Monday, July 25: Snoqualmie

Monday we are headed to Snoqualmie. Our main goal is to ride our bikes on part of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail - an unpaved trail that runs for miles from Snoqualmie all the way up to Rattlesnake Lake (we will NOT be riding the whole trail. No way.)

Our plan is to leave Bellevue by noon and head out to Tanner's Landing Park (a Greenway Challenge site, so bring your cameras) to access the trail. Then we'll ride for a while - hopefully making it to 3 Forks Natural Area (also a Greenway Challenge site) and if it's hot we'll stop and play in the river.

After we have had enough of bike riding and the river we'll head into town to see the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie and the kids' favorite = the candy store across the street from the museum.

We'll also make a stop at the Log Pavilion to get another photo for the Greenway Challenge.

Depart Bellevue: noon
Return: sometime later in the afternoon

If you come, be sure to bring:
bikes and helmets
shorts and sandals for river exploration
raincoats (because you never know about the weather around here)
cash for the candy store
camera
food and water

Here are some addresses for where we'll be:
Tanner Landing Park
S Mt Si Rd, N of North Bend Way
North Bend, WA 98045

Three Forks Park/Natural Area
42320 SE Reinig Rd
Snoqualmie, WA 98045
(dirt parking area located across the street from the above residence)

Northwest Railway Museum
38625 Southeast King Street
Snoqualmie, WA 98065

Snoqualmie Log Pavilion
SE Fir St
Snoqualmie, WA 98065

Thursday, July 21: North Bend

We're hiking this afternoon - somewhere near North Bend. The original plan was to hike Little Si because of the great view, but with the weather the way it is (rainy) we will likely do another trail that includes waterfalls. There are a few options, including a few hikes that are new to us. If you want to join us, just send me a text or email and I'll let you know where we are. We won't leave Bellevue until after diving lessons - so around 1:00pm.
If you join us, bring:
Water
Good shoes
Fleece or sweatshirt
Snacks
Small day pack
Camera

Wednesday, July 20: Pioneer Square

Although there can be some sketchy characters around Pioneer Square, we love to visit this area of Seattle (we are a bit sketchy ourselves!). This Wednesday we are headed there for a few hours of exploring and visiting places that we enjoyed last summer. We plan to leave Bellevue right after lunch and will stay in Seattle until 6:30 - including catching the pre-game parade before Beckom meets Dan for the Sounders game.

So here are the places you'll be likely to find us (in no particular order...) -

UPS Waterfall Garden
219 2nd Ave S
(between S 2nd Avenue Extended & Main St)
Seattle, WA 98104

Klondike Goldrush Museum
free
Open: 9-5
You can earn your Junior Ranger badge by completing a little booklet.
319 2nd Avenue South

Seattle, WA 98104-2618

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/seattle/s29.htm

Last Resort Fire Station Museum
free - donations accepted
Open:  11-3:00 (only open Wed, Thurs)
They have a scavenger hunt for certain items within the fire station.
1433 Northwest 51st Street
Seattle, WA 98107-5128
http://www.lastresortfd.org/museum.htm

Glass House Studio
free
Demonstrations:  10:00-11:30, 1:00-5:00
You can watch glassblowing and for a small donation get your own glass cane - kids loved this!
311 Occidental Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
http://www.glasshouse-studio.com/home/home.html

Metropolitan Police Museum
Adults: $4.00
Children: (under age 12) $2.00
Open 11-4 (Tues-Sat)
They have a dress-up area and mock-911 station for kids.  Other displays about finger-printing and much historical information about Seattle Police.
317 Third Avenue South
Seattle, Washington 98104
http://www.seametropolicemuseum.org/

We'll be taking the bus there from Eastgate - much easier than dealing with parking.  Give us a call if you want to meet up at some point during the day.  We'll be on the look-out for other exciting places to visit while we're down there!

Tuesday, July 19: Bellevue

Today we're doing a park-hop. "What is a park-hop?" you may be asking. Well, in between our daily activities we will be stopping in at a few of Bellevue's fine parks. There are a lot of them.

Here's a link to all of the parks in Bellevue:
http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/parks_intro.htm

We'll be prepared for anything - so packed in the back of Vinnie, our trusty mini-van, we'll have sandals, sneakers, beach towels and swim suits, beach toys, sunscreen, blankets, bikes, tennis rackets, fleece jackets, raincoats, and plenty of water and snacks. That way we are ready for whatever the park has to offer.

Our plan is to stay at least 30 minutes at each park and then move on. Who knows how many parks we'll hit in between diving lessons and piano lessons and a few chores at home?! It's going to be great. In the process we will be answering some questions about the parks - sortof our own little park review. The boys will rate the parks and rank them in order. We'll have to post our results after we're finished. So far all of our outings have gotten a 2-thumbs up rating from the boys, so I'm not sure how well they'll be at ranking the parks. Guess we'll see how it goes!

If you want to join us or meet up at any time, let us know - the more, the merrier!

Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 7:00pm (with hour breaks starting at noon and 1:45 for our lessons!)

Monday, July 18: Snoqualmie Pass - biking

Have you been through the tunnel at Snoqualmie Pass?  It's on the John Wayne Trail - which was a railroad route, now converted to a hiking and biking trail.  The tunnel has been closed for the past couple years (which is why the photos here are pretty old...but look at the cute little boys!  oh, time flies!) but just re-opened this month after a few repairs.  It's 2.5 miles long, but then the trail continues all the way to Rattlesnake Lake.  We'll just be riding through the tunnel and back, and then maybe a little way in the other direction toward Keechelus Lake.
Here is more info about the trail:
http://evergreenmtb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Trail:Iron_Horse

If you join us, here are the details:

Location:  Hyak exit off I-90.
Time:  depart Bellevue at 10:30

***you may need a WA state parks parking pass - we purchased an annual pass at REI for $30 last year.  I'll check into this and update this post when I know.

Bring:  headlamps, flashlights, warm jackets (it's cold in the tunnel), snacks or lunch, bikes and helmets (if biking) or good shoes (if hiking).  Both of my older boys will be riding their bikes, I'll be pulling Garrett in the bike trailer behind my bike.  Just a warning - riding in the tunnel is a bit freaky at first because it's so dark.  Be sure that if your kids are riding they understand the need to be careful, go slowly, and follow good trail rules for passing other cyclists and hikers in the tunnel.

Friday, July 15: Ballard

We are making our way north along the Puget Sound!

Today we'll be visiting Chittenden Locks in Ballard and then head to Golden Gardens Park to spend the afternoon at the beach. We're hoping again for some sun, we'll see if it happens!

Things to do:

• Watch the boats go through the locks
• Look for fish swimming up the fish ladder
• Roll down the big, grassy hills
• Picnic in the beautiful gardens
• Watch the drawbridge go up
• Build a sandcastle
• Dig in the sand
• Explore the wetland
• Look for turtles and birds
• Watch sailboats coming and going
• Enjoy the beauty of the Puget Sound

It should be a great afternoon.
If you join us, we plan to go to the Locks first, stay for a while, and then head to the beach.

We'll leave Bellevue at about 1:00pm and plan to return sometime later...no set time as we want to be able to just enjoy!  The boys and I always read about the parks and places we visit before we go - if you want to do the same, you can check out these sites for today's destinations:
http://www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=243

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/history/sherwood.htm

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks)
3015 54th st nw, Seattle, WA 98107
(We park in the pay lot on the Ballard side)

Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Place Northwest, Seattle, WA 98117

Thursday, July 14: Magnolia - Discovery Park

Thursday we'll head to one of our favorite places - Discovery Park. It's another low tide day, and we're skipping swimming practice so that we can get there at the lowest tide (10:50am). We'll have an early start, leaving our house as soon as we've gotten dressed and eaten breakfast. We'll be there until about 2:30pm.
If you come, be prepared for a hike. Although there are a few spots to park down by the beach, they are often taken quite early. Last time we were there you had to get parking passes up at the visitor center before heading to the beach. But we always hike to the beach and enjoy the scenery.
What to bring: good shoes for hiking, sandals for the beach, beach toys, camera, sunblock (ha! we'll hope for sun!), swim suits, snacks and lunch, water
Where to go:  Discovery Park
3801 W Government Way
Seattle, WA  98199