Just for the fun of it, to make New Year’s eve a little bit more eventful and exciting for a couple of exhausted parents of a newborn, we took a ferry boat ride.
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.
Dawn Day in the Wildlife: Sea Lion Release
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Over 18,000 animals rescued and treated since 1975…
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Over 30,000 adults and children educated each year…
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Over 1,100 volunteers from Medocino County in Northern California to San Luis Obispo County on the Central Coast…
Why do the animal rescue professionals and volunteers work so hard in the research and rehabilitation of the animals that come into the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California?
For these moments of glory: The opportunity to return sea lions, seals and other marine wildlife to their natural habitats knowing that they have the strength and skills to stay alive and thrive.
Feeding the Pineapple Obsession: Oahu’s Dole Plantation with Kids
With a serious pineapple loving little boy on our hands, it would have been cruel of us not to visit the Dole Plantation during our recent visit to Oahu. Bergen (3-years old) cannot get enough of the stuff. In fact the other day when I ordered a pineapple-flavored soda at the Mexican restaurant we were dining at, he cried when the drink arrived as (we soon found out) he was expecting a plate of actual pineapple!
We planned for a morning visit, and thanks the resident alarm clocks surrounding our vacation rental, it wasn’t at all difficult to get ourselves there right as they opened their doors to at least try to avoid some of the inevitable crowds. The plantation is located in the town of Wahiawa, which in Oahu’s central valley, about a 40 minute drive from Honolulu, but only 10 minutes or so from our base in Haleiwa on the North Shore.
Truly trying to make the experience all about Bergen, we wasted no time dawdling around, and purchased our tickets for the pineapple train right away. Pineapples and trains: What more could a little boy ask for?
Flying While Pregnant: Ideas on Staying Comfortable in Flight
Baby #2 is coming! Believe it or not (that’s me talking to myself) in just a few short weeks, we will be welcoming our second little adventurer into the world. He or she has already been coming along on quite a few journeys, and has probably logged more miles than Bergen (now 3 years old) when I was pregnant with him. We believe in the importance of traveling as a family, and more than ever we felt it was essential to build that bond as a family of 3 before adding another member.
I flew several times during the pregnancy, but it was on our last trip, a week in Oahu at about 28 weeks, that I really took notice and reflected on some best practices for air travel while pregnant. Considering that I’ve had more discomfort during this pregnancy, I was somewhat anxious for how this last set of flights would go. Not worried enough, of course to be alarmed or call anything off, but cautious.
In the end, I didn’t have much to worry about as the flights to and from Oahu went smoothly. With a few implementations and considerations, I was comfortable, and the experience wasn’t too far from flying without a mini “passenger”:
Family Travel in Barcelona: 5 Kid Friendly Sights
Our life of travel and adventure spans back much further than the start of the “Wild Tales of…” blog. Yes, before Bergen (3 years old) and Baby #2 came along, countless miles on the road were logged around the United States and in many international destinations.
One of the most noteworthy occurred right at the time my husband, Slaed and I met. Slaed took a hiatus from his regular Seattle life and moved to Barcelona, Spain for 6 months. During his time there and thanks to several trips previous, he became quite the expert on the city. While kids of his own were barely on his radar then, two of his best friends, and a huge reason for his Spanish travels, had young families, and he often tagged along on their outings.
I thought it would be fun to pick his brain and learn about the place he called home for a short while. First, our suggestions for accommodations:
Where to Stay
- “El Born”: This “old city” district features family friendly hotels and lodging and is close to the Parc de la Ciutadella.
- “Barri Gotic”: The oldest area in the city and where Slaed called home for his 6-month stay, this is the central district of Barcelona and also has plenty of family friendly accommodations.
If you are ready to start researching possible lodging options, try using the hotel, B&B & apartment rental site, Venere. You’ll find it easy to search based on budget, landmark proximity and city areas, and ratings by reviewers.
Now for what to see and do! Together we came up with our top 5 (in no particular order) sights and activities for families to enjoy while visiting this unique and historic city.
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