A far-flung celebration of the Mountains to Sound Greenway

Forests, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation along the 100 miles of Interstate 90 from the waterfront in Seattle to the desert grasslands in Central Washington provide the setting for Greenway Days activities this weekend.

Mountains to Sound Greenway conservation efforts started in 1990 to insure that the natural beauty of the Interstate 90 corridor remained protected and in public ownership, balancing local growth with preservation of open spaces for the enjoyment of all now and in the future. The Greenway includes 700,000 acres of historic towns, farms, forests, alpine scenery, wildlife habitat, campgrounds, trails, lakes and rivers along the National Scenic Byway of I-90.

Traverse the Greenway at Sunday's Mountain to Sound Relay (22-mile mountain bike, 50-mile road bike, 12-mile paddle and 19-mile run for teams of up to six people or hardy Iron Solos), starting at Hyak at Snoqualmie Pass and ending with a celebration with music and food in Seattle's Golden Gardens Park. Less strenuous hikes and bike rides provide outdoor recreation throughout the weekend at a variety of sites, including history walks Saturday and Sunday in Issaquah. Community events include Eastside Heritage Center's Strawberry Festival in Bellevue and Cowboy Rendezvous cowboy crafts, wagon rides and campfire cookout and singalong in Cle Elum Saturday and Sunday and City Cruise and Classic Car Show Sunday in Issaquah.

Mountains to Sound Greenway's Web site and festival information centers provide information on all this weekend's activities and year-around recreation throughout the Greenway corridor.

The details

Hikes and bike rides: History hikes, 10 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday from Issaquah Train Depot, $2/person; Issaquah Alps hikes, Olallie Lake 6 miles, 9 a.m. Saturday; Cougar Mountain 4 mile, 10 a.m. Saturday; Lake Annette 8 mile hike, 8:30 a.m. Sunday, from Issaquah Trails Center; Snoqualmie Pass 50-mile bike ride, 10 a.m. Saturday from the Log Pavilion, Snoqualmie; John Wayne Pioneer Trail 30-mile bike ride, 10:15 a.m. Sunday from Iron Horse State Park trailhead at Rattlesnake Lake; Fall City to Cedar River Watershed 30-mile bike ride, 10 a.m. Sunday, Fall City.

Greenway Days for Kids: nature walks, bike tuneup, kites, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Meadowbrook Farm, Boalch Avenue Northwest, North Bend.

Bellevue Strawberry Festival: minimuseum and historic agricultural displays, entertainment, kids' activities, vendors, strawberry shortcake; 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Crossroads Community Center and Park, 16000 10th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, 425-452-4874 or www.bellevuestrawberryfestival.org.

Cowboy Rendezvous: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday plus evening cookout, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, downtown Cle Elum.

Mountains to Sound Relay: 8 a.m. Sunday from Hyak, registration deadline 5 p.m. Friday; $175/Iron Solos, $225/pairs, $400/5-member teams, $450/6-member teams, 206-633-1121 or mountainstosound.com/.

Greenway Classic Car Show: Hundreds of vintage and classic cars, music including Jr. Cadillac at noon, food vendors, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, followed by city cruise, XXX Root Beer Drive-In, 80 N.E. Gilman Boulevard and surrounding area, Issaquah. 425-392-1266. Depot Car Show, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Cle Elum.

Getting there: Most sites along I-90. Metro bus transportation available as far as the King County line in North Bend. Many sites available by bike or on foot via the Burke-Gilman Trail, John Wayne Pioneer Trail and other trails. Parking varies at venues.

Cost: Most activities free unless otherwise indicated.

More information : www.mtsgreenway.org or Greenway Days Information Centers open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St., Mercer Island (206-236-3545); Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm, 2380 Bellevue Way S.E., Bellevue (425-467-0501); Chamber of Commerce, 155 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah (425-392-7024); Snoqualmie Valley Visitors Center, North Bendigo Boulevard, North Bend (425-888-4440); Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. First St., Cle Elum (509-674-5958); Historic Thorp Grist Mill, Thorp (509-964-9640).

Madeline McKenzie: mmckenzie@seattletimes.com or 206-464-8245