April 18, 2018

Seattle Area Kid Hikes: Lund’s Gulch/Meadowdale Beach Park

The first time the kids and I hiked Lund’s Gulch to Meadowdale Beach Park, on the return to the parking lot, they took turns to create a near continuous stream of whining, crying, fussing, and tantruming. It was such a tough (and frustrating) way to end our adventure, because our hike in and time spent exploring the beach was so lovely!

I’m not sure what was going on with Georgia since I was carrying her, but in Bergen’s defense, the hike back is not exactly a walk in the park. With a sharp and easy decent (400 feet of elevation difference) on the way in, we pay on the way back.

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April 8, 2018

I ran for Brunch! Seattle Brunch Run 2018 Recap

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical and had to be talked into signing up for the Seattle Brunch Run this past weekend. It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a formal running event, and the price tag had me hesitant. The organizers, Seattle Magazine, claimed there would be inclusive brunch bites from more than 15 local restaurants along with a boozy brunch garden featuring mimosas, bloody marys, and beer.

Seattle Brunch Run 2018 Recap | WildTalesof.com

Photo Courtesy of Seattle Brunch Run/Seattle Magazine

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April 6, 2018

And the Wild is Calling +News and Inspiration//8

News::

Bergen and I recently enjoyed a mother-son weekend getaway exploring Mount Rainier! While we both loved exploring the national park, our highlight was actually the horseback trail ride we did in a small town just outside the entrance.
The whole family is headed to Walla Walla, Washington for another weekend getaway, and part of Bergen’s spring break next week.
Speaking of national parks, the next FEE FREE day of 2018 is Saturday, April 21st, the first day of National Park Week.

Inspiration::

Frustrated and discouraged by flight costs these days? Adventures After Coffee blog just shared 5 of the Best Cheap Flight Hacks. Great advice! We’ve got 10 tips of our own for saving money on flights as well.
Do your kids (or maybe even you) need to boost your mindfulness and self-regulation? These nature-inspired mindful moments cards (free printable) from Wilder Child just might do the trick.
Mat Coulton explains the ways dogs can help our children connect to nature. A great tie-in to my recent post about building an active outdoor lifestyle with dogs AND kids!
Book of the Week: Lou Whittaker: Memoirs of a Mountain Guide. The owner of the cabin that Bergen and I rented near Mount Rainier recommended this fascinating memoir since the cabin was actually previously owned by Lou! The book opened up a whole new world of mountain climbing adventure for me. While I’m pretty darn sure I’ll never climb to the top of Mount Rainier, I’m completely inspired!

What are your spring break plans?

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April 5, 2018

Savoring the Season with a SPRING Bucket List: 2018 Edition

With flowers blooming, temperatures warming up (just a bit), and our beautiful region transitioning from a long winter, it’s time we planned a few fun spring adventures! Schedules can fill up if we’re not careful, so I love plugging in intentional outings that we can look forward to. It’s also important to us to celebrate the best that this incredible season has to offer!

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 to gather the best things that nature has for us. To learn more, check out our summer, fall & winter bucket lists of past years.

Here’s our 2018 Spring Bucket List in no particular order!

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April 4, 2018

Spring Visit to Mount Rainier with Kids: Where to Eat, Play & Stay

A crackling fire. Birds chirping. Elk grazing. A fresh spring snow fall outside our cabin window. Excited 6-year old exclamations. Twisting, turning mountain roads that took my breath away, and brought tears to my eyes. Clip-clopping horse hooves as they navigate the trail. Bubbling geothermal phenomena. The yummy crunch of snowshoes and sleds on fresh snow.

These are the sights and sounds lingering in my mind from a spring time visit to Mount Rainier. Of course any time of year will provide visitors with a remarkable experience, but spring brings surprises and changes as the mountain and surrounding area transition from a long winter. Plus, don’t tell anyone else, you’ll find fewer crowds, giving you more space to take-in this wonderland in all it’s glory.

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April 3, 2018

Travel with Young Children: It DOES Get Easier!

If you happen to have children that are young babies and toddlers, I just wanted to give some quick encouragement. Life and parenting does indeed get easier as they get older. Particularly, travel to our delight and relief has become simpler, more manageable, and a whole lot less stressful.

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