Oct 15, 2015
Envisioned as a kind of “pre-departure lounge” for travelers, the unique and creative Adventure Hub debuted this spring in a converted car mechanic’s shop on Fourth Avenue South in SoDo.
A place to connect with knowledgeable guides and other excited travelers and plan future adventures—as well as enjoy some fine wine—it’s the joint effort of Jake Haupert of the EverGreen Escapes travel and tour agency and Mick Pearson’s Kaf Adventures, a training and information center for hikers and climbers.
“There is only so much you can experience through your research online. At some point you want to talk to other people. The goal of the hub is be a gathering place to share and inspire each other to keep on exploring,” says Haupert.
After a chance meeting with Haupert at the Taste of Washington revealed their shared vision of creating a special gathering place, Jody Elsom relocated her Elsom Cellars winery into the space, which now houses its production facility, a barrel room, and a tasting room. Says Haupert, “All of our trips . . . focus on food as an incredibly important part of the travel experience. So it made sense to include a partner like Elsom Cellars in our travel community space.”
The synergy of the three businesses has given rise to a singular kind of venue with an array of resources and services.
At EverGreen Escapes, travelers can do research, get personal consultations, and attend presentations about fascinating and emerging destinations. Their “Escape Artists,” a community of travel professionals, naturalists and wine guides, lead half-, full- and multi-day educational and immersive small group tours that “blend nature, adventure and local epicurean indulgences”—in the Northwest and internationally—for “curious, sophisticated and responsible” travelers.
They can also help plan custom-crafted private travel, family adventures, self-drive itineraries, and corporate escapes. Says Haupert, “Having that personal engagement . . . helps us understand who the client is and what they’re looking for.”
At Kaf Adventures, professional mountain guides and educators help adventurers rent the equipment they need for hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, and backcountry winter travel, and offer training for all skill levels. Of course, they also provide trips: rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and adventure travel abroad. Some adventures even combine yoga with hiking, rock climbing, backpacking—and wine.
Elsom Cellars allows visitors to sample the latest wine, from the bottle or barrel; participate in the winery’s production; or just relax after work on the outdoor patio.
This community-minded venue is also available for private events, special celebrations, or large tourism- or wine-related meetings of 50-100 people. The Seattle-based Adventure Travel Trade Association says it will partner with EverGreen Escapes to offer travel seminars and industry updates on policies, tips, and trends, such as sustainable tourism.
The three CEOs report that they are learning from each other. “It’s like our own little CEO group,” Haupert says.
And in good news for our West Coast neighbors, there are plans to open more Adventure Hubs in Portland, San Francisco and Vancouver, BC.
Ready to plan your escape? Call EverGreen Escapes at 866-203-7603 or email experience@evergreenescapes.com.
Visit the Adventure Hub at 2960 Fourth Ave. S. #115, Seattle, WA 98134. It is open Monday–Wednesday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Thursday–Friday 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Private travel consultations are by appointment only.
Elsom Cellars is open Thursday–Friday 3 p.m. – 7p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. –6 p.m. and by private appointment.
