Keep Your Dog Cool with Homemade Frozen Treats!
We started the summer off with temperatures above 100 degrees and it seems summer isn’t done with Western Washington yet! And with summer usually lasting into September, we could be in for more days of uncomfortable heat. While some of us have air conditioning, many of us don’t and have to get creative with ways to keep cool. Our furry friends have even fewer options, so we have to get creative with ways to keep them cool and healthy.
One fun and tasty way to do that is with frozen dog treats! Sure, it’s great to get that pup cone in the drive-thru, but here are some delicious and healthy-for-dogs treats you can make at home to give them any time to beat the summer heat!
- Frozen yogurt, peanut butter, and fruit pupsicles!
- Frozen apple dog treat!
- Two-ingredient cantaloupe ice cream!
What are some of your dogs favorite ways to cool down?
The COPO Camaro returns to the drag strip and its roots with a 572-cubic-inch Big Block V-8
The COPO Camaro returns to the drag strip for 2022 with a newly available 572-cubic-inch engine. The Big Block V-8 channels the spirit of the original 1969 COPO Camaro, a purpose-built drag racer created by dealers using the Central Office Production Order system to equip cars with Chevrolet’s largest V-8.
The COPO 572 uses a cast-iron block with four-bolt main caps, aluminum heads, a forged steel crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons. Pricing for the COPO Camaro with the 572 starts from $105,500 (excluding tax, title, license, and dealer fees).
The 2022 COPO Camaro is also available with LSX-based Small Block engines –
A supercharged 350-cubic-inch V-8 rated by the NHRA at 580 horsepower and a naturally aspirated 427-cubic-inch V-8 with an NHRA-rated 470 hp. All 2022 COPO Camaros use an ATI Racing Products TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.
Engineered for drag racers, the COPO Camaro is sold as a Chevrolet Performance part and cannot be registered for street use. It competes in NHRA Stock and Super Stock eliminators and comes standard with a carbon fiber hood and wheelie bars. Buyers can customize their cars with options such as a trunk-mounted weight box and parachute.
Owning a COPO Camaro places drag racers in rare company – Chevrolet has built fewer than 700 examples since the program restarted in 2012. In past years, interested customers have entered a lottery to win an allotment for one of 69 cars. Chevrolet will not limit production for 2022, and orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Buyers may also participate in a private tour of the COPO Build Facility in Oxford, Michigan, where each car is custom made. The order form for the 2022 Chevrolet COPO Camaro can be found at www.chevrolet.com/performance-parts/copo-camaro.
Read more about the history of the COPO Camaro here.
Roads Over Water: Driving Your Chevy in the PNW
Car ferries provide scenic, romantic, and sometimes historical routes to consider for your next road trip.
Ferries work strange magic on road trips, giving you a sense of distance and isolation you don’t find on many roads. We suspect that’s because a boat is the critical component in atypical road-tripping: slower, more relaxing, and often more scenic than driving a car. A ferry intermission encourages reflection on scenery usually unknowable to automobiles, and thoughts of what’s been and what’s to come—sort of like interrupting an interstate journey to spend an hour on a horse. Except the horse trots on water, pulls your car, and sells lattes and minestrone on its upper deck.
The car-carrying craft are common sights in the Pacific Northwest—especially Seattle, where ferries are more frequently used by daily commuters than adventurers. But loading up for a ferry journey transforms a mundane experience into anything but. This is particularly true for longer excursions over salt water, such as the crossing from Anacortes, Wash., to the San Juan Islands.
The ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island makes many online lists of America’s most beautiful crossings, but after testing the ferry experience on some of the smaller vessels in Puget Sound, we decided to head to the San Juan Islands for two reasons: You can drive to Bainbridge, whereas we wanted a refuge accessible only by boat, and the islands provide multiple destinations just as compelling as the ride over.
The San Juan Islands include more than 400 islands and reefs and 408 miles of shoreline. Washington State Ferries has simplified your choice of which islands to visit, because service runs to just four: Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan. We boarded in Anacortes direct to Friday Harbor, the port on San Juan Island. The peak season cost of just over $80 round-trip covered a standard vehicle and driver, plus a passenger.
One of the joys of taking the water route is to slow down and enjoy the view, whether that’s the stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest or the Silver Ice Metallic Tahoe, which offers a lovely sight on its own.
Leave Nothing Behind
Our decision to extend the journey out over the water meant we could take our car with us, one of several benefits of going by ferry. There’s much to be said for exploring strange lands in the comfort of your own vehicle. Although there is ample sightseeing room inside, we spent most of the 65-minute ride out on the deck, the mid-morning sea trying on several different climates. Overcast skies hovered from port to the channel between Blakely and Decatur Islands. Sunlight struck around Lopez and up to Orcas, highlighting the pale red trunks of madrona trees. Fog settled in between Orcas and Shaw, and a great dark bird soared just feet above the water. The fog dissipated into a bright overcast sky for our return to land at Friday Harbor.
We drove exactly one-tenth of a mile from the ferry dock to a local cafe, where I indulged in crab Benedict, a Seattle specialty that tasted better on San Juan than in Seattle. The crustacean and coffee hit all the spots.
A pit stop at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art introduced us to Jim, a local working the front desk. He dismissed our planned itinerary and recited the must-sees: Make sure to visit the Whale Museum, try the phenomenal barbecued oysters at Westcott Bay Shellfish Farm, stroll the 20-acre sculpture park in Roche Harbor, and take in the views from San Juan County Park and the driftwood-strewn South Beach. If you have time before your ferry home, drop in at the ice cream shop next door to the dock and sample one (or four) of their 81 flavors.
The Bainbridge ferry earns praise for its sunset view of downtown Seattle. We give similar acclaim to the twilight ride back to Anacortes. Snaking through islands and past sailboats, we’re surrounded by glinting, amber visions of the Pacific Northwest—all enjoyed with a bowl of clam chowder.
The Real Road Trip Hero
With a perfect combination of size, space, and curb appeal, Tahoe Premier Plus Edition is the ideal partner for your journey.
A Car Ferry Near You
If Washington state isn’t in your plans, ferries work every corner of the country, and many deserve the nod even when there’s another option. For instance, the 5.2-mile Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge will get you from the North Carolina mainland over Croatan Sound to Nags Head. But better to cross farther south at Cedar Island and spend 2.25 nautical hours traversing 19.7 miles of Pamlico Sound. Taking the ferry over to Ocracoke also puts you on the currents of both our recent and distant past. The waters of Pamlico Sound are known for a history of piracy and war. Blackbeard was the most famous to plunder and sink merchant vessels, and lost his head for it.
German U-boats skipped the plundering but resumed the practice of sinking merchant vessels just off the Outer Banks during WWII. A short walk from the Ocracoke port, the British Cemetery stands as a memorial to the 37 seamen who perished when a U-boat sank the HMS Bedfordshire in 1942. Nearby is also where English seafaring captains Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe landed after the first of the English voyages to Roanoke Island in 1584.
For vistas, a celebrated passage like the Staten Island Ferry delivers unending views of our nation’s urban icons, while the Alaska Marine Highway ferries offer unending views of iconic nature.
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We’re surrounded by glinting, amber visions of the Pacific Northwest—all enjoyed with a bowl of clam chowder.
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But there are ferries that skim the nation’s inland waterways, too, like the Charles Hall Ferry in Utah. Connecting the marinas of Halls Crossing and Bullfrog, the 25-minute ride crosses scenic Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Because of its remoteness, there’s a chance your primary company for the ride will be still waters and the red-hued sandstone, along with yellow-footed gulls, dabbling ducks, and American coots. Short of hauling your own boat to Lake Powell, you won’t find such diverse aquatic company anywhere else in the Utah desert.
All across our country, varied national treasures lie within and across waters. The ferry to Vinalhaven, Maine, deposits you on an island first inhabited at least 3,800 years ago. The ferry across the James River in Virginia from Scotland to Jamestown alights at America’s first permanent English settlement. The S.S. Badger ferry, the last coal-fired passenger steamship in the U.S. and a national historic landmark, makes a four-hour journey across Lake Michigan that begins to convey the adjective in “Great Lakes.” To reach those gems, and more, find just the right stretch of coast, point your car at the water, and keep driving. Wait for the boat first, though.
End of Summer Bucket List for Puget Sound Residents
It’s the nearing the end of July, which means we have about 1 month to check off items on our summer bucket lists and make memories. That might sound overwhelming or like a lot of pressure, but you can see and do a LOT in a month in our area. Here are some of our local, summer bucket list ideas to finish out the season strong!
- Drive up to Lake Diablo/Diablo Dam in the North Cascades. The color of the lake is the stuff Instagram posts were made for. Go across the dam, dip your toes in the water, and even make a learning adventure out of it by checking out the North Cascades Environmental Institute nearby!
- Ride the ferry! It doesn’t matter which ferry, really, because there is nothin more quintessentially Puget Sound in the summer than a ferry ride. If you want to “go big,” take a ferry ride to/around the San Juan Islands from Anacortes. If you want something closer to home, take the ferry from Fauntleroy to Vashon Island.
- If you’d rather see the mountains in the southern part of the state instead of the North Cascades, nothing can beat a summer trip to Mount Rainier. Take in the wild flower fields, hike alongside rivers and creeks, camp under the stars. Mount Rainier is a must-do in the Pacific Northwest.
- If you want adventure, than white water rafting near Leavenworth might be perfect for you! You could easily make a day trip of driving up to this charming Bavarian village in the Cascades, battle some rapids via several guided tour options, and be home to sleep in your own bed that night!
- Point Defiance Park in Tacoma is always a great choice during the summer! This 5 mile stretch has incredible views, wonderful restaurant/shopping options, and, of course, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium! It truly has something for everyone of all ages!
These are just some ideas to keep the good times rolling this summer. What are some of your bucket list ideas?
CRANK IT UP: 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The street will never sound the same
Turn the sound up for this video so you can hear how the street will never sound the same after the 2023 Corvette Z06 hits the road near you.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Logo
It’s All in the Details, Car Detailing
This article from Chevrolet’s New Roads magazine is full of expert tips to take care of your Chevy this summer!
Car washing isn’t a simple sponge-and-bucket affair anymore. Master detailer Todd Cooperider, founder of ESOTERIC – Fine Auto Finishing in Columbus, Ohio, has shared with us which cleaning products, techniques, and tools to use to give your Camaro a better-than-showroom shine. Cooperider details hypercars for a living, but he’s also one of the club, having recently been the proud owner of a C7 Corvette ZR1.
According to Cooperider, the hottest thing in detailing today is ceramic coatings, which replace traditional wax and can last for years on your car’s surface instead of months. This hard-wearing hydrophobic coating serves as a protective layer and can also give your car’s paint renewed luster.
Many car owners today also opt for paint protection film (PPF). PPF requires professionals, such as Cooperider, to install, and should protect your paint from rock chips. Often called the “sacrificial layer,” PPF installations usually last for four or five years.
Polishing your paint, once a job for the pros alone, has become more accessible to the DIY detailer. Cooperider says a good polish comes down to two things: the right tools and the right technique. Look for a car polishing kit that comes with an orbital polisher, a selection of polishing pads in various sizes, and a good polishing compound. As for technique, watching instructional videos is important to learn about factors such as pad flatness, arm speed, pressure, and overlapping your passes.
This sounds almost too simple, but Cooperider says the most important tool on a detailer’s belt is a small LED flashlight. What your car’s paint looks like in the sun does not represent its actual condition; you’ll see a whole other car under an LED light. Before any detailing, pull your car into the garage and use a light to inspect for swirls, cracks, and other flaws. Also, hit the car with the light after detailing to check your work and eliminate smears and streaking.
Finally, let’s go over the basics of car washing. It might go without saying, but Cooperider reminds us that all detailing, including washing, should be done in the shade, not direct sunlight. That’s because direct sunlight can distort your view of paint, and the higher temps can cause many car cleaning products to be less effective.
When doing a basic wash, use the two-bucket method: one bucket for soaping your applicator and one for rinsing it. And last, never dry your car with a bath towel. Use a high-quality microfiber towel and apply it with as little pressure as possible. Or get a vehicle dryer like the pros. Yes, you could use a leaf blower in a pinch, but a vehicle dryer filters out debris from the intake and warms the air, which dries the car more quickly.
If you decide to detail your own car this year, these tips should make the process easier and the outcome beautiful. Remember, clean cars are more fun to drive, too.
If you want to get the most out of the rest of your summer, take advantage of Chevrolet’s excellent deals!
Very well-qualified buyers will have NO PAYMENTS the rest of summer AND 0% APR for 72 months! Some buyers will qualify for NO MONTHLY payments for the rest of summer AND 2.49% APR for 72 months!
This means you can get to Chevrolet of Burien, test drive all the vehicles until you find a qualifying vehicle that you love…and focus on having a great time the rest of the summer with your new vehicle. You can see our inventory online and it includes
- 2021 Chevrolet Blazer Premier
- 2021 Chevrolet Traverse
Stop by today and find out if you qualify for this limited-time offer!
Chevrolet Teases Addition of ZR2 to Silverado Lineup
Chevrolet confirms the future expansion of the brand’s popular ZR2 trim to the Silverado. Chevrolet will share more information about the future addition to the Silverado lineup this fall.
Chevrolet today confirmed the future expansion of the brand’s popular ZR2 trim to the Silverado. The ZR2 trim relaunched on the Colorado mid-size pickup in 2017, and since then, ZR2 has signified high-performance capability in a wide variety of drive settings – both on- and off-road.
Stay tuned to learn more about the future addition to the Silverado lineup this fall.
Stay Safe and Have Fun This 4th of July
It sure feels like we have a lot to celebrate after a year of Covid-19 caused shut downs, cancellations, illness, and more. The Fourth of July seems like the perfect holiday to blow off some steam and we hope you all have a safe a happy holiday!
Here are some tips to keep you, your family, and your surroundings safe, especially considering the heatwave we’ve had/are having here in the PNW (whatever happened to summer not starting until July 5?):
- Consider doing small fireworks like smoke bombs at home and viewing big fireworks at professionally produced community shows
- Make sure there are no trees, buildings, or dry brush near where you are setting them off to prevent fires.
- Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby
- Do not throw fire crackers at cars, people, etc
- Do not try to relight a “dud” firework
- Wear eye protection if you are lighting off fireworks
- First Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence star is placed in the state of Texas
- General Motors’ Arlington Assembly Plant built its 12 millionth vehicle – a Suburban – earlier this month
Leaders from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant and the city of Arlington, Texas, celebrate as the Award of Excellence star earned by the Chevrolet Suburban is permanently placed into a city sidewalk on June 21, 2021. It is the first such award to reside permanently in Texas, a location chosen because it is where the Suburban is assembled. (Photo by Mike Stone for Chevrolet)
The Chevrolet Suburban brought a piece of its movie fame back to its hometown in Texas, where the Suburban is assembled*. In 2019, the Suburban became the first vehicle to earn an Award of Excellence star from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for its iconic role in film and television.
Today, Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Rana Ghadban and General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant Executive Director Bill Kulhanek unveiled the star’s new permanent location in Arlington’s Entertainment District, between the ballpark and football stadium. Chevrolet chose the location to celebrate the Suburban’s footprint in the city and its enduring popularity with Texas customers.
“The Suburban is truly a staple in both Texas and Hollywood, and the city of Arlington is honored to play a role in recognizing the Suburban today and every day at the GM Arlington Assembly Plant[SB1] ,” Williams said. “We’re also proud to proclaim today, June 21, ‘Suburban Day’ to recognize the Suburban’s continuing legacy in Texas, Hollywood and around the world.”
The Award of Excellence star recognizes the Suburban’s robust acting career, appearing in more than 1,750 film and TV series. The Suburban is Hollywood’s longest working actor and an icon on the Hollywood scene. The Suburban is a one-of-a-kind character actor with its own persona. Its career in Hollywood began in 1952, when it first appeared on the silver screen.
“There is no other character actor like the Chevy Suburban. It can fit into any type of role with ease. When it arrives in a movie or TV series, it can instantly bring a feeling of significance, suspense or knowing the day is about to be saved,” said Ghadban. “This marks the first Award of Excellence star outside of California. We are excited to permanently place the Suburban’s Award of Excellence star in its home state of Texas.”
Arlington Assembly builds 12 millionth vehicle, a Suburban
The Arlington Assembly Plant has produced over 12 million vehicles since production began. Today, it produces the segment-leading Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban for 33 countries around the world. The 5,677 employees who assemble these vehicles make the vehicle’s Hollywood career possible.
“We are so proud to build the Chevrolet Suburban in Texas, where it is beloved by many, both on and off the screen,” Kulhanek said. “The capability, cargo space and technology make the Suburban a customer favorite that has stood the test of time.”
Chevrolet Suburban fast facts on its history on and off the screen:
- Suburban has appeared in at least one television series every year since 1956, and at least one film every year since 1960.
- Suburban has also appeared in over 30 award-nominated films.
- Suburban is the first vehicle ever awarded an Award of Excellence star by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which was presented on Dec. 5, 2019.
- Suburban was first introduced in 1935 and is the longest-running nameplate in automotive history, and continues to be an American icon both on the road and on the big screen.
- Suburban started its production in Arlington in 1999.
- Approximately 1,200 vehicles are produced daily at Arlington Assembly.
- As of last year, there are nearly 200,000 Suburbans on the road in Texas and a Suburban is sold approximately every 2 hours in Texas.
- Additionally, Texas Chevrolet dealers accounted for four of the top 10 Chevrolet Suburban dealers in the U.S. in 2020.
- In 2020, Texans bought more Suburbans than 22 other states, combined.
As the Chevrolet Suburban continues its Hollywood legacy, fans can celebrate its heritage when visiting Arlington’s Entertainment District. The space is free and open to the public.
For more information on the Suburban, please visit Chevrolet.com/Suburban, and to learn more about GM in Texas, see the 2020 GM Texas State Impact Report.
*Of globally sourced parts.
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