In the interest of moving on, there'll just be lots of beautiful pictures from the last days of our summer trip. As we're well on our way into winter, this seems like the best thing to do.
Also, Erinn and I are getting married in less than a month, so there'll be lots of other things I'd like to talk about instead of a trip that ended over six months ago. So...
Time to move on!
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Olympic
One of my favorite memories from visiting Seattle as a kid was taking the ferry across the Puget Sound. I don't remember specifically why we needed to take the ferry, just that I loved sitting on the boat, watching the waves as I drank a cup of hot chocolate. So, in the spirit of reliving happy memories, I was eager to find a reason to hop on a ferry to anywhere while we were up in Washington and I jumped at my aunt and uncle's suggestion to take the Coupeville ferry to Port Townsend on our way to Olympic National Park. It's funny because it's probably one of the shortest ferry routes available in the whole area, but I was still very excited to do it.
After Port Townsend, we drove through sunny Sequim, which sits in a rain shadow next to the Olympic mountains and gets a Los Angeles-like 16 inches of rain a year. True to reputation, Sequim was bright and sunny while a few more miles down the road, at the entrance to the Olympic National Park, it predictably began to rain.
The Olympic mountains are amazing. We stopped at Hurricane Ridge, about half an hour up the road from Port Angeles. From the visitor's center up there, you can see mountains everywhere. It's a completely panoramic viewpoint.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
My Seattle Family
I love Seattle for many reasons. It's a beautiful city with lots to do, music is everywhere, and you can't beat Mt. Rainier as a backdrop. Seattle is so much different than my home town of Bakersfield. At home, nature is a few hours away, not part of our every day lives. We travel to nature, whether it's to the beach at Morro Bay or up to the mountains for Yosemite. Seattle is a big city, like many others, but nature seems to be all around. Whether it's heard in casual conversation or experienced as a walk at a nearby lake, nature is part of life here. Yet the best part of Seattle for me is being able to visit my family.
We rarely make it all the way up to that corner of the world, but I am so thankful we made it on this trip. It had been way too long since I'd been to Seattle. Growing up, we'd make the long drive up north for long family vacations. A few times during Christmas break and once or twice during summer. But for Erinn, this was her first visit to Seattle and I was very eager to make a good impression.
After a quick breakfast of gluten-free waffles at the Waffles Caffe in Yakima, we took highway 90 through the cascades, stopping at Snoqualmie Falls for a beautiful view. For travelers driving through the mountains, Snoqualmie Falls is only a few minutes from the highway. For visitors to Seattle, it's only about a half an hour. Well worth the trip.
That morning started a bit chilly, with a covering of clouds typical of the Pacific Northwest, but soon after leaving Snoqualmie, we were fortunate enough to have the clouds part and the sun shine through, brightening up the city as we drove in. We took advantage of the clear skies and rode the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, quickly crossing one item off our Seattle to-do list. Not long after, we made it to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a mini family reunion dinner.
That night we caught up around a dinner of salmon, talking about travel, all the cool things there are to do in Seattle, rock climbing, concerts, wine, Bainbridge Island, how badly Portland wishes it was Seattle, and how Erinn and I belong in Washington. We followed dinner with a walk along Green Lake, joining the hundreds of like-minded people who were also enjoying the beautiful weather, taking strolls of their own. Our own walk took us to the southern end of the lake where the bleachers sit, perfectly situated for kicking up your feet and watching the sun set. Everywhere I looked, people were outside, enjoying being outside. Running up the bleachers, jogging along the path, lawn bowling at the park, relaxing by the lake.
The next day we did a little more sightseeing. We rode the Great Wheel, got a crepe at a little shop in the back of Pike Place Market, saw the Fremont Troll, checked out some Daleks and Princess Bride costumes at the EMP, and spent the afternoon with my cousins at Bitterroot BBQ.
We barely scratched the surface in Seattle. More than anything, our two days there made me wish we could just stay. I know we'll go back again soon, but until then, I'll miss the mountains, the music, the clean air, and my Seattle family.
Recommended:
Around Seattle:
Outside Seattle:
 |
| Waffles Caffe |
After a quick breakfast of gluten-free waffles at the Waffles Caffe in Yakima, we took highway 90 through the cascades, stopping at Snoqualmie Falls for a beautiful view. For travelers driving through the mountains, Snoqualmie Falls is only a few minutes from the highway. For visitors to Seattle, it's only about a half an hour. Well worth the trip.
 |
| Snoqualmie Falls |
That night we caught up around a dinner of salmon, talking about travel, all the cool things there are to do in Seattle, rock climbing, concerts, wine, Bainbridge Island, how badly Portland wishes it was Seattle, and how Erinn and I belong in Washington. We followed dinner with a walk along Green Lake, joining the hundreds of like-minded people who were also enjoying the beautiful weather, taking strolls of their own. Our own walk took us to the southern end of the lake where the bleachers sit, perfectly situated for kicking up your feet and watching the sun set. Everywhere I looked, people were outside, enjoying being outside. Running up the bleachers, jogging along the path, lawn bowling at the park, relaxing by the lake.
The next day we did a little more sightseeing. We rode the Great Wheel, got a crepe at a little shop in the back of Pike Place Market, saw the Fremont Troll, checked out some Daleks and Princess Bride costumes at the EMP, and spent the afternoon with my cousins at Bitterroot BBQ.
 |
| The Great Wheel |
 |
| Fremont Troll |
 |
| The Iron Throne |
 |
| You've got red on you. |
 |
| Exterminate! |
Recommended:
Around Seattle:
Outside Seattle:
- Snoqualmie Falls - 1/2 hour drive from Seattle
- Ballard Ave and the surrounding area
- Sonic Boom
- Bitterroot BBQ
- The Noble Fir
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Volcanoes
So far in our Northwest Adventure, we had seen two major volcanoes: Mt. Shasta and Crater Lake. Over the next couple days we got to see two more. One a desolate mountain devastated by a recent eruption and the other a beautiful mountain top, covered in snow and hidden behind clouds.
But first we made the short trip across the bridge from Portland, OR to Vancouver, WA. While Portland has its own weird sensibility, one it is actively embracing like a teenager who just discovered Nirvana, tattoos, and PBR, Vancouver is like Portland's nice older brother who has a real job and likes to drink coffee while watching the rain. We visited Vancouver's land bridge, walked around its modest downtown, and bought groceries before heading up to Mt. St. Helens.
The Johnston Ridge Observatory is about an hour off I-5, but it is definitely worth it. While there's a great visitor's center just a couple miles from the highway, the Johnston Ridge Observatory is just 5 miles from the volcano itself. I mean, really, just click here and look at these pictures. It's so close, I was just a bit worried about another eruption. What's great is that inside there's a big map of the area with little lights which show where the last eruption went and how it completely wiped out the ridge I was currently standing on. The whole place is a bit surreal and the views are unique.
Unfortunately, the clouds surrounding Mt. St. Helens stubbornly covered the peak so we never got a fully exposed view of the mountain, but we'll go back again some day. Hopefully it'll still be there.
After another pleasant stay at a KOA, we left Mt. St. Helens for Mt. Rainier. I was looking forward to the flower-covered fields of Paradise with views of the snow-capped, 14,411 ft. mammoth, Mt. Rainier. For weeks I had been reading about all the different trails I could go on from the visitor center at Paradise. I was so excited to see the wildflowers and hike on the trails! But it seems we came a month too soon. The entire mountain was covered with snow from about 4,000 ft. up, meaning the fields at Paradise were blanketed with snow instead of colorful wildflowers. For a guy from California's central valley where June meant 100 degree weather, this was a bit of a surprise. I had been enjoying the 70 degree weather of the Pacific Northwest, but I didn't realize it would still be snowing, even on the mountains.
I was disappointed. When we got to the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, Mt. Rainier was completely hidden behind clouds. It was raining so we went inside and ate lunch, hoping the weather would clear up soon. Instead, the rain turned to snow and we went down the mountain. Despite my disappointment, the whole area was still beautiful and Erinn led us to the Grove of the Patriarchs, a quick hike on a loop trail just off Stevens Canyon Road, southeast of Mt. Rainier. On the way down, a bear popped its head up on the road, took a little jog alongside the cars ahead of us, and sauntered off the road, back into the trees. That bear's quick little visit definitely brought our spirits up!
The Grove of the Patriarchs is a fun, short hike with a little suspension bridge that takes you across the clear blue waters of the Ohanapecosh River and into the Patriarch Loop. The trees are big, old, mossy, and beautiful. A good stop even if you're tired and bummed about the snow.
After the Patriarchs, it was still early, so we took our chances and went back up to Paradise, hoping for a better look at the peak. Eventually, the clouds did clear up enough that we could see the top of the mountain, if only for a moment. After that, we called it a day and went back down the mountain to the city of Yakima where we picked up french fries and Gluten-free burgers at Red Robin and watched The Mummy back at our hotel.
View Larger Map
But first we made the short trip across the bridge from Portland, OR to Vancouver, WA. While Portland has its own weird sensibility, one it is actively embracing like a teenager who just discovered Nirvana, tattoos, and PBR, Vancouver is like Portland's nice older brother who has a real job and likes to drink coffee while watching the rain. We visited Vancouver's land bridge, walked around its modest downtown, and bought groceries before heading up to Mt. St. Helens.
 |
| Bigfoot! |
 |
| Johnston Ridge Observatory |
After another pleasant stay at a KOA, we left Mt. St. Helens for Mt. Rainier. I was looking forward to the flower-covered fields of Paradise with views of the snow-capped, 14,411 ft. mammoth, Mt. Rainier. For weeks I had been reading about all the different trails I could go on from the visitor center at Paradise. I was so excited to see the wildflowers and hike on the trails! But it seems we came a month too soon. The entire mountain was covered with snow from about 4,000 ft. up, meaning the fields at Paradise were blanketed with snow instead of colorful wildflowers. For a guy from California's central valley where June meant 100 degree weather, this was a bit of a surprise. I had been enjoying the 70 degree weather of the Pacific Northwest, but I didn't realize it would still be snowing, even on the mountains.
 |
| Visitor Center at Paradise |
 |
| Taking a good, hard look at the snow |
The Grove of the Patriarchs is a fun, short hike with a little suspension bridge that takes you across the clear blue waters of the Ohanapecosh River and into the Patriarch Loop. The trees are big, old, mossy, and beautiful. A good stop even if you're tired and bummed about the snow.
After the Patriarchs, it was still early, so we took our chances and went back up to Paradise, hoping for a better look at the peak. Eventually, the clouds did clear up enough that we could see the top of the mountain, if only for a moment. After that, we called it a day and went back down the mountain to the city of Yakima where we picked up french fries and Gluten-free burgers at Red Robin and watched The Mummy back at our hotel.
 |
| A moment of blue sky behind Mt. Rainier |
View Larger Map
Monday, September 16, 2013
Our North West Adventure - 2013
This year we took a long journey up the western United States to experience the beautiful, green landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. For us it was a stark contrast to the Grand adventure we took summer 2012 and to our daily lives in Bakersfield, CA. While last year's trip across huge deserts, famous mountain ranges, and the Greatest of plains was hot, arid, and sometimes even on fire, our trip through Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming was always seen as a vacation, as a temporary excursion. However, our trip to the northwest came with a very different attitude. Not only were we vacationing across the states, but we were also looking for a new home.
Our many years in Bakersfield have given us a longing for rainy days, pine trees, and winter snow. We left Bakersfield on a June day with clear, sunny skies and 99° heat, pretty typical for the San Joaquin Valley. The next two weeks driving across Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia never made it over 80°. Personally, I would love summer if it stayed in the 70s the whole time.
So for us, this was a sampling of what life might be like for us in the future. We're hoping to make our home somewhere up north, where the sun doesn't beat down on us for 9 months out of the year and seasons change when they're supposed to. Where winter means it's cold, but where you also get to wear your winter clothes for more than a couple weeks in January. Simply put, we're looking for a dramatic change in climate and we loved trekking across the Pacific Northwest. I hope to see it again, soon.
Here's my 2,000-picture movie of our trip. Enjoy!
Our many years in Bakersfield have given us a longing for rainy days, pine trees, and winter snow. We left Bakersfield on a June day with clear, sunny skies and 99° heat, pretty typical for the San Joaquin Valley. The next two weeks driving across Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia never made it over 80°. Personally, I would love summer if it stayed in the 70s the whole time.
So for us, this was a sampling of what life might be like for us in the future. We're hoping to make our home somewhere up north, where the sun doesn't beat down on us for 9 months out of the year and seasons change when they're supposed to. Where winter means it's cold, but where you also get to wear your winter clothes for more than a couple weeks in January. Simply put, we're looking for a dramatic change in climate and we loved trekking across the Pacific Northwest. I hope to see it again, soon.
Here's my 2,000-picture movie of our trip. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Tomorrow Another Adventure Begins
We're about to set off on another extended adventure. This time we're going to the Pacific Northwest. Here's a preview of what's to come:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)