Growing up in a world of adventure.

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August 17, 2017

Travel Guide to North Idaho with Kids

Since our oldest, Bergen, was a wee baby, we have been taking family trips to Hayden Lake, Idaho every summer. For Slaed, it’s been since his freshman year of college! We are lucky to have a good friends with a lake house who allow us to stay and live the lake life for a long weekend.

We often fall into the same routines. We relax on the porch, play on the dock, take boat rides around the lake, and eat delicious home-cooked meals together. This past month we still did all of the above, but in order to spread our wings a bit, and get to know the area more, we added to our usual activities.

February 6, 2017

14 Family Travel Destination Ideas: Where the Experts are Vacationing in 2017

Do you have an exciting travel destination on the calendar for 2017? As we go about the new year, even though we have several other trips coming up, there is ONE in particular that we can’t stop thinking about. It’s the ONE we are most focused on in terms of preparing and planning. Slaed is purchasing travel guides and reserving books from the library. I’m scouring websites and daydreaming over gorgeous instagram photos. And together, we’re also watching all the YouTube videos we can find on the location!

It finally dawned on Slaed how much we are turning our attention to this one single trip, and that got me thinking. Are other families doing the same? Where are other traveling families headed in 2017 that they can’t stop thinking about? Is there one particular place they are telling their friends and family about, and focusing all of their planning and preparation on?

I asked my fellow family travel writing friends to share their “family’s destination of the year”, and YES, it turns out, we are not alone. Other families are also equally excited about one vacation in particular, and they were gracious and generous enough to share!

Here you’ll find 14 family travel destination ideas from the experts. You’ll learn a little bit about each locale including why it was chosen and what makes the destination a great choice for families. If you’re looking to add adventure into your 2017, you just might glean some inspiration and ideas!

Where the Experts are Vacationing in 2017

North America

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands: Our Family!

January 22, 2017

Travel Planning: 6 Tips for Making Camping Reservations

Summer might not be “right around the corner”, but in the world of travel (especially for those on a budget), it’s important to start planning now. Since we recently booked a camp site for a long weekend in August, I thought I’d share a few quick tips for making camping reservations.

I love how camping combines my love of travel and the outdoors. Even with all the extra work that goes into organizing and setting up, the uninterrupted outside family adventure makes it all worth it! We plan to travel back up to Whidbey Island, Washington, and will stay for 3 nights in Fort Ebey State Park.

This will be our first time tent camping as a family for more than just 2 nights. We decided on our last trip that 2 nights is just too short for all the effort of setting up tents, organizing the food, starting a fire (and on and on). It’s hard work, and we’d like to be able enjoy the glorious parts for a little longer.

Tips for Making Camping Reservations

Book ahead (now!) for summer. If you are hoping to stay at a state park campground or similar spot that takes reservations, it’s smart to start looking now. When we made reservations this week (mid-January), for the dates we selected, there were just a handful of spots remaining.
If possible, take a day trip to the destination, and poke around. Get an idea of the layout of campsites, and see which one(s) would work best for you and your family.
Consider privacy. Many booking/reservation systems will include information or ratings on various aspects of the campground and individual sites, and privacy (how open the site is to others passing by) is important to think about.
Know where the closest bathroom is located. You most likely won’t want to be right next to the bathroom, but if you have young children, you will want to be fairly close.
Be aware of high traffic areas. Take a look at the campground map. Camp sites located right next to trail access, beach and lake entrance points, and other “attractions” will be noisier (and sometimes less private) than those more “off the beaten path”.
Do a quick google search. Folks love talking about their favorite sites within campgrounds, and you can gain some good insights! Trip Advisor, Yelp, and YouTube are also great resources. Typing in something like, “best camping spot in ________state park” will often yield good, helpful results.

More Camping Tips and Inspiration on the Blog:

Have you made your camping reservations for the summer? Where are you headed? We’d also love to know some of your favorite spots to camp!

P.S. Join our newsletter & receive free resources including our Packing lists (includes car camping & cabin/yurt camping)! Subscribe here!

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.

January 11, 2017

Snohomish County, Washington: Travel and Adventure Guide for Families

Due to it’s close proximity to our home in Seattle, we usually explore Snohomish County, Washington via weekend day trips. Less than an hour, depending on our specific destination, north of us, we can enjoy all the culture, recreation, shopping, and outdoor adventure the region has to offer, and still get home for naps or bedtime.

Last fall though, we got to do something a little different. We actually stayed the night! As I mentioned in my recent staycation post, planning a trip close to home has so many benefits. One of those benefits is that you get more time to enjoy the destination. We were able to pack so much fun and adventure into a short weekend in Snohomish County! Today I’m sharing our family friendly recommendations for things to do (indoors and out), places to eat and drink, and where to stay.

A note before we start: Snohomish County, Washington is quite a large area (over 2,000 square miles), so this is by no means an exhausted list of all the area has too offer! We’re just scratching the surface of this rich region.

September 23, 2016

North Carolina’s Outer Banks: 4-day Itinerary+Photo Journey

How do you handle the holidays and spending time with extended family? Do you find it tricky to balance and plan? With family spread out in all parts of the country, we try to be pretty intentional with holiday planning. As a general rule, Slaed and I trade off spending the Christmas holiday with our respective “sides” every year. One year we host or visit his family, the next year it’s my family’s turn, with a few exceptions in there for births and whatnot.

This year however the stars were not aligning well in our Christmas planning world for a holiday visit with my family. Thus, instead of December, we opted for September! Instead of flying all over the place during one of the busiest travel times of the year, we all met in North Carolina’s Outer Banks earlier this month.

September 21, 2016

Lake Chelan, Washington: Things to do with Kids

When I first moved to Seattle so many of my colleagues and students that I taught (I’m an elementary school teacher currently on “sabbatical” raising my kids), raved about this mysterious place called Lake Chelan. Growing up on the east coast, I’d never heard of the area hosting Washington State’s largest lake, but I quickly learned that it was the place to go to get away from the gloomy and gray of Western Washington. Visitors could swim in the water (in summer) and play on the sandy shores, participate in water sports, and generally just enjoy the lake life taking in views of the surrounding mountains and being treated to the region’s natural bounty. I put Lake Chelan on my already long and growing list of places to see in the Pacific Northwest.

August 19, 2016

Hiking with Kids: Seattle Area Hikes with Viewpoints

A nice walk in the woods has it’s place in the hiking world. Tall towering trees, greenery and foliage surrounding you, maybe even a creek or waterfall to gaze at or take a quick dip. Sometimes we want more though. We want an even greater reward for our effort than just the pretty scenery. We long for that light at the end of the tunnel–a gorgeous sweeping view of the landscape giving us more of a perspective of our place here on earth. Viewpoints also often mean you’ve accomplished something big, and that’s extremely satisfying!

This past winter, I set a goal for Bergen (4.5 years at the time) and I (Georgia came along for the ride on my back as well) to hike to the top of Little Si, a smaller neighbor mountain to the larger Mount Si in North Bend, Washington. In order to prep for the journey, we tackled several other trails with viewpoints and similar, but not quite as difficult, terrain and distances, and since then we’ve added a few more hikes with viewpoints to our tally. Consequently, we now have quite a few hikes that we can recommend to other families where your hard work will be rewarded with an amazing view.

July 26, 2016

Lassoing the Sun: Book Review+Video

With the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service coming up in August, I wanted to share a book recommendation, Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks, that will not only help you learn more about the system that began on August 25, 1916 with 35 parks and monuments, but also give you the chance to really appreciate what we have set aside for our future.

Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks by Mark Woods is a memoir of the author’s year long journey traveling, exploring, learning and asking important questioins about at least one national park per month. He received an award through the Eugene C. Pilliam Fellowship in order to do so, and began the project on New Year’s day in Acadia National Park where the first rays of sun shine on the United States.

July 22, 2016

14 Kid Friendly Hikes Near Seattle

Of course we love adventure. Of course we love travel. And of course we love getting out for a hike. With two little kids though, who both still nap, and prefer to do so in their own beds at home, we can’t always venture too far. Since Bergen was a wee toddler, I’ve researched, investigated, and explored kid friendly hikes near Seattle (in or at least with in an hour’s drive of the city).

What’s considered “kid friendly”?

Low mileage: Most of these hikes are 3 miles or less. Some much less, and many with opportunities to add more if little legs allow.
Exciting features: lakes, waterfalls, view points, story boards, bridges, etc. to help peak interest and motivate
Mostly flat: Too many hills and inclines can bring out the whines (at least in my young hiker)!

Here you’ll find 14 of our favorite kid friendly hikes in or near Seattle. It is in no way an exhausted list, and I hope to add to it in the future. Make sure to click on the hike’s title for either a more detailed trip report from our site or another trusted resource like the Washington Trails Association (WTA).

Looking for more?

Grab our Seattle Area Kid Friendly Hiking Guide

with 25 Adventures you and your kids will love!

April 27, 2016

Savoring the Season with a Spring Bucket List

Now that the real spring weather has returned to Seattle, and we are back to mild temperatures after a bout of hot weather, it’s time for us to get cracking on our spring bucket list! If you aren’t familiar with our seasonal bucket lists, here’s the scoop: Each season, we create a list of about 10 fun adventures or projects that are specific to the season.

We dig through our favorite nature books, think about our favorite happenings of that particular season, and look at our calendars as a way of being more intentional with our time and to take advantage of the best things that nature has for us. To learn more, check out our summer, fall & winter bucket lists.

Here’s our 2016 Spring Bucket List in no particular order!

April 22, 2016

Olympia, Washington with Kids: Weekend Itinerary + Photo Tour

Last month we finally got to spend some time in our state’s capital city of Olympia, Washington. For years I’d been hoping explore this small city that’s just a little over an hour away from our home in Seattle. As cities in Washington go, Olympia is on the small side, but it’s full of fun (and educational!) opportunities for families and so much natural beauty that shined through even though the weather (typical early spring in Western Washington) was less than ideal.

Based on our recent weekend experience and in collaboration with the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau, I put together a weekend itinerary + photo tour for families to get oriented with a quick snapshot of our capital city. Stay tuned as I dive deeper into some of our favorites in the coming weeks!

March 27, 2016

Travel Guide to Seattle, Washington with Kids

This extensive Guide to Seattle with Kids is brought to you in collaboration with Expedia.com. All opinions and ideas are my own, and the content was created and written by me. Special thanks for providing the push that I needed to finally create this (hopefully) helpful and long overdue resource for families!

As a resident of Seattle, Washington for over 10 years, a teacher, and a mother of two young children, I’ve come to realize that Seattle really is a great city for kids! Over the past 4 years of blogging, I’ve certainly written about some of our favorite spots, including things to do and places to eat, but I’ve yet to compile it all into one handy guide for those visiting Seattle with kids, or for fellow Seattleites who are looking for more ideas…until now!

In this guide to Seattle with kids, you’ll find our favorite recommendations for activities and restaurants, plus a few of our recommendations for lodging. For planning or organizational purposes, I’ve divided the guide into two sections: The Downtown Core & Beyond Downtown (though still within the city limits). Of particular note and what I absolutely love is that most of our attractions can be enjoyed by everyone, not just children, not just adults, but the whole family!

January 25, 2016

How to Prepare for Cabin Camping with Kids

We love taking advantage of the cabins available through our state park system. We try to plan cabin getaways at least twice a year. Lodging is inexpensive, and preparing for cabin camping is a whole lot easier than tent camping via the car or backpacking. Our most recent cabin camping experience was at Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin County (north of San Francisco), and we have our next cabin camping trip planned for this spring at Ike Kinswa State Park about 2 hours south of Seattle in Lewis County.

How to Prepare for Cabin Camping with Kids | WildTalesof.com

December 21, 2015

6 Last Minute Gift Ideas for Travelers and Outdoor Adventurers

If you’re still searching for just the right gift for that someone on your list, I have a few easy last minute gift ideas that just might help you complete your holiday shopping! Given the theme of our blog, I have categorized them as great for travelers and outdoor adventurers, but really they’d work for so many types of people.

December 7, 2015

Visiting Wenatchee, Washington with Kids

We traveled to Wenatchee, Washington (located about 2.5 hours east of Seattle) this fall to escape the hustle and bustle of our busy city before the holidays, and get the chance to take in the beautiful autumn colors of North Central Washington. However, Wenatchee, and the entire North Central Washington region is a destination that’s fitting anytime of year! The area boasts almost 300 days of sunshine annually, yet 4 distinct seasons, making it great for families looking to enjoy the outdoors.

For this particular visit, we had 2 nights to enjoy the small city of about 33,000, also known as the Apple Capital of the World. Based on our experience, I put together our recommendations for things to do, places to eat, and where to stay when visiting Wenatchee, Washington with kids!

Things to do when Visiting Wenatchee, Washington with Kids

Pybus Market

November 23, 2015

Keeping Kids Warm: Ella’s Wool Tubes (Wool Pants) Review

You may have noticed that I recommended Tubes by Ella’s Wool in my recent Holiday Gift Guide. I’m so excited about this new product, and can’t wait for you to learn all about these wonderful wool pants for babies and kids! I’ve known for a while now that wool is very special material. However, it wasn’t until I was contacted by Ella’s Wool’s founder Becca (and I started digging into her website) that I really began to understand exactly why it’s the perfect material to keep our kids warm when enjoying the outdoors in cold temperatures.

October 13, 2015

8 Things to do with your Preschooler on a Hike

Turning three was a turning point for Bergen in terms of his outdoor activity. I officially traded his “toddler” status to “preschooler”, and his stamina and physical ability grew significantly. Over the course of the last year (he’s now 4 years old), it’s been fun to observe the types of things that he is intrigued by and the way he interacts with nature when we’re on the trail. Things that I thought he’d love, don’t turn out to be as engaging as I thought, and then I’m surprised when something completely random fascinates or captivates him.

Given the chance, preschoolers can rack up the miles and can go much further than they could as toddlers, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to keep them moving along or interested. I recently started jotting down the things that work for Bergen–the little tricks that keep him involved, motivated, and content on the trail. They are ideas you might consider to enrich your walk, and make deeper connections with both your child and the natural world.

My hope is that they might help other preschoolers to have happy and exciting hiking experiences! The list is only 8 items long (so far) and each is quite simple, but I’m expecting the list to grow as we continue our second “preschool” year. I would love for you to add your ideas too!

August 31, 2015

Visiting Helena, Montana with Kids

Helena, Montana was supposed to be a resting place in our 12-day Idaho-Montana road trip. A “lull” of sorts between our lake adventures at Flathead and our high country explorations in Red Lodge. Instead, we ended up doing and seeing a lot in Helena because as we researched prior to the trip, and as we talked with friends about the small capital city, the more we wanted to experience.

I absolutely adore this town appreciating it’s history, charm, and family friendliness. The hospitality that I’ve grown to expect (and respect) in Montana shined through from the hotel to dining establishments, and all the activities we participated in in-between. I can’t wait to get back and experience more!

Things to Do when Visiting Helena, Montana with Kids

Last Chance Gulch (Helena’s Walking Mall)

Taking a wander up and down this outdoor walking mall was the first thing we did when we arrived in Helena. After our the drive from Flathead Lake, it gave everyone the opportunity to stretch their legs, and jump right into learning about the town’s history. Last Chance Gulch was where gold was first discovered in Helena in 1864. Unique local shops and restaurants line walkway that runs from 6th Avenue to Broadway with statues, interactive displays, and historical bits and pieces to admire and learn from along the way.

July 15, 2015

Naptime Road Trips: Camano Island, WA

With this 2nd little adventurer on board, we’re back to the phase of needing to schedule all of our activities around the kids’ sleep requirements. This means that we are back to “naptime road trips”. Our kids sleep best in their own beds (or cribs) of course, but the next best thing is often the car, preferably on the highway with uninterrupted cruising. Consequently, given our frequently restless or itchy travel feet, instead of heading home after a morning outing like a responsible parent would do, sometimes we just start driving, and see where the wind takes us. Praying that heavy traffic will not stand in our way.

Over Independence Day weekend, after wrapping up parade activities in Bothell, a small town about 20 miles northeast of Seattle, we knew that we didn’t want our 4th of July fun to end. I should mention that this was also coupled with the fact that temperatures were climbing toward 90 degrees. And for a family living in a home without air conditioning, nap time back at the house was becoming less and less appealing.

So after a bathroom break and refueling for all, we hopped in the car and headed north just as we had done for our Naptime Road Trip to La Conner Washington several years back when Bergen (now nearly 4) was a baby. Slaed and I started rattling off ideas of where our ultimate destination should be:

Bellingham? Deception Pass? Back to La Conner? All the way to Birch Bay?

We decided on Camano Island for a few reasons: I’d never been. It was a good distance away. Not too far, not too close. Beach…inside a state park. Being on the water would provide us with the cooler temperatures we were craving. Win-win. Win-win.

As soon as we crossed over the bridge from Stanwood over to Camano Island, I felt that tingle of excitement (knowing we were about to experience something new) as well as a little relief. I caught glimpses of the water, with the kids still snoozing away, and knew…we had made the right decision. And I also wondered, “Why have I never been here?”

Plenty of other folks were creating their own 4th of July memories at Camano Island State Park when we pulled up, but it wasn’t overly crowded. Brave children were swimming while others waded, beachcombed, fished, crabbed, and kayaked. After exploring a bit, we opted to set-up right along Lowell Point closer to where the campsites are located.

Not knowing that this adventure was in store for us at the beginning of the day, we weren’t exactly prepared for an afternoon at the beach. We made do though, with a blanket that we house in the car and a couple of (rain) umbrellas that Slaed rigged to shade us from the sun.

While Slaed hung back with Georgia, Bergen and I went on a treasure hunt. The quest started off rocky, but once the boy realized that he didn’t need to gain my attention by splashing and throwing seaweed, we got to enjoy each other’s company and do some fun exploring, just the two of us.

We turned over rocks in search of interesting creatures. We walked in and out of the water, which was quite pleasant and more than appreciated, considering I felt close to passing out earlier in day. We talked about the volcano (Mount Rainier) in the distance, watched a lady try to catch a crab with a fishing pole, and collected shells. That small moment filled me up.

After awhile tummies were grumbling, and it was time to move on. Slaed recalled an inn with a restaurant that he’d passed by and dreamed about going to while on the island for work nearly 15 years previous. Not knowing what to expect on a Saturday evening and a holiday, we were cautiously optimistic that we might be able to get a bite to eat and have our children tolerated.

We were welcomed at the Camano Island Inn’s restaurant. And as it turns out, we were actually the only people dining on the outdoor patio. This allowed us to sip our glasses of rosé, and nosh on the best bread I’ve ever tasted (truly) and mussels sourced just across the way from Whidbey Island’s Penn Cove without too much worry of the racket coming from our little party of 4. The view and a peak inside had us drawing up plans to return for a kid-less getaway.

Our Camano Island Picks:

Play: Camano Island State Park (bring along sturdy shoes for walking along the beach–it’s rocky!)

Eat (Happy Hour): Camano Island Inn

Have you ever planned a road trip around nap time? How about a spur of the moment mini road trip? We’d love to hear about it!

Need more even more info on Camano Island? Check out our full Family Travel Guide to Camano Island including more dining, activities, and lodging!

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.

July 6, 2015

I-5 Road Trip Detour: Jacksonville, Oregon

How do you break up those long travel days on the road? Making “good time” is great and all, but I’m more of a fan of enjoying the ride. So, as much as possible, I try to pick out little detours that we can experience along the way:

food stops that are not the typical chains
playgrounds and parks
charming small towns
random roadside attractions

While traveling down to Sonoma this past spring, we received a spur of the moment tip from a friend via text instructing us to veer off of I-5 and visit Jacksonville, Oregon. The detour would have us traveling out of our way about 10 miles from the interstate, but our buddy assured us visiting the national historic landmark “it would be worth it”.

Since it was lunchtime, and several hours since we’d started our journey that morning (and high time for a bathroom break), the deviation seemed to fit perfectly. As we rolled through beautiful hills viewing farm after farm making our into town, I saw quaint homes with white picket fences out front, friendly directional signs informing us of the Jacksonville’s important destinations, and a small business district with inviting shops and eateries.

Knowing we were on a strict schedule, we quickly parked and I went to work figuring out a lunch spot, trying to take-in the community at the same time. Thanks to Yelp, we landed at the C-Street Bistro. Sandwiches skillfully crafted with fresh, regionally acquired ingredients filled our bellies and helped reboot us for the rest of our journey.

February 25, 2015

Preschool Hikes: Discovering More in Seattle’s Discovery Park

Places often remain wonderful in mind because I haven’t quite discovered all they have to offer. The mystery and unknown give me reason to come back and explore. Magic remains.

Seattle’s Discovery Park is one example. Maybe its because we usually fall into the same routine: Parking in the same area, hiking down the same stairs toward the beach, walking along the same stretch of shore. Still beautiful, but I always knew there was more.

For this visit, I switched it up and we saw several aspects of the park that I’ve never seen. And because of that I have an even greater appreciation for the place. Even better, as you might expect my two little adventurers were also along for the ride, and for one of them (Georgia, 2 months) this was her very first visit.

Environmental Learning Center

I’d heard that there was an indoor learning space here, but never visited myself. So to make sure we had a chance check it out, I made it our starting point. The center proved to be a great spot to get our nature juices flowing. The space is filled with books, puppets, and tons of other hands on materials for little ones to investigate before or after heading off on an outdoor adventure.

January 4, 2015

Wild Tales of…2014 Travel and Adventure Highlights

Happy 2015! We hope your new year is off to a great start. Here in Seattle we enjoyed a quiet celebration with all four of us sleeping soundly when the clock officially struck midnight. Not to worry though: Two of us were up soon after though as someone was in search of another meal.

With a fresh start and a brand-new addition to the family, I’ve found myself reflecting often on the past year because let’s face it: Things will never be the same! Growing from 3 family members to 4 is a big change and babies create a whole new dynamic of family life. Routines, sleep habits, and the way we go about doing life are all shifting, so I’ve actually found it fascinating to look back at 2014’s adventures.

In order to get a complete look at our year, I decided to take it month by month. Some months were busier than others making it hard to choose just one highlight, so here you’ll find our most memorable and significant explorations.

January-Cle Elum, Washington

In search of quick cold weather getaway, we traveled just an hour and a half or so to the small central Washington town of Cle Elum. Instead of mounds of snow, we found sheets of ice creating difficult hiking conditions, but we enjoyed the escape and chance to unplug (no phone service or internet access!) nonetheless.

November 12, 2014

Surviving the Dark and Rainy Days: Tips for Getting Outside + Enjoying it!

It doesn’t always seem like the logical choice, but these days we are working hard not to let the rain and lack of daylight stop us from our usual afternoon walks and adventures. After all, the boy needs to get his energy out, the dog’s gotta go, and we all need our exercise. I fully admit that it’s hard, and sometimes a struggle. I’m discouraged when I realize we are quickly kissing the sun goodbye at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. And yes, its sometimes a drag to spend all that time suiting up to protect against the cold and the rain. But the thing is, we can’t be limited to indoor play when its… [Read more…]

August 15, 2014

Exploring Golden, Colorado: 8 Family Favorites

More than ever we strive to be intentional in our travel. We want to experience all that a locale has to offer, but also make smart choices with our time. One way we achieve this is through less driving. No, not always what realistically happens (recent WA adventure), but always something we consider and work on.

Take our trip to Golden, Colorado last month. We’re proud to say that we visited Golden, not the “Denver area”. We rented a house steps from downtown Golden, and planned ahead to ensure we would spend the majority of our time in the little mining town.

Why so vigilant?

When visiting one of our old stomping grounds (this one being where Slaed grew up), activities, meet-ups, visits, and even sightseeing can get out of hand. So we made some deliberate choices to combat our prior tendency of spending so much time in the car driving all over the area.

In exchange, I really got a feel for Golden and it’s charm, without the rush, and can share a whole list of our favorite Golden to-do’s:

1. Explore Downtown.

July 30, 2014

Orcas Island’s Turtleback Mountain: Thankful for the Second Chance

When planning a return trip to Orcas Island (one of Washington State’s San Juan Islands north of Seattle), Slaed and I both made short lists. Short lists of places on the island we didn’t want to miss. Restaurants, hikes, shops, and other destinations that we loved so much the first time or didn’t get to visit because time or closure.

Neither of those lists included a visit back to the Turtleback Mountain Preserve, located west of the main town of East Sound. All Slaed could remember was the long uneventful climb along a gravel trail. Yes, if we veered off, there were a few spectacular views of the water and surrounding islands, but there were other hikes, other parks that we thought were better worth our time. We were content just visiting once.

Then I heard from one of the best local hiking experts in the state, Craig Romano. His latest book, Day Hikes in the San Juan and Gulf Islands was just released, and he was interested in having some Pacific Northwest area bloggers review it. Unfortunately the book wouldn’t arrive before we hit the road for Orcas, but I jumped at the chance to consult with him on his favorite picks, especially with a little hiker in tow.

His top recommendation and in his opinion the very best hike on the island? The Turtleback Mountain Preserve hike.

With a little more research I realized that yes, the first bit of the hike was a boring uphill climb, there was just no way around that, but if we remained patient and put in the work, we’d be rewarded.