Growing up in a world of adventure.
Are your kids going to camp this summer? Our little guy (2.5 years old) is a bit too young for such fun at this point, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t already giving it some thought.
Dreaming, really, and honestly, wishing we were the ones getting to enjoy the outdoor time, arts and crafts, sports, and learning without all the everyday interruptions of regular life.
If you spend even just a couple hours on Orcas Island, a San Juan Island North of Seattle, you’d really need to be out of it not to notice art sprinkled all around in nooks and crannies and in places you wouldn’t necessary expect. Many art installations, like the sparkly mobile hanging on the side of the road going into town essentially became landmarks for me, reminding us of an upcoming turn or destination.
Unfortunately, many of the galleries and museums are closed during the winter months (we visited the island this past January). If places were actually open, they often had limited hours, so some of my choices for outings, like the Howe Sculpture Garden, had to wait for another visit.
One truly special place stays open year round though, with hours that easily worked into our schedule. Orcas Island Pottery is no ordinary pottery studio. It’s been around for generations. In fact, it’s the oldest existing craft shop on the island and the oldest pottery studio in the entire Northwest!
You might think it would be quite foolish to bring a young, energetic, rambunctious toddler to a place that sells, makes and displays pottery, but it turns out Orcas Island Pottery is great for kids and adults alike. That’s not to say we could kick back and relax, we still had to watch Bergen like a hawk. The difference is that he had diversions and he was welcome.
For one, the grounds are spacious with lots of room to run around and little paths to take. Plenty of recognizable (and some not) ornaments and fascinating objects to point at and wonder about. Did I mention we were visiting in January? We had the place to ourselves.
Once Bergen was tired of wandering around, he climbed up and explored an incredibly built tree house. From the top, we were able to view the property as a whole and I took some time to look out onto the President’s Channel with other islands and even Canada in the distance.
Later, the friendly potters invited Bergen and Slaed in to learn about how all this beautiful work is crafted. Bergen even got to touch the clay and watch real live students try their hand at the art. Syd Exton, the owner of Orcas Island Pottery gave them a personal tour, and helped us to pick out a set of glasses; perfect for sipping wine.
And finally, our visit was capped off with a good old-fashioned swing. Bergen’s definitely done some swinging in his little life and has enjoyed some nice views, but this one has to be at the top of his list.
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What’s been your experience with toddlers and art studios, galleries and museums? Share your stories and tips.
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Waiting is tough and ferry lines can be boring.
On our way home from Orcas Island back in January we arrived at the ferry terminal at least an hour and a half early to ensure we’d depart at the time we wanted. Instead of dreading the wait though, we took advantage of the “free time” and did some exploring. We found out there’s really lots to do!
Take in the View
Walk the Docks
Hunt for Sea Creatures
Walk over to the hill and look for bunny rabbits.
Say “Hello” to the pony that lives near by!
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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.
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My husband Slaed, a seasoned traveler, has no shortage of advice when it comes to hitting the roads, rails, skies, and even waterways. Fatherhood did throw him for a loop, but since become a dad in 2011, he’s come up with some creative ideas and some gems of advice he wants to pass along to you fellow travelers out there.
Sometimes parents need a break…even on vacation.
Who doesn’t love a good date night or time away from the kids? I sure love them as much as the next gal, but Slaed is always the one reminding me to set them up when we travel, and has played a part in securing each and every caretaker. It might be a little bit of a hassle to prepare, but once you’re out the door, the relaxing, “take-a-breather” benefits are worth the extra coordination.
Don’t feel guilty. When we travel, just by nature, there is so much more hands-on, quality time with the kids, so it’s okay to get away for a bit. Most likely, they’ll be asleep for the majority of the time you’re away anyway!
There are certainly others, but here are three (plus a bonus) ways that we have incorporated a date (or two) into our vacations and travels:
1. Family. Bring the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc along with you or include a visit to family in your trip. This is our best and cheapest option. We try to make it easy on our family members by sneaking out for a couple of hours while Bergen is taking a nap, or after he goes down for the night. Note: No, we aren’t paying our family members an hourly rate for watching over our precious little one, but we do try to repay them in other ways with little gifts, tokens of appreciation, and of course, many, many thanks!
2. Nanny or Babysitting Service. Before we left on our trip to Kauai last November, we researched well-respected and reasonably priced nanny/babysitting services. We found a great company that fit our needs, and reserved a caretaker for two nights during our stay. It was nice to have this lined up ahead of time so that we were not scrambling (or just putting it off) once we arrived, away from the comforts of home.
3. Local Sitters. Probably the most time consuming of methods, unless you get lucky right of the bat. However if you find someone you trust, it’s often the more cost effective option than going with a service. We found a local sitter during our recent visit to Orcas Island through the island’s community center, but it’s also helpful to talk to fellow travelers or consult your local mom/parent network. Ask around! You never know who might have a few connections up their sleeve!
Bonus Tip: Never underestimate the power of a good baby monitor. While on Kauai, our rental house was just steps away from Kapa’a’s Baby Beach. We did some investigating and discovered we were still able to hear Bergen from the beach (and if he needed us, we could get back in a flash)! We weren’t truly “out on a date”, but it sure felt like it! We were able to spend quality together over lunch and dinner while Bergen slept. On another trip quite by accident, we booked a room directly across from the spa area of the hotel. We took advantage of the location, and, thanks to the baby monitor, kept an ear on Bergen while we soaked away in the hot tub.
Have you used childcare while traveling? Please share your experience and tips!
Need more? Go visit Travel Tips Tuesday on WalkingOn Travels and Suitcases and Sippy Cups. For tons of great travel tips, check out their sites!
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