Category: Explore

5 Activities for Kids on Bainbridge Island, Washington

Over the Thanksgiving Break the whole mountain family drove out to Bainbridge Island, Washington. While there we got to experience a full day of heavy downpour, freezing temperatures and snow. But even with the less than ideal weather we had a great time. It’s always good to visit the ocean.Here are five fun things to do with your tots on Bainbridge Island.

1 – Take the Ferry
The trip started off with the ferry ride from Seattle where little g asked “Are there real fairies on board?” Sorry honey, not that kind of fairy. Walkers, bikes and cars all get on the boat for a 35 minute cruise across the water. My tots loved it except for the wind.

2 – Go Shopping
Bainbridge Island’s main drag is full of boutiques and restaurants. It’d be a great day trip from Seattle for a little adult shopping, but the nearby Calico Cat Toys had a great selection of kid toys and games. With the kids we opted for some ice cream at Mora’s  where we enjoyed great flavors like blackberry and lemon bar. Frog sculptures around the island are fun for kids to find.

3 – Fort Ward Park
Being who I am, I was on the hunt for green space. And for an island they have plenty. Fort Ward Park is right on the coast with a paved hiking, biking trail that borders the rocky beach. Big E and Mountain Dad was in heaven looking for shells and sea glass, even in the breezy weather. Little g on the other hand wanted nothing more than to be held and have a snack.

4 – Lytle Beach
Since I live in landlocked Utah I tried to spend as much time at the beach as I could, even with freezing temperatures. Lytle Beach could also be described as Little Beach, an end of the road strip of rock and sand surrounded by a residential area. On the small section of public access Big E and I found a huge jelly fish, but the cold weather cut our trip short.

5 – KiDiMu
The tots loved the Kids Discovery Museum, and I did too. The upstairs exhibits were my favorite – A giant litebright, puppet theather and adjustable golf ball roller coasters were fun for both adults and kids. On the main floor, imagination abounds with a pirate tree house, kid sized shopping center, doctors office and boat.

Bainbridge Island was a quaint place to visit with lots of fun activities and beautiful forests and beaches. Next time I’ll plan a trip in the summer, but even with bad weather it was a great trip.

Uranium Arch, Sevenmile Rim 4×4 trail, Moab, Utah

Sandstone arches are not that rare of a sight in Moab, Utah with Arches National Park just up the road, but I still feel like I’ve found some great outdoor secret when I get to explore one. On this trail to Uranium Arch, located outside Arches National Park, we combined off road adventure with a little sightseeing with great results.

My heart was pounding on some of the steep and rocky sections of 7-mile Rim trail (that’s a cliff behind us after all), but thanks to Mountain Dad’s ability to exude an aura of expertise, I felt completely safe. Maybe because I see him researching trails, tips and UTV guides for hours at home, I trust that he knows what he’s doing. If I didn’t, I would’ve been stranded on the trail, because parts of this trail are gnarly.

Seven mile Rim is a specific trail maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. However several 4×4 trails intersect around here and as much as I appreciated Charles A. Wells’ book Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails I think the map on the BLM website was essential to finding this arch.

The kids loved exploring and climbing under the rock, as well as having a sandy picnic at its base. I loved being away from the rocky ledge it took to get there. 

Uranium Arch, Seven Mile Rim Trail Info:
Getting there: Head north from Moab on Highway 191 for 12 miles. Soon after Highway 313, park in a wide gravel area on the left. Head north on Cotter Mine Road for about a mile then follow the road left and climb a steep hill. Watch for a heavy metal sign for 7-Mile Rim.

Difficulty: Difficult, especially the rocky sections and those near the ledges.

Time: Variable but plan at least three hours.

Tips: Print out the BLM map of this area before you go. Many trails cross over each other and they get confusing. Also, you can combine this trip with one to Tusher Tunnel for a full day adventure.

Creepy Crawlies

I’m sure you all have bugs of your own. Those you see and love, and those you smash and kill. For me, it’s been interesting to find some of the creepiest, crawliest bugs I’ve ever seen right in my back yard.  With Halloween this week, I figured now was a good time to really find out what those bugs are.

Box Elder Bug – These things swarm in the fall and I often find them on my windowsill, wall, even my bathtub. My kids can easily pick them up (they’re not the quickest). They don’t seem to hurt people but I’m not sure they do much for Box Elder trees.

Fuzzy Orange and Black Caterpillar – I like to call these Halloween Caterpillars because of their coloring, but apparently their real name is Pyrrharctia Isabella. This video is a throw back to when Big E was barely more than a baby, but the caterpillar is still cool. Last year we brought one in the house to see what it would turn into, but somehow it disappeared from the box and is now probably hiding under my bed.

Banded Alder Borer

Zebra Thing – I think this is a beetle of some sort but, c’mon it looks crazy right? It’s actually a Banded Alder Borer which lives in dead hardwood trees like Maple and Alder. This photo is from the website www.whatsthatbug.com, which was very useful in identifying these critters.

Enjoy some of the creepy crawlies from our neighborhood! Happy Halloween!

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

In honor of National Trails Day yesterday, the tots and I visited Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. The white sandstone contrasted beautifully with deep red rock in the landscape around the park, evoking a welcoming yet desolate feel.
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