Well, I didn't make it to the next "Place to Play" like I had hoped (last week I said we wanted to try to do one a week) - but I have a good excuse! Saturday was a lazy day for us and I've been battling a cold for two weeks, so we didn't do too much, and Sunday, I worked at our Visitor Info Center here at 904 Potter Street. In case you did not know, we run our VIC (as we so affectionately call it) 7 days a week, from 9 am until 5 pm, except major holidays. That's right... you can come get all kinds of useful local information seven days a week! The past few times I've filled in and managed the VIC, I was stressed out. I happen to be directionally challenged and when I started working here over a year ago, I was painfully unfamiliar with all there is to do and see in Whatcom County. It made answering visitor questions downright terrifying at times. I hated to look stupid, but Google was my best friend at times! Yesterday, however, I am proud to say I rocked the VIC. It's amazing all that I've learned about this area in just a year's time and how much I apparently know. I answered questions like: Where can I get a seafood dinner in Fairhaven? Big Fat Fish Co. or Dirty Dan Harris Where's that 4-mile trail that goes along the water? That would be Taylor Dock, through Boulevard Park and beyond I heard about a garden with big rocks... That's Big Rock Garden, and it's actually a small garden full of sculptures I just moved here from Las Vegas and have a job at St. Joseph's and am wondering where to look for rental housing and what there is to do in the area? I could go on and on about all the info I gave to this young woman! :) We're driving to Mount St. Helens in Oregon and want to get there by driving down the coast first. Ok, here, I panicked a little. Thankfully, my boss stopped in at that moment and was happy to help me help them. You don't really want to drive down the coast unless you have a LOT of time, as there's no highway that goes straight down. I-5 to WA-504 is your best bet. Most of the visitor centers down there are closed until May, but Castle Rock Exhibit Center and the Forest Learning Center are open. Oh, and Mount St. Helens is actually in Washington. ;) How do I get to the airport, and what casino can I stop at before I head there? Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa is your best bet for killing time before your flight What should I check out downtown before heading over to the Mount Baker Theatre? American Museum of Radio and Electricity and the Bellingham Railway Museum are two of my favorites The last time I was here, I had a really good Bagel near the train station downtown, but I can't remember what the place was called. Ah, that was actually the WTA bus station, and you ate at The Bagelry. So there you have it. A peek into the day in the life of a Visitor Info Center volunteer. I'll try and do something more exciting to write about next week, I promise!
