a Gym 

It is still uncertain whether gyms will be allowed to be open in the coming weeks, and if they are, capacity may be limited. Do not let that deter you from achieving your new year fitness goals! Ten Trails has all you need to get fit this winter without leaving the community.

Hit the Trails

Ten Trails has miles of trails for walking, jogging, or running! Check out our flipbook for a map of our current trail system to plan your route before heading out. Need an accountability partner? Our HOA sponsored Facebook group is a great place to meet other residents to be your socially-distanced walking or jogging buddies.

Get Creative with the Play Equipment

Ten Trails’ many parks offer a variety of play equipment that can be used for workouts. Busy parents who do not have time for workouts often use this trick to sneak them in while watching their kiddos at the playground. Check out Red Tricycle for some suggestions on how to use playground equipment for a quick workout

Embrace Bodyweight Exercises

Take a cue from the military and embrace calisthenics, or bodyweight exercises! You can see huge results in muscle gains without purchasing expensive weights by following exercises that use your own body weight to create resistance. Examples of these exercises include squats, push-ups, crunches, burpees, and lunges. For a list of calisthenics workouts to try, check out this article from Shape magazine. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043