Logan's Pass and Hidden Lake

The highest point on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park is Logan's Pass, it is also located on the Continental Divide. We like to stop here to go on the short, beautiful hike to Hidden Lake. This year, a storm was in the process of passing through while we made our way up the trail. The wind howled at such crazy speeds I witnessed a few children having a hard time standing up straight.

A weekend on Orcas Island

We planned a kayaking trip with friends to Orcas Island several months ago and just recently returned from our much anticipated trip. I walked away from the weekend with a newfound love for Orcas Island.

Day Trip: Port Townsend

After Youth Conference was over, the youth packed onto the school buses and were homeward bound. Instead of heading home we jumped into our car and drove north from Fort Flagler to Port Townsend. Once we were there I could not get enough of the charming marina, in particular the adorable little yellow boat which was reflecting off the glass like water. One of the reasons we came to Port Townsend was I had read they have the best pizza in all of Washington. Being the pizza connoisseurs we are, we came to find out for ourselves.

Worth the drive

One day I realized all of our favorite day trips include fantastic places to eat. Here are a few of our favorite food day trips from Seattle.

Country Boys BBQ is our favorite thing about Cashmere, WA. We spend the day hiking in Leavenworth and then make the drive to Cashmere to eat.

Summer favorite: Hiking Granite Mountain

Hiking is just about my favorite activity on the planet. Add sunshine, blue skies and an array of wildflowers and I am pretty much in heaven. One sunny Saturday, we set out early on a hike up Granite Mountain. This eight mile (round trip) trail is pretty exposed once you come out of the trees after the first mile. The key to not overheating and being able to enjoy the trek up is to get an early start and bring lots of water.

Sunset sail with Let's Go Sailing

One warm, glorious, Summer evening we set sail from the Seattle waterfront on our second sailing adventure. Last year, was our first time out on the water with Let's Go Sailing and we had so much fun we decided to do it again this year. This year we decided to go on the 2.5 hour sunset sail, since last year we did the 1.5 hour daytime sail. We thoroughly enjoyed the extra time out on the water to day dream about one day learning to sail or owning our own boat.

Sponsored giveaway: Savor Food tour at Pike Place Market

One sunny Saturday morning, we met our group at the Market Theatre to begin our Savor Food tour of Pike Place Market. Although I have been to Pike Place Market numerous times before, I was excited to see what new things I might learn about the market and what new foods I might try. Our tour commenced with a little history of the market and then onto our first stop was Daily Dozen. There is nothing quite like a hot, fresh donut smothered in cinnamon and sugar to get your day off to a good start.

A happy discovery: Arboretum Plant Sale

My friend and I met up for a picnic last week at the Arboretum. We both had not been there in an embarrassing long time and after a wonderful afternoon we both left wondering why this was the case. After our picnic lunch we stumbled upon a plant sale and each ended up making our way home with a plant in hand. According to the women working the sale they are open each Wednesday and the second Saturday for business. Members of the Arboretum Foundation donate plants and then they spruce them up and sell them. All proceeds from the plant sales benefit the park and their prices are incredibly low. Talk about a win/win for everyone!! There will definitely be more picnics and plant sales in my future at the Arboretum. 

Ride the Ducks Giveaway!

Rain or shine I cannot think of a more entertaining way to ride around Seattle than on Ride the Ducks. Several months ago we enjoyed the experience through new eyes as we took some out of town guests. The entire time we were laughing, smiling ear to ear and having a great time rain and all.

How often do you get a chance to ride on an amphibious, let alone from WWII?

Now is your chance to experience the laughs, fun and memories associated with Riding the Ducks. One lucky reader will win one free tour to Ride the Ducks.

Rules to enter:
1. Leave a comment stating either your favorite part of Riding the Ducks (if you have been before) or what you are most excited to see on your tour.
2. Leave a comment by midnight PST on Sunday, July 7th. Winner will be announced Monday, July 8th.

Summer list

When I think of Summer, I instantly think of ice cream, sand between my toes, spending time on the water and long days filled with sunshine.

Below you will find my top ten favorite Summer time activities in Seattle (in no particular order):

1. Kayaking off Alki Beach or on Lake Union
2. Spending a long weekend at Seabrook.
3. Backpacking in to camp by a lake.
4. Renting any type of watercraft or going out on a friend's boat.
5. Heading out of town to explore for the weekend.
6. Day hiking along I-90 corridor: Rattlesnake Ridge or Mt. Si.
7. Visiting the San Juans to go Whale Watching.
8. Intimate dinner parties in our backyard or larger soirees.
9. Evening walks to watch the sunset at Lincoln Park.
10. Spending time with my favorite girls.

Lake Powell: Hiking to the Natural Bridge

Aside from all the PDA, we were able to enjoy another natural site on our Lake Powell tour. On the mid point of our tour we docked and were given time to hike and explore the Natural Bridges National Monument. One interesting tidbit, I believe it is one of the few national monuments you have to access by boat. If it weren't for our tour or being with someone who knows the area you might not even know it existed.

Rolling around Seattle with West Coast Entertainment

One bright and sunny morning, my Dad and I, along with two other individuals and our tour guide took to the streets of downtown Seattle on segways. When I reached out to West Coast Entertainment about taking part in celebrating my blog's anniversary they were game. At the start of our tour, Adam, our tour guide and leader extraordinaire gave us the confidence we needed to be able to roll up and down the streets of Seattle on our segways. In no time, we were zipping back and forth feeling like we had been riding them for years.

Exploring around Bryce NP: Willis Creek

If you want to explore a slot canyon minus the crowds and the need to wade through waist deep water than Willis Creek is a great alternative. It is an easy hike, full of beautifully undulating walls. We headed here mid morning on a weekend after a leisurely breakfast and only came across two other groups the entire trip. There were lots of shadows cast by these tall walls, it made us feel small and we had fun with some silhouette shots.

What I will be doing this Summer: kayaking

Living in Seattle, water is such an important part of our everyday life. We are spoiled to enjoy wonderful water views almost anywhere we head in the city. One of my favorite things to do on a nice day is go for a midday paddle. Last week, Cameron and I participated in our very first Sunset tour with Kayak Alki. After a thorough briefing on equipment, technique, safety, and route we left from the shore of Alki beach. We paddled down toward the Duwamish and then cut across the Puget Sound to downtown Seattle. The water was calm, the skies were clear and how many other cities can you kayak past a ferry while enjoying the cityscape?

Be a tourist in your own town: riding a surrey along Alki

A shaved ice break at Marination Ma Kai

I am always surprised when I hear how many long time Seattle residents have never visited the Space Needle or gone on the Underground Tour. I mean come on people, why should the tourists have all the fun? If you have been a reader for awhile now you know I am a big proponent of trying anything and everything that is touristy in my home town. One Saturday we descended upon Alki with no other goal than to ride a surrey up and down the very streets we have walked a zillion times.

Island Adventures Whale Watching Tour Giveaway!!

Update: Contest closed. Little Contents you are the winner, please contact me for details.

Sailboat in the San Juans

According to the calendar, Summer has not even begun, but who can even tell by the glorious weather we have been enjoying around Seattle. As you might know, one of my favorite parts of Summer is being out on the water and what better way to enjoy the beautiful Northwest than going on a Whale Watching Tour?

In honor of my blog's five year anniversary we are teaming up with some wonderful local vendors to allow our readers to share in the festivities all month long. Today, I am happy to announce we will be giving away one Whale Watching Tour through Island Adventures with me.

Here is a little information about Island Adventures:

"Island Adventures has been voted #1 whale watching company in Western Washington for 4 years in a row, they have received a certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor 2 years in a row and a Talk of the Town customer satisfaction certificate 3 years in a row.  

All of our tours are guaranteed whale watching trips; if you don't see a Minke, a Humpback, a Gray, or an Orca you get to come back again for free until you do!  

They run tours until the end of November and then take a short winter break before starting back up for their Everett Gray Whale program in March 2014."

There are three ways to enter:

Become a new follower to @lwoltermckinley on Instagram

Become a new follower to lwoltermckinley on Pinterest

Leave a comment on the blog mentioning your favorite part of Summer or why you are excited to come and hang out with me.

Rules:

You will have until Friday, June 21st at 10pm PST to enter to win.
Winner be selected at random.

You will enjoy one whale watching tour with me, but are allowed to bring a guest at your own expense.

Good luck and Happy Summer!

This giveaway is sponsored by Island Adventures.

An awesome Saturday in West Seattle

Saturdays for our family, are a day set aside for fresh air, fun and time spent together. We try to limit our outside commitments and reserve our weekend to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect. When you are out on the water, paddle in hand, looking for jellyfish or watching the clouds shape shift, it is hard to have another care in the world.

Zion National Park: how good it is to feel small

Far below the towering rock cliffs I am reminded of how small I am. My problems, my worries, my life is really small in comparison to this whole wide world. I am grateful for my faith, my personal power I cling to. No matter how small or insignificant I might feel I am happy to know this great big beautiful world was created for me to enjoy. I realize it was not created solely for me, but when I am hiking amidst the hovering pine trees or the red sandstone and there is no one else around, it certainly feels like this was all created just for me.

Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park

While planning our Southwestern vacation, we knew we wanted to visit Colorado. Neither of us had ever been there before, so we wanted to spend some time hiking and checking out the ancient cliff dwellings. One interesting tidbit is Mesa Verde is the first national park created to preserve the works of man, all other parks up until its creation were made to protect nature. Pretty interesting isn't it?

Walking through Upper Antelope Canyon

Have you ever been inside a slot canyon? I had never been, so I was excited to visit the most photographed slot canyon in the world, Antelope Canyon. This particular canyon is located on a Navajo reservation, which means the only way to access it is by going on a tour. Since it was the last tour of the day, there were only ten of us, which meant we were able to take photographs without strangers being in them and enjoy the canyon as if we had the place to ourselves. The ride out to the canyon was extremely bumpy, we were continuously bouncing up and off our bench. It felt adventurous being jiggled around and kicking up so much dust as we barreled down the dirt road.