One of the highlights of living in Pacific Northwest is the vast assortment of Washington festivals and events constantly taking place. In the next few weeks alone, there will be the Bite of Seattle and an immense outdoor exhibition put on by the Bellevue Art Museum. My favorite festivals, however, are those that center on music.

During the summertime, the state plays host to dozens of music events—from the Sasquatch Festival and Bumbershoot, to the Sunbanks Blues Festival. Not only do these festivals feature music artists, but they also typically feature comedians, painters and other artists. No matter what your taste, there is always some world-class entertainment on the horizon.

After living in Washington for my entire life, I relocated to Houston a few years ago in an effort to further my career. While the promotion has certainly improved the quality of life for my family and me, I pine for the lush landscape and inimitable atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. Luckily, the promotion that I recently landed comes with an extra week of paid vacation, so there are ample opportunities for a reprieve from the harsh Houston climate.

Every year, we rent out a couple of Washington villas and make a pilgrimage back to my home state. This serves as an occasion for reconnecting with old friends and satiating my appetite for the Northwest lifestyle. I am particularly excited about going back this year, as we will be in town for Memorial Day and the annual at the Gorge.

Twice a year, the Sun Banks Rhythm and Blues Festival brings musicians and music lovers to the idyllic shores of Banks Lake. The 2010 spring edition is fast approaching, and the time to make your reservations is now. Beginning this Thursday, the Festival will run through Sunday, with each day chockfull of top tier blues entertainment.

The Festival attracts musicians from around the state and country, and this year’s spring festival features notable names such as The Moss Brothers, Hamilton Loomis and the Neil Rush Band. Not only will you get to take in some of the most renowned blues musicians, but you will also have the vast Eastern Washington landscape at your disposal. Go on a hike, take a leisurely kayak trip or just lounge around the shore of Banks Lake.

One of my favorite things about the Pacific Northwest is the way the locals celebrate the natural beauty of summer and early fall each year. There are always a variety of festivals, farmers markets, bazaars, outdoor movie screenings and marathons scheduled to bring the people of the greater Seattle area together as one giant community.

Of all of these social, summer and fall happenings, my absolute favorite is the Rhythm and Blue Festival. Although this event is a bit outside the Seattle area, I still compare it to the rest. Such a comparison actually speaks wonders for the festival in that a rural-area festival can not only compete with, but trump a city one. Four days of toe-tapping music that sooths the soul is always my kind of time. I don’t stand alone in my admiration of this event; people from all over the great state of Washington travel to the Sunbanks Resort area to enjoy the soulful sounds of each R&B band.

Summer is winding down, but one of Washington’s most exciting events is just around the corner. The semi-annual Sunbanks Rhythm & Blues Festival is September 10-13, and you won’t want to miss a full weekend of rockin’ blues! Whether you choose to sit by a campfire, dance by the stage or relax in the lush green grass of the playfield, you’ll wish the good times would never end. Conveniently located at Sunbanks Resort, you can make reservations to camp or stay in a cabin or villa during the festival.

Don’t miss performers like Cee Cee James, Too Slim & the Taildraggers, Ty Curtis Band, Jason Ricci and more from around the state and country at the Sunbanks Rhythm & Blues Festival. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, this festival has been awarded Best Blues Festival in the Northwest two years in a row! It’s one of the only Eastern Washington festivals you can enjoy twice a year, every year. If you can’t make it this fall, be sure to make your reservations early for the next festival in May.

This is the official launch of the Sunbanks Resort Blog. On this site, there will be informational articles, news, and more, all related to Sunbanks Resort, Banks Lake, and the surrounding area. Recently, the Sunbanks Resort launched a new website, SunbanksResort.com, that includes a new design, photo gallery, accommodations section and more. The launch of this blog coincides with the launch of the new website to give Sunbanks Resort a new and improved presence on the web.

Please check back often for more news, events, activities and more on the Sunbanks Resort Blog!