Zip-It Good!

By Heather Caro

Those who have done more stay-cation than vacation over the last couple of years may have missed the adventurous ecotourism trend of zip-lining.

Showing up everywhere from cruise ships to rain forests, zip-line tours promise an exhilarating ride without leaving a big footprint on the landscape below.  But you don’t have to travel to Cancun or Hawaii to enjoy the high-altitude perspective – Heritage Farms Canopy Tours in Washougal, Wash., is just a day trip away.

After checking in and meeting the guides at Heritage Farms, thrill seekers are assisted into a five-point harness (similar to rock climbing gear) and clipped into a system of suspended steel cables.  Zip-liners are then free to safely glide across picturesque landscape without causing damage to fragile ecosystems.  Equipped with helmets and thick leather gloves, visitors to Heritage Farms are taught how to brake safely and – for more advanced zippers – how to flip upside down before moving on to more precarious heights. Should nerves overwhelm, guides are positioned at each platform to ensure safe landings.

Looking out over a tranquil sea of treetops from a wooden platform balanced 80 feet in the air, adventurers might ask questions they never before dared to ask:  What if the line breaks?  Does my life insurance policy cover tree collision? And, what if I’m attacked by a hawk?Melinda Ackley

But even those who are afraid of heights need not necessarily be excluded from joining in the fun, says Elizabeth Harrington Smith, 46, the manager and zip-line guide at Heritage Farms.  “You’re only scared of what you see,” laughs Smith, who once counted herself in the acrophobic category.  “Just keep your eyes on your hands until you walk off the platform.”

The ride is thrilling and takes from one to two hours, depending on the size of the group.  Tours cost $50 per person with group discounts applied for six or more zip-liners.  Be sure to call in advance, as reservations are required and age or weight restrictions might apply.

If You Go:

Heritage Farms Canopy Tours

3618 SE 327th Ave., Washougal, Wash.

gorgecanopytours.com

360-977-1139

Directions from Yakima:

East I-82 to Exit 50 toward Toppenish.  Merge onto WA-22 and then US 97.  Follow US 97 onto I-84 W toward Hood River/Portland.  Then take Exit 44 and take a left onto the Bridge of Gods.  Turn left onto WA 14/Evergreen Highway, then turn right onto SE Evergreen Blvd. Take a right onto 32nd Street, then turn left onto SE 327th Avenue.  The third driveway on the left is Heritage Farms Gorge Canopy Tours.

Visitors to Heritage Farms can bring a picnic lunch and dine on the spacious grounds, which include a deck with views of the Washougal River basin.  But if your zip-line adventure inspires culinary exploration as well, there are other options close by.  Here are two eateries that won’t disappoint.

Tucked away in the Port of Camas-Washougal Marina on a floating barge, The Puffin Café serves up Caribbean fare (such as homemade mango salsa, key lime pie and Barbados fish tacos), as ships dock in the bay beyond.  Island flare flourishes at this waterside diner that is a favorite among locals. Dining is casual and often accompanied by music from the house steel-pan player. For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss the deep-fried bananas – with warm chocolate and pineapple sauce for dipping.

The Puffin Cafe

14 South A Street

Washougal, Wash.

360-335-1522

puffincafe.com

With burgers so big they come held together with a steak knife instead of a toothpick, Jett Burger Café gets rave reviews from hungry local patrons. The furnishings are simple at the Hawaiian-style diner, but what it lacks in ambiance the café makes up for with taste. Its slogan is “One bite and we gotcha,” and with a menu featuring homemade teriyaki sauce and fresh Hawaiian breakfasts (a hot plate piled high with rice, eggs, Hawaiian and Portuguese sausage), it’s easy to see why.  Burgers are what the café is famous for – try the Maui Waui or the Crusher Burger – but be sure to come hungry.

Jett Burger Café

3531 SE 2nd Ave.

Camas, Wash.

360-335-1430