Ways To Support Your Local Community

In this time of change and uncertainty, it can seem overwhelming to take on one more thing. We have had to adjust to life where many of us work from home, or aren’t working at all. Many kids are being taught at home, and many of our favorite local restaurants and stores have restricted access for customers. The Black Diamond area thrives on the support of local residents so we thought we would make it easy for residents to find ways to give back to their local community – without having to do much research and while still adhering to safety precautions.

Order Takeout and Delivery from Local Restaurants 

The Black Diamond area has a ton of great local restaurants that are offering takeout! If you do not feel like venturing out, you can also request food be delivered to your home via GrubHub or UberEats. Even better, win $50 in FREE takeout by taking part in one of Ten Trails’ weekly contests! This week we are having a scavenger hunt. Find the hidden Flamingo Gnome and submit a photo of yourself with it to info@tentrails.com to be entered to win the prize.

Purchase Gift Cards from Local Businesses

Along with ordering food from your favorite local restaurants, add some gift cards to that purchase! Buying gift cards helps generate revenue for the business and affords you the opportunity to come back at another time to dine-in. These can be great gifts for others or for yourself, it makes a promise to the business that you will be back, and shows how much you appreciate them. The Black Diamond Community Center provides many needed services to the local community. They give school supplies and backpacks to local children, provide services and meals for seniors, and run a local food bank. You can support the Black Diamond Community Center by participating in some of their fundraisers like their most recent community Garage Sale. The Community Center also takes non-perishable food donations that can be dropped off at the Ten Trails Welcome Center donation bin located at the front of the building. For a list of needed items, visit their website.

Support the Historic Museum Depot

The Historical Museum Depot in nearby downtown Black Diamond was once the train station for the railroad that ran from the former Town of Franklin to Seattle. Today, the building is a repository for all things Black Diamond and offers a glimpse into the rich history of this beautiful city. The building is in need of some repairs and is running a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a new furnace. Consider donating to help this local treasure.

Write Positive Reviews for Local Businesses

If you cannot get out to your local businesses or afford to buy from them to show your support, consider writing a positive review for them! Utilize Yelp, Google, and the businesses’ social media pages to put in a good word. Good reviews not only positively impact the morale of business owners and their staff, but other customers are over 67% more likely to shop somewhere with good reviews.

Follow Local Businesses on Social Media

Another way to show your support from home is to follow local businesses’ social media pages. In today’s Covid-19 environment, many businesses are keeping customers informed largely through social media. With a bigger social media following, local businesses can stay in touch with their customer base and be more available to loyal customers for questions. While you are following local businesses, be sure to also follow, @TenTrails, for our updates! We post regularly to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com      

Take a Day Trip from Your Ten Trails Home This Summer

Summer travel plans may have  changed this year, but luckily Ten Trails residents have access to some of the country’s most scenic and beautiful areas all within a day’s drive from the community. Read on to plan your family’s summer day trips!

Bellingham, Washington

Bellingham is the northernmost city in the contiguous United States and is known for its abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Take a two-hour drive from Ten Trails to explore this city which includes a quaint downtown along with places for fishing, hiking and golfing.

Bainbridge Island 

Summertime is the perfect time to take a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island! Pier 52 in Seattle will take you on a quick 35-minute ferry ride by car or on foot to this gorgeous island. Once there, take a walk on the waterfront trail which begins at the park close to the ferry terminal. Visitors can opt for the two-mile western loop or the 1.5-mile eastern route. The latter takes hikers alongside the waterfront and forest, while the western trail runs along parks, restaurants, and historical sites.

Mount Rainier National Park

Just a short drive south of the community, Ten Trails residents can visit one of the country’s most beautiful national parks. Most roads and trailheads within Mount Rainier National Park are now open for the summer season, however visitors’ centers, Paradise Inn, and facilities remain closed per guidance from the CDC and state, local and NPS public health officers. Be sure to pack your own lunch and plan your visit by checking the park’s website before heading out.

Olympic National Park 

Another Washington State-based National Park, the Olympic National Park, is located about two hours from Ten Trails and offers visitors access to top-rated hiking trails as well as a chance to take a stroll through one of the last temperate rainforests in the country. The Hoh Rainforest is a popular destination in the park due to its spectacular old-growth forest featuring Sitka spruce as well as western hemlock among a wide variety of other trees. Visit the park’s website prior to making the trip to learn how to recreate responsibly and what facilities and centers will be open for your visit.

Snoqualmie Falls

For a quick afternoon trip, take the family to nearby Snoqualmie Falls which is only 35 minutes from Ten Trails. Snoqualmie Falls is one of the state’s most popular attractions and, in addition the spectacular 270-foot waterfall, there is an outdoor upper observation deck as well as a trail that wanders through the two-acre park for visitors to explore. As of publication date of this post, the park’s restrooms and lower boardwalk are closed to the public. www.TenTrails.com 360-469.4043  

Take a Wild Drive Through Nearby Northwest Trek Park 

Nearby Northwest Trek is one of the area’s most unique attractions. Dedicated to conservation and education, the park has been a popular attraction for local residents and tourists for decades.  The park is now offering Wild Drive premier tours that allow visitors to drive by some of the park’s wildlife residents!

View Wildlife from the Comfort and Safety of Your Vehicle 

As participants in the Wild Drive tour, Ten Trails residents can see moose, elk herds, or newborn bison calves while following the governor’s health and safety protocols. Guests purchase timed tickets and meet staff members of the park to tour with a small caravan of other vehicles into Northwest Trek’s stunning Free Roaming Area. Guests can download an audio app to hear a naturalist give a live, narrated tour with personal stories about the species that roam freely in the 435-acre natural area.

Tickets and Additional Information 

Reservations are required for the Wild Drive tours. Cost is $70 for park members/$80 for non-members. The tour is open for family members of all ages, one family or household per vehicle with a maximum of eight people per vehicle. To purchase tickets, visit Northwest Trek’s website. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043  

Five Reasons to Check out the Green River Gorge this Year | Ten Trails News and Blog

Ten Trails residents enjoy an active lifestyle close to outdoor activities and area recreational destinations like the nearby Green River Gorge. Read more to find out five reasons you should explore this local conservation site this year!

Search for Local Wildlife

The Green River Gorge is home to abundant wildlife like deer, elk, and black bear. Bald eagles have also been spotted in the area, and Chinook salmon use the Green River as their spawning grounds in the fall.

Hike the Hanging Gardens Trail

The 150-foot white sandstone cliffs of the Green River Gorge are home to native plants and some small cedar trees which cling to the cliff’s edge and give the Hanging Gardens Trail its name. Access to the trail is tricky as the trailhead is unmarked. Hikers can look for the red gate on the north side of Enumclaw/Franklin Road SE and take a short walk down the road to a primitive trail that leads down to the Green River and offers views of the cliff gardens.

Go Tubing on the Green River

In the summer months, the Green River is a popular tubing site for locals who are looking for some relief from the heat. Popular tubing routes are from Flaming Geyser Park to the SR18 Bridge (2.5 hours) or from Flaming Geyser to Whitney Bridge (45 minutes.) Be sure to wear a life vest and keep an eye out for local kayakers who are also known to spend time navigating these portions of the river.

View the Maid of the Mist Falls

Also commonly known as the “Green River Gorge Falls” the 50-foot Maid of the Mist waterfall is clearly visible with just a short hike from the historic Franklin Ghost Town trail. The trail is part of privately-owned land, but the public is welcome to visit the falls and tour the Franklin Ghost Town trail for a $5 fee.

Search for Fossils and Petrified Wood 

The Green River has been known to wash up the ancient remains of plant and wildlife and visitors to the Green River Gorge have come across fossils and petrified wood while strolling the riverbanks. Bring the kids and let them have a blast playing archaeologist for the day while hunting for prehistoric treasures. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com  

Nearby Halloween Events

Kick off the fall/winter holiday season by celebrating with the family at some local Halloween events. Ten Trails residents have their pick of local activities to celebrate the holiday! Check out the list below for just a few of the activities you and your family can do this upcoming week.

Wild Waves Fright Fest 2019 

Head to nearby Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in Federal Way for their first annual Fright Fest! Weekends now through November 2^nd, the park has family day activities from noon until 6 pm, and scary activities and haunted attractions for children 13 and over from 6 pm to 7pm.

Halloween Harvest Festival

This coming Saturday in Auburn, Ten Trails families can take part in the city’s Halloween Harvest Festival featuring games, crafts, rides and trunk-or-treating! The event is held at the Auburn Parks Arts and Recreation Building at 910 9^th Street SE from 1 to 5 pm.

The Haunted Woods at Maris Farm 

Maris Farm in Buckley will hold one final weekend of their Haunted Woods attraction this coming weekend! Take a 35-40 minute tour of terror through an abandoned barn on the farm property followed by a trip through a twisty corn maze and a final walk (or run) through the haunted woods. Due to the graphic nature of this tour, it is not recommended for children under the age of ten.

Haunted Forest of Maple Valley

The Haunted Forest of Maple Valley has activities for kids of all ages including a trick-or-treat event this coming Saturday, October 26^th, from 5 to 6 pm. More mature residents who are looking for a scare can check out Terror on the Cedar River, a haunted tour that takes place this Friday, October 25^th and Saturday, October 26^th from 7 to 11 pm.

Halloween Craft Party

Residents looking for a quieter Halloween experience can check out the Halloween Craft Party at the Renton History Museum this Saturday, October 26^th from 11 am to 1 pm. Art supplies will be provided, however supplies are limited, so call ahead to reserve your spot. 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com    

Visit the Nearby Black Diamond Library

The Black Diamond Library is a wonderful local resource for residents of Ten Trails, and is located within walking or biking distance from the community via the new Roberts Drive Rock Creek Bridge. The library provides programs for children and families, art workshops, and Family Story Time events on select Mondays throughout the year.

Origin of the Black Diamond Library

The City of Black Diamond has had a library in one form or another since 1917, when volunteers gathered book donations and began a library in a small room in the old Pacific Coast Hotel. As the donations increased and space became limited, the library had to be moved to the nearby former railroad depot which today is known as the Black Diamond Historical Museum Depot.

Historical Timeline for the Black Diamond Library

During WWII, the library had to shut down due to lack of volunteers available to run it. To help ensure the residents of Black Diamond still had access to books, the King County Rural Library District (known today as the King County Library System) began offering mobile book lending services twice a month to residents. The library reopened in June of 1945 in the old depot building with new books and was designated as a branch of the King County Rural Library District. The library remained at the depot for 12 more years until it was relocated to a small cottage on Lawson Street. There it remained until 1968 when it was moved to the city’s new municipal building. The library was fully annexed into the King County Library System in 1990 and operated out of a leased space from 1991 until the new building that exists today was opened in 2008.

Black Diamond Library Today 

Today, the Black Diamond library is located at 24707 Roberts Drive, just shy of one mile from the Willow Avenue entrance to Ten Trails. The beautiful new building was designed by architects at the Miller Hull Partnership to reflect the late 19^th century architecture that is predominant in the city. On a clear day, the library offers stunning views of Mount Rainier from the main reading area.

Friends of the Black Diamond Library 

Residents of Ten Trails are encouraged to get involved with their local library. The Friends of the Black Diamond Library group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 5pm in the library’s conference room. Dues are $5, and the group holds fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the library including the annual book sale and an annual plant sale held on the first Saturday each May. The library is having a book sale this Thursday, October 17^th from 10 am to 6 pm. Purchase used books, videos and CDs at bargain prices to help support library programming throughout the year. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

Visit Nearby Pumpkin Patches this October

Pumpkin season is here and residents of Ten Trails have a lot of options when looking for nearby places to take their kids pumpkin-picking! Check out these local farms and make sure to tag us, @TenTrails on social media with your best pumpkin patch photo!

Thomasson Farm Pumpkin Patch

Thomasson Family Farm in nearby Enumclaw has a whole host of fall activities for families to enjoy this October! Head to the farm from October 1^st through the 31^st to experience their pumpkin patch, and take part in fall activities including tractor train rides, hay wagon rides, a petting farm, corn maze and much more! The farm is located at 38223 236^th Ave SE in Enumclaw.

Maris Farms

Located in nearby Buckley, Maris Farms has fall activities for kids of all ages including a corn maze, pig and duck races, and a haunted woods walk. Their pumpkin patch is open from September 28^th through October 30^th and features pumpkins and gourds of all sizes. Visitors can also purchase pumpkin-carving kits and cornstalks directly from the farm which is located at 25001 Sumner Buckley Hwy in Buckley.

Mosby Farm

Mosby Farm is a small, family-run farm located close to Ten Trails in the Green River Valley. Their pumpkin patch is open from September 28^th until October 30^th at 3104 Auburn-Black Diamond Road in Auburn.

Carpinito Brothers Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze 

Just a few miles from Ten Trails in nearby Kent, Carpinito Brothers Farm has plenty of activities for the little ones in your family! The pumpkin patch and corn maze are open from September 27^th through October 31^st at 27508 W. Valley Hwy North in Kent. Take part in fall-themed kids’ activities at the farm while enjoying a majestic view of Mt. Rainier in the lovely Kent valley. 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com        

Head to the Black Diamond Miner’s Day Festival this Weekend

Ten Trails families looking for a fun activity to do this weekend can head to nearby downtown, historic Black Diamond on Saturday, July 13^th to take part in their annual Miner’s Day festival! The event kicks off at 9 am with a 5k race that begins with the sound of the historic coal mining siren. Fun activities will be held throughout the day, with entertainment for all ages including a donut-eating contest held at 11:30 am. For a full festival schedule, visit the Black Diamond Miner’s Day festival website.

Women’s Suffrage Theme

The theme of this year’s Miner’s Day is “Women’s Suffrage Centennial” to commemorate the 100-year anniversary that women were given the right to vote. The festival’s traditional fashion show will give a nod to the theme with many examples of women’s attire in the early 1900’s, along with a women’s suffrage skit that will take place at noon.

Stop by our Ten Trails Tent

Don’t forget to visit our Ten Trails tent at Miner’s Day to learn more about the community, meet our friendly team and grab some Ten Trails giveaways! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

The Black Diamond Library: A Great Local Resource for Ten Trails Families 

Black Diamond has been committed to providing library services to residents since the first library opened in a city hotel in 1917. The current Black Diamond Library is just a one-mile walk or bike ride from Ten Trails at 24707 Roberts Drive, and is a wonderful resource for the whole family! The library, which is affiliated with the King County Library System, is dedicated to supporting families in the area with activities for kids like arts and crafts, Lego creative play, story time, and a family book club in Spanish.

Summer Reading Program

Kids of all ages are invited to participate in the Summer Reading Program at the Black Diamond Library. This year’s activities, story time, and performances are all about the wonders of space. Designed to keep kids reading during summer break, the schedule is packed full of space-related crafts, music, puppet shows and more. See the schedule listed below for each Summer Reading Program activity.

Friends of the Black Diamond Library

Friends of the Black Diamond Library is an organization that supports library programming by raising funds with an annual book sale and an annual plant sale. This volunteer organization is an invaluable part of the success of the library and the activities provided for the community! Anyone interested in membership should contact the library at (360) 886-1105.

Library Amenities 

Visitors will find the library well-equipped with computers, printers, Wi-Fi, photocopier/scanner, and a 24-hour book drop, as well as a large selection of books for check out with a KCLS library card.

Schedule of Events for Summer Reading Program at the Black Diamond Library

There’s always something going on at the Black Diamond Library! Ten Trails residents have plenty of local, family-friendly library activities to choose from this summer. June 1^st, 11am-12:30pm Galaxy Coaster Art (Ages 15 and older) Learn how to make a colorful galaxy coaster. Pre-registration is required. June 24^th, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) June 24^th, 2-4pm Summer Reading Kickoff (All ages welcome) The Destination Space Show Music, dance, and mystery! Stay after the show for treats and fun! July 1st, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) July 2nd, 2-3 pm (ages 5-11) Blast It: Rocket Fuel Reactions Science Workshop, presented by KidsQuest Museum experiment with chemical reactions and design and build a ready-to-launch rocket. July 8th, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) July 11th, 2-3:30 pm (Ages 5 and up) How to Paint a Planet Art Workshop Solar system watercolor painting July 15, 10:30-11:30 am Star’s Big Dream Puppet Show (All ages welcome) Presented by Penny’s Puppet Productions. July 17th, 2-3 pm The Wonders of Space Show (All ages welcome) Comedy/Variety Show July 22nd, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) July 25^th, 2-3 pm Alien Invasion Concert (All ages welcome) Music, comedy, and puppets July 29th, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) August 5^th 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) August 6^th, 2-3pm Suited for Space Science Workshop (Ages 8 and up) Presented by Museum of Flight August 10, 11am-noon Multicultural Moon Tales (All ages welcome) Moon stories and craft project August 12^th, 2-3:30 pm Shooting Stars Workshop (Ages 8 and up) Learn about shooting stars and create a craft project www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Water Sports, Picnicking and More at Nearby Flaming Geyser State Park

Located just a few miles due south of Ten Trails, Flaming Geyser State Park is a great spring day activity spot for Ten Trails families!

Flaming Geyser 

The park’s name comes from a remarkable geological feature of  once-active cluster of methane seeps. Due to depletion of the methane, there’s no longer any flame at Flaming Geyser, but visitors can read all about the history of the flame on a series of interpretive park panels.

Rafting, Tubing and Kayaking

Flaming Geyser has more than three miles of freshwater shoreline on the Green River for access by rafts, kayaks and river tubes. When the dog days of summer hit, and Ten Trails residents need some relief from the heat, the icy-cold waters of the Green River are a great place to cool off and hang out with friends and neighbors.

Guided and Interpretive Tours 

Visitors can schedule an interpretive walk through Flaming Geyser Park with a park ranger, or take a self-guided salmon interpretive trail walk using signage that is located along the river. In addition to touring, visitors can play a game of volleyball on one of  park’s four volleyball courts or hike along some of the park’s many trails.

Get Your Washington State Parks Discover Pass

An annual Washington State Parks Discover Pass or one-day pass is required for entry into Flaming Geyser Park and many other parks near Ten Trails. Learn how to get your Discover Pass here! 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com