We saw the beautiful little park on our way to get a chicken strip basket at the 4th Plain & General Anderson Road Dairy Queen. Not sure how warm it would be for eating outside, we ate first then went back General Anderson to the park located on the right hand corner of 18th Street. Read the rest of Meadow Homes Park - Vancouver »
The garden at Fort Vancouver is a heritage garden, meaning that it contains plants that we would have seen here when the fort was in operation in 1845. Notice the arch over the entrance to the garden and the snowball bushes on either side of it. Snowball bushes are European, and would have been brought by ship from England—a journey that took the better part of a year. Read the rest of Fort Vancouver heritage garden–beautiful! »
During college, my friend Jason and I, found a way to hang out despite our hectic schedules. Despite the conflicting work and class hours, we both had Wednesday midmornings free. I was out of class by 10 AM and Jason’s class did not begin until 2 in the afternoon. Maintaining this schedule, we golfed almost every Wednesday for an entire year.
We would meet at the Salmon Creek Fred Meyer to pick up a few things before heading off to the course. Independently we each picked out “Green Squall” PowerAde as the beverage of choice for a round golf. Read the rest of Pinecrest Golf Course / Westside Golf Range - Golfing in Vancouver »
When I need to escape the “Hurry Up” mentality of my 9-5 job, I flee to the WSU Vancouver campus. The geek in me loves the quiet library and the academic feel of the corridors in the classroom buildings. On a sunny day, however, even a geek like me cannot resist traversing the miles of trails on the 351 acre campus. Read the rest of WSU Vancouver: A Treasure on the Hill »
It wasn’t raining today, so I could have taken my daughter Avery to a park, but I woke up feeling a little under the weather and the park simply sounded like too much effort. If I’d stayed home, I’d have been tempted to sit on the couch all morning, wishing I could just climb back into bed. Instead we donned our shoes and sweaters and headed out to Café Sip-N-Play, a kid-centered coffeehouse and play place, and most importantly somewhere I could get a big cup of caffeine and she could play to her heart’s content. Read the rest of Lunch and a Play Date at Café Sip-N-Play - Vancouver »
I first heard of Cottonwood Beach when a friend told me she took her horses there to ride. Not long after a different friend talked about taking her dog for a walk… at Cottonwood Beach. A quiet sandy beach along the Columbia River sounded idyllic; I decided this was a place I needed to check out. Read the rest of Cottonwood Beach in Washougal »
Today was a beautiful, 70-degree day: The perfect day to take my 2-year-old daughter to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Originally developed as a display and test garden for rhododendrons in the 1950s, it later became overgrown with brush and blackberries until members of the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society and volunteers took charge Read the rest of Any day is beautiful at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland »
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, “Layla”, Mistie, and I were heading out for our next “big adventure” the eastern part of the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail. Located south of Burton Road on 90th Avenue, which becomes 92nd Avenue just before the turnoff at 19th Circle. There is very little parking here, maybe enough for five or six cars. Our end destination, the playground, was at the beginning of this part of the trail, which was great since it served as a reminder of where we were going when we finished walking.
Shortly after getting on the trail there is a Y where you can go north toward Burton Road or west as far as Fruit Valley Read the rest of Burnt Bridge Creek Trail - Vancouver Walking »
As Spring rose from its static slumber under clouds of gray, my Mother and Grandmother bolted for the outdoors. They are politely termed, “walking enthusiasts”; each logs about 25 miles a week on their cross-trainers. So on the first day of fair weather they had an adventure planned and invited me to join the fun. Like a brainless badger I agreed. The Salmon Creek Trail was the destination. The trail runs roughly east to west along Salmon Creek, Klineline Pond and the Vancouver Girls Softball fields.
We arrived at the Klineline Pond parking area and proceeded along the pathway parallel to the winding course of Salmon Creek. The trail was paved, an easy grade, and a viewpoint for many species of birds. That was well and good, if my Mother and Grandmother had not left me in the dust. They easily outpaced me, chattering on and on about the weather, the birds, the creek and the newly blooming flowers and trees along the trail.
Read the rest of Fresh Air On The Salmon Creek Trail - Vancouver »
Okay. So you’d think by “A Boys’ Day Out,” we’d be talking Dad and the boys. But Dad’s working, Mom’s available, and the boys are home and itchin’ to do something. So, I’ve got it all worked out. The weather’s nice…I’ll take them (ages 9 and 11) to a skatepark! But there’s one caveat: It has to be family-friendly with a play area to entertain their 2-year-old sister. Read the rest of A Boys’ Day Out: Lab 33 Skateshop and Tualatin Community Park »
