Milagros

If you are a regular reader of this blog - actually, are there people who read this on a regular basis?…I really do hope so…

Anyhoo, we have a tendency to find a new place we like and go there again and again and again…consider Yachats…

What is our latest family outing obsession? Champoeg State Park! Why? Because it is lovely and only 45 minutes from home - minimal car time to an awesome place always rules!

We spent Saturday at Champoeg and enjoyed their Apple Festival. It was a fun event. There were folks dressed in period garb making apple pie and apple crisp over an open fire in a dutch oven - delish! Live old-timey music filled the barn where kids and adults took turns making cider making using traditional person-powered apple presses. Fresh apple butter was being made an sample by the gallon and there was a great selection of fresh heirloom vegetables from the 19th century “kitchen garden” they maintain at the park.  Actually, fresh vegetables from the garden often available in the visitor center, just take what you want and leave a donation.

Another plus, the bike paths in the park have just been repaved. So riding is wonderfully smooth. They are still plenty of blackberries to be enjoyed through-out the park as well.

Still on the to do list for Champoeg is to kayak in the Willamette from the park, see the inside of the Mother’s Cabin, and play a round of frisbee golf.  So this is more than a crush. We will be back!

Summer has been dragging out - WOO HOO! So we did a papa-daughter camping trip this past weekend. Our destintation? Champoeg State Park!

We went the easy route and rented a cabin. The weather was perfect and the park had a lot to offer but the real draw is the family-friendly bike riding in the park and surrounding area.  We biked for miles, took a dip in the Willamette (you wouldn’t recognize it down there!), picked blackberries, did all our cooking over a fire pit, and just had a very relaxing time.

The park is only 45 minutes from Portland but a world away, camping is available there year-round…so we hope to hit again sooner than later.  Here are some pics courtesy of Jon Maus. Click on them for a larger view 

…but it is better to get them off the tree.

We headed out to Sauvie Island yesterday for farm-fun. Our first stop was Sauvie Island Farms for peach picking. It is stone fruit season and it didn’t take long for us to pick 30 lbs. of lovely, lovely peaches…peach cobbler, peach ice cream, peach salsa, peach smoothies…here we come!

Last year we did our peach picking in the Hood River area but the unusual winter resulted in lackluster results on peaches up there. But we did hit Draper Girls farm up there a couple of weeks ago for cherry picking…

After picking peaches, we were still in a pickin’ mood so we headed to Sauvie Island Blueberry farm for blueberry picking (they also have blueberries at Sauvie Island Farms but we like to spread the love). The bushes are very, very full and it didn’t take much to come away with 10 lbs. of delightful and delicious berries…ok…blueberry/peach cobbler, blueberry/peach ice cream…blueberry/peach salsa? maybe not…

It is summer time! Time to get the family out of the house and into the great outdoors!

Looking for some family camping suggestions? Here are few places we enjoy!

Close to Town: Oxbow Regional Park: It is an easy drive from Portland (about 30 minutes) and is very family friendly. Oxbow has play structures, miles of trails open to hiking and biking, a boat ramp, and beach access. However, the beach is a river not a lake. Extra caution when swimming, wading, paddling, etc. is recommended due to currrents. A couple of unique additional features: 1) educuational kid-friendly programs in the campground ampitheater on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer and 2) flush toilets and showers (bring quarters for the showers). More info on Oxbow.

Note: No pets are allowed at Oxbow or any Metro facility.

Hoodland: Trillium Lake: Our first car camping trip with Mila was to Trillium Lake in the Mt. Hood area when she was 3 months old. We have gone back every summer since. It is very family-friendly. It sports a level hike around the lake and the roads in the campground are paved - nice for first time bikers and strollers. The lake is safe for swimming and you are able to fish there. No motor boats are allowed on the Lake so it is quieter than other lakes in the Mt. Hood area. We bring a kayak and enjoy floating on the water and taking in the wonderful views of Mt. Hood. Sites may be reserved in advance.

On the Coast: Oswald West State Park: For Oregon coastal camping, we love the walk-in campground at Oswald West. Pleasant sites, great beach access, and numerous trails to enjoy. It is first come, first serve and very popular in the height of the summer. We have had good luck there in May or on summer weekdays but it is good to have a back-up plan. More info

Good back-up camping for Oswald West or just good camping in the coastal area near Portland: Nehalem Falls (lovely falls), Nehalem Bay State Park (bring your kayak or canoe!), or camping at Jones Creek along the Wilson River in the Tillamook Forest (lots of blackberry picking in the area and near the Tillamook Forest Center).

Out East: Columbia Hills State Park: If you want a high desert feel but with a shorter drive than heading to Central Oregon, check out Columbia Hills State Park across from the Dalles in Washington State.

Swim, kayak and fish in Horsethief Lake, enjoy boat access to the Columbia, hike and climb at Horsethief Butte, and see the petroglyphs and pictographs saved from Petroglyph Canyon. Few day-use folks and small, comfortable campground makes for a relaxed time. Very close to The Dalles if you forgot something.

A couple of drawbacks, camping is first come, first serve and the campground is small - less than 20 sites - so be ready with a back-up just in case (such as Maryhill State Park down the road). Like all camping on the Columbia River, train noise is a nightly occurrence and it can get VERY windy - so bring earplugs for sleeping (although I recommend this for ALL campgrounds).

Photo by Jon Maus - Camping with Mila and Elani at Oxbow

After an aborted attempt last weekend - the berries weren’t ready for us - we headed back to Kruger’s yesterday.

The season is just getting started, so it was a lot of hunting and gathering. However the weather was perfect - sunny but not too hot- and we still scored about 11 pounds of red gold. Next weekend should offer some great picking; the plants are full of berries waiting to mature.

Kruger’s will be having their annual Berry Jam on June 14 and 15. If you want to head a little further out, Rasmussen Farms will be having their Summer Sensations event this weekend as well.

When Mila was a wee one, eight months old, we spent a month camping and traveling in Hawaii. While were camping on the Big Island, we met a family from Washington state with a little girl who was 17 months old - River. We hit it off with River and her family right away. Our family friendship that has continued to blossom over the years despite the miles between us and time between visits.

This weekend, River’s family was in the Salem area and our schedules transpired to allow us a couple of hours together on Sunday afternoon. Where should we meet to let the kids play and the adults chat? (there are a family of four now as well!) I busted out a map and noticed that Champoeg State Park is about halfway between Salem and Portland.

The exit for Champoeg off I-5 has caught my eye on countless journeys South (I tend to take note of exits going to parks and the like) but I never ventured there until now. The park is nestled in an area that is rich in farmlands and scenic hills and is bordered by a stunning section of the Willamette River that feels unrelated to the water that divides Portland into two sides.

There is camping, and miles of trails for biking and hiking. The kids ran through meadows filled with grasses and wild flowers and climbed trees along the riverside. It was a refreshing and relaxing escape from the city. Our visit there only scratched the surface of the area but we took note of what the park has to offer for future trips.

Amenities at the park include is camping - tent and RV sites as well as cabins and yurts, access to the river - including a boat launch, a frisbee golf course, and a variety of interpretive programs and elements that celebrate the area’s history.

The area was the site of an Oregon pioneer settlement. There are year round facilities at the park that provide a glimpse into pioneer life: the visitor center, Newell House, and Pioneer Mothers Log Cabin museum. During the summer, the park takes on a living museum element at times with reenactments of pioneer life and other interactive activities and tours.

Needless to say, it is nice to find gems like this that are close to home (especially with the price of gas these days). Champoeg was less than 45 minutes from Portland but a world away. We’ll be back!

We treated Tony’s Mom to a late Mother’s Day gift by taking her to Yachats last weekend. The weather wasn’t perfect - and goodness the gas was pricey!- but the trip was still wonderful. We have been to the coast in Winter, Fall, Spring, and Summer and it never disappoints.

This weekend, we did a lot of hiking (the rain is no problem for many of the hikes in the area such as Cummins Creek) , the Yachats farmer’s market was in full swing, we started every morning at our favorite local hot spot, and we went tide pooling in the area.

There are great tide pools in the Yachats area. We commonly see chitons, snails, limpets, barnacles, sea stars, mussels, anemones, crabs and more! We also love Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area near Newport for tide pools. But there are options closer to home - no full tank required!

• Ecola State Park - About two miles north of Cannon Beach. This area also offers access to the Clatsop Loop Trail which connects with the Tillamook Head Trail that we explored this February - a good trail for older children due to the elevation gain and length.
• Oswald West State Park - About 10 miles south of Cannon Beach just off the 101. This is also one of our favorite camping spots and there is some great hiking in the area including a hike to Cape Falcon (about 3.5 miles round trip, uphill getting to the top but still a nice family hike).
• Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge - 10 miles west of Tillamook on the Three Capes Loop. Added bonuses are touring the lighthouse and the vistas in the area.
• Cape Lookout - About 18 miles south of Tillamook also on the Three Capes Loop. There is a family-friendly campground at this park as well.

If you are going to explore tide pools, be ready to get wet, wear some sensible shoes - maybe even some gloves, and be ready to do some scrambling on rocks to find some wonderful surprises! Consult a tide table and plan your exploration to coincide with low tide - which means being on the coast in the morning. Watch out for exposed animals as you walk along. For the best viewing, head for the lowest tide pools that are closest to the ocean. In the lowest pools, you are likely to see the most activity as well as the greatest variety of animals. But be mindful of the tide location and of the ocean at all times - don’t let yourself get stranded or surprised by a rogue wave.

When viewing the pools, tread lightly and be respectful of the animals. Don’t pry any animals from their locations. A gentle touch on a sea star by a curious little girl (or excited adult) is not entirely out of line but try to avoid touching of the animals as much as possible.

Also, these are great areas for a picnic, so pack a meal to enjoy once your exploring is over. When you are ready to go, leave everything where you find it - except for garbage! Pack out any trash that you find (or any trash that you brought). It is never too early to instill some outdoor ethics in your kids.

Milagros is open - Carrie, Brooke, Lonni and Amy are there to assist you! - but we have been out of town for the past week.  During our time away our server went haywire thus the unscheduled blog facelift…and our inability to post anything until today.

Now that we have a child in school we are beholden to the school calendar and as spring break approached we were faced with no travel plans. So we all got in the car and headed south to see family in Nevada. So here is a quick jumble of road notes from the trip thus far.

The drive was lovely and once we were off the interstate, the drive became even nicer.  A few favorite stops from this trip and trips in the past:  

• Mt. Shasta: Such a stately mountain, I have always wanted to climb it. We have taken day hikes up the mountain past the treeline from a few points. There is plenty of summer camping in the area - this time of year we hit the Strawberry Valley Inn for lodging needs.
• Burney Falls:  Lovely falls and great family hiking - a perfect leg stretcher or picnic stop. There is a campground in the park as well.
• Lassen National Park: This park has great snowshoeing in the winter, great hiking and camping in other seasons. We love hiking Bumpass Hell which really shows off the volcanic nature of the area. Our favorite managed campground in the part is Southwest (tent-only!).
• Honey Lake: This is a unique area that is one of the last remanants of Lake Lahontan which was an enormous lake that existed during the last ice age. Making a stop to check out the flocks of geese, swans, and cranes that pass through the area as well as local birds of prey.  

Once we arrived in Reno, we were cursed with our on-going “hey we are traveling so someone HAS to get sick!” Mila, Gael, and Tony all got ear infections…but it is what it is and we haven’t let it hold us back. Mila has a gaggle of cousins in the area so getting the kids outdoors was the order of the day - actually everyday.

We have posted other Nevada Notes in the past (Truckee River, Galena Creek, Animal Ark). On this trip we were armed with a great on-line database of Nevada trail maps (thanks for the tip Reno Natural Mothers!). So we enjoyed a couple of new family-friendly trails this trip:

• Rancho Nature Trail: This trail starts near an Basque memorial and winds through sagebrush scrub and a wetland. The riparian habitat boasts a mix of plants and animals and the kids had a lot of fun exploring.
• Huffaker Lookout:  The trailhead is next to a play area this is great for the kids pre-hike or post-hike. A few different loops along the hills can be created and the top of the hills provides a sweeping view of Truckee Meadows. There are plenty of interpretive signs, benches, and even picnic tables along the way.  The kids raced to the top of the hills and had a great time. 

Happy trails!

We spent an extended weekend in Yachats, Oregon. Yachats is the last outpost before a 20+ mile stretch of Oregon coastline that is primarily National Forest and state park land. Outdoor fun along this pristine piece of the world is available any day.

We spent every morning stretching our legs on the 804 Trail. This trail starts at Smelt Sands Park in Yachats and travels along a lovely rocky coastline. Exploring the rocks during lower tides reveals some tide pools as well as sandy areas for play. Walking north on the trail will lead you to an endless sandy beach that is perfect for kite flying.

Another daily ritual was a walk to the Green Salmon Coffeehouse (cash-only) for excellent fresh roast coffee, select teas and delicious baked treats for breakfast. The Green Salmon is a popular gathering place for locals and travelers but we have always been able to find a place to stretch out and settle in for a relaxing morning treat, so don’t be intimidated if there is a line. We always seem to strike up an impromptu conversation with another patron when we are there as well, so don’t be shy.

We would leave the Green Salmon with some to-go items to fuel the rest of our day as well. The rest of the day would usually find us in the Cape Perpetua area which is 2 miles south of Yachats on US 101.

There are endless hikes in the Cape Perpetua area all of which are perfect for families. The most strenuous in the area is the St. Perpetua Trail up to the lookout (about 4 miles round trip). Once at the top, you can enjoy one of the best views on the Oregon Coast. If you aren’t up to hiking it, you can drive to the top. For hiking info and parking passes, check in at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center.

There are plenty of tidepools in the area but the tidepools at Neptune Beach remain our favorite. Drive south on the 101 past Cook’s Chasm and park at the second Neptune parking lot. Walk down the stairs and head south to the rocky area. It does take some walking and maneuvering on the rocks so take your time. What will you see? Sea stars, anemones, barnacles, mussels, crabs, fish, snails, and much more.

Other ideas for a stay or stop in Yachats:

• Kayaking: If you have a kayak, drive up Yachats River Road about a mile to a pull-out where you can launch and paddle down the river to the beach. Other launch areas can be found further up river as well.
• Arts: There are some local artists in the area. The gallery next to Toadhall offers a lot of striking ceramic pieces. Yachats Commons often has free family friendly concerts and art-happenings. Also a number of authors live in the area, so a book reading or signing is more common than you would expect. While we were there Kate Maloy (Every Last Cuckoo) was having a book signing at the Green Salmon.
• Shopping and Dining: Shopping is pretty limited but a stop at Toad Hall and Raindogs is always in order. In addition to the Green Salmon (which closes at 2 pm) other food options that we recommend are the Drift Inn (it has a solid kids menu) and Grand Occasions (closes at 5 pm and has amazing pie!) on Beach Street. The Village Market is a well stocked grocery store that even has organic produce (and a good beer selection, including local brews).
• The Log Church: A visit to the log church will give you some view of local history in the area.

Getting there and staying there. There are a handful of hotels in the area and many vacation rentals. Check the Yachats Chamber of Commerce website for options. We go the house rental route. Be aware that taxes and fees can pump up that bargain rate quote up to reasonable pretty quick – in my humble opinion – so make sure you are clear on what is the final price.

Yachats is about 3 ½ hours from Portland. Take I-5 south to Corvallis, and continue West on 34 to US 20. Take US 20 West to Newport and head South on US 101 to Yachats.

For an even more scenic route, skip US 20. Stay on 34 and travel west along the Alsea River to Walport before taking US 101 south.

Enjoy!

P.S. Another great tidepool area on the Central Coast may be found at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (it lives up to its name!) Walk to the top of the lighthouse there while you are at it!

We are in Pueblo, Colorado seeing family but - fear not! - Milagros IS OPEN!

We must have some kind of travel curse because as with our trip to Nevada in July we have been dealing with illness on this excursion. Jen was ill - but is now better - and both kids have been dealing with runny noses and coughs. Gael’s cough got bad enough that we went to the local urgent care to get him checked out. Despite it all, we have been enjoying our time seeing family and friends.

After we left Santa Fe, we headed north to Colorado. The drive was sunny and warm and we witnessed pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and lovely scenery on along the road. We rendezvoused with Mimi and Pop (the grandkids’ name for Tony’s parents) in Trinidad, Colorado.

Mimi and Pop are preparing to retire to the area and are building a home there. We checked out the building progress, had some dinner, and continued north to their present home in Pueblo, CO (yes - for those of us old enough to remember the TV ads…THAT Pueblo! The home of the government printing office!)

We have been to Pueblo many times and it is a quiet and relaxing town with plenty of great hiking in the area as well as family-friendly activities. So if you ever find yourself in the Pueblo-area, here are a few suggestions on things to do:

Buell Children’s Museum. This museum offers plenty of hands-on exhibits for the kids. We always leave with a bag full of projects created by Mila. For Gael, there is a “barnyard” play area with a lot of great activities for infants and toddlers. I must admit that after an initial visit to ANY children’s museum I get bored.  However Mila can stay engaged for hours and hours no matter how often she goes. So if you are like me, bring a book, or prepare to switch off the parenting role with your partner so you can each explore the neighboring art galleries.

Pueblo City Park. This park is big, beautiful and has a lot to offer. Personal highlights are the Pueblo Zoo (your Oregon Zoo membership gets you in FREE) and the City Park rides. The City Park rides are only open during the summer months but they rock! There is plenty for kids (and adults) including a lovely carousel and the city park train. Best of all, the rides are only 25 cents each! It is the ultimate cheap family date.

Lake Pueblo State Park. For most, this park’s primary attraction is its namesake, Lake Pueblo. For us, it is the extensive hiking in the area that we find enticing. There are numerous places in the park to access the well-marked but not well mapped trail system. However our favorite access area is via the Arkansas Point campground.

From here you can link trails for as long or as little as you would like. The trails go through canyons, up to scenic vistas, along dry creek beds (keep an eye out for fossils), and offer a variety of flora and fauna. Animals in the area include mule deer, coyotes, red tail hawks, bald eagles, rabbits, and beavers. Views include Pike’s Peak, the Sangre de Cristos, the Spanish Peaks, the expansive plains.

If you plan to do anything outdoors, be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.  Pueblo has no shortage of sun - any time of year!