Two King County trails get national honor

The Mount Si and Snoqualmie Valley Trails were added to the National Recreation Trail roster on Thursday, The Seattle Times reports. They were two of 10 trails that were added to the roster, which lists more than 1,000 trails across the country. “The designation recognizes ‘exemplary trails of local and regional significance’ in response to an application from the trail’s managing agency or organization. Among benefits are national promotion, technical assistance, access to state and federal funding, and special signage,” The Times reports. This honor also coincides with National Trail Day, which takes place on Saturday.

Wild Waves open for the season

Your favorite water slide and theme park is now open for the summer season. And this year, in addition to 70 acres of slides and rides, there’s a new kid-friendly Mountain Dew Slide Complex. This triple slide offers a range of heights as you splash your way through the twists and turns of Slide Alley. Visit wildwaves.com for all the deets.

Wireless charging furniture

Remodelista reports that IKEA came out with a line of lamps, tables and desks that allow you to wirelessly charge your phone. The products are now available online in the U.S. and the UK, and are expected in stores soon. If you don’t want new furniture, IKEA found an inexpensive way to install a charging device into any piece of furniture you currently own. And although some people’s phones don’t support wireless charging, they’re also selling iPhone and Galaxy cases that add this feature. It should be noted that wireless charging isn’t the best thing for the long-term life of your phone, as it can overheat your battery and slightly shorten the lifespan. But it’s definitely a fun new technological advancement to play around with.

Luxe launches in Ballard

Luxe, the on-demand valet service, officially launched in Seattle in mid-May and has now added Ballard to the long list of areas in which it operates. You can find the service in South Lake Union, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square, Downtown, Seattle Center, Lower Queen Anne. To celebrate its expansion, Luxe is offering reduced rates from Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7. Parking will be just $1 per hour with a cap at $5, and is offering additional late-night hours from 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 12 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.

American Idol Auditions come to Seattle

Calling all singers: The American Idol tour bus is rolling this way. On Thursday, June 18, there’s an open call for auditions for the final season of the long-running reality singing competition. The auditions are taking place at Seattle’s very own Olympic Sculpture Park beginning at 7 a.m. www.americanidol.com

New app for bike riders

According to the Seattle Bike Blog, Cascade Bicycle Club just released a new iOS app that features 10 bike rides so you can explore the area on two wheels. The “Let’s Ride” app offers turn-by-turn directions to help both Seattleites and people new to the area explore the region on a bike. The app features a map, directions, a photo, details on distance, difficulty, time approximation, terrain and road condition for each ride.