Bellingham and Yakima: Great escapes on 10 gallons or less

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Gas prices keeping you close to home this vacation season? Through Labor Day, Northwest Weekend will offer weekly ideas for close-to-Seattle getaways you can get to and back on less than 10 gallons of gas. And just to make it more "real world" — our tips are fine-tuned to whether you own a big honkin' SUV or a gas-sipping hybrid electric.

The fine print: Our "demo" vehicles are a Lincoln Navigator, which can get you 90 miles away and back on 10 gallons, and a Toyota Prius, which can get you 250 miles away and back on 10 gallons. *

The Lincoln Navigator getaway

You never need a lot of excuses to visit Bellingham, with its quaint and funky Fairhaven historic district, its good brew pubs, scenic parks and front-row view of the North Cascades. Stop by the American Museum of Radio and Electricity (360-738-3886) or catch a performance Sunday, June 6, of the Mount Baker Ballet at the historic Mount Baker Theatre (360-734-6080). This Saturday, June 5, offers the added bonus of the Bellingham Highland Games at Hovander Homestead Park in nearby Ferndale. So hike up your kilt and load up the family.

More information: www.bellingham.org or 360-671-3990; Highland Games: www.bhga.org

The Toyota Prius getaway

Just when you're ready for it to feel like summer, but Puget Sound's cool June isn't doing it for you, head for the sunny Yakima Valley. At less than 150 miles away, after you loll around a hotel pool you'll have plenty of gas left for side trips to wineries, scenic drives through the orchards, or a search for the best farm stand selling asparagus (or, in coming weeks, cherries). Saturday, June 5, is "Mural In a Day" in Old West-themed Toppenish (and while you're there, tour the American Hop Museum, 509-865-4677, and the nearby Yakama Nation Cultural Center, 509-865-2800). Sunday, June 6, is the season's opening day of the Yakima Farmers Market in downtown Yakima.

More information: www.visityakima.com or 800-221-0751.

* Based on EPA highway-mileage ratings for 2004 vehicles: Prius = 51 mpg. Navigator 2WD = 18 mpg. Trips measured using MapQuest routes from Fourth Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle.