I had a blog post draft saved on our Camano Island camping trip last summer. Well, let me rephrase this: I had a blog post title saved. I never got around to writing it. This time, I will get further than just a blog camping post title. We camped one night at Seaquest State Park… Continue reading Camping Year 3: Minimal sleep, lots of mosquitoes and becoming a junior ranger
We knew that when we bought our toddler cross-country skis a year ago, they would not be getting weekly usage right away. Heck, last year it was all about not being afraid of the skis! As a one-and-a-half year old, the first time she saw her little skis in the house, she was scared of… Continue reading No snow? No problem. Learning to cross-country ski, anyway.
Who likes night hiking? It isn't for everyone. I am "meh" about it. I don't hate it but I don't love it. I always worry I am going to trip over a rock or crevice on the trail that I didn't see in the dark. But, to get a good sunset or sunrise hike, you… Continue reading Haceta Head Lighthouse aka teaching my toddler how to use a flashlight
Sometimes the best family traditions are the ones you didn't officially plan to make happen. For me, that's going to Florence annually during the winter. That's Florence, Oregon. (Although, I have been to Florence, Italy once during the winter, too!) I'm a sucker for keeping the tree up waaay past its expiration date because I… Continue reading Whoa, look at that wave! Look at that spray!
Another winter, another stop at the Tillamook Creamery. This is our fourth consecutive post-Christmas road trip down to Florence, Oregon. And we always make sure to stop at Tillamook for cheese. If you're a longtime reader (Hi, Andrew!), I'm sure you are familiar with these cheese stops. Like, this one from 2021, that yes, I… Continue reading Always stopping for cheese — and now ice cream
"Wow, look at that!" Now thinking back to this moment, I'm not sure if it was Bryce or me who said this. We just came out from under the old railroad section of the Iron Goat Trail when you start at the "haunted" old Wellington Ghost Town. The trail was all dirt and covered with… Continue reading The wild, wild Cascades
The Pacific Northwest has finally graced us with proper summer weather. I'm finally wearing tanks and shorts! This also means the return to summer hiking. Because of this, we decided to go out to Snoqualmie Pass for a hike recently. This would be the third time we have been out here to the Lodge Lake… Continue reading The return of summer hiking
"I'm not doing a hike with the word 'misery' in the trail name!" I said to Bryce as I carried our 20-pound baby on my back. We had just crossed the footbridge over the river at Smith Rock State Park and the trail sign in front of us was for Misery Ridge Trail. There were… Continue reading Baby’s first canyon hike
Salty air. Sunday sun. Waves crashing. Dogs barking. Kids laughing. Small dead crabs strewn about. Deep green seaweed scattered about. Barnacle-covered rocks. White sea foam. Her first beach walk at low tide. Well, "walk." She's not walking on her own quite yet.
Up until last week, 75 percent of our family had never been to the Skagit Valley tulip fields. Bryce had seen the tulips from afar while driving by but had never actually been to the fields in his +15 years of living in Seattle. Seeing that baby is well, a baby, and our dog had… Continue reading Yellow, red, pink and purple
otter travel more 