Media Contact: Amy Spain, 425-348-5802 x. 101, amy@snohomish.org

Group Getaways in Snohomish County, Washington

Snohomish County has conference, meeting and retreat facilities to meet the needs of just about any size or type of group, plus unusual venues and intriguing tours. A big advantage to staying in Snohomish County: our lodging rates are an average of 30 percent less than big city Seattle and our lodging tax is five percent less, plus all our hotels offer free parking!

Getting Here

Snohomish is close enough to major metropolitan areas to make air transportation a breeze. We’re 12 miles north of downtown Seattle on Interstate 5; 35 miles north of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; 120 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia; 187 miles north of Portland, Oregon. Charter flights are available to Paine Field, the Snohomish County Airport, and limo service can be arranged from Sea-Tac Airport.

Getting Behind the Scenes – Great Group Tours

The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour Located at Boeing’s Paine Field, this major new attraction features a 28,000-square-foot aviation gallery, 9,000-square-foot observation deck, theater, restaurant and a new tour center for Boeing’s nearby airplane assembly plant. Exhibits and displays highlight technology as it is applies to history, the development of flight and the impact of the aircraft on worldwide cultures. Open daily at 8:30am and closes 5:30pm, year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Reservations are strongly recommended especially during summer months. Children must be at least 4 feet tall. Located in Everett/Mukilteo. Information: 888-467-4777 or 800-464-1476, or visit http://www.futureofflight.org.

Easy Access 12 miles north of downtown Seattle via Interstate 5 35 miles north of Sea-Tac Airport 187 miles north of Portland, Oregon via Interstate-5 120 miles south of Vancouver, BC via Interstate-5 Serviced by Amtrak, Greyhound Bus Lines and public transit throughout the county. Charters available from Paine Field, the Snohomish County Airport.

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Museum of Flight Restoration Center Authentic vintage aircraft in mint condition can be viewed at the Museum of Flight’s Restoration Center in Everett. An army of volunteers restores the engines, repaint bodies and lavish love and attention on aircraft that date from 1920 to 1960. Group tours are available with advance notice. Closed Sunday and Monday. Call 425-745-5150. www.museumofflight.org/restoration Rare treasures of 20th century military aviation are housed at Paine Field, Everett at the Flying Heritage Collection. In 1998 Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen began acquiring and preserving “warbirds” and workhorses from World War II through the Cold War era in the hopes of preserving these rare vintage aircraft. Children must be supervised at all times; the Flying Heritage Collection environment is not appropriate for young children. Tours are conducted by docents, all fans of military aviation and often experienced pilots. Their colorful stories bring the hanger and the fascinating collection to life. For more information, call 877-FHC-3404 or visit www.flyingheritage.com. Historic Flight Restoration Center features John T. Sessions’ collection of the most important aircraft produced between 1927 and 1957—all restored and airborne again on designated “Fly Days.” Sited at the southwest corner of Paine Field, Historic Flight’s collection includes aircraft with great stories, such as an early 1940s B-25D Mitchell nicknamed “Grumpy,” a P-51B Mustang fighter (“Impatient Virgin”) that escorted bombers deep into enemy territory during World War II, “Wampus Cat,” one of just 10 Grumman F8F Bearcats still flying today, “Bad Kitty,” a Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, one of six surviving Tigercats, and more. Open 10am-5pm, Tuesday - Sunday. Call 425-348-3200 or visit on line at http://historicflight.org. Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Eldec Corp. This is the kind of place that drives aviation techies wild – an electric and electromagnetic device manufacturer that specializes in the aerospace industry. Crane’s automated machine and metal fabrication shop near Lynnwood offers fascinating one-hour tours, and its circuit board assembly plant in the North Creek area is considered one of the best in the nation (30-minute tours). Tours are suitable for groups of five to seven people from educational institutions, technical or industry related associations. Call 425-743-1313 or go to www.eldec.com. Henry M Jackson Hydroelectric Project Adults and school kids alike are astounded at the scope of the Henry M Jackson powerhouse, where four-turbine generator units produce 112 megawatts of electricity and generate enough power for 35,800 homes! All using a clean, renewable resource: water from the dam’s reservoir eight miles away. Tours are offered Monday-Friday only and reservations should be made at least one month in advance. Maximum group size is 75. The tour takes about one hour and is handicap accessible. Children must be in fifth grade or above. To schedule, call 425-783-1748 or go to www.snopud.com.

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Getting Settled – Distinctive Meeting & Lodging Venues

Wallace Falls Lodge Smaller groups and executive retreats find a perfect venue at Wallace Falls Lodge. Located on 10 secluded acres near Gold Bar in the Cascade Mountains’ foothills, it can accommodate up to 25 people overnight, 60 in its meeting room and 125 when used as an outdoor venue. Guests can enjoy hiking trails past waterfalls, mountain biking, a nearby lake, on-site massage therapist and hot tub under the stars. The evening campfire stokes the camaraderie and sets the tone for communication and success. Phone 360-793-8784, www.wallacefallslodge.com. Inn at Port Gardner The steady hum of high tech meets the soothing ping of sailboat rigging at this Everett Marina hotel. Guests can network their laptops in a series of guest rooms, use voice mail, telephone and data lines simultaneously, and access ISDN data-lines. And they can watch seagulls soaring past when they need a break. Call 425-252-6779, or 888-253-6779. www.innatportgardner.com. Warm Beach Christian Camp & Conference Center Non-profit groups are invited to meet at Warm Beach, a full-service conference and retreat facility. Choose from mountain cabins, mini-lodges, rustic dorms and a motel. Enjoy home-style meals and recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, swimming pools, tennis and volleyball. Most of all, take in the beautiful 300 acres and views of Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Contact: 800-228-6724, 360-652-7575, 425-743-5471, www.warmbeach.com. Craven Farm Reception Hall & Recreational Facility Meet “in the barn” at this working Snohomish farm. Locals come here for fresh produce all summer long and say goodbye to the growing season during the annual pumpkin festival. Groups meet in the spacious and comfortable barn from March to December. For more information, call 369-568-2601, www.cravenfarm.com. Let Your Next Event Soar! The Future of Flight Aviation Center is a unique venue for both meetings and special events. Choose from eight indoor areas, ranging from a 12-person executive boardroom to the entire Aviation Gallery for a 1,400- person reception. Plus the outdoor, tented Strato Deck offers sweeping views for banquets or receptions of up to 500 people. For more information, call 425-349-3200, or email info@futureofflight.org. www.futureofflight.org.

Getting the Best for Big Groups and Trade Shows

Xfinity Arena at Everett This state-of-the-art facility has 57,000 square feet of exhibition space, meeting space for up to 10,000 attendees and banquet facilities for up to 800. Executive boardrooms and additional small group breakout conference rooms are also available. Stunning art graces the public areas and meeting rooms. Location: 2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett. Contact 425-322-2600, www.xfinityarenaeverett.com.

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Lynnwood Convention Center The Lynnwood Convention Center is easy to reach off Interstate 5 and surrounded by economical lodging choices, retail shops and services. It is designed to provide large groups with elegant, flexible space and high-tech capabilities to meet all needs. The 53,000-square-foot center has 11 flexible meeting spaces for up to 1,200 people and dining capacity for 720. Location: 3819 – 196th Street SW, Lynnwood. Contact 425-778-7155, or 888-778-7155. www.lynnwoodcc.com.

Getting Organized

The Snohomish County Tourism Bureau is your contact for convention planning services. We can arrange site tours, provide you with promotional material and publicity leads, recommend display and exhibit decorators, orientation and registration services. Request our comprehensive Meetings & Facilities and Package Travel Guide compact disc. For more information, contact Group Sales Manager Brad Zorich, brad@snohomish.org or at 888-338-0976 or 425-348-5802 x106.