Search Results for: state parks

January 15, 2016

Why We Love Our State Parks Pass Featuring Scenic Beach, WA

Slaed has received our state parks pass (called the Discover Pass) for Christmas from me for the past 4 years! Confession: This is embarrassing, but at one point in time we actually avoided a state park parking lot (we parked elsewhere and walked in) in order to avoid paying the park’s fee! We laugh now at how silly this was–if only I could talk to my old self. Here’s what I’d say: “Just pay the stinkin’ $30 to park (and visit parks throughout the entire state) all you want for an entire year!”

Back to the 4 years of responsible state park patronage: We love our state parks pass, and can’t believe we ever went without it. We visit a state park at least once a month, and when we’re not exploring our home state of Washington, we seek out other state parks in our travels. Always a wonderful experience full of nature, history, and just enjoyment of our great outdoors.

4 Reasons Why We Love our State Parks Pass

1. Easy Payment.

2. Access to the Outdoors!

3. We’re supporting the park system.

4. It’s Motivating!

Wondering exactly what I’m talking about with some of these reasons? I’ve put together a video for you explaining why we love our state parks pass. And if you don’t want to listen to me ramble on about how much we love the state parks pass, just fast forward to about the 5 minutes and 30 seconds mark, and you can see some of our adventure at Scenic Beach State Park near Silverdale, Washington. We visited the park on New Year’s day as part of a day trip to the Kitsap Peninsula.

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January 6, 2014

New Year, New Adventures: Support Your State Parks

Happy New Year!

A fresh new year definitely has me thinking of things I want to accomplish in 2014, but I also can’t help but think about the goals, aspirations and new ideas that began around this time a year ago. One of the goals we made as a family was to visit more of our Washington State Parks.

We kicked the year off and set the goal in motion with the purchase of the Discover Pass. In fact, it was one of my Christmas gifts to my husband, Slaed, but a state park pass also makes a great new year’s gift for yourself or someone you love. So many goals come to mind that it would help with:

Fitness
Health
Travel
Exploring the outdoors
Beginning a new outdoor sport or activity
Education

Our Discover Pass brought us to places all across our Puget Sound region in 2013:

To be honest, we were surprised to learn we only visited a total of 10 state park units, but we did visit several of the parks more than once with Moran being the most frequented. And besides, 10 (+) is a whole lot more than years past.

A side effect of our interest and enthusiasm for our parks is that we now seek out state parks in our travels outside of Washington. Our trips to California, Wisconsin, South Carolina this year all included visits to at least one state park gem.

With a brand-spanking-new pass for 2014 ready and waiting, we’re anxious to see what the year will bring in terms of state park adventures. Looking back on the year, we really didn’t venture past the Cascades to any of the parks in Central and Eastern Washington. Seems to me that a new goal may be taking shape!

Are you motivated to visit more state parks this year? Why? Tell us about the state parks near you!

Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! If you enjoyed this post, please “like it”, “tweet it” or “pin it”!

March 28, 2019

Seattle Area Spring Hiking: Squak Mountain State Park

Squak Mountain State Park holds a very special place in my heart. In the early spring of 2014, I ran a trail half marathon there. The very next day, I found out that I was pregnant with our youngest, now 4-year old, Georgia. Fun to say that I ran a trail half marathon while pregnant, right?

Tucked away from the other more popular Issaquah Alps, Squak Mountain is a little less known, and therefore a little less crowded. Admittedly I even overlooked the park initially when I was charged with finding a “moms only” hike this past weekend. Wanting to spend more time on the trail, than driving, we needed an option that wasn’t too terribly far from Seattle. Snow was also something we wanted to avoid. And of course crowds (or the hope of the lack there of) were a concern.

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January 25, 2018

Washington State Winter Destinations for Families

Where will you explore this winter? We are lucky to live in a region that offers so many amazing and beautiful destinations. From my own backyard in Seattle to every other corner of Washington State, there are countless places to experience what is most special about the winter season.

I’m highlighting just 5 Washington State winter destinations, places our family has traveled to in the past 6 years that we’ve enjoyed in the winter months, but I don’t want the ideas to stop there. Please add your favorites in our comment section!

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May 4, 2017

Lake Sammamish State Park with Kids and The Curious Kids Nature Guide

Lake Sammamish State Park, located in Issaquah, Washington has so much for families to enjoy. We recently visited the park with a mission to check out their new playground, which opened last fall (October 2016). The playground, designed for kids ages 2-12, mirrors the area’s nature features and historical attributes. The kids and I were impressed to say the least! Along with some of the usual playground offerings, we found a mushroom house, climbable salmon making their way into the lake, and a coal mine to explore.

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August 10, 2016

Ike Kinswa State Park in SW Washington State: Long Weekend Itinerary

For spring break this year, we added one more lovely cabin to our list of favorite Pacific Northwest Cabins & Yurts. Ike Kinswa State Park is located in Southwest Washington State, and is situated between Mount Rainier (to the north) and Mount St. Helens (to the south).

We chose it for it’s close proximity to our home in Seattle and it’s natural appeal of being set along the confluence of two rivers–so much to outdoor beauty to explore! Plus, we knew that even though we were visiting during spring break, we wouldn’t be dealing with the crowds that can tend to form in the busier summer months. One more benefit came along when we arrived–no cell phone coverage (and of course, no wifi)! It was delightfully refreshing to never have to worry about looking at my email or checking-in on social media. And one more benefit! Staying at state park cabins is very friendly on the budget!

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April 21, 2016

5 Helpful Tips for Camping with a Baby featuring Ike Kinswa State Park

We just returned from a beautiful weekend in Lewis County, Washington, about 2 hours south of Seattle. Ike Kinswa State Park, where we stayed, is a little over 450-acres with most of it’s focus on camping. To the east is the Cowlitz River, to the west is the Tilton River, and at the confluence is Mayfield Lake. Mayfield Lake was created by the Mayfield Dam located in the nearby town of Mossyrock.

Along with camping, visitors also enjoy recreational boating, fresh water fishing, and swimming and water skiing in the warmer summer months. We were just happy to enjoy some solitude and time away from the city with plenty of opportunity to hike and explore nature as a family.

Based on our experience at Ike Kinswa, along with our adventure at Samuel P. Taylor State Park in California, and all the fun that we had camping when Bergen was a baby, I wanted to share a few quick tips! As you’ll see we took some “short-cuts” here, and some might even dare to say that we weren’t actually camping, but for our purposes (vacationing and enjoying the outdoors in a park as a family), I think we did just fine!

5 Helpful Tips for Camping with a Baby

Stay in a Cabin or Yurt

There’s a lot of work involved in setting up camp even for just a few nights, and we appreciate taking the tent assembly out of the equation. Also, when the weather is hard to predict (and planning far in advance is necessary), we appreciate a guaranteed warm and dry shelter! We’ve stayed in numerous state park cabins and yurts over the years, and find them so delightfully cozy, comfortable, and affordable.

We get the best of both worlds. We still get to be immersed in nature, but also get those comforts of home such as heat, electricity, and a bed to sleep on.

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February 12, 2016

Hiking with Kids: Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte Trail (North Bend, WA)

In order to feel less guilty about all the junk we’d consume at our Super Bowl extravaganza last weekend, I decided to take the kids on a good calorie burning, heart pumping hike. I don’t really need an excuse to go on a hike, but this was a great way to get the kids out of the house while Slaed (born and raised in Colorado & devoted Denver Broncos fan) prepared, stressed and prayed, for the big game ahead.

As you might have read from our Winter Bucket List post, I’m hoping that the three of us (Georgia, the 1-year old on my back in the carrier) can conquer Little Si this season. The mileage, at 4.7 miles round trip, isn’t something that I’m extremely concerned about, but more the mountain climb and elevation gain (1300 feet). So in preparation, we are training with hikes that are a bit easier, but have relatively similar distance and hill climbing.

Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte trail definitely fit the bill as another good hike to get ready for the more difficult Little Si. It’s also less popular than it’s neighbor, Rattlesnake Ledge, which was bustling with folks and crammed with cars in the parking lot as we drove by.

To give you an idea of our hiking experience, I once again documented the journey with a video!

Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte Trail

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January 5, 2016

Christmas Vacation: Samuel P. Taylor State Park + Cabins

Before we get any further into 2016, I wanted to share some of our 2015 Christmas vacation with you! We visited family down in the Bay Area, and instead of crowding into family members homes, renting a vacation house or staying in a hotel (though we did spend one night at a Hilton Garden Inn), we rented cabins, and camped in a state park about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco.

Truth be told between travel, set-up, clean-up, and packing-up, it was a lot of work, but for me WELL WORTH all the effort. I put together a video that features a tour of the cabins, a little bit of our Christmas celebration, and some snapshots and clips from our hikes around the park.

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October 16, 2015

NC’s Outer Banks: Visiting Jockey’s Ridge State Park with Kids

The sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in North Carolina’s Outer Banks are the tallest on the east coast. Of all the places I wanted my family to see on their first trip to the Outer Banks this was it. From the multiple times that I got to visit as a child (we vacationed and traveled to the area at least once a year growing up), I remember running down the dunes as fast as I could, log rolling until I was dizzy & covered head to toe, burning my feet on the hot sand in summer, and feeling the horrible sting of wind blown sand on my legs on a windy spring day. Jockey’s Ridge is often referred to as, “The Living Dune”. It’s always changing, always shifting, so really every visit to the place will be a little different from the next.

Mostly I just want to share the beauty of the park, and how you quickly depart the busyness of the bypass with all its shops and restaurants (and box stores, and houses, and strip malls…), and soon feel like you are in the middle of the desert with nothing but sand, and on this particular day, clear blue skies. However, I also put together a few quick tips that might help if you decide to visit!

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October 7, 2015

15 Western Washington Farms, Parks + Hikes to Enjoy this Fall

Our family has a special love for fall in Seattle. For Slaed, it’s the cooler temperatures, for Bergen (4 years) it’s all the collecting he suddenly gets to do–leaves, acorns, nuts, and fruit all falling from our regions’s trees, for me it’s the fall foliage–I just can’t get enough of the glowing display of yellows, oranges and reds, and Georgia (9 months) isn’t so sure what she loves most, but maybe it’s just seeing everyone so happy to be out and about.

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed fall in the Seattle Area (and beyond) in so many different ways, so I’ve compiled all of our favorite experiences together here to keep track of all the fun and in hopes to inspire and equip some of you to make your own autumnal memories!

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May 29, 2015

Washington State Travel: 5 Destinations for Families

Seattle area aside (since we live here and all), Washington State has so many amazing destinations for families to enjoy a getaway together. Here I’m featuring just 5 of our favorite areas to explore. So many more places await us though (and I’ll have another batch of 5 next month), from spots that we’ve mearly passed through to areas we haven’t even touched.

Of course not everyone lives in the Seattle area, but I also wanted to note that each of these destinations is within a 3 hour drive from the city, so if you’re based here or in one of our surrounding communities, these road trips are very family friendly!

Port Townsend

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February 13, 2015

Last Family of 3 Travel Adventure: Wallace Falls State Park

Before welcoming our newest family member into the world, we had one last travel adventure as a family of three. It was important to use to spend some quality time together just before our lives turned upside down with new routines, a new normal, and new responsibilities.

Some time away brought a chance to bond and strengthen our unit, which inevitably brought along a lot of refection as well as anticipation.

What will one more member do to our dynamic?

Surely it could only get better.

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January 23, 2014

Washington’s State Park Accommodations: Inside our Bay View State Park Cabin

Yurts, cabins, and rustic accommodations of sorts always excite me. I guess the coziness, proximity to nature, and all around feeling that I am truly “away from it all” is appealing. And on top of all those romantic feelings, the practicality of having all that’s great about camping without actually have to do much work and setup (the downsides of pitching your own tent and hauling all the gear) for a parent makes the whole experience so worthwhile.

Setting up camp on the outside at our Bayview State Park cabin was simple, and even though I was worried about sharing such a tiny space (12×12 feet) with our toddler, we were able to set up an inside space with just as much ease.

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January 17, 2014

Exploring Art, History and Nature in South Carolina’s Andrew Jackson State Park

Have I written about the fact that I love state parks? During our trip to the Southeast (Georgia and the Carolinas) in early December my mom mentioned a state park not far from her house. You can guess that we, along with sister and 7-year old nephew jumped on board!

Andrew Jackson State Park is located in Lancaster, South Carolina, which is an hour or so south of Charlotte. According to the South Carolina state park system, the site of the park is where Andrew Jackson, our 7th presdient, actually grew up.

We first spent some time exploring the main grounds, which includes a museum, old school house, meeting house, and an immense statue of young Andrew atop a horse.

Later we hit the woods and hiked the mile nature trail loop, also called the Crawford Trail. It was an easy walk and nice way to take in some of South Carolina’s natural beauty as the path (actually crossed the Old Church Road twice) took us through a forest filled with pines, cedars, and oak trees.

At the end of the loop while I hung back snapping photos, Slaed got to experience an owl swoop by overhead. He was the only lucky viewer as Bergen was too busy climbing on rocks and the rest of the clan was checking out the meeting house.

With the intention of rewarding the boys with some fun at the playground, we walked over to the fishing lake passing by the amphitheater on our way over. We ended up having so much fun playing in the boats, running up and down the dock, and throwing rocks into the lake that we ran out of time and steam!

What state (or region, province, etc) do you live in? Have you visited any state parks recently? Tell us about your experience!

Info to Know:

Andrew Jackson State Park is located in Lancaster, South Carolina (1 hour south of Charlotte, NC)
- 196 Andrew Jackson Road Lancaster, SC 29720
- 803-285-3344
- Hours: 8am-6pm Daily from Nov. 1-March 31, 9am-9pm Daily from April 1-Oct.31
Features include museum, old school house, 2 short hiking trails (1 mile each), meeting house, amphitheater, lake, fishing, boating (no motors), playground, and camping.
$2 for adults, Free for Youth 15 & Under, $1.25 for SC seniors
Strollers not recommended for trails.
Looking for lunch or dinner near by? Head North on US-521 just past Sun City Carolina Lakes to 521 BBQ & Grill. Delicious Carolina BBQ served by the nicest people you’ll meet. Be sure to get some hush puppies too.

More State Park Adventures:

October 31, 2013

Hike Henry W. Coe State Park: A Hoppin’ Good Time!

I know lakes and other natural formations can be named for obvious reasons. The Great Salt Lake is salty. Crater lake exists thanks to…well, a crater. And many lakes are named after the nearby town, state or region.

These names make complete sense, but for some reason, when our visit to Henry W. Coe State Park near San Jose, California involved a hike to Frog Lake, I didn’t believe there would actually be real, live frogs involved.

Coe State Park is huge. With over 87,000 acres it’s the largest state park in northern California (and the 2nd largest in the state), so we barely scratched the surface with our morning visit here. We did spend enough time though to realize that the area is incredibly beautiful. What a treat to exit the suburbs and sprawling towns of the bay area and enter a land of stately oak trees, rolling hills, and mountains in the distance.

We started off improvising a bit meandering around to see the monument dedicated to Henry W. Coe by his daughter in his memory. We also found pine cones that were literally the size of Bergen’s head! Soon we got down to business though. We were so curious. Was Frog Lake shaped like a frog? Would there be enormous bull frogs there greeting us? Would we hear the telltale “ribbit”?

The answer wasn’t clear when we first arrived, but as we made our way around the perimeter of the small lake, Slaed started to notice something. Looking ahead at the water’s edge every time we stepped a little closer, hundreds of tiny frogs would hop back into the water! Yup, there really are little hoppers at Frog Lake. Likely thousands of them. You can bet we had lots of fun with this; testing out how the frogs would react to different approaches and speeds. We unfortunately couldn’t get too close to the shore since the mud acted much like quicksand.

Henry W. Coe State Park: Near San Jose, California | WildTalesof.com

Look carefully. Can you see the little popping out of the water?

It was here where Bergen got to ditch the backpack carrier and do some hiking on his own. He gathered sticks and rocks, threw leaves, and made sure to point out any deposits he noticed on the trail. It might be time to get him a tracking book!

Though we were visiting on a weekday, we were surprised at the lack of people at the park. We only ran into one set of fellow hikers, and it makes me wonder why this amazing resource isn’t used more?

Info To Know:

Henry W. Coe State Park is located in Morgan Hill, California (near San Jose):
- 9000 East Dunne Avenue Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- 408-779-2728
Features include plenty of hiking trails, campgrounds, hot springs, mountain biking trails, and fishing.
Visit in spring for amazing wildflower viewing.
Day Use Fees vary between $6-8 depending on the entrance used. Annual passes for all California State Parks are also available.
Strollers not recommended.

Do you visit state parks in your home state or when you travel? Tell us about your favorite spots!

Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

October 28, 2013

Bayview State Park: Simple Setup, Spectacular Sunset

We just had one of those weekends where we didn’t travel very far from home, but still felt like we were truly getting away.

Skagit Valley is just an hour and a half or so north of Seattle. Its most famous claim-to-fame is the Tulip Festival that takes place every spring. The rural area is also spotted with adorably charming small towns, pastoral view after pastoral view, and its situated where one can take in the water to the west and Cascades to the east, including Mount Baker, all in one spot.

In need of a fall getaway, we made the quick trip to see what staying in a state park cabin, with a toddler, might be like.

Bayview State Park (also in the town of Bayview) is located on Padilla Bay with views of the larger town of Anacortes as well as the San Juan Islands. It’s a small state park made up of mostly cabins, campgrounds and RV spots, but it’s quiet, and it has an incredible beach.

You’ll hear much more about our trip, from the food we ate to the hikes and other adventures we got into, but I just love how we started off our weekend.

For one, we were relieved to learn it clearly doesn’t take nearly as long to setup “camp” at a cabin as it does when tents are involved. We also had a better plan: One person works while the other gives full attention to Bergen (2 years old). Then switch. No more thinking we can both set things up and “keep an eye on” the little guy. It just doesn’t work and it’s not worth the time we think we would save.

In what felt like no time, our beds were set, chairs and supplies were out, and food was organized (you’ll see we didn’t need much). And then, we were munching on appetizers, enjoying refreshments, and making our way to witness sunset on the bay.

In addition to rocks, Bergen has now added sticks to his collection habits, so you might imagine he was quite pleased at the selection. He was so content here, just wanting to explore and gather treasure after treasure.

Skagit Valley is also known as an incredible place for bird watchers. Here we had our first of many great blue heron sightings throughout the weekend.

Usually after awhile I’m told to quit it with all the picture taking, but this time, Slaed understood because every time we looked out, the sky had changed, and was showing us something a little different.

Where can YOU get away without traveling too far? Share your favorite destination, even if it’s just down the street!

More from Skagit Valley:

Naptime Road Trips: La Conner, WA

October 18, 2013

Our Midwest Beach Vacation: Exploring Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, WI

When you hear “Wisconsin”, what’s the first thing you think about?

Cheese, cows, curds, and beer all seem to be classic answers.

How about the beach though?

Does splashing in the waves, boogie boarding, and walking along the shore come to mind?

It most certainly did not for us, but after attending a family wedding in Madison, we were willing to give the coast of Wisconsin a try. In fact, we turned what could have been a short wedding weekend, into a full week mid-west vacation.

From Madison, we made our way north to the small “beach” town of Two Rivers on Lake Michigan. Normally we choose to stay in town and close to the action of restaurants, cafes, and local shops, and while we weren’t far (just 2 miles), this time a comfortable retreat that was closer to the water was more important to us.

Our Midwest Beach Vacation: Exploring Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, WI| WildTalesof.com

Happy to support Wisconsin’s state parks system, we chose Point Beach State Forest to be our first spot of exploration, and minus a break for lunch and Bergen’s (2 years old) nap, we made the most of the entry fee and spent the majority of the day here.

First, we decided on a leisurely (though long) walk along the water with Bergen beginning and ending in the backpack carrier. He also started off with regular clothes, changed into his swimming gear when it became evident that we wouldn’t be shy about the water, and was back in his dry clothes as we made our way home.

We nearly had the beach to ourselves and took our time taking in views of the lighthouse, stopping to investigate the differences in the lake shore verses ocean shore, and giving Bergen plenty of time to throw sand and rocks into the water and chase butterflies.

Our Midwest Beach Vacation: Exploring Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, WI| WildTalesof.com

After a while, we saw a blue tent set-up in the distance and made the goal of reaching it for our turn around spot. We planned to then take the forest trail back to get a different perspective of the park.

Our Midwest Beach Vacation: Exploring Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, WI| WildTalesof.com

As we approached the group at the blue tent, the people were friendly enough, but they were skeptical. Like us, I think they were enjoying their deserted beach time, and weren’t sure about this family of three encroaching on their fun.

Behind them, we started up the walkway, to find the forest trail that would lead us back to the park entrance. Here we ran into even more people, and discovered that we actually were invading these vacationers space! After following the walkway, we found a set of rustic cabins (available to rent from the state park) and quickly realized we needed to get out of their hair before they started thinking were some sort of weird intruders.

A couple of the campers were nice enough to lead us to the trail and we were on our way. Unfortunately, we didn’t last long. Being the spoiled Pacific Northwesterners that we are, it didn’t occur to us to bring the bug spray (that we packed, but left at the rental) along with us. Before stepping foot into the forest, we didn’t even think we’d need it! Isn’t bug spray just something you slap on at night while enjoying some outside time? Not even close.

Our Midwest Beach Vacation: Exploring Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, WI| WildTalesof.com

Can you tell Slaed was high tailing it out of there?

The mosquitoes literally consumed us. And poor Bergen in the backpack carrier was defenseless. He couldn’t even reach down and swat them away. We were back to the beach in a hurry, which is a shame because I was really looking forward to getting to know more of the woodsy parts of Wisconsin that we had heard so much about.

I guess we should have been more prepared. The girls who helped us get to the path originally must of assumed we were smarter, because they made no mention of the pests. All they said was what a great time we’d have hiking!

A much more pleasant return.

After this experience and even more fun later on in our trip, we are a couple of believers in the Midwest beach! Calm water, soft sand, beautiful views… Just stay clear of the forested areas unless you are well-equipped and ready to defend yourself.

These suckers were certainly not the worst pests we’ve encountered, but bad enough. Where have you run into the worst bugs in your travels?

Come join the conversation! We’d love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! You can also keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email.

More from our Midwest Vacation:

June 3, 2013

Run and Play in Kenmore, WA’s Saint Edward State Park

Another great weekend. Another great state park. Another mission to fit in a trail run for my upcoming half marathon.

We found ourselves with some errands to run in the North part of the city, and knowing I had to somehow work a run into the day, I thought of Saint Edward State Park. Saint Edwards is in Kenmore, a smaller town just Northeast of Seattle. I’d visited the park once or twice, but not for any huge length of time.

I knew there was a short trail hike down to Lake Washington. It turns out though that this little gem boasts quite a few miles of trails. As a bonus of sorts, since it’s just in Kenmore as opposed to places in the mountains or foothills, the level of difficultly is not that high. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some challenging, steep hills, especially the South Ridge and Grotto Trails, but also plenty of flat terrain to just cruise and enjoy the scenery.

This time, instead of joining me on the trail for a hike of their own, Slaed and Bergen stuck to level ground and explored the playground. I thought the playground might have kept them busy for a half hour or so. To my surprise, as I made my way back from about 6 miles of winding up and down the hills and along the water, I found the father and son duo exactly where I’d left them. Not even a mini-hike down to the throw rocks into the lake for these two. Bergen was too occupied with the enormous play structure, sandbox, and oh, dragging large tree branches around the lawn.

Slaed was quite impressed with the space as well with it’s emphasis on art, and special features making it easy to enjoy the morning without all the hassle of chasing Bergen too much. It didn’t take him long to start to notice little touches in all the nooks and crannies. The toddler section, with the sandbox and fun tunnels to crawl through, is fully enclosed, and even when Bergen got up to the higher structures made for bigger kids, he was protected by railings. The playground is also positioned away from the parking lot creating lots of good, safe space to run around beyond the borders.

Slaed was such a fan of the park that he proposed we go for a second weekend in a row. Again, the boys stuck to the playground and it’s immediate surrounding areas and stayed busy, while I logged an 8 mile trail run by looping (roughly) around the perimeter of the park twice.

Info to Know:

Saint Edwards State Park is located in Kenmore, WA:
- 14445 Juanita Drive NE
  Kenmore, WA 98028
- Hours: 8 am-dusk
- Fees: $10 day pass or purchase the $30 Discover Pass for admission to all WA State Parks for a full year.
Most of the trails are hikers only, but some trails closer to the entrance of the park allow bicycles. Those on foot have the right-of-way.

Come join the conversation! We’d love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

More Washington State Parks:

Cape Disappointment State Park (Ilawao, WA)
Wallace Falls State Park (Goldbar, WA)
Fort Worden State Park (Port Townsend, WA)
Peshastin Pinnacles State Park (Peshastin, WA)
Moran State Park (Orcas Island, WA) Obstruction Pass State Park (Orcas Island, WA)
Olallie State Park (North Bend, WA)

May 23, 2013

First Trail Run: Twin Falls Trail in Olallie State Park

Expectations can really play a powerful role in your end feelings and immediate impressions of an outing or adventure.

Some background: After running the Seattle half marathon last November, I got into a running rut, which really means for whatever reason after the big event, I stopped running. Sure I walked, chased after Bergen, went on an occasional hike, but I wasn’t taking any time to really exert myself in a run even though it takes little to no planning at all.

A couple of months ago, I changed that by setting a goal and signing up for a race. Instead of the usual road race, I opted for something new, something I’ve thought about doing in the past, but never worked hard enough to achieve. I decided to give trail running a try, and what better way get started than to commit yourself to a half marathon trail run?

I’ve diligently (mostly) followed my usual half marathon training plan, except with the change of trying to add more trails than sidewalks, which is tricky being a city dweller, but not so tricky considering we live in Seattle with it’s multitude of parks and easy accessibility to mountains. I run on the trails in the arboretum and Seward Park, but up until last weekend, I hadn’t attempted, in my mind, a true trail run.

In order to make this first run happen, I needed to make it a family affair. I would run, and Slaed would hike with Bergen in the backpack carrier. I scoured my hiking books for the perfect spot. It needed to be within 30-45 minutes driving distance, new to us, good for kids, and EASY.

I found the Twin Falls trail in Olallie State Park to fit all of our requirements.

At about 35 miles East of Seattle it was an easy drive down I-90. Bergen indeed got a little impatient, but we just kept telling him that we were headed to an amazing state park with a waterfall and he would soon be outside free to roam and wander.

It’s funny that given the proximity and circumstances of the trail and scenery that we’d never visited Olallie State Park or Twin Falls. When we arrived and saw how many cars were lining the parking lot, we were even more surprised.
Relatively low mileage to the main attraction, some good stretches of flat terrain, and the overall excitement of viewing a gushing waterfall (from a nice, safe bridge with solid railings) make this a great spot for kids. There are also benches along way for breaks, and at the beginning or on the way back, there are great spots to stop along the river to watch the water roll by & throw rocks.

Remember that bit above about expectations? Well, all the books & websites said this hike was going to be EASY. Apparently when you go out for your first true trail run in a long time, it’s just going to be really tough no matter what. Hiking is also a little tougher when you have a toddler on your back in a backpack carrier. I guess when we saw that the hike was rated as EASY, we were thinking it would be “a walk in the park”. We also didn’t just hike/run to the waterfall and go back. I continued my run for a total of about 6 miles round trip while Slaed & Bergen hiked about 4 miles.

Our expectations of what the hike and run would be like may have been different from the reality, but we’re so happy to have discovered this spot for ourselves. I just had to change up my strategy a bit. I took some walk breaks, especially after some tough switchbacks, and also took some breaks just to enjoy the scenery instead of trying to plow through without stopping. I’m new at this, maybe that’s what your supposed to do?

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More great Washington State Parks:

This post is part of Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.com.

March 15, 2013

Obstruction Pass State Park: Our Bright and Sunny Gem on Orcas Island

Moran State Park on Orcas Island seems to get all the attention, as well it should, from visitors and locals alike. However, there’s another little park on the island that is worth a stop, and would also be an amazing place to set up camp for a few days.

Obstruction Pass State Park is located on the South end of the island, South of Moran State Park and the town of Olga. If you don’t have a lot of time, it’s a great place to take in much of the island’s natural beauty in one small package. After a quick hike on it’s forested trail with moss covered trees like Douglas Fir, Cedars and Hemlocks, we reached the camp site area and dreamed about which spot we would choose.

Then we walked down some stairs and arrived at the beach! I’m so glad we saved this visit for the one sunny day we had in our week long stay. Once we hit the sand, we were actually hot all bundled up in sweaters, jackets, and hats.

The park is one of just a few places with public beach access on Orcas Island, and Bergen was more than happy to get out of the carrier and do some beachcombing.

From the beach, we looked out on Obstruction Pass with Obstruction Island and the Salish Sea in the distance.

Info to Know:

Obstruction Pass State Park is located on the Southeast side of Orcas Island. Orcas Island is part of the San Juan Islands, an amazing group of islands in Washington State.
- Hours: Winter- 8 am to dusk, Summer-6:30 am to dusk
- Open year-round for camping
Fee: $10 day-use fee or “free” with Discover Pass (Annual Washington State Park Pass)
If you aren’t visiting in the dead of winter like we were, head to the near by Olga Cafe for a great meal!

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February 7, 2013

Favorite Orcas Island Hike: Mountain Lake in Moran State Park

During our week-long stay on Orcas Island we hiked nearly everyday. That is a dream come true for me. The majority of our hiking adventures took place in Moran State Park, which is located on the East side of the island, and boasts over 30 miles of trails. It’s probably most famous for Mount Constitution and the amazing views (spanning from Vancouver, B.C. to Mount Rainier) complete with the look-out tower. While we hiked to the top (not to miss), and also saw lovely waterfalls, lakes and lush forests, the hike that sticks out the most was the Mountain Lake Loop. Despite the drizzle and moderately chilly temperatures, everything just fell into place for some reason.

For one, the distance was just about perfect: Almost 4 miles.

Next, the terrain had just a slight elevation gain and loss making it quite easy to traipse around with Bergen on my back in the ergo.

Now, we weren’t hiking to the top of something for a hard-earned view, but instead we had picturesque views nearly every step of the way. The pristine Mountain Lake was always by our side, old growth Douglas Fir trees towered above us, and the forest floor was blanketed with bright green moss. To top it off, we got to cross a little stream with a dam creating a waterfall. We also had the trail to ourselves just seeing one fellow hiker along the way.

One last reason for this hike being our favorite. Not a moan, groan, cry, protest or meltdown from Bergen (almost 1.5 years). He was just happy to be along for the nature-filled ride.

Info to Know:

The Mountain Lake Loop is located in Moran State Park on Orcas Island, WA. Parking, restrooms, boat launch, and even camping are all available at the trailhead.
Hike is 3.9 miles, designated as easy, and has just a slight elevation gain and loss. Other hikes linked to the trail include the Twin Lakes Trail & the Mount Constitution Summit trail.
Hiking boots are a good idea, though not completely necessary. Running shoes would work just fine.

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A little trail hiking fun courtesy of our super-sniffer dog, Norman!

More Orcas Island Hikes:

October 12, 2012

Peshastin Pinnacles State Park: Rattle and Hum

This week, Bergen and I went on a short hike at Peshastin Pinnacles State park near Leavenworth, Washington. Our hike veered away from the typical green filled excursions that we are used to in Western Washington, as the trail was mostly sand and not lined with trees, but thistle and dry grasses. The pinnacles that give the park it’s name are impressive rock formations that seem to jut randomly out of the ground making quite a spectacle.

Sandstone Spire

While we did hear the occasional chirp or caw from the birds hanging around, the overwhelming noise heard around the park was the hum of the airblast sprayer and tractor. Surrounding the park, you’ll see one of Washington’s most recognized claims to fame. Based on location of the park in North Central Washington, can you guess what you might see?

Apples!

As we reached the end of the easily navigated base trail, I heard some rustling coming from the corner ledge of a nearby rock formation. I was actually a little frightened, but my curiosity overcame the fear, and I did some investigating. I watched as a snake shimmied it’s way in a crack. Bergen could care less. He was actually mad. The pause in our hike was apparently ruining his time. I was able snap a few photos, but didn’t want to get too close. I wasn’t sure what kind of snake I was looking at, but figured I’d do some more research once I could take a look at the zoomed in photos.

As I turned the corner though heading back on the trail, the snake gave me no reason to speculate. We heard shaking and knocking sounds like Bergen had picked up his maraca and was waving it around. That thing we were looking at was a rattlesnake!

Seeing and hearing the rattlesnake did not put an end to our wildlife viewing though. As I took in the distance scenery, I also spotted a couple of mule deer frolicking along the hills.

Not bad for a 30 minute hike.

Info to Know:

Peshastin Pinnacles State Parkis located between the towns of Peshastin and Cashmere (off Highway 2), near the more well known Bavarian town of Leavenworth.
- 7201 N Dryden Rd, Cashmere, WA 98815
Cost: $10 for a day pass OR annual discover pass ($30)
No strollers. You’ll need a carrier for this one.

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September 27, 2012

Fort Worden State Park, WA in Fast Forward

You must have places you wish to return to for another visit. Everyone, even the busiest of travelers has to have at least a few spots. Maybe the site was so spectacular that it’s more than worth a second (or third…) look. Maybe you want to show it off to friend or family member. Or maybe, in our case recently, you just didn’t get enough time there in the first place.

By the time we reached Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington, we’d already had quite an eventful morning. We enjoyed a big breakfast at Sweet Laurette, checked out of our hotel, cruised the shops and galleries along Water Street, and even had a peek into the Maritime Center. The Fort was unfortunately our last stop before we headed home to Seattle, and we were working around Bergen’s nap schedule.

After checking in at the Visitors Center for a map and a lay of the land, we raced over to the closest battery. With Bergen in the stroller and not yet walking, there wasn’t much for him to discover safely, so I took Norman through some agility exercises via the stairs and various elements of the battery. In the meantime, Slaed and Bergen located a trail that would take us down toward the beach and lighthouse. I can’t wait to take Bergen back here when he’s a little older. What a perfect place for little guys and girls to run around and explore with their family!

We would hook up with the trail, but not without taking a look inside this spooky bunker.

This is where we really picked up the pace, and kicked it into high gear. We wanted to actually get to the shore, see the Point Wilson Lighthouse, and make our way back to the car. There was little time to linger, and take in the views as Norman and I literally chased after Slaed and Bergen.

Can you see Mount Baker in the distance?

Once off the trail, we caught a glimpse of the many camp sites available, and the Battery Kinzie. Fort Worden was one of three forts that protected the Puget Sound area, specifically the Bremerton Naval Yard, and the cities of Everett, Seattle and Tacoma from 1900 to the early 1950s. Interestingly enough, not one of the three forts (Fort Casey on Whidbey Island & Fort Flagler in Nordland are the other two) ever had to fire a hostile shot.

Battery Kinzie

Needless to say, there was no time for close-up exploration of the lighthouse, which as it turns out is okay as this lighthouse is not open to the public. We breezed past it, and caught up with the main road taking us back towards the car.

Point Wilson Lighthouse

Fort Worden has so much more to offer than what we were able to see during our quick visit. Miles of hiking trails are available, some ADA, making them a good choice for kids in strollers. The beaches are known for being kid-friendly, there are kayaks available to rent, and several museums to learn about the history of Fort Worden.

Info to Know:

Fort Worden State Parkis located in Port Townsend, Washington on the Northeast side of the Olympic Peninsula.
- 200 Battery Way
  
  Port Townsend, Washington 98368
  
  (360) 344-4400
Several lodging choices are available within the park ,which include campgrounds, officer’s housing, dormitories, and even a castle!
Check ahead of time to find out the hours of the park’s various establishments.
Cost: $10 for a day pass OR annual Discover Pass ($30)

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April 13, 2012

Camping at Cape Disappointment State Park (with a baby)

Clamming may have been a disappointment, but camping at Cape Disappointment State Park on the Washington coast certainly was not.

First of all, we had beautiful weather: always a plus when camping. Temperatures in the 60’s and sunny for the most part. I was nervous about camping in the spring, and this made things a whole lot easier. I have to confess though. Instead of reserving a campground to pitch our tent, like we would normally do, we reserved a yurt! And conveniently, this yurt was equipped with beds and heat.

Welcome to our Yurt!

Highlights from our attempt at camping with a baby:

Berg’s high chair/booster seat worked perfectly with one of our camping chairs!

Berg’s play area: huge tarp + huge blanket…still managed to be off it with a pine cone in his mouth in a flash!

Slaed heating up Bergen’s lentils on the camp stove.

What we liked about the Park:

Cape Disappointment is on the Washington Coast. It’s actually Washington’s most Southwestern point. From the camp sites, you can easily access the beach where you can then enjoy two miles of sand, surf, and if you’re lucky some sun. The entrances to the beach are lined with driftwood and branches so take care as you navigate down.

the beautiful beach

The Camping Crew…no one sleeping situation was alike…including a yurt, a tear-drop trailer, an RV, a truck tent, and oh yeah, one regular old tent.

On either side of the beach, you can view two different lighthouses: North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. North Head Lighthouse has a regular tour schedule, but while you are able to visit the lighthouse itself, the inside of Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is not open to the public. Norman and I ran along the 2 mile beach stretch (out and back), and saw spectacular views of both.

North Head Lighthouse

While we did not get to take advantage of them this time, the park also features beautiful hiking trails. Some of the destinations include both lighthouses, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, the Pacific Ocean, and the Columbia River.

Info to Know:

The park is about 2 miles from the town of Illwaco, WA.
The park is open year round for camping. For reservations, and all the information you need to know, check out the park’s website.
For day use, you’ll need the Discover Pass ($30/annual or $10/day pass) if you plan to enter the park in your motor vehicle.

Come join the conversation! We’d love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

More Washington State Parks:

Saint Edwards State Park (Kenmore, WA)
Wallace Falls State Park (Goldbar, WA)
Fort Worden State Park (Port Townsend, WA)
Peshastin Pinnacles State Park (Peshastin, WA)
Moran State Park (Orcas Island, WA) Obstruction Pass State Park (Orcas Island, WA)
Olallie State Park (North Bend, WA)

Search Results for: state parks

4 Reasons Why We Love our State Parks Pass

1. Easy Payment.

2. Access to the Outdoors!

3. We’re supporting the park system.

4. It’s Motivating!

Are you motivated to visit more state parks this year? Why? Tell us about the state parks near you!

5 Helpful Tips for Camping with a Baby

Stay in a Cabin or Yurt

Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte Trail

Port Townsend

What state (or region, province, etc) do you live in? Have you visited any state parks recently? Tell us about your experience!

Do you visit state parks in your home state or when you travel? Tell us about your favorite spots!

Where can YOU get away without traveling too far? Share your favorite destination, even if it’s just down the street!

These suckers were certainly not the worst pests we’ve encountered, but bad enough. Where have you run into the worst bugs in your travels?

Info to Know:

More Orcas Island Hikes:

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