October 7, 2013

Still hanging onto Summer at Volunteer Park’s Dahlia Garden

Late last week, I realized that although we enjoyed the dahlias around the neighborhood and at the farmer’s markets, we never got the chance to pop over to the beautiful little garden at Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park. I discovered the dahlia garden late last summer, and with it now being almost mid-October, I thought for sure the blooms would be long gone.

No visit to Volunteer Park would ever be a wasted visit with one of best playgrounds in the city, towering trees, a conservancy, and water tower among so much more, so we made the trek up to find out for sure. As you can probably guess, we lucked out. Yes, many flowers were worse for wear due to some pretty serious rainfall that Seattle has experienced in the last couple of weeks, but there were just as many amazingly beautiful dahlias to view and admire. And actually, the rain from earlier in the day added a lovely shine to flowers making the colors pop even more.

It turns out that the master garden’s of the Puget Sound Dahlia Association, the people behind the garden, don’t dig up the tubers until early November so as long as some of the blossoms hang on, we have a few more weeks to enjoy the colorful display!

Seattle's Volunteer Park Dahlia Garden | WildTalesof.com

My favorite variety this year.

Are you experiencing fall-like weather in your neck of the woods? How are you enjoying the outdoors?

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.

October 3, 2013

Adventure Gear: Oakiwear’s Rain Suit Keeps Us Outside

Ever since Bergen (now 2 years old) was big enough to even start toddling around outside and on play equipment, we had visions of purchasing some sort of one-piece suit for him to wear throughout our 9-month rainy season here in Seattle. Even when it’s not raining, the ground is still wet and if you’ve ever been around toddlers, you know how clumsy they can be as they lumber around becoming distracted by this or that.

A suit we purchased from another company worked well for him and allowed for a good year or so of adventuring outside in the wet and cold. When it was time for a bigger size though, I wasn’t completely convinced our previous brand was the best, so I started to look elsewhere. In my research, I found an amazing little company called, Oakiwear. Honestly, I’d never heard of the brand, but as I poked around their website, I found so many things I liked:

Local Company: For us, Oakiwear is a local company out of nearby Vancouver, Washington. We love supporting our “neighbors”, and also who better to design outdoor gear than people who are living and breathing the same wet and soggy weather as us.
Quality: I’ll get into the nitty-gritty details below, but just by reading a quick description, I could tell Oakiwear took time to design a rain suit that would last.
Price: Even with all of the fancy features that the rain suit has, I still feel like Oakiwear keeps their prices reasonable. They also aren’t shy about putting their products “on-sale”, which I love.

When I first received the Oakiwear suit about a month ago, we were being spoiled by amazing Seattle weather. It felt like Bergen would never get to try out the suit in all it’s glory. I’m sure glad I savored those moments though because the doom and gloom is back, and we have had more than enough opportunities to try out the suit! We’ve gone on walks in the rain, hiked through the arboretum, attended several sporting events, and explored the zoo on a misty day all in the name of testing this puppy out.

About the Rain Suit

The Oakiwear rain suit is made of high quality nylon material that is of course waterproof, and allows dirt and mud to wash off easily. Seams are fully taped, and neoprene is added around the wrists and ankles allowing great protection from water seeping in. The heavy-duty front zipper goes from just below the waist all the way up to the neck making it easy to take on and off. The suit also features an attached hood, and reflective tape is sewn in across the chest and upper arms. There are two drawstrings (strategically placed inside the suit) allowing you to cinch the suit around the waist if desired.

The suit is available in several sizes: 12 months, 2T (Bergen’s size), 3T, 4/5, & 6/7.

What’s to Love?

First and foremost, the suit keeps Bergen dry! We encountered some serious rain on a few of our adventures recently, and we felt confident knowing that he’d stay comfortable and protected in the suit. He’s literally dry from head to toe, and the attached hood stays put!
Yes, the suit locks out the rain, but the material is still breathable, so Bergen isn’t going to get overheated.
The suit is comfortable making it easy for Bergen to romp and play. Even though the 2T size a little big on Bergen right now, the velcro straps on the ankles and wrists allow us to create just the right fit for him so nothing is hanging down or dragging. In addition to helping with sizing, the ankle straps also come in handy to keep his rain boots more secure. For some reason, Bergen loves to try to “shake” his boots off, and these straps allow us to gently tighten around the boot so he can’t get them off so easily.
Oakiwear isn’t messing around with quality. One of the biggest complaints I had about Bergen’s old suit was the dreaded zipper. It was small, hard to line up (since it attached at the ankle) and I had no confidence in it lasting for the long haul. Oakiwear’s zipper is exactly what I was envisioned: big, sturdy, easy to zip up and down.
Oakiwear has fun, bright colors (purple, red, blue, pink, yellow…) to choose from, and they’ve also smartly placed strips of black fabric at the knees, which is of course where most of the dirt and stains would collect.

What’s to be Desired?

Needless to say, we are extremely happy with the product, and from looking at reviews of years past, it appears that Oakiwear has listened to many outdoor families and tweaked little features here and there to make the suit even better. Good outdoor gear is essential for us living here in Seattle, and I take our clothing choices seriously.

One thing we did love about Bergen’s old suit was the fleece lining that could be added and removed easily depending on conditions. We’re okay with layering Bergen’s other clothing, but just an idea as an option for Oakiwear to consider. Also, like his boots, Bergen loves to throw off his mittens. The little fold-over attached mittens on the other suit were also handy, but it may encroach on the design of the wrist straps of the Oakiwear suit. We may just need to resort to mittens we can attach to outer clothing or ones that strap around the wrist more securely.

To purchase an Oakiwear Rain Suit (approx. $42 to $74):

Purchase directly from Oakiwear
Purchase from Amazon

Special Offer from Oakiwear

In addition to their already fabulous and reasonable prices (and by the way rain suits are on sale right now), Oakiwear is giving an additional 15% off to all readers of the blog! Just add the coupon code “wildtales” to the little box at checkout. This code is for your entire order, never expires and can be used on any of their products, not just rain suits.

Please note: The folks at Oakiwear generously provided us with a Rain Suit for review on the blog. All opinions expressed are my own. We’re also affiliates of Oakiwear so if you purchase through our links, we’ll receive a small commission. Thanks for your consideration!

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September 27, 2013

Olympic National Park’s Big Cedar: Whoops, No Photo.

On our way to Ruby Beach during our camping trip in Olympic National Park last month, we decided to make a quick detour to the “The Big Cedar Tree”. Signs, maps, and guides were steering us over to check out the natural wonder. When we arrived at the parking area, we only need to walk a few steps to find what was indeed quite a large cedar tree.

However, surrounded by the big cedar was also quite a large crowd.

Who wants to fight over a good view of the thing when there’s a whole forest to see? With a quick look, we continued on the trail. It wasn’t a decision we really discussed. As usual, we just let Bergen lead the way.

He must have been in search of a more peaceful, serene experience. When we jutted off the main trail down a little cut off, we found our own “big cedar” to check out in all it’s glory.

And when we made our way back passing the famous big cedar once more, can you believe an even bigger crowd of lookers, climbers and photographers had formed? I’m glad Bergen had his own little plan.

Which U.S. National Park did you explore last? National Public Lands Day is tomorrow: Saturday, September 28, 2013. On this day, and a few other days during the year, entrance fees to all National Parks are waived.

Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

Related Posts:

Seattle/Puget Sound Area Readers: Have you entered our Chinook Book Giveaway? Hop on over to the post and get in the running!

September 26, 2013

Adventure Gear: Old Fashioned Maps and Street Guides

I’m horrible with directions. I have no general sense of direction, and more often than not, the direction I think is correct, is actually the complete opposite of where I should be headed. Lucky for me, I married a navigator (and great driver), but because of these great skills, I tend to check-out and take in the scenery without a care of how we might be getting where we are going. It’s embarrassing to admit, but there are places I been to countless times, yet I would never be able to get there on my own without step by step directions.

I believe I’m getting better though. For one, I now make a conscious effort, most of the time, to pay attention and even ask questions to stay engaged in how we are getting somewhere.

And for two, though I haven’t quit completely, I’m trying to not always rely on step-by-step, turn-by-turn directions from sources like google maps and apps you might find on your phone. It all started when I was on my way to Kubota Garden in South Seattle with Bergen. Here I was so happy to go on this adventure after running some errands nearby when I suddenly realized, I really didn’t know how to get there!

I do not have a smart phone. An iPod Touch, yes, but that tool would only be helpful with a WiFi connection. I suppose I could have pulled over and found a place to connect, look up directions, and be on my way, but then I realized something was sitting right behind me ready show me the way!

Years ago, I purchased a street guide for the Greater Seattle area and threw it in the back of my car thinking it would be there if I needed it. I never really used the thing until this day, and it was eye-opening for me. I flipped through, found the map showing the general area we were in, and planned my route to the garden. There is even a index in the back making it easy to look up common places like schools, parks, museums, and other points of interest.

Using my street guide or just a good old fashioned map makes me happy and they truly come in handy. Here’s why:

It’s easy. Like I mentioned, just flip through or check the index and voila, there is the map you need. No waiting around for the network or internet connection to work.
A physical map just feels more usable than looking up a location on a mobile device. There is actual thinking involved instead of just relying on the directions generated by the internet, which engages me in the process of finding the place. And since I’ve done the work here , I’m more likely to know how to get there on my own next time.
Internet directions can be unreliable. I just read an article in the Seattle Times today about travelers driving to the Anchorage Airport and actually driving on the runway because that’s where the map app on their apple device was guiding them. That’s just not okay.
These maps and the ones corresponding to them give me a better perspective of where I am and where I am headed.
The map is not going anywhere. It won’t run out of battery life, be out of cell range or without internet access. It’s there when I need it.

Do you break out the old-fashioned maps and street guides when on the road? Or are you a mobile device map user? Little bit of both? Tell us about it!

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September 20, 2013

When You Only Have a Day: The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Its Falls

We only had one day to visit Yellowstone National Park during our trip to Montana’s Paradise Valley. Deciding how to spend our time was tricky. We knew we would return to the park at some point in the future, but not knowing when we would return left us confused. Should we race around and see everything possible only stopping for a minute or two at a point to take a quick look and snap a few photos, only to jump back in the car and do it all over again somewhere else? Or not see as much, but take the little time we already had and spend time at just a few select points?

You can probably guess that we chose take it easy. With only a day in the park, we were already rushed, and to top it off we had the added pressure of making sure Bergen (22 months) napped at some point during the day. Our first stop was the Mammoth Hot Springs area where, in order keep up with my half marathon training, I got a trail run in while Slaed and Bergen hiked and explored.

After a peaceful drive where Bergen snoozed and Slaed and I took in the sights, we were ready for our next adventure. The drive also gave us some time to make up or minds on what to see,. We decided on the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

We started off taking in the views of upper falls noting what a wet spring the area must have had judging from the amount of water flowing. As you might imagine, the gushing water really made for a full-on sensory experience.

Moving on to another spot along the canyon, we spent some time walking and hiking around Upper Falls. Aside from my trail run experience, this one of my favorite parts of the day. I couldn’t stop looking at the falls, which meant I also couldn’t stop snapping photos from different points on our trek down (and back up) for a closer look.

At this particular viewpoint, we were closer to the action, and were given somewhat of a respite from the crowds. Since it requires a little bit of a hike, not everyone decides to venture this far. Also, just a little ways out from the viewpoint was a huge nest with a small osprey tucked inside!

Maybe we didn’t see it all, but we did see a few things pretty well. I know we’ll be back.

Have you visited a National Park lately? Which National Park did you explore last? National Public Lands Day is coming up on Saturday, September 28, 2013. On this day, and a few other days during the year, entrance fees to all National Parks are waived.

Are you planning to visit a National Park soon? Tell us about your plans in the comments!

Seattle/Puget Sound Area Readers: Have you entered our Chinook Book Giveaway? Hop on over to the post and get in the running!

September 17, 2013

New Trail, New Friends: Bellevue, WA’s Anti-Aircraft Peak

With Slaed away for the weekend, Bergen (2 years) and I were left to hold down the fort. I could have spent the time dutifully cleaning the house, writing-up extensive grocery shopping lists after meal planning for the week, and tackling the laundry, but where’s the fun in that?

Instead, I put together a little hiking adventure. I’d read about Anti-Aircraft peak in Bellevue in one of my trail running books, and realized it would be a great hike to tackle with Bergen. The hike is relatively flat with little elevation gain making it another great introductory hike for the little guy. I also knew that when he legs grew tired, it wouldn’t be a big deal for me to strap him on my back in the ergo and continue on.

Bergen is a great hiking companion, but unpredictable as his pace goes in fits and starts. At times he’s barreling down the trail full speed ahead.

Then the next thing you know, he slows to a crawl and is stopping for an in-depth investigation of a leaf, small critter or pine cone. He’s even been known to sit down on the job. This is tricky as a parent. I want him to learn and be curious about the world around him, but I also can’t help but be concerned about the time on the clock. He might sit down because he wants to get a closer look at a new treasure. At the same time though, he might also be wiped out!

Despite his lack of a more regular pace, he brings a sense of fun, adventure and wonder to the trail that you just can’t get when hiking alone or with an adult companion. This became incredibly apparent when we heard the sounds of “clippity-clop, clippity-clop” in the distance. I was honestly surprised by the noise, and a little startled. Most of the places we hike prohibit these creatures from sharing the trail, so a possible encounter is never on my mind. After a second or two, it finally registered that a horse (and it’s rider) was coming our way, and I got super excited for Bergen to get to experience this up close and personal.

As we moved to the side of the trail and the horse began to pass, Bergen was quite frightened: Understandably so! “Splash”, the name given to him because of the spot towards his rear that looks like a splash of water, is seriously one of the biggest horses I’ve ever seen, and his rider attested to this too. He was bred for jumping and other show sports, and was doing some rehabilitation via the trails to get back into shape.

In large part due to the rider’s sweet interaction with Bergen, he warmed up pretty quickly, and by the time she circled back and passed us again, he was making his usual horse-neighing sounds and giggling with delight. Although, he was NOT at all interested in giving him a pat when offered the chance; still uncertain about getting too close.

We had a few more animal encounters along the way like birds flittering by, plenty of slugs, and even a hurried frog hopping across our path. I was surprised once again when we made our way back to the trail head, and I saw a sign for the pergola and viewpoint.

In my research, I guess I didn’t pay attention to the fact that Anti-Aircraft Peak has one of the highest accessible points on Cougar Mountain (and as the name might imply large guns were placed here during World War II in order to shoot down invading airplanes). I’m used to having to work for my view, but here the lookout, dubbed the “Million Dollar View” is just a few steps from the parking area.

With all that overcast making it hard to see the land, it almost looked to me like a San Juan Island view, but pictured here is Lake Sammamish. On clear days, views of Mount Baker and even the downtown Seattle skyline are supposedly visible. We’ll have to return when the skies are more cooperative and see for ourselves!

Info to Know:

More detailed hiking routes and directions to the trail head can be found on the Washington Trails Association website.
Parking is free (no special passes necessary).
No Strollers.
With many different trails intersecting with various names, it’s best to bring a map (they are some at the trail head) otherwise, the routes can get quite confusing.
Park has restrooms and picnic tables.

Have you ever hiked with horses? Tell us about your experience!

More on Hiking with Toddlers

Still hanging onto Summer at Volunteer Park’s Dahlia Garden

Are you experiencing fall-like weather in your neck of the woods? How are you enjoying the outdoors?

Adventure Gear: Oakiwear’s Rain Suit Keeps Us Outside

About the Rain Suit

What’s to Love?

What’s to be Desired?

To purchase an Oakiwear Rain Suit (approx. $42 to $74):

Special Offer from Oakiwear

Olympic National Park’s Big Cedar: Whoops, No Photo.

Which U.S. National Park did you explore last? National Public Lands Day is tomorrow: Saturday, September 28, 2013. On this day, and a few other days during the year, entrance fees to all National Parks are waived.

Seattle/Puget Sound Area Readers: Have you entered our Chinook Book Giveaway? Hop on over to the post and get in the running!

Adventure Gear: Old Fashioned Maps and Street Guides

Do you break out the old-fashioned maps and street guides when on the road? Or are you a mobile device map user? Little bit of both? Tell us about it!

When You Only Have a Day: The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Its Falls

Are you planning to visit a National Park soon? Tell us about your plans in the comments!

Seattle/Puget Sound Area Readers: Have you entered our Chinook Book Giveaway? Hop on over to the post and get in the running!

New Trail, New Friends: Bellevue, WA’s Anti-Aircraft Peak

Have you ever hiked with horses? Tell us about your experience!

Seattle/Puget Sound Area Readers: Have you entered our Chinook Book Giveaway? Hop on over to the post and get in the running!

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