September 22, 2015

Hiking without Kids: Lake Valhalla near Stevens Pass, WA

It took some advance planning, and a bit of preparation, but this past weekend, I got the chance to hike without my kids. While I love hiking along side my children, well..carrying one of them, and either chasing after or encouraging the other to keep up, I needed the chance to trek at my own pace.

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September 20, 2015

It Doesn’t Have Time to Fall +News and Inspiration//5

News::

I’ve lived in Seattle now for 10 years. It’s also been 10 years since I visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a place my family and I traveled to at least once a year throughout my child and young adulthood. Makes sense though as it’s quite a trek from the west coast! I loved showing Slaed and the kids what makes the place so special. Highlights here!
A fall weekend getaway is in the works. Location to be determined. Where are you headed this fall?
Thinking about purchasing plane tickets? Tips for Family Trips has some of the latest tricks for finding cheap fares, plus they’ve included a post we put together a couple of years ago sharing our best practices.

Inspiration::

On parenting like a Swede from Rain or Shine Mamma
Simple tips to improve your outdoor photos from The Outdoor Adventure
“…it is through active free play outdoors where children start to build many of the foundational life skills they need in order to be successful for years to come.” More from the Washington Post.
Ever been on or considered a farm stay?

What are you looking forward to most this fall?

Happy Weekend!

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September 18, 2015

Highlights from 6 Days in North Carolina’s Outer Banks

A week in North Carolina’s Outer Banks was quite the trek for our wild little family, but the cross country flight and decent (4.5 hours) car ride were more than worth the hassle to have an unforgettable experience.

Quality time spend with my brother, sister, and their families, plus my mom and dad, a family friend, and my cousin & her family.
A chance for Bergen and Georgia to play with their cousins (6 in all)
Getting to show Slaed, Bergen and Georgia my family’s beach cottage and the place my family vacationed throughout my entire childhood, but haven’t visited in 10 years!

In short the trip involved a lot of sand, a lot of sun (and sunscreen), many magical sunsets, and a ton of tasty meals. I’m sharing a few snapshots and highlights here, but as always stay tuned for more nitty-gritty details in the coming weeks.

We spent the majority of our time in Duck, a small town on the northern end of the Outer Banks. However, you’ll see from the quick photo essay that we ventured north to visit Corolla Beach Lighthouse as well as south to climb the east coast’s tallest sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge, and honor our wizards in the flight at the Wright Brother’s Memorial.

Currituck Sound--Duck, NC| WildTalesof.com

First afternoon–playing at Currituck Sound.

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September 17, 2015

Good-Bye August//8 Memories and Highlights

Last year right around this time, I put together an end-of-summer bucket list. I wasn’t ready to part with summer and still felt like we had a lot more to pack in before the cool weather and rains set in. This summer of seemingly endless sunshine has been a little different, and instead I’m feeling like a need to hold on to the memories we’ve already made. So since August is the 8th month & our youngest’s 8th month in the world, I’m preserving 8 random memories worth celebrating and sharing from our full & glorious 31 days! Even if we’re now in the middle of September.

1. Happy Birthday to Slaed!

We celebrated the best dad and husband in the world with a hike around Discovery Park, plus lunch and peach slump at our beloved Chinooks restaurant.

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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.