Category: travel
Posted September 28th, 2010 in Family Outing, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel | Tags: day trips, farms, fruit, hood river |
We went to Hood River last weekend. When mentioned it on our facebook page and a lot of folks asked for ideas and recommendations for a trip to the lovely Hood River Valley, so here is the skinny on this area from one family (ours!):
Kiyokawa Farms: This is where we do our apple picking! This farm is in the Parkdale area and it’s main claim to fame is its extensive and delicious Asian pear selection. They also have a huge play fort area for the kids!
Draper Girls: We go here for peach and cherry picking in the summer but we end up at Draper Girls on every trip to the area. The setting is lovely with a small picnic area with clear views of Mt. Hood and a big tree swing. There is also a farm animal area where kids (and adults!) can pet and feed the animals. But our main attraction is the unpasteurized apple cider! Mmm, mmm!
Rasmussen Farms: Our big fall stop. Rasmussen is a little bit of everything. They hvae a large farm stand with produce and many locally made delights – including caramel apples on most days. But the big draw is the story book corn maze, and the otherworldly display of creativity called Pumpkin Funland.
Packer’s Orchard: Our fave baked goods on the loop are the cookies, pies, and turnovers at Packers!
Apple Valley Country Store: This quaint store is open all year round. This is the place to pick up all the local taste of Oregon preserved in jam and jellies. More importantly, this is where top off every Hood River trip with a slice of pie and a Huckleberry Milkshake!
Photo: Gael enjoying cherries at Draper Girls!
Posted July 12th, 2010 in Outside of Portland, travel | Tags: cascadia kids, long beach washington, Lora Shinn |
We recently returned from a trip to the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington state. Recently, we sat down via electronic magic with Lora Shinn of Cascadia Kids to talk about our trip and our recommendations for families visting the area:
“Tony and Jennifer Fuentes of Portland, Oregon went with their children (Mila, 8 and Gael, 3) to the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington, about 90 minutes west of Oregon. It’s right on the Pacific Ocean – a perfect way for shopowner Jennifer (she runs the excellent
Milagros Boutique in Portland) and family to relax. Jennifer often returns to the Long Beach Peninsula to stay in a beach rental; she loves the…”
Posted May 29th, 2008 in Family Outing, Outside of Portland, travel, Wildlife |
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!
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.
Posted March 29th, 2008 in Hiking, Outside of Portland, travel |
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!
Posted February 18th, 2008 in Outside of Portland, travel |
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 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!
Posted November 24th, 2007 in Outside of Portland, travel |
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!
Posted November 23rd, 2007 in Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel |
We are spending time in New Mexico and Colorado this holiday week, seeing family and friends. Milagros is open while we are away, Shawna, Carrie, Lonni, and Amy are keeping things rolling there while we are gone.
On Saturday we fly into Albuquerque and headed to Santa Fe for the night. It has been nearly four years since we were last in Santa Fe. We use to get to New Mexico with some frequency – usually stopping in during looping road trips around the four corners.
One of our favorite restaurants there – Cafe Oasis – has been shuttered since our last trip to the area but another favorite, Cloud Cliff Bakery, is still going strong. Other places to eat? The Cowgirl Hall of Fame is a great place to enjoy music as well as have a hearty meal. If you are craving traditional Mexican food, the unassuming Mariscos Costa Azul on Cerrillos Road is a wonderful surprise.
There is a lot to see in Santa Fe. Historic Santa Fe is inherently walkable and we generally just walk around visiting the historic buildings and churches. Some favorites include meandering down Canyon Road to see the galleries and older homes and impressive new homes that dot that corridor. We also enjoy the Georgia O’Keefe Museum. O’Keefe’s subtle and inspiring impressions of the Southwest are some of these things that drew us to New Mexico in the first place.
The New Mexico outdoors provide a unique tapestry of undisturbed high desert environment and cultural history. There are plenty of opportunities to stretch you legs and dive right into it, here are just a few favorites:
- Petroglyph National Monument. This is just outside of Albuquerque and provides a unique glimpse into the ancient human history of the Rio Grande. The number of rock carvings in this area is overwhelming – more than 25,000 images! We have been to countless petroglyph areas and have never seen anything like it.
- Bandelier National Monument. This park provides guided or self-guided tours into the cave dwellings carved into the local cliff walls by ancestors of present-day Pueblo Indians. There are is also an extensive trail system in the area (hiking Frijoles Canyon is a personal favorite but it looks like you should check out local conditions on that one). From Santa Fe, take US 84/285 north to NM 502, then go west to NM 4, take NM 4 to Bandelier.
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. This area takes some work to get to. You launch from Silver City (which is reinventing itself as an artist community) and travel a scenic and very windy road to the monument – be sure to fill your tank BEFORE you leave Silver City. Although it is only 44 miles to the monument from Silver City, plan on a 2 hour trip. Once you get there, the cliff dwellings are so extensive and accessible you will be glad you made the trip. The surrounding Gila National Forest provides plenty of hiking as well – including hikes to Lightfeather and Jordan hot springs. Take State Highway 15 north from Silver City.
Posted August 15th, 2007 in Hiking, Kayaking, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel |
The weather this summer has been, well…a little disappointing. There have been many more cloudy days than we have been used to. Normally our summer trips include excursions to the mountains and the coast to escape the hot days of Portland – including occasional triple digit temp days. This year we have been escaping TO the sun. To escape some of the dreary summer days in July, we headed out to Kah Nee Ta for a couple of nights.
This resort/casino on the Warm Springs Reservation is pretty family friendly. We stayed in the lodge and although there is a casino, the entrance is separate from other accommodations so you don’t even need to know the casino exists – unless you WANT to know…
Pluses: 20 miles from ANYTHING with sweeping desert views from every lodge room. The lodge has a sauna, steam room, work out room and pool for guests and wifi access by the dramatic fireplace. The Village area of the resort has an enormous pool that is spring-fed and great for kids. Other amenities include a spa, kayak rentals/outings, horseback excursions, golfing (and mini-golf for kids), access to the Spring River, and nearby hiking trails.
Minuses: 20 miles from ANYTHING which limits your food options to what is on-site. The food is fine and reasonably priced (breakfast was included as part of the High Desert Escape Package that we booked) BUT there are limited options for vegetarians – vegans may be completely out of luck. The Chinook Room has a kid’s menu.
Tips: Bring a cooler with items for lunches and snacks. Do NOT forget the sunscreen and use it liberally. For a little vegetarian variety when dining in The Chinook Room, ask to have the Longhouse Salad which is on the menu for The Juniper Room next door (they share a kitchen). At breakfast ask to substitute fry bread for toast.
If you are interested in checking Ka Nee Ta out, here is a great deal they are having – Rooms are 50 percent off August 26 – 30 and September 3 – 6!
Posted July 3rd, 2007 in Hiking, Kayaking, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel, Wildlife |
This is another note from our trip to Reno. Jen is a NV native and all of her family is in the Reno-area, so we visit the area quite a bit.
Reno has been going through a lot changes in the past few years, they seem to be moving away from gaming and developing a more “family-friendly” environment. This is a work in progress but there are more and more opportunities for families to relax and enjoy themselves in the area.
In the past few years, the city has been redeveloping the area around the Truckee River which flows through town. Known as the RiverWalk there are a number of shops and cafes as well as sculptures and other features to view in addition to the river.
They have also been making changes to the river. Using concrete and 8,000 tons of rocks they contoured about 1/2 mile of the river into rapids for white-water kayakers. They have also created areas on the river that are perfect for families to take a dip. These areas are primarily adjacent to Barbara Bennett Park.
We went playing and wading in the Truckee on this trip. Mila loved splashing the in water and hopping on the rocks. Afterward we strolled along the RiverWalk to our favorite indepedent coffee shop in Reno: Dreamer’s.
A unique part of the river that we visited on this trip for the first time was the Oxbow Nature Study Area. This wildlife and plant preserve is located on the Truckee River at the very end of Dickerson Road. The area is dedicated to preserving the plant and animal life found in the Truckee Meadows area and it features a two-mile interpretive trail that is level and very kid-friendly. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.
Posted July 1st, 2007 in Family Outing, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel, Wildlife |
We are still in Sparks, NV and, yes, the store is still open thanks to Abigail, Amy, and Shawna (but we are closed on Independence Day). Yesterday we loaded up the van and drove about 45 minutes to the Animal Ark.
The Animal Ark is a non-profit wild animal-rescue sanctuary and nature center that is in the Red Rock area. They take care of wildlife that can not be returned to the wild. In almost all cases, the reasons these animals cannot return is due to human impact. Many of the animals were illegal “pets” and others were bred for the entertainment industry. After reading the stories of many of the animals housed there, I may avoid any films featuring wild animal “actors.”
The facility is laid out on 30+ acres and we spent a few hours there seeing and learning about the animals. The volunteers and staff were very welcoming and informative. And the enclosures are well designed both for excercise of the animals and viewing by the public. We saw tigers, a cougar, black bears, all variety of foxes, birds of prey, wolves, coyotes (including some very young and cute pups!), leopards, cheetahs and much more.
The cheetahs were quite something. Apparently cheetahs in captivity often suffer from digestive and kidney problems this may result from not getting proper excercise. During the summer the Animal Ark cheetahs are allowed to run at high speeds – up to 65 miles per hour!- by using a unique system system using a winch and a plastic lure. After they do the run, they are given a meal. The idea is that this better imitates cheetah habits in the wild. At this point the Ark cheetahs have not exhibited any of the digestive problems normally associated with cheetahs in captivity.
Once a month the “cheetah run” is open to the public. Seeing a cheetah in action running at top speed? I’m there! We’ll definitely be timing a future family trip to see it.
The Animal Ark is open to the public April – October, 10:00am – 4:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $7 per adult, $5 for youth, 2 and under is Free.
Getting There: from Reno, take US 395 North to Red Rock Road (exit 78). Turn right on Red Rock Road and drive 11.5 miles to Deerlodge Road. Turn right and look for the sign.
We went to Hood River last weekend. When mentioned it on our facebook page and a lot of folks asked for ideas and recommendations for a trip to the lovely Hood River Valley, so here is the skinny on this area from one family (ours!):