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Posts Tagged with vacation

Knitting with Company

April 23, 2017

I traveled through Seattle this weekend on my way to Bainbridge Island for the Knitting with Company retreat at Islandwood.  As always, the Puget Sound scenery was stunning!

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The view from my room at Inn at the Market – a perfect vantage point to watch the ferries go by Park Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, and the waterfront ferris wheel.

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My favorite boutique hotel, right in the heart of downtown Seattle – and they leave Seattle Chocolates on your pillow!

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Tulip season in the Skagit Valley was in full swing, and Pike Place Market was full of them.

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Fresh fish at Pike Place Market . . . and fresh squid?!

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Dinner at Etta’s Seafood was delicious, particularly the sour cherry and almond crisp with cheesecake ice cream.

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The rain held off until nighttime, when it was lovely to watch it from my hotel window.

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In the morning, I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island – 35 minutes of pure bliss on the water :)

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The views from the south end of Bainbridge are absolutely incredible – one morning at sunrise, Mt. Rainier was big as life and there was a steady stream of sea lions porpoising by (you can see one in this photo – the dark squiggly line in the foreground).

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Sunrise during my morning run through Ft. Ward state park and the south beach of Bainbridge.

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Local wildlife – the indigenous banana slug, Islandwood’s official mascot.

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During my run the next morning, a bald eagle flew RIGHT OVER my head and landed in the tree right in front of me – he (or she?) was huge, and even 50-75 feet up, could be seen clear as day.

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The next morning, the Olympics made a stunning appearance, as viewed from the beach on the southern end of Bainbridge.

 

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Spending time in the water in the Sea of Cortez

April 7, 2017

We spent spring break this week “small boat cruising” with Uncruise Adventures in the Sea of Cortez.  The weather was perfect and the water was beautiful :)

The snorkeling was wonderful - we saw moray eel, octopus, a variety of puffers and balloon fish, moorish idols, giant angel fish, triggerfish, crown of thorns, and urchins (like the one being displayed by Emmersen here).
The snorkeling was wonderful – we saw moray eel, octopus, a variety of puffers and balloon fish, moorish idols, giant angel fish, triggerfish, crown of thorns, and urchins (like the one being displayed by Emmersen here).

 

Alia combined gymnastics practice with learning to paddle board.

 

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One of the beautiful sunsets from the top deck of the boat.

 

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Alia, showing a little style as we get ready to hop in the skiff and head to our snorkeling site.

 

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The water was a little chilly, but not too bad with wetsuits on, and warm enough to swim with just swimsuits on from one of the soft, sandy beaches we visited.

 

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Underwater shot of Emmersen.

 

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The grown-ups spent a little time on land, hiking up an arroyo to the top-most peak of one of the islands.

 

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View from the top – our boat is the one in the top right of the screen.

 

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Alia’s beachfront arial cartwheel.

 

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Emmersen meeting one of the residents at the Serpentorium in La Paz.

 

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Friendly budgies getting to know Alia at the Serpentorium.

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One morning, we got to snorkel with friendly sea lions – the juveniles loved to play, they chewed on our fins, mouthed at our hands, and even tried to swallow our Go Pro :)

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View of Isolation Rock (home to many birds, including Blue Footed Boobies) from the deck of our boat.

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Sea kayaking was wonderful in water so clear you could look down and see the fish swimming below – and the geography of the shore was fascinating.

 

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Vacationing in the San Juans: Coupeville and Bainbridge Island

July 19, 2016

We always take a full day to drive home, stopping for an epic breakfast in Coupeville, two ferry rides, and an afternoon of shopping and eating on Bainbridge Island.

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Cinnamon rolls are a favorite part of the breakfast stop in Coupeville, on Whidbey Island.

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Mora Ice Creamery on Bainbridge Island – the best ice cream in the whole world!

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Churchmouse is a true destination for fiber lovers like me.

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Salt House Mercantile has a beautiful selection of curated home goods.

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This day trip includes a ferry ride from Friday Harbor to Anacortes, and another from Coupeville to Port Townsend.

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Driving from the mainland onto Whidbey Island, over the bridge that spans Deception Pass.

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The view from main street in Coupeville.

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Knead and Feed is right on the water, and a must-stop for breakfast each time we pass through Coupeville.

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Vacationing in the San Juans: kayaking

July 18, 2016

Photos from our morning out on the water in kayaks:

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Vacationing in the San Juans: hike to Turnpoint Lighthouse

July 17, 2016

Every time we vacation in the San Juans, we take a boat ride to Stuart Island and then hike the seven-mile round trip to Turnpoint Lighthouse, the westernmost point in the continental United States.

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Looking for orcas on the boat ride over to Stuart Island.

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Turnpoint Lighthouse, looking west toward Canada.

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Stuart Island’s old schoolhouse, now turned into a community library and a small museum.

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The view from one of the bluffs on Stuart Island.

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Stopping at the rope swing is always one of the highlights of the hike.DSCN0951

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Vacationing in the San Juans: the sculpture garden

July 17, 2016

A photo essay of our annual foray through the sculpture garden at Roche Harbor:

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Vacationing in the San Juans: Roche Harbor

July 15, 2016

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The restaurant at Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, overlooking the marina.

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Beautiful ride on the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor – the ferry landing on San Juan Island.

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Biking to San Juan County State Park.

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The small resort town of Roche Harbor was originally settled in 1886 as a company town for McMillan’s lime kiln business.

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Ferry tracks through Haro Strait.

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Summer in Maine

August 3, 2015

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We’ve just returned from an idyllic ten days in downeast Maine, exploring Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert Island, Acadia National Park, and the entire mid-coast.  Although it was high tourist season – and it showed – nonetheless we found it beautiful, peaceful, and the ideal place to while away the summer days.

Our country home for the duration of our stay in Bar Harbor
Our country home for the duration of our stay in Bar Harbor
Sunset from our backyard beach on Hulls Cove
Sunset from our backyard beach on Hulls Cove
I managed to find plenty of lazy summer afternoons to get in some knitting
I managed to find plenty of lazy summer afternoons to get in some knitting
The view from our early morning hike up Cadillac Mountain, looking down at the Porcupine islands
The view from our early morning hike up Cadillac Mountain, looking down at the Porcupine islands
Once we escaped the crowds near Jordan House, the hike around Jordan Pond provided peace and quiet
Once we escaped the crowds near Jordan House, the hike around Jordan Pond provided peace and quiet
A rest along the Jordan Pond trail
A rest along the Jordan Pond trail
The Ocean Path hike to Otter Point gave us lots of opportunities to climb around on the rocks
The Ocean Path hike to Otter Point gave us lots of opportunities to climb around on the rocks
The view from Otter Point seems to go on forever
The view from Otter Point seems to go on forever
Even when it was overcast, the views from the Ocean Path were stunning
Even when it was overcast, the views from the Ocean Path were stunning
Looking back on the Acadia coastline
Looking back on the Acadia coastline
We visited five of Maine's 68 lighthouses, including Bass Harbor Lighthouse
We visited five of Maine’s 68 lighthouses, including Bass Harbor Lighthouse
We took a day trip down midcoast Maine to Rockland
We took a day trip down midcoast Maine to Rockland
The stairs up to Owls Head Lighthouse
The stairs up to Owls Head Lighthouse
A "forever view" from Owls Head Lighthouse
A “forever view” from Owls Head Lighthouse
Dining in Bar Harbor was crowded most evenings, but we were able to enjoy some of the unique flavors at Mt. Desert Ice Cream
Dining in Bar Harbor was crowded most evenings, but we were able to enjoy some of the unique flavors at Mt. Desert Ice Cream
It was very foggy on the day we took a small boat to Isleford - a quintessential Maine panorama, I thought
It was very foggy on the day we took a small boat to Isleford – a quintessential Maine panorama, I thought
We wandered by quaint summer homes and gardens in bloom on Islesford
We wandered by quaint summer homes and gardens in bloom on Islesford
Our boat trip included a chance to see lobster trapping up close and personal
Our boat trip included a chance to see lobster trapping up close and personal
Whoopie pies were a favorite of everyone!
Whoopie pies were a favorite of everyone!
The red squirrels at our house were VERY friendly to anyone with sunflower seeds
The red squirrels at our house were VERY friendly to anyone with sunflower seeds
The same went for the ducks, if you treated them to cracked corn
The same went for the ducks, if you treated them to cracked corn
Caught in the act!
Caught in the act!
Sunset on MDI's coastline
Sunset on MDI’s coastline
Feeling very small in the face of the vast expanse of land and ocean
Feeling very small in the face of the vast expanse of land and ocean
I loved all of the round boulders that collected on the shoreline here
I loved all of the round boulders that collected on the shoreline here
Old Soaker blueberry soda from Atlantic Brewing Co was one of our all-time favorites
Old Soaker blueberry soda from Atlantic Brewing Co was one of our all-time favorites
Another hike in Acadia National Park
Another hike in Acadia National Park
Looking across Northeast Harbor on the quietside of MDI
Looking across Northeast Harbor on the quietside of MDI
We spent the last two days of our trip in south Portland on Cape Elizabeth, staying at Inn By The Sea
We spent the last two days of our trip in south Portland on Cape Elizabeth, staying at Inn By The Sea
Two Lights lighthouse
Two Lights lighthouse
Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine
Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine
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Turks & Caicos 2015

February 10, 2015

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Our second year diving in Turks & Caicos, and it was as beautiful as the last!  My oldest daughter got dive certified, and we spent much of the trip on the boat with Big Blue Diving Co, exploring the islands and spending as much time as possible in the water.

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Sunset on Taylor Bay beach
Pirate cove off of West Caicos
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The view from atop Pirate Cove
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Breaking for lunch at Pirate Cove
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Endangered rock iguanas on protected island off of Providenciales
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The world’s most perfect beach on Taylor Bay
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Em gearing up to dive
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Em completing her dive certification
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One of the many reef sharks we saw on our dives
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Moray eel
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Snorkeling in a school of fish
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Heading out with Big Blue for another gorgeous day on the water!
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Small island lizards everywhere
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The most perfect day
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Sunset from our beach on Taylor Bay
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Our family tradition: summer in the San Juan Islands

August 1, 2014

Standing at Turnpoint - the westernmost point in the United States - is like being able to see the entire world, all spread out before you

Every year, for almost twenty years (with a few exceptions, especially when the girls were really young), we’ve traveled to Washington’s San Juan Islands for our summer vacation.  It is so much like home to us that we got married at Roche Harbor, and we return there every year now.  We stay in the same place – Heron House – and make sure to observe our many traditions:
* ice cream from the kiosk on our way to watch colors from the dock
* dinner out at McMillans over the water
* boating to Stuart Island for a hike to (and picnic at) Turnpoint Lighthouse, the westernmost point in the United States
* doughnuts each morning from Lime Kiln Cafe
* wandering around the sculpture garden, to see what new art has been added and to check whether Alfred the Alligator is still there
* a quick (hah!) stop at the candy kiosk to stock up for the day ahead
* boating with Grams to Jones Island to hand feed the deer and have a hot dog roast and s’mores
* getting lucky enough this year to see orcas – not once, but twice – including the once-in-a-million chance of seeing them from Turnpoint Lighthouse
* kayaking in the nearby bays, and visiting a kelp bed that was home to over a dozen very curious seals
* watching the local theater company’s outdoor presentation of a Shakespearean play – this year it was Twelfth Night

On our way home, we always drive over Deception Pass onto Whidbey Island so that we can stop at Knead and Feed in Coupeville – the best breakfasts in the world!  Then we catch the Keystone ferry to Port Townsend and drive to Bainbridge Island, where we spend an afternoon and I can make my annual pilgrimage to Churchmouse Yarns & Teas (and don’t forget the world’s best ice cream at Mora!)  Then, the long drive home.

Here’s a photo essay of this year’s trip:

The view from the ferry dock at Anacortes - for some reason, the ferry ride over is one of my favorite parts of the trip!
The view from the ferry dock at Anacortes – for some reason, the ferry ride over is one of my favorite parts of the trip!
Watching the “traffic” from the ferry
The Hotel de Haro at Roche Harbor (you can see the town homes, including Heron House, in the background)
McMillans restaurant from the dock at Roche Harbor, with the church where we got married in the background
McMillans restaurant from the dock at Roche Harbor, with the church where we got married, in the background
Walking through the fields, forests, and around the pond at the sculpture garden
Doughnuts from the Lime Kiln Cafe
Doughnuts from the Lime Kiln Cafe
The sunset view of the harbor from Heron House
The sunset view of the harbor from Heron House
Watching colors and preparing for the cannon boom :)
Watching colors and preparing for the cannon boom :)
Rich and Bella, searching for seals
Rich and Bella, searching for seals
Emmersen putting her rowing experience to good use!
Emmersen putting her rowing experience to good use!
Headed out on our hike to Turnpoint Lighthouse
Headed out on our hike to Turnpoint Lighthouse
Gorgeous view of the fields and harbor, with Mt. Baker in the background, on Stuart Island
Gorgeous view of the fields and harbor, with Mt. Baker in the background, on Stuart Island
Standing at Turnpoint - the westernmost point in the United States - is like being able to see the entire world, all spread out before you
Standing at Turnpoint – the westernmost point in the United States – is like being able to see the entire world, all spread out before you

Orcas off of Turnpoint

Celebrating the world's best breakfast at Knead and Feed
Celebrating the world’s best breakfast at Knead and Feed
The remnants of a HUGE hot chocolate
The remnants of a HUGE hot chocolate
Alia says, I give these cinnamon rolls five stars!
Alia says, I give these cinnamon rolls five stars!
The view from Knead & Feed in Coupeville
The view from Knead & Feed in Coupeville
Coupeville's "marina"
Coupeville’s “marina”
Churchmouse . . . a mecca for yarnophiles
Churchmouse . . . a mecca for yarnophiles
Mora's signature blackberry ice cream
Mora’s signature blackberry ice cream
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Visiting San Francisco

July 20, 2014

Golden Gate Bridge

A fun three days in San Francisco and the bay area – although the 14-hour drive on either side of those three days was a little much!

Day 1:  Walk to the Golden Gate Bridge, shop and browse along Chestnut Street, eat at Super Duper Burger and stop at Kara’s Cupcakes for dessert.

Day 2:  Day trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium, eat fish and chips on the waterfront, visit Stanford (my alma mater) on the way back.

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Day 3:  Breakfast in Haight-Ashbury, then on to Golden Gate Park – the California Academy of Sciences museum, hot dogs while sitting at the bandstand, then a stroll around Stow Lake and a visit with the lake’s extensive population of painted turtles!

A lot of wonderful things to see and do, although I had forgotten how crowded it is EVERYWHERE in the Bay area . . . I confess to being glad to come home to the peace and serenity of our country house :)

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Turks & Caicos paradise

February 3, 2014

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We just returned from a week in paradise – the Turks & Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, to be precise.  I’ve traveled fairly extensively in the South Pacific and around Hawaii, and nothing can compare to this beautiful place!  The sand is white powder, so soft it feels like powdered sugar . . . because the water is shallow along many of the beaches, the color of the water is an unearthly turquoise, and there are only small waves to stir up the sand and cloud the visibility.  As a result, you can walk out into the water for hundreds of yards without getting in too deep, and once you start to swim, the water is calm and a warm 80 degrees or so.

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We rented a villa this time, opting to get away from the busy hotel strip, and as a result, we had the entire beach in front of our villa almost entirely to ourselves for swimming, kayaking, and lounging.

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We day-tripped to Malcolm Road Beach twice – both times it was almost completely deserted and we had the entire stretch of miles of beach all to ourselves.

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We spent three days out on the water with Big Blue Diving, whale watching, snorkeling, and scuba diving.  Our oldest daughter accomplished her first solo dive to 40 feet, and we dove past 100 feet – although the water was so clear and warm, it hardly felt like half that depth.  We saw sting rays, reef sharks, nurse sharks, giant groupers having their mouths cleaned by tiny little fish, six-foot grey snapper, barracuda, countless flying fish, a beautiful array of angelfish, butterfly fish, and tiny iridescent fish in all sorts of colors.

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The highlight was a chance encounter with a thirty-foot whale shark – not a native to the area, he was just passing through, but stopped to swim with us for over an hour.  He was as curious about us as we were about him, and oftentimes we had to swim away so that we didn’t end up on his back or pushed into his gigantic nose!

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During one outing, our boat anchored at shell beach on one of the cays for a snack, shell-hunting, and the world’s most gorgeous view.

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We also ventured out to Long Bay Beach – not a great place for swimming, but we loved watching the kite boarders, and there were so many conch shells washed up, we lost count.

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 We all agreed that this was the best vacation that any of us had ever had, in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

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Vacationing in British Columbia

July 24, 2013

We took a wonderful family vacation to British Columbia this past week – here’s a pictorial journal of our trip:

The first leg of our trip was to Vancouver, B.C., where we spent the day in Stanley Park:

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We spent several hours at the Vancouver Aquarium, where we got to see beluga whales, many different kinds of jellyfish, dolphins, penguins, otters, and a great sea lions / seals show:

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The Aquarium also had an impressive Amazon rainforest exhibit, that included blue macaws and scarlet ibis:

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 We rented bikes for the girls and rode the entire circumference of Stanley Park – a perfect ride with kids, because it’s flat, great views, on a separated one-way bike path:

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 We stopped for lunch partway around the island at the Teahouse, then walked along Ferguson Point to admire the northwest views:

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We also stopped to watch a mama river otter bring up crabs for her two babies to eat – they were on rocks right off of the seawall, no more than ten feet from where we stood:

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 The next day, we traveled by water bus to Granville Island:

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 We visited the artists’ studios and grabbed breakfast at the amazing public market, with an untold number of food and art booths:

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 There was a quiet park at the end of Granville Island where we took a few minutes to relax, enjoy the view, and escape from the crowds:

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 The next day, Rich and I went for an early ride all along Vancouver’s amazing bike trails, with multiple stops to admire the views:

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Then we drove to Tsawwassen and boarded a ferry to the Gulf Islands:

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 We stayed at Poet’s Cove on Pender Island – this is the sunset view from our cottage:

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Here’s the water view of Poet’s Cove, as we traveled by boat the next morning to the Saturday Market on Salt Spring Island:

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On our final day, we went kayaking around the island:

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We saw so much wildlife, including a buck grazing at sunrise right off our deck, many blue herons, and this huge unidentified jellyfish:

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One of our favorite sights was the abundant bright purple starfish:

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We returned to Pender Island’s bookstore, bakery, and the Cafe at Hope Bay – a wonderful place to sit out on the dock and have lunch – we were buzzed by a bald eagle, flying right above our heads:

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Our final leg of the journey was to travel by boat to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island – every year we hike Stuart Island to Turnpoint Lighthouse and take some gorgeous pictures, but this year we visited Turnpoint Lighthouse by sea:

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Rich and I were married at Roche Harbor 15 years ago, and always enjoy returning to see the chapel:

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and the 1920s-style resort:

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Every time we visit Roche Harbor, we walk through the sculpture garden – the girls love all of the different art, and find some very unique ways to interact with the sculptures:

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Finally, we celebrated our last night in the islands with ice cream on the dock:

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We even enjoyed our drive home, going to Knead and Feed in Coupeville (with the world’s best breakfasts and cinnamon rolls the size of your head), taking the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend, then spending the afternoon on beautiful Bainbridge Island, and driving home via the Olympic Peninsula.

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Six days in paradise

October 25, 2012
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The gorgeous white sands and turquoise waters at Kue Bay

We loved our trip to Hualalai on the Kona side of the Big Island so much last year that we returned same place, same time this year – and Hawaii didn’t disappoint!  Gorgeous weather – perfect temperature, no rain, light winds.  Many afternoons, the rest of the island would have big clouds hanging over it, but the thin strip of coastline stayed clear and blue all the way up and down the beach.

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The pool at sunrise, waiting for me to jump in and swim laps
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My morning smoothie

My routine each day was to get up at sunrise and either run a five-mile loop on the coastal trail, or swim laps in the oceanside pool.  By then, the girls would be up and we’d all walk over to the coffee bar by the fitness center to get smoothies for breakfast.

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Our dive gear rests up for another day underwater

By 9am, we’d head out, either to our “secret” beach at Kue Bay, or for a boat dive / snorkeling trip.  Back by noon, we’d grab lunch at the oceanside restaurant only steps from our rooms, and then I’d nap or read on the chaise lounges around the pool or oceanside, while the girls swam in the pool or snorkeled in the ocean right in front of the resort.  We’d take a mid-afternoon “break” for a frozen yogurt treat at the Surf Snack oceanside.  Clean up, a dinner outside on the restaurant deck at sunset, and then off to bed early to do it all over again the next day!  This is a routine I could definitely stick to for a LONG time without getting tired of it.

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Our daily mid-afternoon frozen yogurt
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The grounds of the Four Seasons

I can’t recommend Four Seasons Hualili highly enough – the resort grounds are beautiful, our rooms were wonderfully appointed and just steps from the pool and beach, there were no crowds, and the staff is so kind and helpful, it really helps you relax and enjoy your vacation.  I also loved diving with Lobo Del Mar – a family-operated charter boat company that took us on a night dive last year to see the manta rays, and this year took us out to dive while the girls snorkeled.  On the first day, we ended up diving (and snorkeling) right in the middle of a pod of dolphins, who kept circling around that playing near us the entire time we were in the water.  Lots of baby dolphins, too . . . there’s really nothing more amazing than being underwater and literally having a pod of dolphins swim above and around you!  I’ve found that diving is like that – you can never predict what you’ll see, and sometimes you get lucky!

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The sea turtles had the same idea I did – napping away the afternoon on the beach
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Awesome colors on these geckos

We saw lots of other wildlife, as well, including the giant sea turtles that pull up on the beaches every afternoon to rest – we saw the turtles while out swimming, too, in fact there was one cruising through the breakers at Kue Bay and we followed him the entire length of the beach.  We also liked the geckos – wicked fast, and check out the greens, blues and reds on these guys!

 

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In the surf at Kue Bay
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Sunrise reflects in the waters of one of the pools

 

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Island living

August 9, 2012

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 Every summer, we visit the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State.  The islands are bucolic and, I think, one of the most beautiful places in the world.  As usual, we started our trip in Roche Harbor, on San Juan Island.  This haborside resort is reminiscent of the 1920s, when President Teddy Roosevelt stayed at the Hotel de Haro.  I love the old-fashioned feel here, including the tradition of colors every evening at sunset, when the flags are lowered with great ceremony while their anthems are being played, and then the “salute” (a cannon blast).

Rich and I were married here 14 years ago in this church:

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Every year, without fail, we boat to Stuart Island – no ferry service here, which makes the island feel remote and quiet, with only a very few residents and visitors.  We hike the seven-mile round trip to Turnpoint Light House, which is the westernmost point of land in the U.S. – you look across the water and see Canada.  I love this tradition – the markers along our hike (the rope swing, the schoolhouse, the 1940s car slowly rusting away at the bottom of a steep slope), the feeling of standing at the end of the world, the almost overwhelming peace and beauty of the place.

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Our annual family photo at Turnpoint Light House, looking across the water toward Canada

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This time, we extended our trip by taking the ferry from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island to Victoria, B.C. on Vancouver Island.  We spent the afternoon in Victoria, which frankly I found to be crowded, touristy, and ugly with the exception of the historic buildings along the harbor.

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The Empress Hotel in Victoria
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The Parliament building in Victoria

We then drove north to Swartz Bay  and caught the ferry to Pender Island – one of the Gulf Islands, which is the Canadian version of the San Juan Islands.  This turned out to be my favorite part of the trip this year – the Gulf Islands are like the San Juans were 20-30 years ago, uncrowded, peaceful, an opportunity to really experience island life and get to know the locals.  Pender Island is actually two islands, North Pender and South Pender, connected by a little one-lane bridge – we stayed at Poets Cove on South Pender, a beautiful resort built into the side of a cliff.  Here’s what it looks like from the water:

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Every evening, we watched the sun set on the harbor – so stunning, I failed utterly to capture it on film:

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We stayed in one of the Pender cottages, perched on the hillside above the main hotel.  Our cottage had a large deck out back with this view:

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We had only one full day on Pender, but we packed a lot in.  We started our day at the Pender Island Bakery – all I can say is WOW!  I couldn’t decide what was best – the big-as-your-head blueberry muffins, the fruit smoothies, or the giant chocolate cookies and homemade pies:

Pender Island 4

 Pender Island 5

We took our goodies to the local bookstore, which had a surprising big selection and a beautiful display of local art.  From there, we went to the Saturday farmers market, which featured exclusively Pender artists and growers – it was hard not to buy everything in sight!  Then it was on to a local art show, where the girls got to create and display their own art.

 At lunchtime, we drove to the other side of the island (only 15 minutes or so away!) and ate lunch at this waterside cafe on Hope Bay:

Pender Island 6

Pender Island 7

 In the afternoon, we returned to Poets Cove and rented kayaks.  Luckily, they had a two-seater kayak with a little mini seat in the middle, so we could split up into groups of three and two.  The girls did a great job paddling, but even so, there were places where the current was so strong it felt like I was paddling and paddling, with no forward movement!

Pender Island 8

Pender Island 9

Pender Island 10

 The next morning, we caught the early ferry back to Swartz Bay, then drove south to Victoria and caught the ferry back to the U.S., to Port Angeles, Washington.  On the way, we caught our only glimpse of a whale – not sure what kind, as all we could see was its fluke high up in the air before it dove down deep.  Such an indescribable sight!

ferry 1

ferry 2
The Olympic Mountain range as the ferry nears Port Angeles

We drove home down the Olympic Peninsula, which was itself spectacularly beautiful and deserved its own trip to appreciate its beauty.  Next year, I think we’ll spend the majority of our vacation in the Gulf Islands – I’d like to visit the artists and artisans on Saltspring Island, the wineries on Saturna, and try biking on Galiano.  We are very lucky to live relatively close to some of the most beautiful places in the world!

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Our annual June trip to Seaside

June 25, 2012

Every year, we go to Seaside the third week in June for the COSA convention, and to enjoy some time on Oregon’s north coast.

Seaside 1
We rent this same house in Seaside every year
Seaside 2
We hiked with our cousins at Ecola State Park
Seaside 5
A view of the Tillamook Head lighthouse from our hike
Seaside 6
Emmersen shows off the luxury accommodations at the hikers’ camp on Tillamook Head
Seaside 4
Our post-hike reward is our annual foray to Pizza Fetta in Cannon Beach, the world’s best pizza!
Seaside 8
Alia at the Haystack Rock tide pools
Seaside 3
Bella and Alia getting (predictably) soaked at Cannon Beach

 

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Seattle and the King Tut exhibit

May 27, 2012

A fun family trip to Seattle right before Memorial Day weekend . . . we stayed at Inn at  the Market, right on the waterfront in front of Pike Place Market, spent an entire afternoon at the Seattle Aquarium, and saw the King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science Center.  On our last day, instead of driving home via I-5, we caught the morning ferry to Bainbridge Island – one of my favorite places in the world! – and spent a fun morning in Winslow, shopping and breakfasting, before driving home down the Olympic Peninsula.

Pike Place Market sign
Ferry and Pike Place Market from our hotel window
Beecher's Cheese in Seattle
Eating the world’s best mac & cheese at Beecher’s Cheese near Pike Place Market
octopus at Seattle Aquarium
Herbert the octopus shows off his suckers
schooling salmon at the Seattle Aquarium
Schooling salmon on the ceiling at the Seattle Aquarium
family in front of the Seattle Aquarium
Posing in front of the Seattle Aquarium
Alia - Seattle waterfront
Wading in the “fish pool” on the Seattle waterfront
Alia at Inn at the Market
Alia at the Inn at the Market’s rooftop garden

 

Seattle ferry
Sunset view from our hotel
Seattle space needle
A view of the Space Needle during our urban hike

 

Seattle sculpture garden
A view of the Olympic Mountains behind Seattle’s outdoor sculpture garden

 

Alia at Pacific Science Center
Alia rides a whale tail
Bella on the sea life sculpture
Bella poses on the sea life sculpture at Pacific Science Center

 

Pike Place Market sign and ferry 1
A view of the ferry and Pike Place market from our hotel window
Olympic Mountains
A view of the Olympic Mountains on our early-morning run along the waterfront
Alia on the ferry to Bainbridge
On the ferry to Bainbridge Island
Seattle in the fog
Looking back at the Seattle skyline from the ferry to Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge farmers market
We visited the Saturday Farmers Market on Bainbridge
Churchmouse Yarns
My mecca, Churchmouse Yarns & Teams
Mora Ice Cream
Mora Ice Cream on Bainbridge – the most amazing ice cream in the world, made on-site

 

 

 

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Best Hawaiian vacation ever!

October 26, 2011

Hawaii 2011 1

We had an amazing time in Kona on the Big Island this past week – I don’t think I’ve ever had a vacation go more perfectly in every respect. The weather gets a lot of credit – not windy, not too hot, just beautiful every day, the mornings dawned sunny and still, so it was perfect for time on the water, then by afternoon it clouded up just a little (the clouds coming over the mountain from the volcano on the other side of the island, but never reaching the beach) and the breeze would come up a little, just enough to keep it from getting too hot or muggy. Evening sunsets were amazing – we learned that the bright red and pink sunsets every evening are caused by the gases from the volcano – and it was lovely out, still warm with just a little breeze – perfect for sitting and watching the sun go down.

We loved where we stayed – the Four Seasons at Huahalui. The resort has nothing else near it since Kona Village to the south was wiped out by the tsunami in March, so it feels really isolated, but it’s so beautiful – the grounds, the rooms, the beach, the pools . . . there’s a huge fitness facility with a lap pool, weight rooms, yoga and pilates room, all sorts of exercise equipment . . . then a coffee bar nearby where we walked to get smoothies every morning after running on the jogging trail along the ocean . . . the service was impeccable, very attentive but never made you feel smothered . . . maid service in the rooms twice a day (my dream!) and always someone offering to help you set up a beach chair, or get a cool drink. It was a perfect place to take kids – there were lots of families there, so we didn’t feel out of place, but not so many kids that it felt like Disneyland. Nice touches for the kids everywhere – when we arrived, the room was decked out just for them, and when the maids would come for turndown service, they’d dress the kids’ stuffed animals in little Hawaiian komonos. I loved how we weren’t charged for every little thing – bottles of water, laundry facilities near all the rooms (very important when traveling with kids!), lots of services that just went a long ways to making us feel pampered. We were told it was the off season – no crowds, perfect weather, days spent in the ocean!

We all agreed that we’re going to make this an annual trip – same place, same room, same time next year, I already can’t wait!

Day One: We arrive to find the kids’ room all laid out with supplies, treats, a stuffed dolphin for each girl, and their names written in the bathtub.

Hawaii 2011 1

Hawaii 2011 3

Each room had an outdoor lava rock shower (which was wonderful after swimming or running each morning) and we could see and hear the ocean from our room – since we were on the ground level, we just walked out our sliding door to the pool and the beach beyond.

Hawaii 2011 4

Day Two: Rich and I did a two-tank dive our first full day in Kona – we went out on the boat on the right, smooth waters and great visibility – water temp close to 80 degrees, we saw dolphins, moray eels, a white-tip reef shark, and more fish than I could name!

scuba boats Hawaii fall 2011

Day Three: Emmersen and Isabella take scuba lessons in Kings Pond, located at the resort and stocked with over 4,000 fish (including an eagle ray), where we also snorkeled and enjoyed the marine life.

Hawaii 2011 5

Day Four: Our only day with a rental car, in the morning we drove to Kua Bay and played on the white sand beach and in the turquoise waters – probably the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen. We took turns snorkeling out to the lava flows, which turned to coral reefs underwater and were home to all kinds of fish, eels, and many resident turtles.

Hawaii 2011 6

Hawaii 2011 7

That night was our manta dive – Rich and I went scuba diving, while the girls and their guide snorkeled above us. That’s me below with the pink regulator – I just got bonked on the head by the manta’s fin. Then he did a slow sommersault, right in front of me. There were at least eight full-grown mantas with us, the largest over 16’ from fin to fin. An unbelievable experience!

Hawaii 2011 8

Hawaii 2011 9

Day Five: We took a boat trip out snorkeling in the early morning, found a pod of spinner dolphins and jumped in the water with them to play. Then at our second snorkeling site, we hung out with the turtles at their “cleaning station” while they got their shells cleaned by the resident fish.

Hawaii 2011 10

Sunrise, as seen from our patio – I’m pulling on my running shoes and getting ready to run the beach trail before the sun comes all the way up.

Hawaii 2011 11

The sunset we watched our first night in Kona from the deck of the restaurant where we ate dinner every evening.

Hawaii 2011 12

My favorite seat every morning – there were so few people around, it was like having our own private island!

Hawaii 2011 13

The girls played on the beach every afternoon – unbelievably, this is right in front of our hotel, yet there’s not a soul in sight!

Hawaii 2011 14

Hawaii 2011 15

There were sea turtles everywhere, in the water when the girls were snorkeling and pulled up to rest every afternoon on the beach right at the hotel – I think they liked the Four Seasons ambiance too!

Hawaii 2011 16

Lots of lava flows meant good tide pools and endless entertainment looking for shells and sea life.

Hawaii 2011 17

There were so many beach cabanas to choose from, and no competition!  Some afternoons, I curled up in one with a book and didn’t move for several hours, it was so peaceful.

Hawaii 2011 18

 PARADISE!

 Hawaii 19

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Crater Lake and the South Umpqua River

August 14, 2010

Crater Lake 1

Crater Lake is truly one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the color of the water and the geography of the lake and surrounding area can’t be expressed in words or photos, it is just one of those sights that you have to see in person in order to really appreciate its majesty.  Even in the heat of August, it was a cool and breezy 60 degrees mid-day, and positively chilly jacket weather in the morning.  I got up at 6am to watch the sun rise – probably the most peaceful setting I’ve enjoyed in a long time.

Crater Lake 2

Crater Lake 3

The girls, however, were much more excited about the chipmunks who would eat potato chips from their hands – ah, nature!

Crater Lake 4

We traveled to Crater Lake along the Umpqua River, which has an almost innumerable number of hikes, most short walks (albeit uphill) to waterfalls.  We stayed the night at Steamboat Inn and the folks there packed a great picnic lunch for us to enjoy between hikes.  Here are a few of the waterfalls we hiked to:

South Umpqua 1

South Umpqua 2

The waterfalls held only limited appeal for the girls – their favorite activity was climbing on the broken basalt walls below the Steamboat Inn on the shore of the South Umpqua River.  The basalt breaks off to create natural stairs, so we were able to climb all around the banks of the river.  The girls really wanted to rent a boat so that we could explore some of the “islands” in the middle of the river – I saw a raft pull-out beach a little upstream, that might be a good plan the next time we visit.

South Umpqua 3

South Umpqua 4

We had this area of the river all to ourselves, even during August travel season, and most of the hikes were largely deserted, as well.  I like knowing that even in this day and age, it’s possible to find a little peace and quiet in the woods and along a river.

South Umpqua 5

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Diving in Maui

May 11, 2010

Maui diving 1

Rich and I recently took a short trip to Maui, mostly to try out the diving there – the nice couple we dove with were kind enough to send me these pics of our dive trips.  The water was a little cold at 65 feet down (73 degrees), but the sea life was beautiful – we saw octopus, a reef shark, butterfly fish, eels, several different puffer fish, coronet and trumpet fish, and a whole family of green sea turtles, just to name a few.  The underwater scenery wasn’t as clear or as colorful as in Bora Bora, but the wildlife more than made up for it . . .

Maui diving 2

Maui diving 3

Maui diving 4
We saw at least four different kinds of eels

Maui diving 5

Maui diving 6

Maui diving 7

Maui diving 8
This puffer fish didn’t like being grabbed!

 

Maui diving 9
coronet fish
Maui diving 10
The view from our room at the Four Seasons
Maui diving 11
The beach at the Wailia Four Seasons

 

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On Blueberry Hill

Welcome to On Blueberry Hill, designed to share ideas, creations and inspirations for knitting, quilting and sewing, mosaics and ceramics, photography, and more.

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