Walla Walla Balloon Stampede

One of the best trips we made this summer is to the Walla Walla Baloon Stampede. The festival happens once a year in May. The festival is a 3 day event. We made it on the Saturday afternoon after a 4hr long drive from Seattle.

We planned to see the night glow event which happens on all the event nights. When we reached around 5.30, the carnival was in full swing, live bands were playing continuous music on the main stage and loads of people trying to secure the place on the stadium benches. After the dust the show started and it was spectacular. I counted and there were at least 10+ balloons that started getting bigger and began to glow. The stadium lights were switched off and the balloons were like big lanterns. That's what they call as Night Glow event. After a nice dinner at the event place we stayed at a hotel for that night. 

Next event was to see the balloon launch in the morning. I will say that the website is completely honest when they say launch is at 6:30 A.M. I would even say, get there well before that time. It's probably more busy during the first two days so the parking lots are probably more crowded. The last day, they only due the balloon launch and then a huge pancake breakfast for all the guests and volunteers. Guests are encouraged to leave a small donation for the pancake breakfast. Honestly, where can you go to such a super event that is practically all free. Free parking, Free admission. 

I know....I know....you're probably saying 6:30 A.M. Be serious! But, I believe that time is the best time to launch the balloons as it's not too hot and the winds aren't normally too high. There were a few balloons that were unable to launch due to the winds picking up a little. I drove all the way from Lacey too see this and it was well worth the trip. It took about 45 mins to launch all the balloons. It probably takes a little bit longer during the first two days. 

Once they get full of hot air, those balloons are up up and away very quickly. I like that you can walk right out onto the field and get super close to the balloons, even touch them. There are huge fueled flame blowers that shoot out flames at least 15 ft long into the bellies of the air balloon beasts. But wow! is the whole process spectacular. It's so beautiful to watch the whole process of taking the balloon out of the bag, the rolled them out carefully, then turn on the fan and fill them with regular air, then turn on the gas and fire up the torch, then stand the basket upright based on the hot air pulling the balloon upright in to place, then air a little more hot are and up up and awayyyyy! 

Check out the official site http://www.wwvchamber.com/pages/WallaWallaBalloonStampede for details.

Breathtaking, stunning, natural - a real treat Ruby Beach!

If you want to take your family to a beach this is one the good options. Checkout the Ruby beach, Olympic National Park, Washington. This is an very nice place to visit. You can spend hours of your day just walking the beach viewing the amazing view of the ocean. Planning is suggested, as tides can be dangerous and you don't want to hike out further than you can return before the tides trap you.

Ruby Beach is not the place to find bikini beauties and tons of sun block nor the beach to find vendors hawking everything from hotdogs to sandals. It is truly an inspirational mecca where you find yourself alone with your most innermost thoughts - regardless of how many people you may be with. It surely is a must visit for you when you are anywhere in the area.  There are restroom facilities. .

We went down the trail that leads to the beach. You have to climb over driftwood to get to the beach. Cedar creek opens into the ocean as you come out of the trail. It isn't that deep, but the current was rather swift until it spread out across the beach. We made our way out onto the beach after observing the creek.
 

While my son frolicked in the water and sand, I took the opportunity to snap some pictures of the sun, Abbey Island and the surrounding area. This beach has many different sized cobbles. I didn't see any wildlife.

There is also a lighthouse in the distance. I could barely make it out, but I'm certain that is what it was. The tide came in rather fast. It had covered the beach about 20 minutes after the sun had set. We had a wonderful time exploring and wandering around. Beautiful sunset and beach.

Family fun with Animal Interaction - Olympic Game Farm

This place was so much fun. I would go back all the time if it weren't so expensive ($11 for me, my 2.5yo was free), or if they had some sort of annual membership deal. My son thought it was hilarious when the yaks and llamas ran in front of my car to make us stop and then shoved their noses against the windows. I found it a little scary, and had zero interest in rolling down my window to give them bread, but that didn't stop them from trying. 

I think my son was more interested in the roosters, peacocks, and rabbits that were everywhere than anything else, but I the bears were the most fun for me. One was hanging out right near the fence and I am pretty sure he waved to us. 

On thing i didnt like about that place was carnivores in small cages but would recommend this place if you are in the area.

Unique, calming, and scenic place - Hoh Rainforest, Forks

Unique, calming, and scenic place - excellent for a short day trip! It's about two hours from Port Angeles.

We came during the summer and there wasn't any rain, just some clouds. There are two main trails, Hall of Mosses and the Spruce Nature Trail (empty, very little people). We hiked the Spruce Nature Trail first and had lunch next to the Hoh River on some fallen trees, a nice and memorable experience! After lunch, we walked the Hall of Mosses, where you can spot trees and organisms that are literally covered in mosses, nice for photos.

I guess for us, it was a lot more fun hiking and walking through the temperate rain forest than taking photos - everything starts looking the same (green) after a few photos. Hall of Moss area of this park was a easy hike which is kids friendly . It took about an hour, but my kid age 3.5 was able to do it without problem. 

Kudos as well to the staff in the visitor center -- they were friendly, informative, and helpful. Even more informative was the antiquated display/exhibit on the history of the area, which also explained how and why the total rainfall was near 6 feet (who knew climatology and meteorology could be so much fun?).

Special note: the road from 101 into Hoh is about 17-18 miles of beautiful scenery -- be sure to stop along the Hoh River and check out the steel-gray waters as the waterway cuts through the Hoh valley

Be warned, Highway 101 is where the Police Academy trains their rookies - the speed limit is strictly enforced and we almost got a ticket.... we were warned by our hotel staff as well. 

Snowlake Trail, Northbend

Snow lake was a beautiful 2.5 mile hike,we went for a nice hike to snow lake today. Its about 40 miles east on i90. take exit 53 and hang a right and another right. then drive down a little bit and you'll see a small group of service stations, ski lodges, etc. you should be able to find the visitor center on your right. you have to go there no matter what, b/c you need to buy a parking pass for $5. from there they can tell you exactly how to get to the snow creek trail.

we started the hike at 11:10am and it was already crowded.The parking lot was jam packed with around 100+ cars. Lots of passing and being passed, but then also the sign of a nice trail.  I saw lots of families with kids of all ages and dogs too, so it seems pretty friendly for families.

We spent a wonderful afternoon at this place, beautiful sunny mid 70 degree weather and a wonderful hike up to snow lake. The trail is well maintained but it's still relatively rocky and uneven so hiking shoes are helpful. sunblock/hat/glasses are helpful especially on a sunny day because this trail has lots of unshaded portions. near the lake the temperature is noticeably cooler, so i was glad we wore layers and brought track jackets.

the trail winds its way up several switchbacks of the crest of a ridge and then down into the snow lake basin. It took around 2.5 hours to reach the lake. We did saw iceberg on the other side of the shore, left over from the previous winter. The lake is beautiful and once you get down into the basin there are lots of little trails to go exploring on. The lake has a big shoreline so every one can get their own space. If somebody is intrested in bird watching this is a very nice place too. We had our lunch there. Be carefull of eating the food in open as birds might fly over and snatch the food as it did for us :)

Mailbox Peak Trail - BE PREPARED

As all reviews say, Mailbox Peak is really no joke. It is a 2.5 mile Death March for the unprepared, and an ass kicking workout for the prepared. Don't let the mere 2.5 miles fool you.

You walk up the forest service road about 1/2 mile until you get to the official entrance to Mailbox Peak trail head next to the notice board. Be very carefull to take the entry immediately from the notice board, as once i(and many others) went straight and wondered in the forest for 1.5 hrs trying to find the trail head.  The first 1/4 mile of trail you are meandering in a forested area with a few nice cold creeks running through. You will find these useful to soak your tired feet when you get back down. This little jaunt doesn't last long as the trail goes into full business mode with the quickness. No transition, no feeling out process, just you looking at this straight up, root stepped, steep as hell thing saying "DAMN!"

Welcome to Mailbox Peak.

This part of the trail you are under the tree canopy and more often than not you will run into some serious mud, roots, logs and assorted things you have to climb over or around. The switchbacks are more like s-turns as they seem to not want to give you much of a break and just push you up up up the hill. If anyone says "it gets easier" or "you're almost there"...they are lying :)

After what seems to be an eternity, eventually you will break out of the tree line and will finally have some nice scenery with lots of flowers and big views, but the most apparent view will be the huge boulder field in front of you. If you are not up to the scramble challenge, just follow the left edge of it, the trail will be apparent. Plenty of false summits, but I do think once you are out of the tree canopy, the going gets much easier and even if it is muddy, it seems there is more rock mixed in for better grip. Eventually you will reach the mailbox.

Twin Falls, Northbend

From where I live in Tukwilla, it took less than 45min to travel from the 'hood to the trailhead...pretty quick!  Twin Falls by itself is nothing to write home about.  This was a fun, easy hike with family with a nice water feature! It's a quick, cute hike and there are nice views of the river and waterfalls. There's even a "secret" path where you can climb all the way down to the banks, where you can make your way to the boulder in the middle of the river. It's a great place to break, sunbathe, snack, enjoy the rush of the water around you. 

The natural beauty in the Cascades is lush, wet and green: it is impressive to see fallen trees on the forest floor, almost completely grown over by moss and new plants.  There are some old growth trees which tower above everything else and their trunks provide excellent perspective on what it takes to hold up a huge-ass tree for hundreds of years.  In the forest, moss and vines are everywhere and lend a creepy quality to some of the dark scenery seen beyond the trail. If you go past the falls all the way to the top you just reach a gravel road and a dead tree.Kind of anti-cilmactic.

The trail itself is excellent: I saw people with strollers and a few frail-looking elderly folks moving along with no problem even my son of 2.5yr old didnt have much problem.  The trail is mostly packed dirt and there are a few places with wooden steps.  If you don't get out much, the trail might be tiresome; but if you are at all physically active the trail is very easy. 

It's not a steep hike, but it is uphill on the way back, which is always a little masochistic for me. If you want something with more distance, you can always park away from the traditional parking lot for Twin Falls (exit 34??) and instead east from Rattlesnake Lake on the Iron Horse Trail. Easy hiking warmup and a decent enough view.

I recommend Twin Falls to anybody who lives in Seattle...it is so close, so pretty and so fun to romp around a forest for exercise.