San Juan Island National Historic Park (English Camp – WA)

Each summer Laddy and I take off on a 2-week trip with my folks on their sail boat. One of our favorite places to go is San Juan Island, WA. San Juan Island is home to Roche and Friday Harbors, which are both favorite weekend get-aways for Seattlites. It is a pretty short ferry ride over from Anacortes and the island is easy to navigate. When we moor near Roche Harbor, we usually make a trip to English Camp, which is part of the San Juan Island National Historical Park. Sometimes we even drop anchor in Garrison Bay, which is in front of English Camp.

English Camp is one part of San Juan National Historical Park and is located on the Northwestern shore of the island, closer to Roche Harbor. American Camp makes up the other half of this park, and is located on the Southeastern tip of the island, south of Friday Harbor.

There is no camping allowed in this section of the park. But there is hiking and lots to learn.

One hike at English Camp will take you up a relatively steep hill (there are steps), where the officers homes once stood. Many of them brought their families over from England, since their tours were so long, and the danger level was low. The houses are no longer on the hill, but placards tell you about their locations and what they looked like. As the wives and children were along for the ride and started missing England dreadfully, the men decided to establish a little piece of England in the form of formal gardens for their wives to enjoy. Even back then it was “happy wife, happy life!”

View of the English flower garden from where one of the officer houses stood

The flower gardens have changed in appearance over the years, but they have remained, as have several of the buildings. Last summer they were building replica structures to replace buildings that had not survived. They were building them in the same way, with similar tools the English had access too. They have also been doing repair work on existing buildings.

There are other hikes around the area and wildlife is often spotted. We have seen several deer, lots of bird varieties, seals and otters in the bay, and every year we check on the nesting Osprey pair. There is usually a scope set up at the Ranger Office so you can get a look at their nest and see what activity might be happening. The Ranger office is also a great place to pick up a Jr. Ranger packet for the kids. You can even download it here before you come if you want to get a head start!

For being a small Island, San Juan Island is very rich in history, dating back thousands of years to when the continental plates were shifting and the ice sheets were melting. The Lummi people came to this area and island provided everything a people would need to survive and thrive. There is evidence that the first encounter with a European, through Marine means, happened roughly 2,500 years ago. As was common, exposure to the Europeans meant disease, and the First Peoples numbers drastically reduced, leaving only a few small villages. There is lots of information on the these first people on the NPS website (here is the link).

There is also lots of information on The Pig War, which is a huge theme at English Camp. I was trying to write you up an abbrevated version, but I wasn’t doing it justice. Lets just say, a pig being killed sparked an international incident, but the end result was a peaceful one. The whole story, is a short click away.

Before you come, you might want to check out this brochure from the National Park Service about this Historical Site. It gives all sorts of great info, maps, contact info and ideas for planning your trip. I found it to be really helpful, and covers American Camp, which I really need to get to one of these days!

If you are in the island and exploring, you might also consider checking out the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, and the Outdoor Sculpture Park at Roche Harbor.

Thing! Govino Wine/Cocktail/Milk glasses

I am not a wine connoisseur at all. I admit I don’t know that much about the stuff, other than I enjoy the occasional glass (or two) with dinner. As we are heading to wine country in California soon, I figured I should get a little something nicer to drink my wine out of than my titanium mug. I find the metal makes the wine taste weird. Anyone else have that problem? Just me?

I went grocery shopping yesterday and was having a good browse. It was one of the first days back from our 10-day vacation, which means I had very little kid-free time for 14+ days and I was savoring my quiet time at the market. As I was cruising the wine aisle, I saw these little green boxes and decided to take a closer look.

BINGO! A plastic wine glass, that didn’t have a stem, was BPA-free, and looked nice to boot! Checked the price-$12.99 for a set of 4, which was in my price range, and chucked them in the cart. I figured these Govino Wine glasses were the ticket! Looking at their website, they also have champagne flutes, decanters, and wine glasses in other sizes. I picked up the 12oz one.

Tonight we decided we should test them out (plus I did a TON of yard work today, another fun hobby of mine, and my back and brain was screaming for a glass of wine).

Pulled them out, hand washed them, and poured us up some drinks!

Laddy wanted to try them too, as you can see. They claim the polymer the glasses are made of reflects the color of the wine and projects aromatics – just in case that is important to you. I see them as a vehicle to transport liquids to my mouth, and for that they worked great! I like the special little indent that you put your thumb in so you don’t drop your drink. Even Laddy thought that was kind of fun!

They are going to be handy to have along with us. There are 2 downsides I see right off: 1) they don’t stack, so my plan is to keep them in their box in one of my storage bins. 2) the edge along the top is sharp, so you have to be careful. We didn’t have any problems, but beware.

They are hand wash only, which on the road is the only way we wash, so no big deal there. They claim you can drop them and they won’t break and I did by accident while washing them in the sink, with no ill affects. When you get tired of them, you can just recycle them.

So far, new favorite thing! You get 3 thumbs up from us! Cheers!

Pardon my dust…

Hey friends!

I wanted to give a quick heads up, that I am going to be doing a little work on the blog to clean things up. Spring cleaning if you will, especially with summer knocking on the door!

You might see a few old posts reappear (or for new readers, they might be brand new!). I will be mixing in new posts too, so take a look. Even old posts might get a little up date!

We have some really fun trips planned for this summer and can’t wait to take you along!

Is this sunshine giving anyone else an itchy foot?

Lets get out there and make some memories!

Lewis & Clark National Historical Park (OR/WA)

Last fall (2011) we took a trip to the Oregon Coast, and stayed in Astoria. It had been a long time since my husband and I had been there, and my son had never seen that part of coast. I figured we should get it in, since we did the rest of the coast earlier in the year, and it was still fresh in both our minds.

While we were staying in Astoria, we visited 3 sites that help up the Lewis & Clark National Historical Park. Fort Clatsop and Fort Stevens on the Oregon side, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment in Washington.

We started with Cape Disappointment State Park, which is across the Astoria-Megler Bridge (the longest truss-bridge in America) in Washington. The area is rich with history and teaming with wildlife. There are 2 lighthouses at the park. The North Head Lighthouse, which is open to the public and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which is a nice walk from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. We made the hike to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which gives amazing views of the mouth of the Columbia and the churning sea at the base of its cliff. Before we made the trek to the Lighthouse, we stopped had a wander at Battery Harvey Allen and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

Battery Harvey Allen, along with the Batteries at Fort Stevens State Park and Fort Columbia, protected the mouth of the Columbia River from the start of the Civil War, all the way through WWII. Decommissioned in 1947, you can explore the battery and stand where the massive guns once were. It is interesting to note that Japanese subs launched a couple of attacks on the Oregon Coast, yet the guns at all of these batteries were never fired in anger, especially since the Japanese didn’t really do any damage in their attacks.

The Interpretive Center provides a great explanation of the Corps of Discovery’s journey across the US in search of the Pacific Ocean. They explain how they managed the trip successfully despite their many trials and who helped them on their way. They also show you where they set up camp along the way, and Cape Disappointment offers camping, but is a very popular location due the beauty of the area, so reservations on weekends and in the summer are recommended.

The Corp of Discovery spent some time in the area of Cape Disappointment, but eventually crossed the Columbia River and set up a winter camp at Fort Clatsop, on the Oregon side. Our son really enjoyed the hands-on activities that were sprinkled throughout the Interpretive Center, from loading a model dug-out canoe to “firing” a flintlock gun (it just clicks so no fear!). It gave him a taste of live back then, with a quick escape to modern day.

After visiting Cape Disappointment and several other attraction in Astoria that referred to the Columbia Bar as the “Graveyard of the Pacific”, we headed to Fort Stevens to see the remains of an actual shipwreck!

Fort Stevens State Park is home to one of the most photographed shipwrecks in the world, The Peter Iredale. After running aground in 1906, all efforts were exhausted to right the ship and get her back to sea. In the end, she was sold for scrap and what now remains is a portion of her iron hull and sections of her 4 masts. This shipwreck ultimately lead to the demise of the company who owned her.

The beach the shipwreck sits on is a really lovely stretch of sand, and has some smaller dunes Laddy enjoyed jumping off of and running up again. It was one of the wettest days we have spent on the beach in a long time, but other kids joined in the fun too, and that rain made sure the sand got really good and stuck! Other than shipwrecks and beach play, the park offers lots of hiking, camping, fishing and biking as well as The Fort Stevens Historic Area. Next time we go over with Dottie, we will camp here for sure. The park is beautiful, though I didn’t get a chance to look at the campground. It can be a very popular location, and weekends and summer time you will either need to be lucky or make reservations ahead of time. There are a few “first come” spots, but they go quick!

Very near Fort Stevens State Park is Fort Clatsop, which was the winter camp of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery from December 1805 to March 1806. A replica of the original Fort has been built and gives you a glimpse at how they lived for that winter. Fort Clatsop was named for the Native Americans Lewis & Clark befriended in the area. There is an Interpretive Center that older kids were really enjoying, but it wasn’t holding our 5-year-old’s interest.

We picked up a Jr Ranger packet here and set to work on it, which was really fun. The packet focuses on one of Clark’s jobs—cataloging plants and wildlife. Once the child has completed the number of activities required (one activity per year of the child), they get to turn it in and be sworn in as a Junior Ranger! If you visit three locations in the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, your child will earn a second badge—the President’s Badge!

Fort Clatsop hosts different live Ranger programs in the peak seasons, where Rangers walk around in buckskins and show how flintlock guns were shot and candles were made, while answering visitors questions. Sadly, November was the off season, but we will be back to check it out again.

Fort Clatsop lies along the Fort to Sea Trail, which was originally blazed by the Corps of Discovery so they could hunt, gather, and trade with the neighboring Tillamook, Chinook, and Clatsop People. This trail is 6.5 miles, so for bigger kids it is manageable. The younger set will enjoy the half mile loop around the Fort. There is no camping in this park, but there are lots of options near by.

A few other things in the area that might be of interest to visit are: the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Astoria Column, the Oregon Film Museum, the Goonies House, and something we want to try in the future – High Life Adventures Zipline tours!

Bringing you home today, at least my home state! Oregon & Washington!

Next up, one of our favorite places, the Oregon Coast! We are going to take you to the Northern part, to one of our newer National Parks – the Lewis & Clark National Historical Parks! If you are in the area, check them out!

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Memorial (MT)

During our cross-country trip in 2010, we were getting antsy on the third day in the car, and decided we needed to make a stop. We were seeing signs as we headed east for the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and did a quick check to see how far off the freeway it was. With a 2.5-year old, more time in the car was about the worst thing ever! We found that it was just off Exit 510 on I-90. My mom had bought a National Parks Pass for us to use so we could pop into any National Park along the way and we were happy to see as much of America as possible.

Having been a person who has studied a lot of history from around the world, I have had more of a hankering about learning more of our US history, but I remembered the basics from my middle school days.
This was “Custer’s Last Stand”.
This is where tribes came together to save their people and their way of life.

The thing that haunted me most to me was how amazing this place was, and the beauty, and how somber I felt. It is true hallowed ground. As the wind blew, it was as if you could hear the heavy breathing of the horses, exhausted from battle, and the cries of the many fallen – from both sides. This isn’t a place that shows the nice side of expansion. It reflects a period of history that was very important though. Three passionate groups of people, coming together, standing up for what was most important in the world to them, against a foreign government, and their people moving in. If you want to read more about the battle and why the situation escalated, you can read the write up here.

What I found most remarkable is that each of the Native-American headstones had the men’s names on them. They knew who fell where.

The headstones for the US troops do not have names, and they have guessed where men fell, some most recently based on archeological finds, save Custer. He is the lone white headstone with a name highlighted with a black background.

This site is extraordinary when it comes to artifacts and there is a section of the Visitor’s Center devoted to showing what both the tribes and US soldiers wore, weapons, interviews, what they carried with them, and other things they have found as they surveyed the land. They detail the history of what lead to the event and how the 3 tribes enjoyed as their life and what they risked losing.

The special monument for the that was built recently in honor of the tribes is really beautifully done, and the metal artwork you look through across the prairie, is incredible.

I can’t speak to the tours and it looks as though they may have changed (the 2.5-year old was really getting over the top), but they do offer them at various points through the day, so check the website here for a schedule and fees.

There is a Jr. Ranger program offered here, and we will have to check it out another time, as Laddy was still too young to participate.

This monument is really worth a stop.

Arches National Park (UT)

We visited Arches National Park on Halloween day 2010, and it was amazing. It was someplace we had always wanted to check out and as we were on our way home from Wisconsin figured it was worth heading a bit south for. We were not wrong! We had about 4 hours that day to devote to the park, before moving on to our next location. We wanted to stay longer, much longer, but our schedule and time frame wasn’t as flexible. We had people waiting on us.

We got there kind of early in the morning so we could maximize the time we did have. we stopped at the fee both and showed our National Park Pass. The Ranger gave us loads of information and maps to help us newbies navigate our way through the park. The park offers loads of hiking and exploring, both short stints, or longer treks. We didn’t get to see all of Arches, but we did 2 hikes. 1 longer, to see Delicate Arch and 1 shorter that took us to Double Arch…that was all my 3-year old could handle before nap time and before we needed to hit the road. To see where we hiked and to see a full map of the park, click here.

At the time, Laddy was nearly 3 and just way too young to participate in the Jr. Ranger program. The next time we go, he will do it though. The Arches website has a section devoted to kids and learning about the area. There is also a list of short hikes, perfect for the wee ones!

There is lots of camping available, but we chose to stay just down the road from the front gate at the Moab Valley RV Resort. A great campsite, and it has a pool and hot tub as well as little cabins (in case you don’t want to camp). We really liked the site and it was very family friendly. We ended up getting my mom a little cabin and we slept out front in Dottie. It was nice because it was game day, and we wanted to watch our Oregon Ducks!

Next time though we will likely find something in or around Arches NP. One resource I will use is the
Camping Info directly from the Arches Website. It gives several campground suggestions and information about them.

If you aren’t already jazzed by all of the research you have probably done, you might also want to check out this Visitor’s Guide. It will give you all of the happenings and things to plan, as well as contact information, hours of operation, maps, and much more. You can also get lots of info through the Travel Utah website.

I look forward to traveling back and spending more time exploring in the future. We have been seeing lots of ads on tv lately about the 5 National Parks in Utah, and Laddy has been asking to go back. I have to admit, it looks really tempting and I am ready!

Haleakala National Park (HI)

While we were on vacation in Maui in May 2013, we took Laddy up the great Haleakala, to visit
Haleakala National Park. The summit towers 10,023ft above sea level, so the drive along the switchback road takes about 1.5 hours from Kahului (where the main airport is). A tip for the kids or passengers in the back seat: keep your eyes up and not in a book or game to avoid a bad tummy or car sickness. There are lots and lots and lots of turns!

Haleakala, Hawaiian for House of the Sun, has erupted a least 10 times in the last 1000 years. There is evidence that the last eruption happened around 1790 AD. What stands now is a massive mountain, with a huge crater and a landscape that feels other worldly. There are many native species that are struggling to survive in this environment due to the introduction of non-native species to the island. You are asked repeatedly to stay on the trails to protect species (please, please stay on the trails), and if you are caught harming the amazing Silverswords, it is punishable by law. Drivers are also cautioned to drive the 20mph speed limit and to keep eyes open to protect endangered birds, especially the Nene, that might be on the road. We need to remember we are visitors to their habitat.

Try your best to find a day where the view is clear and the weather is good. The weather on the mountain is very different than much of the island. Tip for everyone: while the weather at the beach might be sunny and 85, it could be raining and 50 degrees at the top. Bring layers of clothes so you can enjoy your visit more.

Weather moving in after having clear skies

Often the top of the mountain is above the clouds, and your view will be blue sky and white clouds. You might be able to see into the crater too. We have found going earlier in the morning can give better views, before weather rolls in. Not sure if this is always the case, but it has been our luck. This trip, we got there and could see much of the island below us, the sun was shining, but it was cool (which for this cold weather lover was a welcome change). A half hour later, you never would have known anything was below, we were surrounded by clouds, and our drive was foggy and rainy.

Our drive back down taught us what it was like to be in a cloud – very wet!

The drive up on clear days is spectacular, and the views of the Valley Island are amazing. The greens of the upcountry below, the reds and blacks of the volcanic rocks, and the blue of the sea have your head spinning, as does the altitude.

About 5-6 miles from the summit, you will come to the fee house. If you have an America the Beautiful Annual National Park pass, make sure you present it. They are accepted, and you will not have to pay. For folks without one of the National Park Passes, it will cost you $10/car and gives you access for 3 days. There are other fees, should you choose to enter the park in other ways (the link is above).

Just after the fee house is the first of 2 Visitor Centers. We stopped here to change into long pants and sneakers. We also picked up the Jr. Ranger packet for Laddy. I am not sure who loves them more, him or us. It is such a great way for everyone to learn more about the place we are visiting. The program is focused for kids 7-12, so we helped Laddy with the reading and he did the drawing and writing. This packet not only covered geology and different environmental lessons, but also Hawaiian Culture lessons. We learned new words like Malama ‘aina (to respect and take care of the land) and Laulima (Cooperation, working together). The park has 3 main sections and there are lessons in the book for all of them. We didn’t make it down to the Kīpahulu area this trip, so we focused our lessons on the summit of the mountain. For more resources on Haleakala just for kids, check out the NPS website here.

From the first Visitor’s Center, drive the rest of the way to the summit and have a look around. You will see some buildings with white, round tops. These are telescopes used by the University of Hawaii and the US Governement. Haleakala is said to be the 4th best place in the world for viewing space. You cant go check them out, as the area is closed to visitors, but it was fun for the space-loving Lad. You will also have a chance (if the weather is good) to look into the crater.

From there, head back down to the second Visitor’s Center, which is a short walk or drive. There are no trails, so if you decide to walk, please stay on the road and don’t cut through what appears to be nothing.

Laddy finished the number of activities required, so we turned in his Jr. Ranger book, he took his oath, and earned his badge at this location. He was very proud.

From this location you can set off on several hikes. With the weather, we chose to take a very short hike up the hill right next to the Visitor’s Center. It was .2 miles each way, so it was nice and easy, especially with the altitude and a tired, hungry 5-year-old. Other people choose to hike into the crater, and the most adventurous, choose to hike through the crater all the way to the shore along the Road to Hana. There are some rustic cabins to over night/rest in along the way. If either of these options are of interest, make sure you do your research here.

The hike to the top of this hill is only .2 miles up and can offer some great views on clear days

There are lots of other things to do on the mountain through the many tour companies on the island, from Sunrise Breakfasts to biking down the Crater Road.

If you visit the island, make an effort to get up to see this wonder. It is really something special!

Got Twitter?

We just did! I am learning the ropes, but will be updating this way too. So, join us via twitter and receive tweets!

Our user name is: @HkWTd_PNW

Upcoming posts include a new recipe (and surprise – it has avocados!) and a campsite review! Stay tuned and join up! I have more ideas, including a National Park section! Ooh, fun!

Stay tuned!

Recipe: Pasta with avocado, sweet grape tomatoes, mozzarella, & bacon

I am sure by now, you are starting to wonder about my recipes. It seems most of them has avocado in it. I am going to admit right here and now, that I have a problem. I am completely addicted to avocado. I love them. I love them with pasta, or in salads, in sandwiches or just on their own (with a little olive oil and salt and pepper, just to add to the decadence and good fats). I love their color, I love their flavor, I love how healthy they are, and I love how they keep me full longer. They also travel well for us!

Here is another recipe using avocados. This is one I make at home too, either in smaller quantities for lunch or bigger pot for dinner.

First of all, save some bacon from breakfast (make extra if possible!). This might be impossible, because it really is soooo good. If you can’t save any, bring along some Real Bacon Bits. I find these handy in cases where I either haven’t made bacon for breakfast or I could not keep my family from eating all of it! I try to use it only on occasion, because we make an effort to not eat nitrites and nitrates, and they have them. Plus, REAL real bacon tastes better! You could also use left over grilled chicken or steak or anything meaty, if you like meat. The beauty of this recipe is it’s flexibility!

Put on a pot of water and once that is boiling throw in the pasta you like. I love big pasta that allows some of the veg and bacon to get inside (conchiglie are my absolute favorites!).

While the water is starting to boil, chop the bacon/meat into small pieces (if you are using the real stuff), cut up 1/2 to 1 avocado, wash your grape tomatoes (if it is just me I throw in a handful+), and drain your mozzarella (if it is just me I use about 5 balls). I like to use the small mozzarella balls called boconccini. If you only have access to the larger versions, just cut or tear them up into bite sized pieces. Buffalo mozzarella is a wonderful treat (I use it occasionally as it is more expensive, but it adds a lovely flavor you don’t get from the regular versions). All of the quantities are adjustable to how many people are eating. You can also add other veg like broccoli, fresh green beans, corn, peas, carrots, etc! Put it all in a bowl and give it a toss. You can add a little extra-virgin olive oil to keep things from sticking together.

By now your pasta should be cooked. Pull it off the heat and drain it. Add it to your veg and give it a toss, drizzle a little Extra-Virgin Olive Oil over the top, season with salt and pepper to taste, and dig in! Feel free to toss in some chopped Italian parsley too!

It should take about 15 minutes to make and will keep you full for hours, plus, you only have used one pot, and clean up is quick!