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March 22, 2013

Arizona’s White Tank Mountains: A Lesson in Native Cacti

While hiking along the Waterfall Trail and later the Black Rock long loop in Arizona’s White Tank Mountain Regional Park, for whatever reason, I really took notice of the native cacti. Maybe it was the sheer abundance of different species, some that I may have seen before, but never really thought twice about. Another possible reason is that we were on full-cactus-alert for the first part of the hike as Bergen was off and running on his own. Also many were just quite a spectacle to look at and appreciate.

It was after this hike that I not only became better at identifying types of cacti, but I came away with a favorite type of cactus species. There certainly may be other types of cactus lurking around White Tank Mountain Regional Park, but we came away with being able to identify four common species.

Saguaro Cactus

The Saguaro to me is the stereotypical cactus. It’s the cactus that I think of when someone brings up the subject. Beautiful, fragrant flowers bloom from this cactus, and it just so happens that they are the Arizona State flower. Interestingly enough, the number of branches on a Saguaro do not correspond with the it’s age.

Barrel Cactus

Tucked away amongst the ocotillo plants, is the Barrel cactus. I’ve definitely seen larger barrel cacti on other Arizona hikes, but I’m always struck by the visible hints of red that show through. What also stands out to me is that they are just one singular structure as opposed to so many of the cacti that have branches and various pieces sticking out every which way.

Hedgehog Cactus

The hedgehog cacti was a newer one to me in terms of identification. It’s true, the long wispy spikes do remind me of a hedgehog (as well as a porcupine!). Many feel that the hedgehog produces some of the most spectacular flowers. I have yet to see this in person, but maybe I should plan trip in the later spring months to see for myself!

Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus

The Teddy Bear Cholla comes away as my absolute favorite cactus. The’re something about the thick, straw-colored spines that make me just want to give it a squeeze, though I know that would definitely NOT be a wise thing to do! From my research, and clearly from the photo, these cacti seem to exist in groves, which I think really adds to their appeal.

Thankfully on this hike (unlike our visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens), we came away with zero cactus-spine related incidents. We were left only with a new appreciate for this beautiful and fascinating species!

Info to Know:

The White Tank Mountain Regional Park is located about 30 miles Northeast of Phoenix in Waddell, AZ.
- 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road
  Waddell, AZ 85355
- Park Hours: Sun-Thu: 6 am – 8 pm, Fri-Sat: 6 am – 10 pm
- Park Entry Fee: $6/vehicle for day use
Strollers: While it wouldn’t be my first choice for transporting little ones, it is possible and doable on the Waterfall Trail & Black Rock Long Loop. We saw a family navigating with a regular stroller just fine.
We really didn’t need water or snacks for such a short hike given the weather conditions, but on a regular hot, sunny Arizona day, you’ll want plenty of water to keep you hydrated.

Do you have a favorite type of cactus? Share your thoughts and feel free to add more to our list!

Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

This post is linked-up with R We There Yet Mom?’s Friday Daydreamin’!

March 21, 2013

Little Free Library: Sharing the Gift of Literacy One Neighborhood at a Time

Bergen loves books. He can’t get enough of them. It’s the one thing that will always amuse him. Everyday, at least 3 times a day, he sits down in front of his bookshelf and goes to town: Laughing, pointing, babbling to himself. The books are not always facing the right way, and sometimes he throws one aside after just a quick glance, but the wheels are turning and he’s figuring things out. We also have the routine of reading to him before bed each night, and it’s the one and only time where he’ll actually sit on our laps for an extended period of time.

We visit the public library once a week to pick out new books. Our visits are always a whirlwind. In and out, and unfortunately not a lot of time to explore because if we spend anymore than 5 minutes, every book on every shelf would be on the floor strewn about every which way.

We’ve discovered a new way for Bergen to get his little hands on even more books and he never has to step food into a building: “Little Free Library“. And it just so happens, an adorable one lives just a few blocks from our house. I decided we should pay the library a visit on our walk today, so in preparation we picked out 2 books to donate.

After browsing through the selection, we in turn chose 2 books to take away to enjoy at our house: Jingle Babies (Bergen loves “reading” books that feature real people, especially babies) and a non-fiction book all about baby animals.

These little libraries house 20-30 books. The books are “free” and people are encouraged to give and take from the collection. Most of the libraries I’ve seen are in front of a home, but apparently they can also be found by coffee shops, parks, and other public places.

We hope to make regular visits and exchanges to our neighborhood Little Free Library, and might even seek out more libraries to visit around Seattle. Who knows? Maybe one will even pop-up in our travels near and far from our home city!

Have you visited a Little Free Library? Do you have a Little Free Library in your neighborhood? Tell us about your experience!

Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! Also if you have a quick second, please take it to vote for us in the Circle of Moms: Top 25 Outdoorsy Moms contest. It’s easy and you can vote once a day. Voting ends 3/27/13. BIG THANKS!

March 19, 2013

Dwellable’s New Vacation Rental App: So Fresh and So Clean

A sampling of views from some of our vacation rentals.

It’s probably not news to you if you follow the blog, especially on facebook, that I’m a big fan of staying in vacation rentals as opposed to hotels while traveling. With so many amenities, hotels definitely have their place for us, but even before Bergen came along, I was singing the praises of these “homes away from home”. Rentals offer flexibility, give us a chance to get away from the crowds, and allow for peace of mind when someone might wake up screaming in the middle of the night (no worries of those fellow hotel-stayers next door). Often they also save us a lot of money, particularly with longer stays, and I recently discovered a vacation rental search engine (website & now a handy new mobile app): Dwellable.

So Fresh

Dwellable recently rolled out their newest version of the app (2.0) making it even easier to search for properties on the go. With the app available on iphone (and ipod touch), everything is literally at your finger tips. You’ll see freshness from the very start as you open the app and see waves crashing on a beach: What a way to set the mood for vacation planning! At this point, simply enter your destination, and then you can browse the rentals available depending on your organizational preference:

List
Photos
Map

My favorite is the map setting. Pins drop all over the area of your destination. Click on the pin you’re interested in and up pops a picture with price information, name, and number of beds and baths. Click on the actual picture, and you’re taken to even more detailed information including, most importantly, owner contact or website of the property.

So Clean

Even though this is the latest and greatest version of the Dwellable app, it doesn’t mean there is information flying at you in every which way. Presentation is clean and easy to follow. I love how concise each listing is shown. What you need to know in order to make a good decision on your vacation rental including price, dates available, features, and more photos is all there, but it’s not overwhelming. I should also point out that the photos are a breeze to view. Click on one and you can then swipe through just like you would your own photos on your device.

Lastly in terms of clean design, when your chosen destination has neighborhoods or geographic areas (and most likely a large volume of rentals), Dwellable breaks the listings down and organizes them making it even easier to search. For example, when I searched Kauai, my results are broken down into East, North, South and West. Much simpler for my cluttered brain to follow!

All In All

I love what Dwellable has come up with, and I find myself opening up the app just as an excuse to explore new places, daydream, and get lost in my future travel plans. Have you discovered Dwellable? What do you think?

Leave your favorite travel app as of late here in the comment section. I’d love to check it out!

Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

Note: I was not compensated for my review of the new Dwellable app. Just excited to share a new travel tool with you, reader!

March 18, 2013

Quick Travel Tip from a Dad (#5): Shoulder Riders Beware!

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 with almost a year and a half of travel with a little one under his belt, he’s got some creative ideas and some gems of advice he wants to pass along to you fellow travelers out there.

Show of hands. Do you throw your kids onto your shoulders when out and about? It’s a great option for so many reasons: kid gets to be taller, kid gets a fun ride, kid is with you and thus not running amok or getting lost in a crowd, tired kid legs get a break. I could go on and on!

Accidents happen though, and while I’m certainly not going to tell you to stop putting your kids on your shoulders, I do want you to be careful. While at the beautiful Desert Botanical Gardens on our recent trip to Phoenix, Slaed learned his lesson the hard way. After 2 1/2 hours of happy roaming, we had one more loop to complete.

To speed Bergen along, Slaed put him atop his shoulders and continued on the path to enjoy the wildflowers. It wasn’t a minute later before he felt a tug followed a cry from not only Bergen, but the other concerned garden patrons nearby. He walked Bergen right into a prickly tree. It was a bit of a frenzy wiping up blood and pulling thorns out of his head, but we did get the poor guy to the first aid station where he was cleaned up by a kind park ranger (who is a dad himself).

A bit of warning before your next shoulder ride:

Think about your trip (from point a to point b) before you start walking. Entering any buildings? Have your wits about you and anticipate what’s coming ahead (and above).
Remember how much taller you actually are with a kid on your shoulders. Your clearance levels will be different now that you have a tot along for the ride.
Be careful everywhere, but be especially vigilant if you choose to give a ride while walking up or down stairs.

Have you had any accidents or close calls with a tot on your shoulders? What happened?

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!

Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

March 15, 2013

Obstruction Pass State Park: Our Bright and Sunny Gem on Orcas Island

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.

Info to Know:

Obstruction Pass State Park is located on the Southeast side of Orcas Island. Orcas Island is part of the San Juan Islands, an amazing group of islands in Washington State.
- Hours: Winter- 8 am to dusk, Summer-6:30 am to dusk
- Open year-round for camping
Fee: $10 day-use fee or “free” with Discover Pass (Annual Washington State Park Pass)
If you aren’t visiting in the dead of winter like we were, head to the near by Olga Cafe for a great meal!

Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

Looking for more travel fun and inspiration? Go visit RWeThereYetMom? where you’ll find amazing posts from around the world!

March 13, 2013

A Rare Waterfall Viewing in Arizona’s White Tank Mountains

We like to think we are pretty good travel planners. Now that Slaed’s mom lives in the Phoenix area, we’ve carefully selected the month of March to be our time to visit for a few days. It’s about that time where we just can’t stand the doom and gloom of Seattle, and it’s nice and warm and sunny in Phoenix in a perfect way, not a 113 degree way. It worked out so well last year. This year’s visit was another story.

For 2 out of our 4 (full) days, we were busting out the raincoats and pants instead of slathering on sunscreen and traipsing around in flip flops. You’ll be happy to know though that we didn’t retreat and spend all of our time indoors. We just altered our plans a bit, and it turns out we were able to experience something that rarely comes around in the hot, dry desert of Arizona: A waterfall. We also got to experience another Phoenix area rarity: Cool hiking temperatures.

The White Tank Mountains are located about 30 miles Northwest of Phoenix. The park is part of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation and has about 25 miles of multi-use trails. Since it was our first visit, it was getting late, and we only had a limited amount of time, we chose the short Waterfall Trail (.9 miles out to the waterfall), and instead of going straight back, we hiked part of the Black Rock long loop.

The beginning of the trail is paved, and then the path eventually turns to gravel. Bergen (18 months) hiked for a while, and when we wanted to speed up (and stop worrying about his fingers getting pricked by cactus thorns) we threw him on my back in the ergo.

We viewed petroglyphs all along the trail, and I found them fascinating. It’s believed that they are at least 700 years old and the work of the Hohokam Indians who abandoned the area around 1100 A.D. There are placards throughout attempting to explain some of the designs though no one truly knows the meaning of the various images.

After few easy steps up, we entered a box canyon that is completely dry almost 100 percent of the time. Because of all the previous day’s rain, there was a small pool of water along with a tiny trickle of a waterfall seen once we bouldered over a few rocks.

Unfortunately, I felt the footwork was a little too tricky to take Bergen along on my back, so he stayed back with Grandma while Slaed and I enjoyed the experience. The view was unexpected, and I was really surprised at the true whiteness of the canyon. The rock almost looks fabricated, but is actually white granite.

As we walked away from the canyon with the view of the valley looking towards Phoenix in the distance, we were no longer disappointed with the less than perfect weather conditions. How could we be disappointed, really. The weather played a huge factor in our unique experience, and that was just the first half of our hike! Stay turned for part two where we learned all about the native cacti of Arizona!

Info to Know:

The White Tank Mountain Regional Park is located about 30 miles Northwest of Phoenix in Waddell, AZ.
- 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road
  Waddell, AZ 85355
- Park Hours: Sun-Thu: 6 am – 8 pm, Fri-Sat: 6 am – 10 pm
- Park Entry Fee: $6/vehicle for day use
Strollers: While it wouldn’t be my first choice for transporting little ones, it is possible and doable on the Waterfall Trail. We saw a family navigating with a regular stroller just fine.
We really didn’t need water or snacks for such a short hike given the weather conditions, but on a regular hot, sunny Arizona day, you’ll want plenty of water to keep you hydrated.

Where have you hiked in Arizona? Tell us about your experience!

For more travel and photo inspiration, go visit Budget Travelers Sandbox.

Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!

Arizona’s White Tank Mountains: A Lesson in Native Cacti

Little Free Library: Sharing the Gift of Literacy One Neighborhood at a Time

Dwellable’s New Vacation Rental App: So Fresh and So Clean

So Fresh

So Clean

All In All

Quick Travel Tip from a Dad (#5): Shoulder Riders Beware!

Obstruction Pass State Park: Our Bright and Sunny Gem on Orcas Island

A Rare Waterfall Viewing in Arizona’s White Tank Mountains

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