Lincoln Park

“Nature can bring you to stillness, that is its gift to you.” – Eckhart Tolle The juxtaposition between ocean and forest is the full pleasure of nature for me. In most places you get one or the other. We are blessed in the PNW to experience both at the same time. Standing on the waterfrontContinue reading “Lincoln Park”

Fall City River Floating

Summer is a beautiful time in the North West WA area. There are so many lakes and rivers to explore in a variety of ways. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the water is to float down a river in tube. This particular tubing route takes about 4 or 5 hours from drop inContinue reading “Fall City River Floating”

Shady Lake- Lake Desire, WA

This past weekend, we purchased a used kayak. Immediately we wanted to test it out to make sure it was ‘seaworthy.’ We found a small lake about 30 min away that was hidden in a residential area, but open to fishing and non-motorized water craft. What a hidden gem! Although Shady lake is very small,Continue reading “Shady Lake- Lake Desire, WA”

Grounding Techniques

Practicing the Pause: Pausing is the first step in so many mental health support coping skills, The Stop technique, Radical Acceptance, etc. It is the first step in slowing down your activity, having enough space in your brain to become aware of what is around you, what is in you. Unfortunately our lives our jammedContinue reading “Grounding Techniques”

Bellevue Botanical Gardens

After moving to Seattle in January, I was pretty desperate to find anywhere that had any other color than grey to gaze upon. I searched and found this Botanical Garden in Bellevue. Amazingly, their gardens were just blooming with early spring flowers. I meandered through the gardens mentally reminding myself to return in the laterContinue reading “Bellevue Botanical Gardens”

Everett Marina & Howarth Park

Sunday is usually the day we go exploring. It seems like an enjoyable way to work our way around this new state of ours in a spontaneous way. We look at our master list and select something we haven’t done before and go see it. Some weeks it is an hour drive, other times justContinue reading “Everett Marina & Howarth Park”

Pt. Deception Park (Tacoma, WA area)

The first time I visited this park was in November, 2020. Husband and I were on a birthday vacation from Sacramento. It is one of the first places we visited and where I began to fall in love with Washington State. This park is part of the 5 mile drive loop that also is homeContinue reading “Pt. Deception Park (Tacoma, WA area)”

Merymere Falls – Olympic National Park

Merymere Falls is about 1.5 miles from the parking lot. The path is paved up until the steep stair climb to the top to view the falls. There are about 100 uneven stairs to reach the top. It is a beautiful but small falls that is quite popular. At the base of the falls where you access the falls stairs there is a calm stream to walk through when its hot out, but can be easily crossed in hiking shoes.