A Southern California island escape beyond the Pacific Northwest   The Wandering Wizard (Bob) joined his college roommate, Gregg, and slipped away from the Pacific Northwest drizzle to spend four early-spring days exploring Catalina Island , returning home Friday with stories of turquoise coves, island history, and evenings that felt like stepping back into 1930s coastal California. Gregg and Bob About 26 miles off the Southern California coast, Catalina feels worlds away fro

This February, we celebrated our 26th anniversary with two peaceful nights at the beautiful Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union, Washington — and it was exactly the kind of getaway we needed. From the moment we arrived, the slower pace of Hood Canal took over. We left our furry travel companion, McKenna, at home - but it's good to know that Alderbrook is pet friendly ! Our room overlooked the calm waters, and every time we glanced out the window, it felt like the world had p

There’s something extra special about choosing the perfect Christmas tree each year — but imagine stepping into your backyard and cutting down a tree you planted yourself. That’s exactly what you can start doing at Tree School 101 + 102 , on Sunday, March 8 , at Helping Hearts Tree Farm  in Port Orchard. Whether you’ve always dreamed of growing your own Christmas tree or you’re just curious about what it takes, this fun, hands-on event makes it easy — and affordable — to get

There’s something about boarding a ferry that instantly feels like a mini-vacation — even if you’re only crossing a short stretch of water. We set out from Southworth on a clear Pacific Northwest morning, coffee in hand, ready for a day of exploration on Vashon Island . Vashon sits quietly between Seattle and Tacoma in Puget Sound, reachable only by ferry. No bridges. No rush-hour shortcuts. Just boats, tides, and island time. Historically, Vashon and neighboring Maury Island

Hola from sunny ( and very warm ) Puerto Vallarta! Daytrip Northwest is back on the road—or rather, back on the cobblestones—as we return to one of our favorite cities on the Mexican Pacific: Puerto Vallarta . But this time after more than 25 years of visiting this beautiful town together, we're skipping the bustling Malecón and crowded Zona Romántica and El Centro. Instead, we’re tucked away in a neighborhood that’s got all the flavor, charm, and yes , air conditioning: Colo

L on her 17th birthday Celebrating a 17th Birthday with All Ages in Tow Looking for a day trip that delights toddlers, teens, and...

Pictures courtesy of our daughter, Megan There’s something magical about stepping out your front door, dipping your paddle into...

Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Some people wait for sunshine to go exploring—but we say the Pacific Northwest is best enjoyed in all  its...

Yumm!! Sumner, Washington Saturday, June 21, 2025 Why Rhubarb? You may have had rhubarb pie. But have you ever celebrated  rhubarb?...

Join Helping Hearts Tree Farm for "Cruisin the Farm" – A Fun Car Show to Help Kids Fight Cancer! You're invited to the  1st Annual...

At Helping Hearts Tree Farm in Port Orchard, on the Olympic Peninsula Are you looking for an enjoyable educational activity with your...

Photo courtesy of Brett Sayles It's Leaf Peeping Time in Southwestern Idaho! ...well almost. As it gets colder and the days get shorter,...

We were on the Washington Coast two weeks ago - now, here we are on the Oregon Coast! We want to share some of the places we visited...

What Fun We Had! Our annual multi-generational family beach vacation took us to Westport, Washington this year. We all met at the Airbnb...

Zebras in Idaho?!? Over 3 million years ago, during the Pliocene age, this area looked much different than you see it now. This was an...

Summer was almost here and we wanted to go camping! We only had one night that we could be gone, so we looked for somewhere close to...

We discovered a scenic train trip that travels where cars don't go! The Eagle Cap Excursion Train starts from Elgin, Oregon and runs down...

When you visit Southern Idaho's Thousand Springs State Parks, you will find waterfalls, canyons and wildlife at each location. This...

Going to Sitka was more than a daytrip for us! Note: this is a longer post because we were in Sitka for multiple days. We were looking...

Historic War Planes from Across the Country! Saturday morning, August 12, we headed out to the Nampa airport to the Warhawk Air Museum to...