On my family’s recent trip to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, we decided journey to the end’s of the earth, or at least that is what I told my four-year-old kids to get them excited about their adventure. In actuality, we headed down a 3/4 of a mile trail which led us through a damp forest, across wetlands on cedar plank boardwalks, and out to the northwest corner of the continental United States.
I expected it to be scenic but I never could have imagined just how jaw-dropping Cape Flattery actually is. Yes, I know describing something as “jaw-dropping” is a cliche, but my jaw actually did drop when walked to the edge of a clearing and saw this…
The only way I can really describe Cape Flattery is it is where Big Sur meets the Pacific Northwest. Grand trees cling to perilous cliffs which, in dramatic fashion, drop suddenly into an angry Pacific. Massive sea caves are carved from centuries of the waves relentless pounding. Off in the distance, Tatoosh Island, with its charming red-roofed lighthouse serve as the final sign of land for thousands of miles.
Cape Flattery is on the Makah Reservation so please be respectful of their land. The day we visited, we had just missed a gray whale which passed by the cape but were lucky enough to have a tribal member sitting at the lookout and happy to point out a soaring bald eagle in the distance as well as playful looking puffins diving for fish in the churning waters far below. Sea otters, seals, orcas, and humpback whales are also seen in the area.
Interested in taking your kids to the edge of the earth? Read my full review of Cape Flattery.
View many more amazing travel photos at Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
I have called Washington home for many years. I live in the Rockies now and go through ocean withdrawal, and every winter I am struck by the barren scenery all around me. I had made a few trips back home by myself, so on this trip I decided to share my home state with my son (AKA Tigger). This would be his first flight, and he was so excited. He talked the entire flight. “Look! There’s a cloud!” I think he made the crew’s day as well. It was so cute.
We flew into Seattle and then drove to the Olympic Peninsula to visit my home town of Ocean Shores. He loved the beach and cold ocean water and had a blast seeing all the deer walking around town without a care in the world.
I wanted to show him some of my favorite haunts, and so we headed first to Lake Quinault for some hiking in one of the few temperate rain forests in North America. Surrounded by an orgy of green, a variety of bugs, including the area’s infamous banana slugs, dirt and water, what boy wouldn’t enjoy this? And adults can easily got lost in its lush tranquility.
After enjoying a nice hike and grabbing a quick lunch from the general store, we got back into the car and headed to the Quileute Reservation. I had been visiting these beaches since before The Twilight Saga was written. You know you’ve arrived in Forks when you see all the Twilight references. It was amusing to see how much the popular books and movies have affected this sleepy town. You know you’re on tribal land when you see the large sign warning: No vampires beyond this point!
First Beach is located prominently and offers amazing views, a plethora of wildlife (my son got to see his first wild bald eagle here as it flew very close to us), fascinating driftwood that is a dream for any child who loves scrambling over objects, and has a much more relaxed feel than many places like it.
Second Beach is a short drive away and is a bit more open. Third Beach is another short drive, but you have to walk about a mile through beautiful woods and then climb over many logs before getting to the rugged beach. Unfortunately, this climb resulted in an unplanned visit to Forks Hospital when Tigger fell and sustained a head injury. On the fun side though, I can tell you Dr. Cullen has a parking space at the hospital. The ER was uncrowded, staff were friendly, and thankfully Tigger only had a sizable knot. No other injury. But he did, in fact, begin listening to my words of warning for the rest of the trip.
It was then time to head to Olympia for a visit to my home temple to participate in the ordination of some new monks. Since we don’t go to a Zen center where we live, this was my son’s first exposure to Buddhism outside of our home. Playing with the other kids and catching frogs was much more interesting to him, however. He’s 150% boy.
After the ceremony and accompanying celebration, we did the few-hour drive north of Seattle to Anacortes, the gateway to our next destination: the San Juan Islands. The following day was probably the highlight of the trip for Tigger, next to the airplane ride. He got to ride on a ferry. While we waited in line to board, we had a brief discussion about how we were going to take the car on the ferry. Then I realized his confusion. He thought we were traveling by fairy. I think I laughed for 10 minutes solid.
It was a bit too chilly to take a kayak trip, so instead we headed to North America’s only whale watching park. We were rewarded by views of a couple of orca pods, minke whales, a harbor seal and many birds. The seal sighting was the most nerve-wracking one for me. I had spotted him just ahead of the pod. I wanted Tigger to see the orcas but didn’t want him to see them get a kill. He ducked into a bay and hid among the kelp. The seal and I watched with bated breath as they searched unsuccessfully outside the bay. I let out a deep breath when they proceeded on their hunt away from its hiding spot.
Harbor seal hiding in a kelp bed while the orca pod passes
Orca spyhopping trying to find the seal
After our weeklong trip, Tigger was ready to move to Washington. I was so happy he loved my home. Seattle is wonderful, but the Evergreen State has so many hidden treasures awaiting exploration. Your kids will love it!
Talon & Tigger (now 9 years old) comprise the Windwalker Duo, known as 1Dad1Kid on Twitter and Facebook. On their blog you will find details of their indefinite round-the-world trip beginning in May 2011. After exploring parts of South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, they will be settling down in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for about a year as they continue to travel and then will continue living in other countries, unschooling along the way. Talon is also a regular blogger at TravelingDad.com. He hopes that other people, especially families, will be inspired to “Live Without Regrets!”
The holiday season is officially here and for many of us, the season’s celebrations are not complete without a colorfully trimmed tree in our living room. Artificial trees have become more and more popular in recent years, but Christmas tree purists like myself scoff at the idea of putting our presents under anything but the real thing.
Some of my greatest Christmas memories involved my family walking around the Christmas tree farm for hours, in search of the perfect tree to saw down, only to return to the very first tree that caught our eye. Yes, we could have just as easily gone to Home Depot and picked up a tree from the masses that were stacked inside the garden department, but there was just something about cutting down our own tree that added to the tradition. No, it isn’t quite as authentic as tromping out into the woods, chopping down a tree, and carrying it back to our home through the snow, but for those us living in urban areas, a Christmas tree farm is as close to authenticity as we can get.
If your family is looking to cut down a tree for the first time this year, then I highly suggest you read our top ten tips for a successful trip to a Christmas tree farm. The list contains tips on everything from tree selection tips, to cutting advice, to tips on what to do once you get the tree home. Its a must read for first timers or folks who have been out of the tree cutting game for a while.
For families living in the Bay Area, be sure to check out our list of cut your own (U-cut) Christmas tree farms near San Francisco and Liling’s writeup of her family’s experiences at Christmas tree farms in the Bay Area.
If you live in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, we have a list of Choose and Cut Christmas tree farms in Southern California. Even though we may not exactly live in a winter wonderland, it doesn’t mean we can’t have a good old fashioned tree cutting experience!
For families living in the Pacific Northwest (aka Christmas tree central), be sure to view out list of U-cut Christmas tree farms in Oregon and Washington.
I was surprised to discover that even Florida has some Christmas tree farms! If you live in the Everglades State, be sure to check out our list Christmas tree farms in Florida.
Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about the Northeast. We have lists of Christmas tree farms in New York, U-cut spots in New Jersey, and choose and cut locations in Connecticut as well!
Still don’t see your neck of the woods on our lists? Help out fellow locals and create a list of your favorite choose and cut spots!
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Welcome to 
I consider myself a bit of playground aficionado. I get tired of the same old lot with a couple of swings and a slide. If I feel this way, I imagine my children must as well, which is why I am always on the hunt for a new park to be discovered. This same sentiment holds true for when we travel. Parks are a great way to run out some extra energy after being in a car all day, wind down after a long day of exploring a city, or just catch a glimpse of some of the places that are held close in the hearts of local children.
Trekaroo member TravelMom has put together a great list of destination worthy playgrounds in the Greater Seattle/Pugent Sound area. This list is a great resource for families visiting the region and locals who are looking to spice their playground time up a bit. Just reading about the hill perfect for kite flying at Magnuson Park the salmon slide and faux tide pools at Carkeek Park, and the working farm at Kelsey Creek Park in Bellevue is enough to make me want to hope on a plane and head to the Pacific Northwest.
To read the entire list of parks in the Seattle area that you and your kids HAVE to visit, click here.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
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Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
For as long as I can remember, I have been enamored with wildlife. My love affair with all things animal related has been passed down to my three year old daughter who recently told me she would rather go to the zoo than Disneyland! I couldn’t agree with her more. A visit to the zoo is a great way to spend the day outside as a family while educating children on the wonders of the wild kingdom.
Since I love zoos so much, I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce you to some of our country’s finest. Our first stop is my home turf, the West Coast. Here are five zoos that you don’t want to miss:
NYCmama loves this zoo “for its manageable size, wonderful collection of animal life and proximity to the ocean!” I do too. It isn’t the largest zoo but it is certainly big enough to spend a few leisurely hours admiring the leaping lemurs and gasping at the grace of the long and lovely giraffes. With Ocean Beach literally across the street, you can always rely on this zoo to be a nice escape from the heat during those scorching Northern California summers. Be sure to catch a penguin feeding and don’t forget to take the little ones on the Little Puffer Miniature Steam Train.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the San Francisco Zoo here.
We recently paid this zoo a visit for the very first time and had an absolute blast. The Arizona Trail section provided a fantastic introduction to the animals of the desert southwest and the camel rides were an absolute hit with my kids. Explore this large zoo on one of their four person bike rentals or cruise on a paddle boat around the main lake. Definitely be sure to visit the Monkey Village where there are no cages separating you from the squirrel monkeys swinging from the trees above. Looking for a break from the animal action? Check out one of the many unique and fun playgrounds dispersed throughout the park. Where else can you slide through a Saguaro Cactus?
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the Phoenix Zoo here.
Photo courtesy of Trekaroo member LivingBeaverton
Started in 1887 by a pharmacist who collected animals, the Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi. It is also one of the best. With exhibits such as the Great Northwest, a wonderful collection of animals indigenous to Oregon, and the newly opened Predators of the Serengeti, its no wonder that families return to this zoo again and again. Pitstopsforkids offers this great tip: “You can picnic with a lunch on the wide lawn by the Africa section (where the main food venues are located).” Like trains? Be sure to check out the Washington Park and Zoo Railway during your visit.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the Oregon Zoo here.
Photo courtesy of SeattlePI.com
I remember visiting this zoo as a kid and loving every minute of it. Here you can explore Alaskan tundra on the Northern Trail, dream of cuddling with a red panda in the Temperate Forest Zone, and wander amongst the wallaroos in the Australia Zone. If you have children aged 8 and younger, be sure to check out the Zoomazium. Perfect for those drizzly Seattle days, this indoor nature-themed play area has everything from a mountain cave to explore to a rope bridge in a tree canopy to cross to a 20 foot tree to climb. Feeling hungry after all that exploring? Mary C. Brady reassures us that the Woodland Park Zoo “ has a food court that features a wide variety of lunch choices beyond just pizza and soda.” Personally, the next time I am in town I will try the clam chowder at the Pacific Blue Chowder House on site. Sounds like the perfect compliment to a day exploring in the Pacific Northwest.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo famlies of the Woodland Park Zoo here.
We are proud annual pass holders to this incredible zoo. Its certainly one of the world’s finest with over 4,000 animals on 100 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. First timers will benefit from the 35 minute Guided Bus Tour which gives a nice overview of the zoo and allows you to plot your plan of attack. Some of my family’s favorite exhibits include the newly reopened Polar Bear Plunge, an incredible walk through time at Elephant Odyssey, and of course those cuddly looking endangered giant pandas. It takes a very full day (and alot of walking up and down hills) to see it all, so plan accordingly. Or better yet, schedule two days at this amazing zoo into your calendar and make a weekend out of it. Either way, its impossible to walk away disappointed.
Check out more reviews by Trekaroo families of the San Diego Zoo here.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids and the woman behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
