Embark on unforgettable ocean encounters and family adventures aboard the Spirit of Orca. Join us as we explore the majestic marine life off the coast of Anacortes, Washington. Our 2024 summer roadtrip took us to the amazing Pacific Northwest. One of my bucket list adventures was viewing orcas as they swim in the ocean. I researched extensively, reading numerous reviews and blogs that discussed various boating and tour guide choices along the Washington coast. Yet, it was the quaint town of Anacortes and a private orca viewing tour that captured my attention. So, on the third day, our trusty rental car, affectionately named the "Iron Dragon" by the girls, took us 92 miles from the Ross Lake area of the North Cascades NP to the Majestic Inn & Spa in Anacortes, Washington. Here we took in this charming ocean oasis before setting off on my bucket list ocean adventure the next morning. Where is Anacortes? Located on Fidalgo Island in the western part of Washington state, Anacortes is a charming town that offers a unique blend of natural beauty and small-town charm. The town is linked to the mainland by three bridges, providing easy access to neighboring areas. Additionally, Anacortes serves as a gateway to the San Juan Islands and Sidney B.C. through the Washington State Ferry system, making it a hub for maritime adventures. With a population of just over 17,000 residents, Anacortes exudes a sense of small town tranquility. The town is home to numerous galleries, museums, and cultural events that showcase the talents of local artists and celebrate the rich history of the region. Visitors to Anacortes can immerse themselves in the town's creative spirit and learn more about its heritage through various cultural offerings. For outdoor enthusiasts, Anacortes is a paradise waiting to be explored. The town's proximity to the ocean makes it an ideal location for a wide range of activities, including whale watching, kayaking, sailing, power boating, bird watching, and camping. Whether you are a seasoned adventurer or a nature lover looking to unwind, Anacortes offers something for everyone. Exploring the waters surrounding Anacortes provides a unique opportunity to witness the rich marine life that inhabits the region. From majestic whales to playful seals, the waters off the coast of Anacortes are teeming with wildlife, offering a truly unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts. During our unforgettable stay at the Majestic Inn & Spa , we were truly captivated by the sheer beauty and charm of the inn. The rooms, spacious and elegantly adorned, offered a haven of comfort and ensuring a restful night's sleep that left us rejuvenated and ready to embrace our ocean adventures the next day. One of the highlights was the rooftop evening reception. As we savored delectable drinks, we were treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of the sun setting over the glistening ocean waters. The sight was nothing short of mesmerizing! Overall, Anacortes is a hidden gem that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences. Whether you are seeking a peaceful retreat or an action-packed getaway, Anacortes has something for everyone to enjoy. Spirit of Orca Whale Watching Tour The first thing that drew my attention to the Spirit of Orcas Whale Watching Tour was the smaller, more intimate group size. I didn't want to feel crowded on a boat that disrupts the peaceful experience. I wasn't interested in struggling for a spot by the railing or feeling like just a statistic. I wanted a company that showed deep respect for the ocean and its wildlife, and one that could offer an educational aspect to our journey. Our experience with Ken exceeded my expectations. I easily made the booking through his website . Ken, a naturalist and strong advocate for ocean wildlife, was exactly as my research had indicated. In addition to his passion for the environment, I appreciated supporting a local, small business. Communication was primarily through email, with clear and simple directions provided. Locating the marina and Ken's boat was straightforward, and we were warmly greeted by Ken and his wife upon arrival. Our Ocean Encounters and Family Adventures Aboard the Spirit of Orca Once we boarded the Spirit of Orca and settled in, Ken welcomed and provided a brief safety talk to ensure everyone's well-being during the journey. As we set off, the anticipation of exploring the Salish Sea and the picturesque island coastlines filled us with excitement. The Salish Sea, a stunning body of water located in the Pacific Northwest, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and breathtaking natural beauty. As we cruised through the Salish Sea, the tranquil waters glistened under the sun, offering a peaceful setting for observing the marine life that calls this region home. The San Juan Islands, a collection of idyllic islands dotted throughout the sea, provided a captivating backdrop for our adventure. Each island we passed by revealed its unique charm, from lush forests to rugged coastlines. Best of all, our journey gave us the opportunity to witness a variety of wildlife, from Bald Eagles perched on tall branches, to playful seals basking in the sun on rocky shores, and my favorite, majestic orcas gracefully swimming along the coastline. Sighting 1 - Majestic Bald Eagles We were only on day 4 of our adventure through the Pacific Northwest, but we had yet spotted the elusive bald eagle! After expressing our wish to spot one to Ken, he worked his magic and made it happen! As we cruised along the forested shoreline, we were treated to our first sighting of these majestic American icons. The eagle sat gracefully amidst the lush evergreen branches, showcasing its vibrant yellow beak and striking white crown. Bald eagles are a magnificent sight to behold. These majestic birds of prey are not only iconic symbols of strength and freedom but also play a crucial role in the ecosystem. With their impressive wingspan and sharp talons, they soar through the skies, hunting for fish and small mammals with incredible precision. Washington is known for being a prime habitat for these remarkable creatures, offering them ample opportunities to thrive in their natural environment. Today, conservation efforts have helped protect and preserve the population of Bald Eagles in Washington, ensuring that future generations can continue to witness their awe-inspiring presence in the wild. Sighting 2 - Curious Seals and Juvenile Bald Eagles No ocean adventure would be complete without a glimpse of a seal / sea lion -- to be honest, I had never grasped the distinction until we traveled through the Pacific Northwest! Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, but they belong to different families. One of the main differences between the two is their ability to move on land -- seals move by flopping along the ground, while sea lions are able to rotate their hind flippers forward and walk on all fours. Sea lions have visible ear flaps, while seals have small ear holes. Seals tend to be more solitary creatures, spending most of their time in the water and coming ashore mainly to breed and molt. Sea lions, on the other hand, are more social animals, often forming groups on land and engaging in vocal communication. As we approached another island coastline, we were greeted by small eyes peeking out from the water's surface - our first encounter with a seal! A brief glance at the shore unveiled more seals basking in the sun and curiously observing us from the water, accompanied by two bald eagles resting on a log. This amazing little island also showed us young bald eagles in different phases of growth, each characterized by their brown bodies and wings with a varying mix of brown and white feathers. As we continued our journey around the island, we observed mature bald eagles enjoying a meal that appeared to be a seal pup. The girls were at a safe distance, so they were spared any graphic details. Nevertheless, we took the opportunity to educate them about the natural cycle of life and the interdependence of animals in the food chain. Despite the initial reaction of it being "gross", witnessing these animals in their native environment was undeniably an extraordinary experience! Sighting 3 - Playful Orcas Orcas, also known as killer whales, are magnificent marine mammals that belong to the dolphin family. These highly intelligent creatures are easily recognizable by their distinctive black and white coloring, as well as their sleek and powerful bodies that can reach lengths of up to 32 feet. Orcas are found in oceans all around the world, from the icy waters of the Arctic to the warm seas of the tropics. With its reputation as an outdoor paradise, Anacortes was the perfect location to check off this one off my bucket list! The tour operators collaborate to explore different areas and exchange information about whale sightings (we had a similar encounter in Depoe Bay, Oregon). We were close by exploring an area to the north when we received a call informing us about the first orca sighting of the day! Excitement surged as we headed south towards the San Juan Channel to check it out. Ken diligently adhered to all regulations to ensure these magnificent creatures had the necessary space to swim and interact with each other. From our safe distance, we observed a pod of 5 orcas swimming along the forested shoreline. This particular pod was identified as T109A. One of the most fascinating aspects of orcas is their complex social structure. They live in tight-knit family groups called pods, led by a matriarch who plays a crucial role in guiding the pod's behavior and decision-making. Within these pods, orcas communicate through a sophisticated system of clicks, whistles, and calls, allowing them to coordinate hunting strategies and maintain social bonds. They are skilled hunters, using their intelligence and teamwork to catch prey effectively. Despite their reputation as apex predators, orcas are also playful animals, often engaging in acrobatic displays and social interactions that showcase their agility and intelligence. We observed a particularly playful young orca breaching (jumping out of the water and landing with a big splash), belly flops, and tail splashing before they moved out into deeper water and played peek-a-boo with some spy-hops (staying upright in the water to look around). Words cannot express how amazing this experience was! The Family Verdict Anacortes is on my list of places we would love to visit again, and we would eagerly embark on another ocean adventure with Ken and the Spirit of Orca! We would bring more layers for the girls, as they did get a little chilly when the boat reached higher speeds. However, even Spider Monkey, who typically does not love anything boat-related (unless it is a giant cruise boat), had an fantastic time. For me, our ocean encounters and family adventures aboard the Spirit of Orca was a bucket list adventure that I will never forget! Follow along as I explain each leg of our adventures through the Pacific Northwest!

Discover unforgettable family adventures in North Cascades National Park! Join our crazy crew as we embark on an epic journey to explore the breathtaking landscape and mesmerizing waterways of this untamed wilderness. Our 2024 summer roadtrip took us to the amazing Pacific Northwest. On the third day, our trusty rental car, affectionately named the "Iron Dragon" by the girls, took us 175 miles from the Alta Loge   near Mount Rainier National Park to the western entrance of North Cascades National Park. Initially, I had planned to enter the park from the east after exploring the North Cascade Loop through Leavenworth and Winthrop, Washington. However, wildfires are a common occurrence in the North Cascades during the summer, often causing road closures. So when it came time to shorten our lengthy itinerary, the extra 300 miles of travel was trimmed off. What is the North Cascades? The Cascade Mountains form a grand volcanic range that extends from British Columbia in Canada through Washington, Oregon, and down to Northern California. Situated within this range is the North Cascades National Park, which covers more than 600,000 acres of rugged mountain peaks, majestic lakes, and dense forests. Known for its over 300 glaciers and some of the most challenging terrains in the United States, the North Cascades is often called the "American Alps." This region boasts a wide variety of plant and animal species, including 75 mammal species, 21 reptile and amphibian species, 200 bird species, 28 fish species, and over 500 species of land insects, making it one of the most biodiverse areas in North America. Despite its natural beauty and biodiversity, North Cascades NP remains one of the least visited national parks in the US. Our Family Adventures through the North Cascades NP Early in the morning, we embarked on our 3 hour journey to North Cascade National Park, heading towards the park's western boundary and the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20). Due to the vast expanse of the park, our intention was to relish the picturesque drive along the North Cascades Highway, pausing at various scenic viewpoints, engaging in a few small hikes, and enjoying a chilling adventure from the shore of Lake Diablo. While I had initially planned to partake in a boat tour on Diablo Lake , these tours were solely available from Thursday to Monday, with the schedule being unveiled only in May. Park Information: Best time to visit: summer (mid-June through September) Hours: 24 hours year-round Entry Fees: no entrance fee (but, some trails require a Northwest Forest Park pass) Cell Service: very limited Disclaimer: Always make sure to check out the latest information from the park's website before you arrive. Stop 1 - Rockport Heading east on the North Cascades Highway towards Rockport, we traced the path of the Skagit River closely. In the winter, bald eagles congregate along the upper Skagit River to feed on salmon, particularly between Concrete and Marblemount. Despite our summer visit, we briefly paused at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport (located just west of the SR-530 bridge) in search of wildlife. Although we didn't spot any bald eagles, we still appreciated the stunning scenery. After leaving Rockport, we proceeded on the North Cascades Highway towards Marblemount. This is the last opportunity to refuel before venturing into the park, as there are no gas stations in Newhalem or any other location within the park boundaries along the highway. Following Marblemount, the nearest refueling point is Winthrop, to the east of the park. Stop 2 - North Cascades NP Visitor Center & Newhalem The North Cascades National Park Complex comprises three park areas: North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. As we journey east of Marblemount, we bid farewell to civilization and venture into the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, which stretches along the Skagit River and Ross Lake's shoreline, extending north to the Canadian border in an L-shape. This area is the most easily accessible part of the North Cascades National Park Complex, encompassing the North Cascades Highway and three reservoirs: Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Gorge Lake. We stopped briefly at the Visitor Center for maps and up-to-date park information. There are also several short accessible interpretive trails in the area. The Visitor Center is a couple miles from the town of Newhalem. In this area, you can see houses that were constructed to accommodate the workers of Seattle City Light's hydroelectric complex in the canyon to the east of the town. You can also find an information center and the Skagit General Store. To the north, you'll come across a Baldwin steam locomotive that was in service on the City Light railway between 1924 and 1954. Following Main Street, you will find a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Skagit River. On the other side of the river, the Trail of the Cedars winds half a mile through an old-growth western red cedar grove. Starting from the Newhalem end of the suspension bridge, another trail runs along a road eastward to a footbridge crossing the Skagit River, which takes you to the Gorge Powerhouse, the oldest of the City Light plants. Stop 3 - Colonial Creek Campground Seattle City Light operates the 3 dams to harness power from the Skagit River for the Seattle area. These dams also form a chain of teal lakes -- Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Gorge Lake. The North Cascades Highway follows the Skagit River and provides overlooks to view each dam and the amazing lakes as it winds through the mountains. Located right under Diablo Dam is the small town of Diablo, which has a population of 50 residents! Similar to Newhalem, Diablo features houses that were built to house the employees of Seattle City Light's hydroelectric complex. Standing at a height of 389 feet, Diablo Dam was the tallest arch-type dam when it was completed in 1930. The Diablo Dam was the end of the road into the park, until the mountain section of the North Cascades Highway opened in 1971. Just after passing the Diablo Dam, we made a stop at the Colonial Creek Campground. Here, visitors can also reach Diablo Lake and admire the initial views of its stunning emerald green waters. This experience was particularly exciting for the girls! Despite the frigid temperature of the water, its mesmerizing color created unforgettable memories. Stop 4 - Diablo Lake As the road winds along the southern inlet of Diablo Lake, it eventually leads up to Diablo Lake Overlook. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Diablo Lake, nestled amidst steep, forested slopes. The unique teal color of Diablo Lake is a result of rock flour, an incredibly fine sediment. High up in the mountains, glaciers slowly grind against the rock, creating this fine powder which is then carried by glacial meltwater into the lake. The particles of rock flour are so tiny that they can remain suspended in the water for extended periods. While water typically reflects blue light, the suspended particles in Diablo Lake reflect green light and absorb other wavelengths, resulting in the lake's striking milky teal hue. Our time spent here admiring the glistening sun dancing on the water left us completely mesmerized. Tip: There is a hidden trail near the overlook! Located between the restroom facilities in the overlook parking area, you will discover a stack of rocks obstructing a narrow, dusty pathway amidst the trees. By crossing over these rocks and following the trail downwards, you will reach an unobstructed viewpoint overlooking the lake. Just remember to maintain a safe distance from the edge! Stop 5 - Happy Creek Nature Trail Located just before reaching the Ross Lake Overlooks, there is a small pull-off area that serves as the starting point for the Happy Creek Trail. This trail, although short in length, offers a delightful experience as it winds through an old growth section of the North Cascades. The path is a harmonious blend of an accessible boardwalk and a well-maintained hardened dirt trail, ensuring that hikers of all abilities can enjoy the serene surroundings. As we meandered along the trail, we were greeted by the gentle babbling of Happy Creek, which added a soothing soundtrack to our nature walk. The towering moss-covered trees created a mystical atmosphere, transporting us to a tranquil woodland straight out of a fairytale. The interplay of light filtering through the canopy above, the earthy scent of damp soil, and the symphony of bird songs overhead all contribute to a multi-sensory experience that immersed us in the wonders of the North Cascades. Happy Creek Trail Details: Start: Milepost 134.5 Distance: 0.3 mile Loop Difficulty: Easy Approximate Time: 15-20 minutes Near the back of the boardwalk is a 1.3 mile spur trail that leads to a small waterfall. This part of the trail is moderate to difficult, with more of an elevation change. Stop 6 - Ross Lake Ross Dam, standing at an impressive height of 540 feet, was constructed between 1937 and 1940. Serving as the cornerstone of the Skagit River Project, this dam plays a pivotal role in harnessing the power of nature to meet the energy needs of the region, providing over 20% of Seattle's power requirements. Ross Lake is a beautiful lake surrounded by impressive mountain scenery. Although the viewpoints may not offer the most spectacular sights, the lake's tranquil shores offer secluded spots where visitors can engage in water activities. As the sun began its descent, we bid farewell to North Cascade National Park and set our sights on Anacortes, Washington, descending the mountains and exiting through the western edge of the park. The Family Verdict Our family adventure in North Cascade National Park was a tapestry of beauty, discovery, and family bonding. From the towering peaks to the tranquil lakes, each moment was a testament to the wonders of the natural world. Planning our adventure in North Cascades NP proved to be quite challenging for me. The limited options for tours and water activities, except for those available at Ross Lake Resort or the park campground, coupled with the park's remote location from neighboring towns, posed unexpected difficulties. I believe the girls would have enjoyed spending the night in the park and engaging in more water activities. One day was just not enough time. Follow along as I explain each leg of our adventures through the Pacific Northwest!

Join adventure-loving crew as we immerse ourselves in the stunning natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest and embark on unforgettable family adventures in Mount Rainier National Park! Our 2024 summer roadtrip took us to the amazing Pacific Northwest. After our mid-morning arrival in Seattle, we picked up our trusty new minivan, dubbed the “Iron Dragon” by the girls. We stocked it with snacks and and waters before setting off on our adventures. After a short exploration and overnight in Seattle, we started our 2300-mile trek through the mountainous terrain in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Our first stop .... Mount Rainier National Park. What is Mount Rainier? Mount Rainier stands like a silent guardian with its snow-capped peak rising to a height of 14,410 feet. Despite its serene appearance, this towering mountain is actually an active volcano!  Mt. Rainier is home to over 25 glaciers, making it the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. These glaciers have been forming and retreating for thousands of years, shaping the iconic landscape of the mountain.  With its rugged slopes and icy glaciers, Mt. Rainier is both a beautiful spectacle and a formidable force of nature, commanding respect and awe from all who lay eyes upon it. Our Family Adventures Through Mount Rainier NP The following morning, we set out early on a scenic drive surrounded by verdant trees and glistening lakes, while the engaging tales from our Shaka Audio Tour guide set the stage for the day's exploration through Mt Rainier National Park. The 1.5 hour drive brought us closer to nature, allowing us to relax and soak in the beauty of the journey. With each mile we covered, the anticipation grew, knowing that we were about to immerse ourselves in the stunning landscapes of Mt Rainier National Park. Timed Entry Requirements To control crowds entering the park, Mt. Rainier NP requires a timed entry pass for summer/fall visits (specific dates below) between 7 am and 3 pm. You can enter before 7 am or after 3 pm without a timed entry. A separate timed entry is required for each area. Paradise Corridor Timed Entry: Entrances: Nisqually Entrance (coming from the southwest / Seattle area) and Stevens Canyon Entrance (coming from the southeast / Packwood area) Dates Required: May 24 through September 2 Entry Times: 7 am - 3 pm June Reservations Open: February 21 at 8 am PT July Reservations Open: April 1 at 8 am PT August Reservations Open: May 1 at 8 am PT Sunrise Corridor Timed Entry: Entrance:  White River Entrance (coming from the northeast / Enumclaw area) Dates Required: July 4 through September 2 Entry Times:  7 am - 3 pm All Reservations Open: April 1 at 8 am PT The park will release tickets first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov   in the blocks mentioned above. These sell fast! So I recommend being online, logged in and ready the morning of the release. Paradise / morning times sell the fastest, so I secured our early Paradise entry first. Then used Dustin's account to secure our afternoon Sunrise entry (it would not let me get 2 reservations under the same account). Disclaimer : Always make sure to check out the latest information from the park's website before you arrive. Stop 1 - Ashford and the Nisqually Park Entrance Since there is no gas available in the massive park, we made a pit stop in the little town of Ashford, WA, to refuel the Iron Dragon before continuing on to the Nisqually park entrance. With our 7-9 am timed entry into the Paradise Corridor we began our trek through the park. There was a very short line at the entrance, that moved quickly. Once inside, we began the drive through the Paradise Corridor.  As we drove along the winding roads, towering trees and majestic mountain peaks greeted us at every turn. Stop 2 - Longmire Area and the Trail of Shadows Our first stop was in Longmire area. Originally established as a tourist destination in the late 1800s, the Longmire area, now takes visitors on a journey through a historic landscape dotted with remnants of the area's past.  We followed the Trail of Shadows, a short loop that gave us an opportunity to appreciate the history and nature of the area. From the Longmire Ranger Station area, we crossed the main road to the trailhead. Along the trail, a sign marks the old site of the Longmire Medical Springs Resort. The resort was established in 1890 by James Longmire, an explorer and settler of the West. After the trail junction is the first rock-ringed hot springs, Soda Springs. In winter, the springs are the only water around that’s not frozen and snow-covered. Many of these springs temperatures range from 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These springs were once thought to have healing properties, and Longmire’s resort was a huge attraction for tourists hoping for relief from a variety of ailments. Visitors paid eight dollars per week to stay at the resort and bathe in the springs. Next we came to a small log cabin. The cabin is a restoration of the one Longmire’s son Ecaine built in this spot as housing for the Longmire Hot Springs Resort staff. Ecaine continued the tourist business inspired by the hot springs after his father’s death in 1897, but the family business began to taper off when Mount Rainier was designated as the nation’s fifth national park in 1899, and it ended in 1915 with Ecaine’s death. Soon after, the property was sold to the park. Following the trail a little farther we came to a second spring, named “Iron Mike,” for its rusty color. Water now at the springs began its journey high up on Rainier and gradually filtered down into the ground and down the mountain. Warmed by geothermal heat, the hot water dissolves iron as it passes through underground rocks and earth. Next, the hot water mixes with colder groundwater before appearing in the spring. As the dissolved iron in the water is exposed to air, it oxidizes, literally rusting in the stream. Trail of Shadows Details: Start:  Behind the Longmire Ranger Station Distance:  0.75 miles Difficulty:  Easy Approximate Time:  30-45 minutes Stop 3 - Christine Falls From Longmire, we followed the twisting Steven’s Canyon Road to Christine Falls. Christine Falls is a 60-foot plunging waterfall framed by a historic arched bridge. There is a small pullout on either side of the bridge over the falls. The best way to view this waterfall is to park and walk down the short path to the overlook below the stone bridge. Stop 4 - Narada Falls We continued along Steven’s Canyon Road to Narada Falls.  The trail is 0.2-mile (0.4 mile round-trip) with a steep, 200-foot descent. At the end of the short trail, the entire 168-foot-high waterfall is visible.  Narada Falls were much more impressive than Christine Falls and well worth the steep climb back up. Stop 5 - Paradise Corridor Visitor Center We continued up the twisting road to the Paradise Corridor Visitor Center, where the girls got their Junior Ranger badges.  Paradise is famous for its glorious views and wildflower meadows. When James Longmire's daughter-in-law, Martha, first saw this site, she exclaimed, "Oh, what a paradise!"  From the back of the Visitors Center you get spectacular views of the volcano and the iconic granite steps, inscribed with the 1889 quote from conservationist John Muir who described Paradise as "...the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings." The Nisqually Vista / Wildflower trail is a very family-friendly trail that starts behind the Visitor Center, atop the granite steps. The trail is paved and follows a lollypop-like shape. Continue down the path and choose to go clockwise or counter-clockwise around the loop. There are viewpoints of the volcano and fields of wildflowers. Nisqually Vista Trail Details: Start:  behind the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center Distance:  1.2 miles Difficulty:  Easy Approximate Time:  1 hr Stop 6 - Reflection Lakes Our next stop was the iconic Reflection Lake. This popular destination is named for lakes that reflect views of Mt. Rainier.  The best views are on the far right of the parking area before 9 am. We arrived closer to 10/10:30 but still caught a glimpse of the iconic reflection. Stop 7 - Crystal Mountain Resort Gondola We did not have any longer hikes planned in the park since we hoped to see both the Paradise and Sunset Corridor in the same day. So after leaving Reflection Lake we started the journey along Steven’s Canyon Road and WA-123 to the northwestern side of the park. Our timed entry for Sunset did not start until 1 pm, so we detoured to Crystal Mountain Resort for a gondola ride and lunch. The ride, while pricey, was worth it for the spectacular views of Mt Saint Helens, Mt Adams, Mt Rainier and the surrounding peaks. Lunch at the summit was excellent and reasonably priced. Summer Scenic Gondola: Days: June 28-Sept. 2 Hours: Mondays-Thursdays: 10am-5pm Fridays: 9am-6pm Saturdays: 9am-8pm Sundays: 9am-6pm Address: 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd., Enumclaw, WA 98022 Price: Adults $49 | Children (5-12): $39 Stop 8 - Sunset Corridor We returned to the park and entered the Sunset Corridor from the White River Entrance. The canyon road leaves you inches from the steep cliffs as you twist up to the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park (at an elevation of 6,400 feet).  From the Visitor’s Center we took in breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and Emmons Glacier. Stop 9 - Alta Loge After a long day of adventures, we left Mt Rainer for our nearby accommodations at Alta Loge . The accommodations were very close and convenient. Best of all, they were clean and quiet. The girls loved having a pool right outside our unit. Our unit had a small kitchen area, fireplace, full bathroom, and enough space for the 4 of us. The Family Verdict Mount Rainier NP is so beautiful! We were very fortunate to have amazing weather so we could see the mountain in all of its glory. July was unseasonably warm during our visit, and the mountain is often covered in clouds / fog. That said, our visit was perfect! I would have preferred to split our visit into 2 days, allowing for extra time to explore the trails. But, our time was limited so we covered both corridors in 1 day. Other than a lot of driving time to cover the enormous park, our crew gave the visit a big thumbs up. Follow along as I explain each leg of our adventures through the Pacific Northwest!

Discover unforgettable family adventures in Niagara Falls, Canada! Join our adventure-loving crew as we dive into thrilling activities and explore the majestic falls. What is Niagara Falls? When I first started researching for our family adventure, I had heard of a “Canadian side” and a “US side”.  Once I dove in (pun intended), I was surprised to learn that Niagara Falls is actually a group of three waterfalls!  The bigger and more majestic Horseshoe Falls (aka the Canadian Falls) is the iconic falls you see in all the postcards.  Horseshoe Falls straddles the international border of Canada and the United States.   The other two falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls lie within the United States.  Bridal Veil Falls looks like a small side waterfall from the larger American Falls.  The Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and American Falls by Luna Island.   Our Family Adventures Through Niagara Falls Canada We decided to stay on the Canadian side of the Falls since they offered many more opportunities for adventures and exploration.  Our complete itinerary for our family adventures in Niagara Falls Canada is outlined below. Day 1 – Travel & Niagara Parks Power Station To begin our Canadian Niagara Falls vacation, we flew into Buffalo, New York and hired Buffalo Airport Shuttle to take us from the airport, across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada, and to our hotel by the Falls.  They were very easy to work with.  We booked online, prepaid (including tip) and received immediate confirmation.  A minivan was waiting for us in the limo lot outside of arrivals at the airport.  The transfer took about 1.5 hours.  Luckily, a room was ready for us at Hilton Niagara Fallsview , and we were able to drop our luggage off in our 43rd floor room.  The room provided amazing views of both the American and Canadian Falls!  The hotel is huge and very full of people.  On the plus side, it offered everything, including an amazing location, great views, restaurants, pools, shopping.  On the negative side, we had to factor in elevator waiting / travel time to account for all the people and floors. After checking in, we walked to the Table Rock Center to pick up our Niagara Parks Adventure Passes .  We pre-purchased the Adventure Plus passes, which included almost all of the activities we had planned, bus passes, the Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle, and passes on the Falls Inclined Railway.  My plan was to start at one end of the parkway and move our way to the other (and beyond) as our trip progressed.  We walked further down Niagara Parkway to the Niagara Parks Power Station (included in our Adventure Plus passes).  Construction of the power station began in 1901 and it opened in July 1905 with 5 turbines and generators based on a design by Nikola Tesla. Water from the Niagara River would enter and drop 180 feet before being expelled into a 2,000 foot tunnel that emptied into the lower Niagara River at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. The power station was closed in 2006, but re-opened in 2021 as a tourist site.   We explored the exhibits in the museum and witnessed an electrifying Tesla Coil demonstration before descending in a glass-paneled elevator to the tunnel. With our light blue ponchos on, we stepped out to experience the sheer power and majesty of the awe-inspiring Horseshoe Falls. From the observation deck, we were treated to breathtaking views right at the base of the Falls! What an unforgettable experience!  We finished our evening with a spectacular dinner at the renowned Table Rock House Restaurant ,  boasting breathtaking views overlooking the majestic Horseshoe Falls, followed by an adventure up the Falls Inclined Railway (included in our Adventure Plus passes).   Day 2 – Niagara’s Fury, Journey Behind the Falls & Voyage to the Falls Cruise I had planned today to be a day of getting wet!  Our first couple of adventures were at the Table Rock House Center.  We started at Niagara’s Fury , a 4D movie experience (included in our Adventure Plus passes).  We were handed our dark blue ponchos and watched a short introduction movie on a small screen above the doors before heading into the theater.  The experience transports you back in time to witness the magnificent creation of the Falls, with water splashing, waves moving, and even snowfall adding to the magic! Buttercup found a place right next to the water pool, getting a little extra wet, while the rest of us managed to stay relatively dry. After our 4D experience,  we went downstairs to the Journey Behind the Falls (included in our Adventure Plus passes).  After grabbing a new yellow poncho, the elevator takes you down 125 feet to a bedrock tunnel, providing two viewing portals down one side.  These give you a glimpse of the sheer power of the Horseshoe Falls as a massive sheet of water rushes over the portal.  Down the other tunnel lies the entrance to the observation deck, which offers a breathtaking new perspective of the Falls!  It is higher than the Power Plant viewpoint at the base of the Falls, but much lower than the viewpoints from the top of the falls.  Those ponchos came in handy protecting us from the constant mist raining down on us from the Falls. From the Table Rock House Center, we walked down Niagara Parkway, taking in the beautiful sights as we made our way to the Niagara City Cruises.  Since we were on the Canadian side, we were taking the Voyage to the Falls (aka Hornblower) cruise to the base of the falls.  A similar experience is offered on the US side through the Maid of the Mist.  While I have not been on the Maid of the Mist, my research and observations lead me to believe that there is very little difference between the two (other than the color of the poncho).  I pre-ordered our tickets, but we would have been fine walking up to purchase tickets the day of.  The weather was cloudy, so there were hardly any lines.  We were given our iconic red ponchos and were ushered onto the next boat.  The tour takes you close to the base of all three falls, spending the bulk of your time at the Horseshoe Falls.  From the deck of the boat, you can feel the tremendous power of the Falls and while getting soaked by the mist.  After getting soaked, we made our way back to the hotel to shower and rest before dinner at the Skylon Tower .  Dinner was good, but the cost seemed to align more with the breathtaking views than slightly worn building and dirty arcade area we passed through while queuing for the elevators.   Day 3 – Kid’s Day at Clifton Hill We designated day 3 as a kid’s day with activities at Clifton Hill .  We pre-purchased the Fun Pass, which included the SkyWheel, Movieland Wax Museum, Ghost Blasters Dark Ride, Zombie Attack Ride, either Carnival Chaos or Toy Store 4D ride, and either Wizards’ or Dinosaur Adventure Golf.  The attractions each open at different times, but nothing was open prior to 10:30 am -- a pretty late start for our early-rising crew.  We kicked off our day with the SkyWheel and explored the area, enjoying a fantastic lunch at Kelseys Roadhouse . The 3D/4D shooting-style rides were a thrilling experience, although some were a bit rough on the back. To make the most of our day, we also took a spin around the Speedway, spent time in the arcade, and wrapped up with some much-needed retail therapy. We wrapped up the evening with some a relaxing swim in the hotel pool before pizza and a movie in the hotel room. Snuggled up in our PJs, we were treated to a spectacular view of the evening light show over the falls and the dazzling 10 pm fireworks before drifting off to sleep. A perfect way to end the day!   Day 4 -  Bird Kingdom, White Water Walk, Whirlpool Aero Car & the Butterfly Conservatory We ventured further down Niagara Parkway today, starting at Bird Kingdom .  Buttercup, our resident bird enthusiast, had been buzzing with excitement (and a touch of impatience) ever since catching sight of the colossal sign as we crossed into Canada. Bird Kingdom proudly boasts itself as the “World’s Largest Free-Flying Indoor Aviary.” I must confess, I had no clue what we were getting ourselves into. As we ventured through the first rooms, we found ourselves meandering through a peculiar mix of exhibits, including a mini museum about the Falls and some seemingly random displays of aquatic creatures. I'll admit, my initial reaction was one of impending doom - "Oh no, Buttercup is going to be so disappointed!" But lo and behold, as we ventured further we found a room filled with the melodic chirps and squawks of our feathered friends. Breathing a sigh of relief, we explored the various aviaries until we reached the "Base Camp" where four beautiful parrots awaited us. The girls gleefully interacted with the colorful chatterboxes and engaged in lively conversations with the caretaker. Armed with our bird encounter tickets, each girl selected a parrot to perch upon their arm. It was a truly unforgettable experience, complete with heartwarming moments captured in some truly adorable photos!  Then we made our way to the main aviary, which may live up to its claim to be the world’s largest.  It was huge, but well maintained.  The girls spent a great deal of time wandering through the path and interacting with the different birds.  At the back of the aviary is a caged  area for the Lorikeet feeding.  Each of us was given a tiny metal cup to hold.  The bird immediately knew food was coming and made their way over to us.  A small amount of food is poured into each cup and the birds swarm it.  The entire process is over in less than 5 minutes, so you needed to be pretty quick to grab any photos.  Some birds hung around afterwards, but most left as soon as the food was gone.  We had done similar feedings at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida and at various zoos, but this one was probably the quickest and least intimate of all of them.   We hitched a ride on the WEGO (the local bus, which was included in our Adventure Plus passes) to the entrance of the White Water Walk .  My expectations were low for this stop, but hey, it was included in our Adventure Plus passes, so why not? I imagined just a simple walk above the river, nothing new.  However, the boardwalk area blew me away! You start by taking an elevator down through the bedrock to a viewing platform.  From the platform, you follow the wooden boardwalk a quarter mile down and back.  There are several informational signs and smaller viewing platforms along the path.  Along the boardwalk, you get amazing views of the Class 6 rapids – i.e., Class 6 is the highest ranking for crazy, “you can’t take a boat on this” type rapids.   From the White Water Walk, we rode the WEGO to the Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory (included in our Adventure Plus passes).  The girls are huge butterfly enthusiasts, so the gardens didn't capture their full attention. The attraction boasts a vast indoor area where more than 2,000 butterflies fluttering amidst lush greenery. Having previously visited a comparable site in Colorado – The Butterfly Pavilion, we weren't as awestruck as we could have been. Similar to the Bird Kingdom aviary, the Butterfly Conservatory features winding paths through the foliage. The girls enjoyed observing and patiently waiting for butterflies to land on them. Our last stop of the day was the Whirlpool Aero Car.   This was also included in Adventure Plus passes, but you need to make a timed reservation to participate.  We stopped and made a reservation before heading to the Butterfly Conservatory.  The Whirlpool Aero Car is a giant red metal cable car suspended 200 feet above the crazy Class 6 rapids were viewed earlier in the day.  We were surprised to learn that the system has been in use since 1916!  The views were amazing and it was a pretty cool experience.  But, there is only one cable car and it only holds 35 people at a time.  So even with timed reservations, we still ended up waiting in line for over an hour.   For dinner, we stayed in the hotel and tried Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse .  It was a beautiful atmosphere and filled the expectations of a typical Brazilian steakhouse – pricey, but everyone left very full.   Day 5 – Niagara-on-the-Lake, Whirlpool Jet Boat & Zipline Niagara Falls We planned to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake for a morning adventure and lunch.  Little did I know, embarking on this journey by bus would turn into a drawn out odyssey of public transportation! We took the WEGO to the last stop on the Niagara line (the Floral Clock ), and then waited for the elusive special shuttle that shows up just once an hour. Time seemed to stretch into eternity! Finally, we boarded the shuttle, made it to the last stop, and strolled to the historic Queen Street District. The architecture was stunning, the flowers were blooming, and the Memorial Clock Tower was like a scene from a blockbuster movie. But hey, the kids weren't feeling the charm of the town or the sudden influx of senior citizens taking over the place as the morning wore on. Personally, I was eyeing those shops and dreaming of exploring the wineries, but alas, that'll have to wait for my "must return" list.   After an unappealing lunch, we took a Lyft to the dock for our scheduled Whirlpool Jet Boat tour .  I pre-booked a combined ticket that included the boat and a zip lining adventure with Zipline to the Falls .  Only the boat came with a scheduled departure time.  The zip line voucher could be used at any time.  We were advised to bring a complete change of clothing for after the boat ride – I can see why!  You get completely soaked, but it is so worth it!  Because of the size of the girls, we were seated in the middle row of the boat.  The crazy people in the front got drenched with every maneuver.  The jet boats are custom made with a flat bottom and special engines to navigate through Class 5 rapids.  They run multiple boat rides every day (with a similar option being offered from the US side), so the entire operation runs very well – from the narration, the maneuvers, the showmanship, and the safety precautions.  This experience was my favorite of the trip! After the exhilarating jet boat ride, we decided to take a Lyft back to the hotel. Dropping off our bags, we quickly made our way to the zip line for our final, thrilling adventure of the trip! Thanks to completing our waivers online, we breezed through the check-in process with minimal wait time. After getting our vouchers checked and being weighed, we were geared up with helmets and ready to go! The excitement was palpable, especially from the girls. I couldn't help but wonder how Spider Monkey would handle the height once we started. With Spider Monkey sandwiched between Dustin and I, we were off! Once they set us free, we were zooming above the falls. With her small size, Spider Monkey trailed behind. To my surprise, she had an absolute blast! Now, she can't stop asking when we can go zip lining again. What a thrilling experience!   The Family Verdict Niagara Falls was the perfect combination of crazy adventure and beautiful surroundings!  The commercial area surrounding the falls was very clean and well maintained.  That changed once you head over towards the Clifton Hill area, but I never felt unsafe.  The Canadian side has a lot to offer, and received a big thumbs up from our crew! Follow along on our other amazing family adventures at www.adventureisinoursouls.com . Adventure is in Our Souls Join the Adventure www.adventureisinoursouls.com All rights reserved. © 2024 Adventure Is In Our Souls

Discover the best family adventures in Guatapé, Colombia! Join our adventure-loving crew as we leave the hustle of the city behind to explore the Colombian countryside. After an incredible 5 days filled with unforgettable adventures in vibrant Medellín, we decided to swap the bustling energy and fast pace of the City of Eternal Springs for the serene and picturesque countryside of Guatapé! We embarked on a thrilling journey a few hours northeast, winding through the breathtaking mountains until we reached our peaceful sanctuary at the Boato Hotel. Nestled along the tranquil reservoir, each family is treated to their own private Lare (or home), ensuring a truly exclusive and idyllic retreat experience. Why Guatapé? Colombia is bursting with vibrant experiences beyond what we've seen in movies and travel magazines! Medellín was absolutely incredible, but it was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Colombian wonders. Eager for a change of pace, we set out to uncover the hidden gems of this amazing country. And oh boy, did we hit the jackpot with Guatapé! This charming town may have a touch of touristy flair, but it's the ideal blend of convenience and small-town warmth. We were swept off our feet by Guatapé's colorful vibe and incredibly friendly locals! Our Family Adventures In Guatapé, Colombia After leaving the bustling streets of Medellín, we were greeted by a breathtaking landscape of vibrant green fields dotted with quaint homes and charming shops. Our journey took an unexpected turn when our driver suggested a spontaneous roadside stop for lunch. Eager to try local delicacies, we agreed and found ourselves at the delightful El Alto del Chocho. As soon as we arrived, the girls couldn't contain their excitement, squealing and jumping with joy at the sight of the outdoor restaurant where friendly llamas and goats welcomed us at the entrance. With buckets of carrots in hand, the girls gleefully fed the animals, hopping from one to another. This hidden gem offered not only mouthwatering Colombian cuisine, but also a warm and inviting ambiance, creating a truly unique dining experience. It quickly became one of Buttercup's most cherished memories from our Colombian adventure! After finally managing to drag the girls away from El Alto del Chocho, we embarked on our remaining journey to the Boato Hotel. I must confess, I had no clue what to expect at this point. The online photos painted a picture of sheer elegance, but let's be real, we've been duped by decade-old photos before. Upon check-in, the hotel staff whisked away our luggage in a golf cart, while another team member guided us down a treacherous path to our humble abode, or as they called it, our "Lare." As we gazed upon the awe-inspiring views of the reservoir and its surroundings, a silent thought lingered in our minds, "How many times will we have to climb this mini mountain again? LOL!" Our Lare turned out to be a cozy haven with two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The space was airy and bright, with expansive windows, a generous back deck, and even a hot tub for some well-deserved relaxation. And the cherry on top? It was nestled amidst lush greenery, offering unparalleled views that made us feel like we were in our own little paradise. We opted for dinner delivery and enjoyed a leisurely evening in the hot tub. The hotel features an on-site restaurant with limited dinner options. Despite its average quality, the restaurant's delivery service to our Lare was convenient. Due to limited nearby dining choices, we made use of the hotel restaurant for both breakfast and dinner throughout our stay. Day 2 - Exploring the Town and Reservoir We woke early the next day, bursting with excitement to explore the vibrant town of Guatapé! The reception arranged for local tuk tuks to whisk us away on our adventure. In no time, these charmingly decorated motorcycle-style taxis zoomed towards us along the dusty road. Local transportation is always thrilling, but these tuk tuks took it to a whole new level! With their open sides and just a small armrest-style bar separating us from the passing road, we squeezed one girl between two adults in separate tuk tuks and tried to buckle up for the ride. Our tuk tuk journeys, although sometimes frightening, became a highlight of our time in Guatapé, each trip one offering a heart-pounding yet unforgettable experience! Guatapé truly lives up to its reputation as the "most colorful town" in Colombia. As you stroll through its streets, you are immediately captivated by the vibrant hues that adorn nearly every house, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that is a feast for the eyes. The intricate bas-reliefs adorning the lower parts of the walls are like pieces of art, each telling a unique story through colorful zócalos that reflect the rich history, beliefs, and interests of the area and its locals. Wandering the cobblestone streets of Guatapé is a delightful experience, where every corner reveals a new burst of color and a new story waiting to be discovered. We finally made our way to Plaza de Zócalos, where we were absolutely captivated by the vibrant colors all around us! From the lively Plaza steps to the charming street adorned with colorful umbrellas, the whole scene was just bursting with joy and happiness. It was impossible not to break into a big, beaming smile! After lunch, we decided to ditch the tuk tuks and opted for a boat ride around the reservoir instead. We knew the water level was playing hide and seek, leaving tons of extra shoreline around the reservoir, but as we walked into the marina area, I couldn't help but question our choice. We braved the sandbags and makeshift dock like true adventurers and signed our lives away on waivers. Surprisingly though, the boat was shipshape, and despite the initial doubts, the whole escapade turned out to be a highlight for Spider Monkey. After a safe return to the hotel shores, we decided to keep the adventure going by further immersing ourselves in the beauty of the reservoir through kayaking and paddle boarding. Day 3 - El Peñón de Guatape / La Piedra del Peñol Our plan for our final day in Guatapé was to scale the peak of El Peñón! Well, the actual name of this massive rock depends on who you talk to. The towns of Guatape and El Peñol have been feuding over the ownership of it for years, fueled by the disagreement not only on the rightful name of the rock, with Guatapé residents calling it "El Peñón de Guatapé" and El Peñol residents referring to it as "La Piedra del Peñol", but also on which town it truly belongs to. The rivalry even led to a daring attempt by a Guatape resident to claim the rock with a massive graffiti of GUATAPE on its western face. The painter's enthusiasm was cut short by El Peñol protestors, halting the artistic takeover at the G and part of the U. Regardless of its name, this iconic rock formation stands at an impressive height of over 650 feet, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The journey to the top involves climbing a series of steep stairs built into the rock, each step bringing you closer to the summit and closer to the stunning views awaiting you. From the top, you can see the intricate network of islands and waterways that make up the Guatapé reservoir. An indulgent soak in the hot tub melted away the day's climb. We topped off the evening by toasting marshmallows over the fire as the full moon rose in the sky. As we sat around the fire, enjoying each other's company and the simple pleasures of the moment, we shared our favorite memories and reflected on our journey. Our last evening was a perfect blend of relaxation, natural beauty, and camaraderie. It was a fitting end to our journey, leaving us with cherished memories that we would carry with us long after the trip had ended. The Family Verdict We loved our family adventures in Guatapé! In Guatapé, every moment is a celebration of color, culture, and creativity. It's a place where history comes alive through art, where flavors dance on your taste buds, and where every street corner holds the promise of a new adventure. Guatapé truly captured our hearts. Follow along on the the first half of our Colombian adventures in Medellín and on our other amazing family adventures at www.adventureisinoursouls.com. Adventure is in Our Souls Join the Adventure www.adventureisinoursouls.com All rights reserved. © 2024 Adventure Is In Our Souls

Discover the best family adventures in Medellín, Colombia! Join our adventure-loving crew as we explore the City of Eternal Spring. Colombia?!? What!?! Let's start with the burning question we received every time we told someone our plan to visit Colombia. When so many people think of Colombia they immediately think "why would you ever want to take your family to visit Colombia?!" and picture drug cartels, kidnappings, and violence. However, we found Medellín, Colombia to be no less safe than visiting Washington DC, Atlanta, Las Vegas or any other city. As with any type of travel, you always have to be aware of your surroundings and practice common sense, but we found the people of Colombia to be so welcoming and never placed our family in a situation where we felt unsafe. Our Family Adventures In Medellín, Colombia Medellín is the capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia province. Known as the "City of Eternal Spring", Medellín has a mild year-round climate. It never gets too hot or cold and the temperature hovers in the 70s Fahrenheit (mid 20s celsius) year-round. Based on recommendations from friends, we stay at the Hotel San Fernando Plaza, located in the area known as the “Golden Mile” (On Avenida El Poblado) within the Financial and Cultural Center. The hotel was fabulous! The staff was so attentive and the breakfast was amazing. Our first day was spent flying from Atlanta to Bogota to Medellín. Our first leg was with Delta, but our second leg was with LATAM (but booked through Delta). One thing to note is that Colombia works on what we have come to call "Colombia time". It is far less rushed and on schedule than the US time we are use to, so expect things to be a little delayed. Our flight to Medellín was no exception. Bogota airport has tons of places to explore and some nice lounges. We enjoyed the Sala VIP LATAM lounge when the girls needed some downtime and explored the stores. Luckily, the flight from Bogota to Medellín was a quick 45+ minutes since it was already dark and the girls were pretty tired when we arrived. Our travel companions arranged transfers with a local service before we left, so we we were able to sit back and enjoy the ride to the hotel. Day 2 - Ciclovia, Local Markets, Metrocable, Parque Arvi & Santa Domingo After breakfast, we spent the morning enjoying Ciclovia and exploring the local markets in Medellín. Originally started in Bogota, Ciclovia encourages fitness and health. The Medellín council closes certain roads (including the main road in front of our hotel) to traffic so that residents have a space for walking, biking and running. Dustin and Buttercup spent their time running, while Spider Monkey and I strolled through the streets. The streets were lined with local markets and vendors. We sampled the amazing street food. My favorite was the arepa (deep-fried sweet cornmeal dough). These vary by region, and in Medellín it is call arepa de queso. It is corn flour and cheese mixed together, flattened, griddled, drizzled with sweetened condensed milk and topped with white quesito. A very close second was the aguapanela con limón (a sugarcane lime drink that they make by squeezing the sugarcanes and limes). After a lunchtime swim, we set off to explore Medellín’s Metrocable. We took a short tax to the nearest metro station (Poblado Station) and then boarded Line A heading north to the Acevedo Station (~17 minute ride). Here, we made a transfer (without leaving the station) to the K Line Metrocable to the Santa Domingo Station (~10 minute ride). Here, we made a second transfer to the L Line Metrocable to Parque Arvi (~17 minute ride). Medellín’s Metrocable, a gondola lift system which carries 30,000 people per day, is easily the best (and most fun!) way to get to Parque Arvi. The slow climb up the steep hillsides provide amazing views! Parque Arvi is both an ecological nature preserve and Pre-Hispanic archeological site on the eastern slopes of Aburrá Valley, in the northeast area of Medellín. Here you can hike, enjoy the markets, sample the food vendors, and learn about the history of the area. Our biggest draw was the experience of getting here via the Metrocable. The park is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 am - 6 pm. After taking in the sights and sampling more amazing food, we made our metro journey in reverse. This time exiting at the Santa Domingo Station and briefly exploring the area. Santa Domingo was once one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods, but has been transformed in recent years. We took in the street art while enjoying a beverage at a local pub. Day 3 - Colombia Coffee Adventures Colombia and coffee go hand-in-hand, so for our third day we adventured 45 minutes outside the city to D'Arrieros Coffee Farm in San Sebastian de Palmitas to learn about the origin of coffee and how it's traditionally prepared and take a horseback ride up to a vista point in the mountains. We arranged this adventure in advance through Viator. The tour started with a very long explanation of the history of coffee and the farm. We were all given traditional hats, aprons, scarves and ponchos. Buttercup was selected as the model to demonstrate how each item was used on the farm. We learned how some farms wash the mucilage from the cherry (the thin layer between the seed and flesh of the fruit) and the wash can be turned into a sweet iced drink. The girls and I were not a huge fan of it (but we also don't like ice tea). Once we were dressed, we walked a short way up the mountain to learn how to pick the fruit. I expected to spend more hands-on time actually picking, but we were finished in a short 5-10 minutes. The collected fruit was put through a hand spun machine that separated the skin from the seed and the seeds were dried. From there we moved to another seating area where we spent almost an hour discussing roasting and sampling coffee before sampling an amazing lunch. We were each given a bag of coffee and a block of panela (unrefined sugarcane that can be dissolved in water to make aguapanela). Then it was time to get matched up with a horse or mule for the ride! We had a large group, so I was unfortunately split up from the girls. This was Spider Monkey's first ride, so it was disappointing. Luckily, they were with our traveling companions, so I did not have to spend my time worrying about them. We trekked up some crazy stone trails and spent some time walking along a road, but the horses never flinched (other to grab some grass when you were not paying attention). Both girls name the ride as one of their favorite memories of the trip. After the ride, our tour was over and we were transported back to Medellín. Overall, the tour was a mixed bag for us. We had a great horseback / mule ride, lunch was amazing, the actual coffee bean picking was fun, but we spent far too much time sitting on hard benches listening to the guide talk about coffee. We definitely learned a lot more about coffee than I ever thought was possible, but the girls tuned it out after the first 45 minutes --and I don't blame them! Day 4 - Pueblito Paisa, Plaza Botero & Comuna 13 We planned to view as much of the city as we could on our last full day in Medellín. Rather than dealing with taxis and the metro, we opted to book a tour. This turned out to be an wonderful idea, as we visited some places we probably would not have otherwise ventured to. Our first stop was Pueblito Paisa. Pueblito Paisa is on Cerro Nutibara, right in the middle of the Medellín, so it is known for its amazing 360 degree views of the city. It is up a long winding road that you can tackle by foot (about a 30 minute walk uphill). At the top you find a life-sized replica of a traditional town in Antioquia. There is a main courtyard with a white church and buildings with brightly colored balconies. There are small restaurants and many shops to stroll through. To see the amazing 360 degree views, you have to enter the small city museum. Unfortunately, the museum was not open during our visit. Our next stop was Plaza Botero. Here we found 23 sculptures by Colombia’s best-loved sculptor, Fernando Botero. Botero is known for his incredibly large statues with exaggerated and voluptuous bodies. The collection here includes cats, dogs, men, women, and even horses. The girls did a lot of laughing as we walked through the plaza. I loved the checkerboard-patterned building in the background of the plaza. I was surprised to learn that it is the Rafael Uribe Palace of Culture, not a church. From Plaza Botero, we took the metro to a different Metrocable line. A little duplicative of our experience from a few days ago, but it was a nice time to relax and take in the views. Then we visited Comuna 13 -- one of my favorite places in Medellín (and one I probably would not have visited if it was not a tour stop). Like Santa Domingo, Comuna 13 use to be one of the most dangerous areas in Medellín. After 2002's Operation Orion raids on Comuna 13, the government has improved the area and installed the escaleras electricas, a series of outdoor escalators that connect the once isolated hillside neighborhood to the city. Once residents felt safe, local artists began covering the area in bright murals and beautiful graffiti. Many murals tell the story of Comuna 13 and depict local heroes. I could have spent hours listening to the artists, watching the dances and taking in the art. We felt completely safe with a guide (and there were many tours going on), but read warning not to venture into the area without one. Day 5 - El Castillo & Transfer to Guatapé The last thing we wanted to squeeze in before leaving Medellín was a visit to Museo El Castillo. It was a quick and inexpensive taxi ride from the hotel. Museo El Castillo is an European/Gothic-style castle built in 1930 by H.M. Rodriguez. It was the residence of Jose Tobon Uribe, and purchased by Diego Echavarria Misas in 1943. Don Diego and Dona Benedikta Zur Nieden remodeled it for the purpose of converting it to a museum and giving it to the city. Today, it is preserved by a non-profit foundation. You must take a tour to visit the inside -- and our tour was in Spanish (note that we did not research beforehand to see if English tours were available at other times). No photos are permitted inside. The girls got pretty bored, so we exited after the tour was half over. The gardens are beautifully maintained and worth a visit. The Family Verdict Our time in Medellín was a ton of fun! I challenged the girls to each learn 10 new Spanish words a day (which they attempted). As our time progressed, I could see them begin to understand the language more and at least attempt to communicate back. The weather was lovely, the food was amazing, and all-in-all our experiences were pretty fun. Follow along on the second half of our Colombian adventures as we trek up the mountains to the countryside in Guatapé! Adventure is in Our Souls Join the Adventure www.adventureisinoursouls.com All rights reserved. © 2024 Adventure Is In Our Souls

Our adventure-loving family is always up for exploring and learning about fun new places. Our first trip of summer 2023 is exploring the great American Southwest!! Why the American Southwest? Well, why not? No really, many of our outdoor bucket list places are located relatively close together in Arizona and Utah. Once I mapped everything out in Roadtrippers, I discovered so many other amazing places we could explore along the way. Every bend in the road revealed a new otherworldly terrain. Our 1900 mile drive took us through tall cacti, to red mountain cliffs, cave dwellings, petrified sand dunes, snowy mountain tops (in June!), to hoodoos, arches, desert flatlands, forests, and more. It was amazing how dramatically everything changed ever few miles! Our Family Adventures Through the American Southwest We could have spent months exploring, but we limited ourselves to 2 weeks. I wanted to aim for the coolest summer weather possible, with running into the Memorial Day crowds and prices, so we left for Phoenix, Arizona on May 31. We didn't spend time exploring Phoenix, which has its own amazing adventures to be discovered. Instead, we opted to grab our rental vehicle (which we named the "Eagle's Nest"), geared-up, and hit the road. We worked our way through Arizona to the tip of New Mexico and Colorado, then through Utah, and fly out of Vegas. We could have driven back to Phoenix. But the cost difference of leaving from Vegas was small and it left us with another day to explore the beauty of Utah. Our completed itinerary for our family adventures in the American Southwest is outlined below. Follow along with our crazy crew through our linked blog posts along the way! Day 1 - Montezuma Castle National Monument After setting off on our road trip through the American Southwest, we drove about an hour and a half from Phoenix, Arizona to our first stop at the Montezuma Castle National Monument. There is a small visitor's center located near the parking area (maybe a 1-2 minute walk). We toured the small exhibit room while the girls worked on some of their Junior Ranger books. The books prompted them to think about life long ago and what it would have been like to live here. From the visitor's center, you can take a short 1/3 mile walk along a paved and well shaded trail to view the dwellings and read the informational signs. There are benches and shaded areas to rest and enjoy the views. The girls soaked in the importance of the area while completing their Junior Ranger badge activities. There were not a lot of food options available nearby when we visited, but there was a little roadside stand selling Indian fry bread. I had heard it was definitely something we needed to try, so I was on the lookout for it. OMG it did not disappoint!! Similar to a funnel cake, but so much better. After leaving Montezuma Castle NP, we drove a few more miles and watched the scenery drastically changed from white sand mountains to red sandstone as we neared Sedona. Day 2 - Sedona, Arizona & Slide Mountain State Park I had scheduled a hot air balloon ride over the Sedona landscape with Northern Lights Balloon Expedition for our first morning in Sedona! Unfortunately, my bucket list hot air balloon ride will have to wait until another day, because the winds did not want to cooperate today. So we packed back into the van and returned to the hotel before breakfast started. This is a perfect example of why I always have back-up adventure options! Since it was still pretty early, we drove through Sedona to explore some of the overlooks mentioned on our audio tour (I use the GuideAlong tours). We explored the Oak Creek Visitor Center area, took a short hike around the pull-off for Midgley Bridge, which spans over Oak Creek Canyon and ventured to the Red Rock Ranger Station to turn in the girls' Jr Ranger booklets. Then it was time for our back-up adventure that I was able to book over breakfast ... a 4x4 Jeep adventure with Red Rock Western Jeep Tours! The girls loved the “roller coaster-like” bumpy off-road adventure. A short 7 mile drive from Sedona, Slide Rock State Park was our last destination after a day full of outdoor adventures! It was the perfect place to cool off and enjoy the late afternoon. After splashing around for a while, the sun became shaded by the cliffs, so we opted to head back to Sedona for dinner. Day 3 - Meteor Crater, Painted Desert, & Petrified Forest National Park We take every opportunity to stop and visit "something different" during our road trips, so Meteor Crater was the perfect short stop on our travels towards the Petrified Forest National Park. We arrived early, so the parking lot was not yet crowded. The museum as small, but very informative and provided enough interactive / hands-on activities to keep both girls interested. Also included with the price of admission, is a guided tour of the crater rim. Our tour guide, a local Winslow resident, explained the formation, history, and geology of the crater as we walked along an easy paved path over a portion of the crater rim. After our tour, we were perfectly timed for the 4D theater experience, which is also included in the price of admission. The girls love 4D theaters, so this was the perfect way to sit back and enjoy the air conditioning. After leaving the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, we continued along I-40 towards the northern entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park. The Main Park Road connects the northern entrance of the park to the southern entrance. You can stop at the various overlooks and pull offs to explore the different park areas. The drive starts with a loop through the Painted Desert overlooks. These initial views set the tone for the increasingly amazing views of the Painted Desert! Continuing south, we visited Newspaper Rock (which is actually multiple rock-faces within a small area) and passed through the Tepees. Then we made it to my most favorite part of the Painted Desert -- the hike around the Blue Mesa Trail. It is an easy 1 mile paved trail, however, there is a steep descent / climb back up at the trailhead. Around the Blue Mesa Trail, you start to see petrified wood from the Petrified Forest part of the National Park. The scenery started to completely change as we continued south through the Petrified Forest. There are no trees there now, but millions of years ago there this area was covered in huge trees. Water seeping through the wood replaced the decaying organic material cell by cell with multicolored silica (color depending on the minerals in the silica) from volcanic ash. We stopped at the Jasper Forest overlook to view one of the largest accumulations of petrified wood in the world and then did a little more hiking on the Crystal Forest Trail, where we were up close with giant pieces of petrified wood. A dark sky was chasing us for the second half of our visit. Around this time, the rain finally caught up to us, so we wrapped up our visit and made an unplanned stop in Flagstaff, AZ to meet up with visiting family. From Flagstaff, we drove to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was late and pretty dark, so we spotted lots of wildlife – a coyote, mule deer, and a running bull elk. After a late check-in, we were all asleep pretty quickly! Day 3 - Grand Canyon National Park It was too dark to see the actual canyon when we arrived the night before, so we had our much anticipated first view in the morning. We picked up breakfast to go and took the shuttle to the visitor center. We trekked out the short path to the rim, where we had a picnic breakfast while the girls worked on their Junior Ranger books. The Rim Trail starts at Mather Point. From here we took in the views at the various overlooks while we made our way along the trail. Dustin got to enjoy some rock hopping while Spider Monkey kept yelling at him to be careful. The next stop on the Rim Trail was a short visit to the Yavapai Point & Geology Museum. The Rim Trail continued with the “Trail of Time” section to Hopi House. We had some time before the Ranger talk, so we had lunch at the El Tovar dining room. After lunch, the girls attended a Ranger talk on the canyon rim. Around this time a pair of California Condors flew through the area (another bucket list find). We ended our hike at the Lookout Studio where we spotted a mule deer enjoying her lunch on the side of the canyon. It is hard to grasp the sheer size of the Grand Canyon! We have spent a lot of time traveling through the Colorado Plateau on our trip and experiencing the grandeur of the Colorado River. From the peeks of the south rim of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River is a tiny spec in the distance. We left the Grand Canyon through the east entrance to the park early the next morning. We drove along the Desert View Drive stopping at the various lookout points along our way -- Duck on a Rock, Grandview Point Overlook, Moran Point Overlook, Lipan Point, Navajo Point and the Desert Watchtower. Day 4 - Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon NRA, & Horseshoe Bend We said goodbye to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and traveled through the Navajo Nation to Page, Arizona. The Navajo Nation does not observe Daylight Savings Time, so figuring out the correct time can be tricky. I booked a 11 am tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, so we left the Grand Canyon by 7 am to be safe (and factoring in some stops along the Desert View Drive). Once in Page, the Utah boarder is a few miles away, so cell phones bounce back and forth between time zones. You start off with a safety briefing and then a short walk out into the desert. The entire canyon is below ground level, so all that you can see to give it away is the wavy narrow chasm. After reaching the canyon entrance, you descend 5 sets of metal staircases into the long narrow slot canyon. Lower Antelope Canyon runs north to south, so the lighting is always amazing! At the end of the canyon, you climb up another metal staircase and squeeze through the sandstone on the desert floor. We explored some dinosaur prints and made the short hike back to the tour station, where we enjoyed popsicles while we dusted off. Our hotel room was not ready yet, so we stopped by the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Glen Canyon NRA is a conservation unit of the United States National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon in Utah and Arizona. From the visitor center we could look down on Glen Canyon Dam, but they have not opened tours of the dam back up since COVID. The girls completed their Junior Ranger activities and were sworn in. Our original plan was to check into the hotel and then visit Horseshoe Bend at sunset, but the impending rain and our tired kiddos had other ideas. So, we pivoted and made the short trek after lunch instead. Horseshoe Bend is the picturesque view of the Colorado River on just about every screen saver. The river eroded the rocks over millions of years and formed the deep, sweeping curve of the river that defines Horseshoe Bend today. It was really beautiful and so big! To put the great size of the canyon in perspective, you can see a tiny spec of a boat cruising the river below. Day 5 - Monument Valley & Four Corners Monument We left early the next morning to explore the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Monument Valley sits on the Arizona and Utah boarder within the Navajo Nation. Navigating the constantly changing time zones was once again our biggest challenge. We managed to arrive on time and boarded our open-air pickup and set off to explore the park. The first two formations you see are the long edge of Sentinel Mesa and a side view of Big Chief Butte. Then you see the 3 iconic formations seen in screensaver photos -- the Western Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte, and Merrick Butte. After passing through the first few formations in Monument Valley, we stopped at John Ford’s Point, a popular vantage point named after director John Ford. This ledge is the location of the iconic John Wayne old western photos. If you tip the cowboy, he will ride his horse out to the point and let you replicate the iconic photo. John Ford’s Point also had some little shops and great views. You can drive your own vehicle through the valley, but only Navajo guides are permitted to take guests into the back country. Lucky for us, because the back country includes a visit to a traditional Navajo hogan! Here we were met with a Navajo woman who lives on the property. She demonstrated how the women prepare wool by hand and spin it into yarn to weave Navajo clothing and blankets. She spoke to us about Navajo traditions and explained to Buttercup that long hair signifies the root of thought and ask to perform a traditional hair tying for her, to create a tsiiyéél. Super cool experience! The tour continued through the mesas, with stops to see petroglyphs and arches. We were very fortunate to have unseasonably mild weather for our trip, but -- the sun is so brutal and unforgiving! And then there is the threat of flash floods whenever it rains. The dark clouds were starting to come in as we were finishing up our tour, so we headed to the information center and gift shop before driving on. From Monument Valley, we continued driving northeast along a stretch of interstate towards Colorado. Along the way we stopped at the Four Corners Monument. We had our expectations in check, knowing this was a novelty stop – but it wasn’t very crowded and overall a nice place to get out and stretch our legs. The Four Corners Monument is still within the Navajo Nation. It marks the point where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. It is pretty remote. Once you park in the gravel parking lot, you enter the “monument” and stand in line to take your photos on the marker. The lines was maybe 10 minutes long. There are little shops around the perimeter with Navajo crafts and informational cornerstones “in each state”. From the Four Corners Monument, we continued Cortez, Colorado. I love how much the landscapes changes so dramatically every 20 miles! Cortez was our waypoint for visiting Mesa Verde National Park and happens to be near to where one of Dustin’s friends relocated. Luckily we were able to meet-up for breakfast the next morning before heading out to the park! Day 6 - Mesa Verde National Park After breakfast we headed out to Mesa Verde National Park. Being early risers, we were there before it got too crowded (and before it warmed up). The long winding road took us up and then through the mountain. We stopped at the overlooks and the Capin Mesa Archeological Museum before heading to explore our first cave dwelling, Spruce Tree House from the overlooks. Then it was time for our Cliff Palace Tour. Cliff Palace is North America’s largest cliff dwelling. The Ranger Tour starts with a safety orientation at the Cliff Palace Overlook. Buttercup was designated as the trail leader on the hike down the mountain -- and she did great! Once we started out on the trail, we hiked down our first long stretch of stairs, over some short stretches of paved trail on the cliff edge followed by more short staircases and up the first wooden ladder. I was unsure how Spider Monkey would do with the ladders, but she had no hesitation! Everyone gathered in the first alcove while Ranger gave us more details about life in Cliff Palace. From there we explored the bottom level of the dwelling. The tour continued along the cliff side and the up a small trail to the kivas. Here the Ranger explained that kivas are round sunken rooms of ceremonial importance. The hike up was along steep stone steps and more wooden ladders. The remnants of the ancient hand and toe holds are visible from the steps. The girls did amazing well on the tour! I purchased tickets to a second, more difficult tour for the afternoon – just in case they did well on the first one. To my surprise, they were really excited to tour another cliff dwelling. We had some time before the next tour started, so we explored the overlooks and the early homes of the Ancestral Pueblo people on the Mesa Top Loop. Then it was time to head back to the Cliff Palace Loop for our Balcony House tour. At first, the tour is pretty easy. You start down a paved trail along the cliff side, have the tour orientation and initial Ranger talk at the top of a metal staircase, descend down a few staircases and along the cliff edge before approaching the giant ladder. Dustin and Spider Monkey went up the ladder first followed by Buttercup and I so I could keep an extra eye on Spider Monkey. Both girls did amazing. Once you clear the ladder, you squeeze through a narrow opening in the rocks and up another small ladder. Then you are in Balcony House. We explored the North Plaza before traveling up a small ladder and using the hand and toe holds to climb around and into Kiva Plaza. There was not a retaining wall along the cliff side in Kiva Plaza, so we kept the girls towards the back as much as we could. Before long it was time to make our way back up along the cliff side, squeeze between the rocks, a 12-foot crawl through an 18-inch wide “doorway”, up a 17-foot ladder, followed by a climb up tiny steep steps carved into the cliff side and another 17-foot ladder. The adventurous hike in and out of Balcony House was what made this tour one of our favorites! After leaving Mesa Verde, we traveled to Utah to visit the "Mighty Five" National Parks. This is the part of the trip where we strapped on our hiking boots and set out to explore the trails through America’s beautiful natural wonders! Our first stop in Utah was Moab. Day 7 - Arches National Park We set of to explore Arches National Park early on our first morning. We could have easily split Arches NP into two separate days of hiking, but we managed to see a lot in a full day. We had an early 7 am timed entry into the park so we could do a little hiking before the sun was too high in the sky over the exposed hiking areas (and to beat some of the crowds). Our strategy was to hit the most exposed trail / the trailhead where the parking area fills up the quickest first. So once we entered, we drove all the way to the back of the park (about 18 miles) to the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. From the trailhead we hiked to the Landscape Arch, visited a couple viewpoints and then hiked up the rocks as far as we felt comfortable with the girls. On our hike back we took the spur trail to the Pine Tree and Tunnel Arches. After leaving Devil’s Garden, we slowly made our way back towards the entrance of Arches NP, stopping at various pull-offs and trailheads. Our next stop was one of the girls’ favorites – Sand Dune Arch. Sand Dune Arch is a giant shaded sandbox of fine red sand, where the girls could have dug and played for hours. We drove past the Fiery Furnace area, stopping to take some photos of the landscape along the way, and crossed over the Salt Valley Wash before reaching the spur on the road that leads to the Delicate Arch trail and overlooks. After viewing Delicate Arch, we continued to drive towards the front of the park, stopping at more numerous pull-offs and taking in the landscape of the Lower Salt Valley. We took Windows Road to the left towards the Windows Section of the park. The road first curves around and offers a little pull-off viewpoint for the Garden of Eden - another of our family favorites!! Arches National Park classifies this area as a “viewpoint”. But it is really an open trail where you can explore and climb around the sandstone features. Continuing along Windows Road, you can see Elephant Butte in the distance before arriving at the end of the road and the crowded Window Section parking area. We made a 1-mile loop, starting with the North Window and ending with the Turret Arch. We spent some time at the North Window climbing and exploring under the arch before continuing to the South Window. From the Windows parking lot, we took a connector trail that joined the Double Arch parking area. When you reach the Double Arch, you can hike up and explore under the arch. Once back in our car, we exited the Windows Section and made a quick stop to visit Balanced Rock from the parking lot. There are tons of other viewpoints along the road back to the park entrance, but we had a very full day of adventures. So, we opted to just stop at the Visitor Center so the girls could turn in their Junior Ranger books and get sworn in. Day 8 - Canyonlands National Park On our second day in Moab, we scheduled a combined 4x4 adventure through the Eye of the Sky District of Canyonlands and a rafting adventure on the Colorado River with NAVTEC! Canyonlands National Park is the start of the Grand Canyon (and was usually used to film “Grand Canyon” locations in movies instead of Grand Canyon NP). We started our visit by viewing the early petroglyphs carved in the stone by the ancient Publoans and Fremonts. We have been learning a lot about the Ancient Publoans, but this was the first we learned of the Fremont. Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan people began to incorporate farming into their hunter-gatherer lifestyles approximately 2,000 years ago. The petroglyphs depict human-like figures often elaborately decorated with headdresses, ear bobs, necklaces clothing items and facial expressions. The Fremont moved in small groups, as clans, medicinal societies, or co-residence groups encountering other people and residing with them for periods of time. Gradually these groups merged and dispersed, repeating this process. As we continued our journey to Capitol Reef NP, we learned more about the Fremont. Canyonlands is divided into 4 regions - Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers. The Maze and Needles regions are more remote, so we opted to visit the Island in the Sky region. Our tour took continued into the park and through a portion of the White Rim Trail. The full White Rim Trail is 100 miles long, taking 2-3 days to complete. You definitely need vehicles (and driving experience) specifically designed for this area. No guardrails, rockslides, and miles of desert trails. We continued along the White Rim Trail to Musselman Arch. This famous arch spans 120 feet and provides a beautiful view of the canyons. Then we finished the tour by climbing the switchbacks on the Shafer Trail. After a morning 4x4 adventure in Canyonlands, we rafted 12 miles on the Colorado River through the Fisher Towers area and over Class II and Class III rapids. This was definitely a highlight of the trip! Day 9 - Capitol Reef National Park & Bryce Canyon National Park We left Moab early in the morning and drove to Capitol Reef NP. Along the way, we stopped at the Petroglyph Panels. There was a viewing are off of Utah State Route 24 where you can see the large walls of Petroglyphs from the boardwalk. These wall drawings were created by the Fremont Native Americans who lived in the area from 300 to 1300 BC. We joined a Ranger talk at the Petroglyphs before entering the park. Unfortunately, Capitol Reef was the area I cut down to fit everything else in our schedule. So we spent most of our time exploring the Gifford House and Fruita area. We sampled some of the famous pies with ice cream from the Gifford House and took in the scenery. There is a great wading location is in Sulphur creek between the Ripple Rock Nature Center and the Gifford House. You can also access Sulphur Creek through the large grassy area with picnic tables. I had planned to drive through the park more and let the girls wade into the creeks, but we ran short on time. From Capitol Reef, we followed the Scenic Byway (SR 12) to Bryce Canyon City. This was a very impressive drive from the golden sandstone and canyon walls of Capitol Reef to dense forests and spots of snow in the Dixie National Forest, to the crimson-colored hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. We explored the exhibits at the Bryce Canyon NP visitor center before adventuring to the rim of the canyon. Our first impression, was WOW! Bryce Canyon is so breathtaking and leaves you with an otherworldly feeling. We started at Sunrise Point and traveled along the paved path to Sunset Point and Inspiration Point. We had plans for more serious hiking tomorrow, so today was just a little taste of what Bryce Canyon had to offer. After our brief viewing of the canyon rim, we checked into our hotel and took a quick nap before our Night Ranger Program. Viewing the night sky was on my list of "musts" for this trip, and the program run by the Night Rangers seemed like a great fit. The program starts at 9:30 pm, so we dressed in multiple layers to stay as warm as possible. They started the program with some educational videos and then opened up 4 giant telescopes for viewing star clusters, galaxies, and planets. The girls had a blast! You are free to stay and keep viewing for as long as you like, so we had to pull the girls away after midnight. Day 9 - Bryce Canyon National Park & Belly of the Dragon Our big plan for today was to hike the hoodoos! We started with the Navajo Loop and ended with Queens Garden. This hike ranks among my most favorite!! Navajo Loop starts at Sunset Point with switchbacks that wind between the giant walls of the canyon. As you near the bottom you begin walking among massive pine trees. Along the way, we took pictures by the benchmarks so the girls could get their "We Hiked the Hoodoos" patch from the Visitor Center. After leaving Bryce, we stopped at the Belly of the Dragon for a unique mini "hike". The trailhead is located 16 miles north of Kanab or 1/2 mile south of Carmel Junction along HWY 89. The dirt road is on the west side of the road between two guard rails. Then you drive along a well-maintained dirt road 1/4 a mile to a small parking area on the left. There is no elevation gain on the trail, but the floor of the tunnel is rocky, uneven, and dark -- so make sure to bring a flashlight. The hardest part of the trail is the 5 foot drop down to the tunnel in the very beginning. This stop is all about taking in the tunnel and stopping to stretch your legs between Bryce Canyon and Zion. From the Bellow of the Dragon, we continued to Zion. We entered through the east entrance and went through the Mount Carmel Tunnel. Day 11 - Zion National Park My bucket list hike was the Narrows -- which sadly were closed during our visit. My backup plan was to hike to the Emerald Pools, but the trail was washed out. So we quickly pivoted and created a second backup plan. We settled on hiking out to the narrows trailhead. The girls enjoyed watching the crazy squirrels and Dustin even got to do a little skipping from rock to rock along the water. We took the bus to the Museum and then a paved trail to the Nature Center / Jr Ranger Program Center. Here the girls completed some Jr Ranger activities before we hiked back to the car. I was disappointed with all the closures, but that just means we need to take another trip out to visit Zion (and probably Bryce) in the future! Day 12 - Las Vegas We left Zion and drove to Las Vegas. The drive was relatively quick and pretty easy. We had no plans for Vegas, just grab some food and explore a little before relaxing at the pool. Our flight home left the next morning. My Travel Philosophy Our action-filled itinerary may not work for everyone. When planning, I follow 3 basic rules. First, aim to see everything that sounds important or interesting. There are so many places we want to see in the world, so we do not routinely return to the same place more than once. I try to map out as many of the highlights or the "only available while you are there" activities. My second traveling rule ... too much "downtime" makes my girls bored and drives me crazy. So we keep moving. We don't have to get to everything, but at least I have something planned to ward off the boredom whines. My third traveling rule ... you will never please everyone with your planning! Each of us gravitates towards different adventures and activities. I try to balance it all out, but we have worked with the girls to understanding that today's adventure may not be a top priority for one of them, but tomorrows likely will. When we are taking a road trip, I add in a fourth rule ... don't spend more than 3 hours in the car without stopping to explore and take the girls on a new adventure. Ultimately, don't underestimate the power of a fun road trip! Road trips can be amazing if planned correctly! The Family Verdict We visited so many amazing places on our roadtrip through the Southwest! Not every place was a show-stopper, but we experienced so much American culture and beauty. Overall, the American Southwest was the perfect family adventure and definitely one we will always remember!! Follow along as I explain each leg of our road trip through the great American Southwest! 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Discover the best family adventures in San Antonio! Join our adventure-loving crew as we explore the Alamo City! Texas or Bust! Experiencing a total solar eclipse is a bucket-list item for me, so I started planning for the April 2024 event in early 2023. I was looking for a fun Texas city close to or inside the path of totality, and San Antonio fit the bill perfectly! Plus, San Antonio has a rich heritage and culture, great food, and unique experiences I knew the girls would enjoy. We stayed in the Embassy Suites on the northwestern corner of the city near I-10 and SR- 1604. I picked the location specifically for the eclipse. We could view it from the comfort of the pool or easily get on a major road if we decided to travel outside the city more. The hotel was lovely and I have zero complaints. It didn't take us more than 30 minutes to reach the Alamo and Riverwalk area and less than an hour to reach Natural Bridge Caverns. Our Family Adventures Through San Antonio Early April was a great time to visit San Antonio! The weather was mild - upper 60's to upper 70's every day. Crowds were low just about everywhere we went. Our completed itinerary for our family adventures in San Antonio is outlined below. Day 1 - Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum On our first day, we had an early non-stop flight to San Antonio. The San Antonio airport was on the smaller side and was easy to navigate. We picked up our rental car and drove to our hotel with no issues. Luckily, we were able to check-in early and get situated before heading out on our first adventure! I try to keep our first day adventures on the milder side, so we planned a visit to the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum for our afternoon. The Saloon and Museum are located in the same building. You only need a ticket to go through the Museum. The Buckhorn Saloon has a deep history in San Antonio. The Saloon was opened in 1881 by a 17-year old bartender from a local hotel. Travelers did not have a lot of money for drinks, so he began to accept horns and antlers in exchange for a free beer. The collection grew into one of the world's most unique and largest collections. The Buckhorn Saloon is rumored to be where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the Rough Riders and where Pancho Villa is rumored to have planned the Mexican Revolution. The Saloon is still open to order a beer (or a hamburger). You do need a ticket to go through the Museum. You start off with the Buckhorn Museum. The Museum starts with a collection of mounted wildlife, with over 520 species from all over the world represented. Moving upstairs, there are lookouts over the Saloon and more animal exhibits, including a display of crazy antlers. There is also an exhibit for the "Carnival of Curiosities" (mysterious and "mind boggling" phenomena) and for the "American Sideshow" (oddities from the PT Barnum circus). The Museum continues with the Texas Ranger exhibits. Here you see replicas of historic buildings and priceless historic artifacts that span more than a century of Ranger history. The girls enjoyed walking through the Museum. In all, we spent about 1.5 hours there. Then we walk about a block to the River Walk. River Walk is a special pedestrian walkthrough along the San Antonio River and located below the street level. There are restaurants and shops the line the sidewalks. It is a great place to enjoy lunch and people watch! We visited the area several times throughout the week. The girls loved watching the ducks and pigeons. We topped off the afternoon yummy Voodoo Doughnuts before heading back to the hotel. Day 2 - SeaWorld San Antonio On our second day, we came, we saw, and we covered every inch of SeaWorld San Antonio! The San Antonio SeaWorld is a 416-acre marine mammal park, oceanarium and animal theme park. It is in the same location as the Aquatica water park and Discovery Cove. I purchased season pass BOGO tickets during a Black Friday holiday sale, but I have also seen great Fourth of July sales and other holiday ticket sales. The park opens at 10:30 am, but the rides were not open until after 11 am (and even then, some of the thrill rides rotated operating hours, likely due to staffing shortages). So we enjoyed the sea lion show followed by a race across the park to catch the orca show. These shows brought back my childhood memories of visiting SeaWorld. After the shows, we rotated through every roller coaster and thrill ride. We had the "Quick Queue and Reserved Seating" upgrade, so we were able to bypass most lines. The park was not crazy busy, so we probably would have been fine without the upgrade. The Seven Seas Food Festival takes place February through May, so it was in full swing. It is much like the Disney version, except SeaWorld offered a beverages / food sampler lanyard for advanced purchase. Simply get the lanyard punched every time you order. From roller coasters and amazing shows to the Food Festival, we covered just about everything before the park closed at 6 pm. It is not the grand SeaWorld I remember as a child, but it was still an awesome day. Day 3 - The Alamo On day 3, we took in a little history and learned all about the Alamo. There are different ways to see the Alamo - guided tours, audio guides, and on your own (entering the church is free, but there is a fee to visit the exhibits). We opted for the guided tour. I pre-purchased tickets on the website before we arrived. There was also an option to purchase tour tickets on site when we arrived. We had a fantastic guide that corrected all the "wrongs" we thought we knew about the battle and the fort. Our biggest misconception was that the church is only a tiny piece of what the Alamo actually is. Most of the fort was destroyed, so we have come to recognize the church as "the Alamo" today. The church was a Spanish mission from 1755-1793. Soon after the mission closed, a Spanish Calvary company established a fort that became known as the Alamo. During the Mexican Revolution, the Spanish and Mexicans fought for control of the Alamo, and the Mexican army occupied it from 1821-1835. During this time, the Republic of Mexico invited immigrants to settle in Texas (many of whom were Americans). In October 1835, there was a rebellion to push out the Mexican government and form an independent Republic of Texas. The rebels held the Alamo until 1836, when the Mexican General Santa Anna led a 13-day attack on the Alamo. This attack is now known as the Battle of the Alamo. By the end of the battle, all 187 Texan men at the Alamo died. The Battle of the Alamo was used as inspiration in later battles and helped the Texans force Santa Anna to concede Texas to the rebels. "Remember the Alamo!" After our guided tour, we enjoyed a musket demonstration on the lawn behind the church, lunch on the Riverwalk, and some retail therapy, before arriving to a flat tire on our rental. Luckily, it was a quick swap out and we were back up and mobile again. Day 4 - Natural Bridge Caverns On day 4, we ventured outside the city a little to discover the hidden treasurers of the Natural Bridge Caverns. Natural Bridge Caverns is the largest commercially operated cave system in Texas. It gains its name from the 60-foot natural limestone bridge near the entrance of the caverns. The first cavern was discovered 1960 by 4 college students from St. Mary's University that were working with the landowners to explore the area. Today, Natural Bridge Caverns is registered as a National Natural Landmark. There are 2 different cavern systems you can visit today, as well as above-ground activities. We purchased a combined ticket for both cavern tours before our visit on the website. We arrived a little early for our first tour, so we started with some gem mining. This is a favorite of my girls! You select a bag of sand and gems in the store and proceed outside to the sluice. After counting their precious gems, we started our first cavern tour -- the Hidden Wonders Tour. The Hidden Wonders cavern is the newest cavern discovered on the property. It has updated lighting, a huge natural ballroom, and an automated belt that you ride out of the cavern. After completing the Hidden Wonders Tour, it was time for our Discovery Tour.  Both tours were beautiful, but I found the formations in the original cavern to be more awe-inspiring. We finished our day at Natural Bridge Caverns by conquering the challenging ropes course for an added adrenaline rush! In all, the caverns are not to the scale we have seen at Mammoth Caves NP, but they were beautiful and definitely worth a visit. Day 5 - Ripley's We left this day open during our planning as a "catch-all" for making up any activities we wanted to go back to. I was not sure how long we would need for SeaWorld or if eclipse traffic would be crazy already. Since we covered everything in SeaWorld during our visit, we turned today into a kids's choice day. We walked by the Ripley's attractions when we visited the Alamo, so the girls wanted to go check them out. I purchased a combined 4-attraction ticket online that morning. We started with Ripley's Believe It or Not. Ripley's was started by Robert Ripley, who traveled around the world searching for "extraordinary people," unusual artifacts, and "unbelievable" things. In 1918, a cartoon was featured in the New York Globe that featured 9 unbelievable athletic feats from Ripley's collection. The cartoons took off and launched the "Believe It or Not" catchphrase. The first Ripley's Believe It or Not opened in 1933 at the World's Fair in Chicago. From there, we moved next door to Louis Tussaud's Waxworks. In the late 1700's Madame Tussaud began creating wax models. Her works were later put on exhibit in London. Today, there are many branches of the Madame Tussaud galleries. 250+ years later, her great-grandson piggybacks off the family name with a line of Louis Tussaud wax museums. These are terrible in comparison!!! The girls still enjoyed posing with superheroes and celebrities, but I was not impressed. The wax museum is in the same building as the Ripley's 4D Movie Theater. We always enjoy a good 4D movie. And this one lived up to our expectations. Then we moved next door to Ripley's Illusion Lab. We all had a great time here. It was very hands on, so we spent a while going through all the exhibits. After a day filled with oddities, 4D movies, wax look alikes, and illusions, we had dinner along the River Walk before heading back to the hotel. At this point, we were crossing our fingers for tomorrow's cloud cover and hoping the weather would cooperate. We talked about chasing better weather for the eclipse, but decided against it. Our goal was not to drive anywhere on eclipse day and to just enjoy the experience. Day 6 - Total Solar Eclipse We spent eclipse day relaxing by the pool. We had 2.5 minutes of totality without the hassle of driving, finding parking, and trying to get back to San Antonio. The less than perfect weather didn't stop us from reveling in an extraordinary total solar eclipse! The girls made scientific observations included shifts in local wildlife patterns (the birds started circling the sky right before totality and the moths started flying around) and intriguing temperature variations. And the dFor an extra special treat, we could watch the Six Flags fireworks illuminating the distance during totality for an incredible finale! The Family Verdict We loved San Antonio! It was clean, traffic was a breeze, and we never felt unsafe. This was not our typical fact-paced and action-filled adventure. However, we were heading to San Antonio for the specific purpose of watching the eclipse and we did not want to load up our days. In all, everyone had a great time and San Antonio made the list of places we could see ourselves living. Adventure is in Our Souls Join the Adventure All rights reserved. © 2024 Adventure Is In Our Souls

Ready to explore colorful striated hills that pop out of the countryside like mounds of Neapolitan ice cream? Join us on our family adventure in the Painted Desert portion of the Petrified Forest National Park! After leaving the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, we continued along I-40 towards the northern entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park. What is the Painted Desert? The actual Painted Desert extends over 150 miles from the eastern end of the Grand Canyon into the Petrified Forest National Park. Much of the Painted Desert is located in remote areas in the Navajo Nation. However, you can explore a portion of it in the northern part of the Petrified Forest National Park. Our Family Adventure in the Painted Desert As we neared the National Park entrance, lots of little stores selling petrified wood started popping up along the roadside. We stopped at the Visitor Center at the north entrance to pick up a map and check the park's weather conditions (a must when visiting any National Park, especially if you plan to do any hiking). The Painted Desert / Petrified Forest is home to a team of paleontologists that prepare fossils discovered in the National Park. We attended a demonstration and learned how fossils are extracted little-by-little from the larger jackets. The girls earned both their Petrified Forest and their Jr. Paleontology Junior Ranger Badges during our visit. Then we were off! The Main Park Road connects the northern entrance of the park to the southern entrance. You can stop at the various overlooks and pull offs to explore the different park areas. I am a huge fan of audio guides when we drive through an area. For the Painted Desert / Petrified Forest, we enjoyed the Shaka Audio Guide. The Overlooks & Painted Desert Inn The drive starts with a loop through the Painted Desert overlooks. These initial views set the tone for the increasingly amazing views of the Painted Desert! The striated colors on the mesas and buttes were made 200-300 million years ago in a shallow sea by iron and manganese (which can oxidize into a red color). When the water table was high, there was less oxygen in the ground, so it turned the deposits into a blue or green color. When the water table was low, there was more oxygen in the ground, so it turned the deposits into a red, orange, yellow or pink color. You are immediately awestruck by the colors you see from the overlooks, and as hard as it to imagine, the colors become even more amazing as you continue along the drive! Historic Route 66 After leaving the overlooks, you cross a segment of the Historic Route 66. This segment is no longer in use, but this is a great spot to take some fun photos with the old Studebaker that marks the location. Newspaper Rock Continuing south, we visited Newspaper Rock (which is actually multiple rockfaces within a small area). Here there are over 650 petroglyphs made by the ancestral Puebloan people that lived, farmed and hunted along the river between 650 and 2000 years ago. The Tepees Continuing south, we passed through the Tepees. The Tepees gain their name from their cone-like shape and similarity to Indian dwellings (even though actual tepees were not used in Arizona). They have thick deposits of grey, blue, purple, and green mudstone and white minor sandstone beds. The bluish tones make you feel like you are driving on another planet. Blue Mesa My most favorite part of the Painted Desert, we the hike around the Blue Mesa Trail. It is an easy 1 mile paved trail, however, there is a steep descent / climb back up at the trailhead. That said, you don't want to miss this!! The mesas have beautiful blue, purple, gray, and peach colored striations with scattered petrified wood making an emergence. The trail was amazing! As you descend the paved trail, you feel like you are entering another world. I could have spent hours photographing all the different colors! Around the Blue Mesa Trail, you start to see petrified wood from the Petrified Forest part of the National Park. More on this to come in our next blog post! Visitor Information Address: Interstate 40, Exit 311, Petrified Forest 86028 Hours: 8 am - 5 pm (but can vary by season) Cost: National Park entrance pass required (included in your America The Beautiful annual pass) Tour Time: Varies greatly! We spent 4-5 hours in both the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest areas, but could have longer if we stopped at everything and hiked more. You could also just drive through in about an hour. Disclaimer: Always make sure to check out the latest information from the park website before you arrive. The Family Verdict We were driving to the Grand Canyon National Park after our visit, so our time was limited. I had reviewed the park map before our visit and determined what areas our crazy crew would enjoy the most, but there are plenty of other areas in the Painted Desert section of the park that you can enjoy. Overall, the Painted Desert is an amazing wonderland of beautiful colors with lots of off-road trails to explore! Definitely one of the most under-rated National Parks!! If you loved this family adventure guide, check out my review of nearby Meteor Crater Natural Landmark and follow along on our road trip through the American Southwest!

Ready to explore surreal flowing sandstone slot canyons hidden below the sandy landscape? Join us on our family adventure in Antelope Canyon! We said goodbye to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and traveled through the Navajo Nation to Page, Arizona. Cattle, horses, and other livestock are free roaming throughout the area, with little pullout areas with vender stalls every couple miles. What is Antelope Canyon? Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon on Navajo land. It includes six separate slot canyon sections -- Upper Antelope Canyon (or The Crack), Rattle Snake Canyon, Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon, Canyon X and Lower Antelope Canyon (or The Corkscrew). Slot canyons are small canyons formed when water flows into a crack in the bedrock. In Page, a creek that empties into the Colorado River would have flash floods that wore away the sandstone. This was followed by hot, dry periods where sandstorms brushed against the canyon walls, causing the striated / swirled canyon walls. Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? Upper Antelope Canyon is famous for the sun ray shot that appears when the sun is in just the right location, but it is only 100 yards long. Lower Antelope Canyon is not as famous, but still amazing (and closer to a mile in length). Lower Antelope Canyon is in the shape of a “V” with narrow footing and wider ceilings. Whereas Upper Antelope Canyon is shaped like an “A” with a wider pathway that narrows as you approach the top of the canyon. The tours of upper Antelope Canyon are a little more crowded, but Lower Antelope Canyon is becoming more popular now. All things considered, we opted to tour the Lower Antelope Canyon section and we were not disappointed!! Being on Navajo land, Antelope Canyon is only accessible through certain Navajo tour companies. We used Ken’s Tours based on recommendations from others. Our Family Adventure in Lower Antelope Canyon The Navajo Nation does not observe Daylight Savings Time, so figuring out the correct time can be tricky. I booked a 11 am tour, so we left the Grand Canyon by 7 am to be safe (and factoring in some stops along the Desert View Drive). Once in Page, the Utah boarder is a few miles away, so cell phones bounce back and forth between time zones. Depending on the tour company you select for your tour, they will specify which time zone they operate in. We ended up arriving before 10 am, but were able to swap for slots on the 10 am tour. You cannot bring any backpacks/purses into the canyon. You also cannot record any video (so no GoPros) and no selfie-sticks. The tour lasts about an hour, but does require climbing stairs and squeezing through the canyon walls. You start off with a safety briefing and then a short walk out into the desert. Lower Antelope Canyon is the kind of place that you would never find unless it was pointed out to you. The entire canyon is below ground level. All that you can see to give it away is the wavy narrow chasm – and you can’t really see that unless you are really see close up! Once at the canyon entrance, you descend 5 sets of metal staircases into the long narrow slot canyon. Lower Antelope Canyon runs north to south, so the lighting is always amazing! With the sun shining through the top of the underground canyon, shafts of light cut into the canyon, illuminating the orange and gold sandstone walls. The effect is surreal! At every turn there was a new formation, swirl, or wave to explore. I could have spent hours in the canyon photographing the angles and colors! At the end of the canyon, you climb up another metal staircase and squeeze through the sandstone on the desert floor. We explored some dinosaur prints and made the short hike back to the tour station, where we enjoyed popsicles while we dusted off. The Family Verdict No trip to the southwest is complete without visiting some part of Antelope Canyon! We were given enough space to explore and take photos without feeling like we were rushed through to make room for the next tour group. The guide pointed out great photo opportunities and shared a ton of great information with us. Lower Antelope Canyon is one of my favorite stops on our road trip! If you loved this family adventure guide, check out my review of nearby Arches National Park and follow along on our road trip through the American Southwest!

Discover the best family adventures in Washington DC! Join our adventure-loving crew as we conquer the capital's iconic landmarks and museums. What Makes Washington DC So Special? In 1790 Congress established a 100-square-mile territory to serve as the permanent seat of the federal government. The territory was later named the District of Columbia. Today, Washington, D.C. is capital city and federal district of the United States. It is located between Maryland and Virginia along the east bank of the Potomac River. It is home to important buildings for all three branches of government (U.S. Capitol, the White House, and Supreme Court Building), full of landmarks and memorials (the Washington Monument, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and many more), and lined with museums, historical places and national treasures. Our Family Adventures Through Washington DC We explored Washington DC during the sweltering heat of late-July. It was tolerable, but incredibly hot. We knew it was not the ideal time to visit, but it worked with our schedule and it was Spider Monkey's big travel request for the year. We worked with the heat by planning outdoor activities, like visiting the monuments, early in the morning. Then we were free to visit air conditioned museums and buildings during the afternoon. The heat, combined with a ton of walking, left us pretty tired by dinner each day. All that said, there are so many amazing places to visit in Washington DC! Our completed itinerary for our family adventures in Washington DC is outlined below. Follow along with our crazy crew through our linked blog posts along the way! Day 1 - White House Tour & Washington Monument One thing I knew we wanted to do in Washington DC was tour the White House and go to the top of the Washington Monument! Of course these are not something you can just walk up and do. Each takes planning months before your trip and some flexibility, Visit our blog post here to learn more. After a delayed flight that was leaving me worried we may miss our tour time, we arrived in DC, quickly dropped our luggage off at the hotel and made our way to the White House. Our tour included the east wing and several of the rooms we see on TV and movies. There are Secrete Service in every room and each is a walking encyclopedia of history and facts. The White House tour ended up being a highlight of our trip (and well worth the last minute scramble to change up our plans! After leaving the White House, we made our way towards the Washington Monument for our next tour. Along the way, we took in the sights and spotted the Scouting Memorial. You can visit the outside of the Washington Monument without a ticket, but to go inside and travel up to the top of the monument for amazing views of DC, you have to have a ticket. We arrived early for our tour, and discovered there is very little shade around the monument. It was so hot! The doors to get inside are more national security thick than national park service secure. After passing through security, you take the elevator all the way up and take in the amazing views! After the Washington Monument, we headed back to check in to our hotel. Along the way, we stopped for a late lunch at Nook in the Reagan Building. The Reagan Building foodcourt was impressive and an easy place to find things the girls would like to eat. After a nap and shower, it was time to celebrate Dustin’s birthday at Old Ebbitt Grill (make advanced reservations) and then turn in for the night. The girls are seasoned travelers, but it was a pretty long day after our 4am wake-up for our early flight. Day 2 - Fords Theater, Postal Museum, US Supreme Court, & Library of Congress Lincoln is the top of Spider Monkey’s favorites, so she was super excited to trace the steps of his assassination at Ford’s Theater, the location where Lincoln was shot. I planned our day around visiting here and some outlying areas I was interested in seeing, including the Supreme Court and Library or Congress. Both Ford's Theater and the Library of Congress require advance planning to visit. Visit our blog post here to learn more. Much to my surprise, they both loved listening to the audio guide (kid version) that details tales from the civil war to the plot to assassinate Lincoln. They even saw the gun used to shoot the fatal bullet. We could have probably spent another hour in the museum, but we were ushered upstairs for the ranger talk. After the ranger talk, we moved across the street to the boarding house where Lincoln was taken after he was shot and where he eventually died. The girls talked with the ranger and earned the Junior Ranger badge before viewing the various rooms. The boarding house opens into another museum area the details the aftermath of the assassination. After following the Lincoln assassination, we had lunch at Asian Nine. It was conveniently close to Ford's Theater and decently priced. Our next stop was the National Postal Museum. This required a little travel, but it was highly recommended (and worth the effort). We walked to the Gallery Place Chinatown Station (about a 2 minute walk) and took the Red Line metro towards the Glenmont to Union Station. The National Postal Museum is right outside the station. I had heard great things about this hidden gem, and it did not disappoint! It was not crowded, offered a kids’ scavenger hunt and had was really interactive! From the National Postal Museum, we walked about 15 minutes to the US Supreme Court. Along the way, we came across the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial. The US Supreme Court is located on First Street NE between East Capitol Street and Maryland Avenue, adjacent to the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress. The Supreme Court was a self guided "tour" where you roam around the halls and look at all the exhibits. They do have scheduled lectures, but this was not something the girls would have been interested in. You enter the building from the Plaza doors located on each side of the main steps. It offered an interactive scavenger hunt for the girls (these are so amazing). I would have loved to grab a lecture, but settled for exploring the halls and taking in the exhibits. From the Supreme Court building, we hopped next door for our timed-entry pass to the Library of Congress … and wow!!! It is so beautiful!!! The girls completed a scavenger hunt while we soaked in everything! We explored Jefferson’s library and examined the Gutenberg Bible. Then we opted to register for a reading room card. We followed the big orange arrows to the back room where we were photographed and issued our special Library of Congress library cards. From there, we were free to explore all the reading rooms and the kids reading room. The Library of Congress made Buttercup’s top list of places we visited (she is already asking to go back). Afterwards, we grabbed dinner at Ted’s Bulletin (another option I considered was We the Pizza) and bumped into Bernie Sanders as we were leaving. I am admittedly terrible with names and faces, so I was clueless. Dustin recognized him right away and said "hi". He asked the girls where we were visiting from and snapped a photo with us. Fun, yet random memory from our adventures. Day 3 - National Mall & Memorials, Air & Space Museum, & Natural History Museum We started our day early with a visit to many of the memorials. Up first, Jefferson Memorial. This was my favorite one … maybe in part because we were the only ones there for a while, but I also loved the architecture and watching Spider Monkey stop to read and study each of Jefferson’s famous quotes. From the Jefferson Memorial, we rode the DC Circular to the Lincoln Memorial (mostly because I missed signally the stop for the MLK Memorial). So, we spent some time explore the monument dedicated to Spider Monkey’s favorite president, Mr Lincoln. It was also under some construction, but we were still able to visit the exhibits and the girls were able to earn their Junior Ranger badges. The girls enjoyed watching the baby ducks in the Reflection Pool before we trekked onward. Then we walked over to the Korean War Veterans Memorial to search the names on the wall and the over to the MLK Jr Memorial. The MLK Memorial was so crazy and crowded! It was covered in field trip groups and you could hardly move around. Buttercup had a DC adventure book that gave her mysteries to solve at each memorial / major attraction, but keeping up with her in the crowds was challenging. We stopped by the new US Park Police Horse Stables on our way to the DC War Memorial. Another one of my favorites was the Rosevelt Memorial. It was shaded and spaced out … best of all it was not crowded at all. We enjoyed our time reading the inscriptions, while search for the the answers to the mystery clues in Buttercup’s book. The World War II Memorial was Buttercup’s favorite. It was an amazing memorial, but it was already getting pretty hot out. Dustin and Spider Monkey relaxed by the fountain, while Buttercup and I explored the memorial to find the answers to her mystery clues. For lunch we took an Uber to the Wharf to Gordon Ramsey's Fish & Chips. The shakes were amazing! After lunch, we made our way to the Smithsonian Space and Air Museum for our timed entry. This turned out to be my least favorite place of our trip. It was so crowded and there was no way to move around inside. We love space museums (and enjoyed the telescopes they had set up outside), but the crowds made it not enjoyable. The Wright Brother exhibit was its only saving Grace for me. Otherwise I could not wait to get out of that madness! After jetting out of the Air and Space Museum, we cut through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on our way to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. The weather was looking questionable, so we didn’t spend too long exploring the garden, but the optical illusion house was very entertaining for the girls. I loved the Natural History Museum! We stayed until closing, exploring all the exhibits, including the Hope Diamond, Human History, a part of the meteorite from the Meteor Crater we visited last month, and of course the animals. We enjoyed dinner at Elephant & Castle (yum!) during a downpour that we thankfully missed. After dinner there was an amazing rainbow during our walk back to the hotel. Day 4 - Arlington National Cemetery, National Archives & American History Museum We started our day with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. It was an overcast morning, but temps were looking to rise, so we took the tram tour (which you can book in the gift shop area upon arrival). First stop was the Kennedy sight and Supreme Court Hill. Here we saw the final resting place of several notable Supreme Court justices and the Kennedy family. Buttercup was 6 when the last measurable death occurred in our family, and Spider Monkey has yet to experience it, so they loosely grasp the concept. They understand war, but there is this dance around the finality of death the they are still struggling with. The eternal flame is moving and the sheer number of headstones is almost incomprehensible. Our tour continued to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Another concept a little hard for Spider Monkey to grasp, but the Changing of the Guard was so moving! During the Changing of the Guard, the military guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is changed in an elaborate ceremony which happens every hour on the hour from October 1 through March 31, and every half hour from April 1 through September 30. After Arlington, we had time entry passes to the National Archives (although, we just walked through the shorter line and no one ever asked for or even glanced at our tickets). The building was very bland, and although we talked about the importance of the documents we saw, it was hugely anti-climatic for the girls. So yes, we saw the building blocks upon which America was built, but the girls could have honestly cared less. We did hunt for signatures and typos, but that only got me so far. After our brief visit to the National Archives, we moved over to the Smithsonian National American History Museum to check out the entertainment exhibit and the President’s exhibit. I loved the entertainment exhibit and Spider Monkey enjoyed looking at the First Lady dresses. Towards the end of these, we were pretty tired and headed to dinner at Capitol City Brewery. Day 5 - National Zoo Today was a Buttercup's day at the Smithsonian National Zoo! Top priority, the bird house and bird show. Honestly, the bird show alone was worth the visit!!! We were there early and got seats in the front row (it didn’t fill up until right at show time). The show lasted over an hour and was so informative and Interactive!! Buttercup was selected as a volunteer early on to demonstrate how a bird builds a nest. Spider Monkey got to hold one of the sticks for the build. Both girls had a blast and Buttercup won’t stop talking about it! Later in the day, the girls were interacting with the seals (they loved Spider Monkey's shoes and were chasing the field’s fingers). It was amazing overcast and sprinkled a little, but got hot later when the sun finally came out. We made it a shorter day and just chilled at the hotel before dinner at the Wharf. Day 6 - US Capitol We were up early today and set off to turn in the girls’ Junior Ranger booklets for the President’s Park and the White House. We stopped to explore the World War I Memorial along the way. One benefit of being early birds is that we often have a window of time when we are one of only a couple people at a location. From the visitor center, we made our way to the Capitol. We were a little early for our tour with our Congressman’s staff, so we explored the grounds. One of the friendly guides Dustin spoke with told us how to request House and Senate Gallery passes, so after exploring some of the exhibits, we made our way to the Longworth House building to track down the right office for our district. Once we checked in with Rep. McCormick’s office, we requested our House and Senate Gallery passes and started on our tour with a member of his staff. The tour was amazing! We used the underground tunnels that connect the buildings to the Capitol and the Library of Congress. It was just our family on the tour, so the girls got to ask lots of questions and really experience the Capitol. We ended up spending over 5 hours in and around the Capitol. We saw pieces from the original building, including bullet holes from the War of 1812 on the tour. After the guided tour part, we had lunch in the Longworth House cafeteria before returning to the Capitol to visit each of the Galleries. I highly recommend visiting the Galleries! They are in session right now, but neither room was in use. The Senate Gallery had staff there to answer questions and share interesting facts. One fun tip we learned is that there is a “candy desk” near the Republican side that must always be filled by the Senator that sits there. Usually it is the Republican Senator from Pennsylvania. All the Senators grab a handful of the candy when they come in. We had planned to visit the Spy Museum, but ended up spending more time in the Capitol than originally planned. Day 7 - Train and Flight Home On our last day, we slept in a little later before taking the train to DWI and boarding a flight home. My Travel Philosophy Our action-filled itinerary may not work for everyone. When planning, I follow 3 basic rules. First, aim to see everything that sounds important or interesting. There are so many places we want to see in the world, so we do not routinely return to the same place more than once. I try to map out as many of the highlights or the "only available while you are there" activities. My second traveling rule ... too much "downtime" makes my girls bored and drives me crazy. So we keep moving. We don't have to get to everything, but at least I have something planned to ward off the boredom whines. My third traveling rule ... you will never please everyone with your planning! Each of us gravitates towards different adventures and activities. I try to balance it all out, but we have worked with the girls to understanding that today's adventure may not be a top priority for one of them, but tomorrows likely will. The Family Verdict It was hot and we covered a ton of miles each day, but the girls got to see the historical places they have been learning about and experience a small piece of life in the city. Overall, there is a majestic quality to Washington DC. We enjoyed the history and spotting famous places we recognized from movies. So while it was not the perfect time of the year to visit, we had a ton of fun! Follow along as I explain each leg of our adventures through Washington DC! Adventure is in Our Souls Join the Adventure All rights reserved. © 2023 Adventure Is In Our Souls

Discover the best family adventures in Washington DC with a visit to Ford's Theater and the Library of Congress! Join our adventure-loving crew as we conquer Washington DC! Lincoln is Spider Monkey’s favorite president, so visiting Ford's Theater was another top destination for our Washington DC adventure. What is Ford's Theater? Ford's Theater is the location where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. On April 14, 1865, Lincoln and his wife were visiting the theater to see the comedy Our American Cousin, when John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln. The theater was closed for more than 100 years before being reopened in 1968 as a historic site and live performance theater. Today it is operated through a public-private relationship with the National Park Service. How to Plan a Visit to Ford's Theater To visit Ford's Theater, you need a timed-entry. Tickets are available every half hour from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday – Sunday, and are booked online through the theater. Not all exhibits are included in each ticket. When you click on a calendar date, a variety of different site visit options are displayed. Blue box that says "Museum" - This includes entry into the museum, but does not include the audio guide (this is added separately). Orange box that says "Theatre: Ranger Talk" - This includes the visit to the theater while a Park Ranger provides a narrated journey of the events leading to Lincoln's assassination. Orange box that says "Theatre Walkthrough" - This includes a visit to the theater, but no Ranger talk. Green box that says "Petersen House" - This includes a visit across the street to the location where Lincoln passed. Other options sometimes available include a short performance, after hours tours, and the Aftermath Exhibits Our tour includes the Museum, Ranger Talk, Petersen House and Aftermath Exhibits. We enjoyed each part and highly recommend them! Location: 511 Tenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 Getting There: Ford's Theater was not far from our hotel, so we walked. The closest metro stations are the Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stations. Cost: $3.50 "convenience fee" for each ticket and $5 for each audio guide. No food / drinks, weapons, oversized bags / luggage, pets, etc. (a complete list is available on the theater website). Our Family Adventure at the Ford's Theater We started our second day in DC by tracing the steps of the Lincoln assassination. We had an early booking at Ford’s Theater. We arrived early for the tour and lined up on the street. I exchanged our online tickets for paper tickets in the box office and checked out our audio guides. The girls had been working on the Junior Ranger materials, so they were ready to dive into the museum as soon as the museum opened. Much to my surprise, they both loved listening to the audio guide (kid version) that details tales from the civil war to the plot to assassinate Lincoln. They even saw the gun used to shoot the fatal bullet. We could have probably spent another hour in the museum, but we were ushered upstairs for the ranger talk. This was not Spider Monkey’s favorite part (it involved too much sitting and listening), but his storytelling was fantastic! He gave a play-by-play account of plot and events that unfolded. After the ranger talk at Ford’s Theater, we moved across the street to the boarding house where Lincoln was taken after he was shot and where he eventually died. The girls talked with the ranger and earned the Junior Ranger badge before viewing the various rooms. The boarding house opens into another museum area the details the aftermath of the assassination. What is the Library of Congress? Put simply, the Library of Congress is the largest library in the world! It was founded in 1800, making it the oldest federal cultural institution in the nation. The Library is comprised of 3 buildings - the Thomas Jefferson Building (the big main building), the John Adams Building (used primarily for research) and the James Madison Memorial Building (used primarily for research). The Library serves as the research arm of Congress and is open for anyone 16 years or older to use. Some of the big highlights of a Library of Congress visit include: The Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building, which includes marble columns, staircases, mosaics and paintings. The Gutenberg Bible, which is believed the Bible was completed in 1455 by Johann Gutenberg in Germany. Thomas Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence The Emancipation Proclamation Thomas Jefferson's personal collection of 6,400 books that founded the Library of Congress. The Reading Room - either by viewing from the overlook or by registering for a Reading Room card and exploring. How to Plan a Visit to the Library of Congress Cost: All the Library of Congress’ buildings can be entered free of charge Timed Entry Tickets: Available online up to 30 days in advance. Hours: The Thomas Jefferson Building is open from Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Location: 10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20540 Entrance: Timed-entry passes will be scanned underneath the grand staircase at the visitor entrance on First Street SE between Independence Ave and East Capitol Street. Getting There: The closest Metro stop is Capitol South station on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines Reading Rooms: There are many reading rooms throughout the Library of Congress, but tourists can only see the Main Reading Room from the overlooks during specified viewing times. You can however, register for a Reading Room card in person or by pre-registering online. Our Family Adventure at the the Library of Congress From the Supreme Court building, we hopped next door for our timed-entry pass to the Library of Congress … and wow!!! It is so beautiful!!! The girls completed a scavenger hunt while we soaked in everything! I had heard the building was beautiful, but there are so many amazing details throughout the Great Hall. We after exploring the Great Hall, we made our way to a corridor off of the Great Hall to see the Gutenberg Bible. We learned that the Bible is stored in a special case maintains a consistent temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit with stable humidity. Then we explored Jefferson’s library. Jefferson's personal collection of 6,400 books are the foundation of the Library after the British burned the Capitol and Library of Congress during the War of 1812. We opted to register for a Reading Room card to view the Main Reading Room. After pre-registering online, We followed the big orange arrows to the back room where we were photographed and issued our special Library of Congress Reading Room cards. From there, we were free to explore all the Reading Rooms and the Kids Reading Room. The Library of Congress made Buttercup’s top list of places we visited (she is already asking to go back). The Family Verdict There was so much to explore in the Library of Congress, and the girls loved the Kids Reading Room! Ford's Theater was also a big hit. Spider Monkey got antsy during the Ranger Talk, but everyone else was very engaged. While both were amazing experiences, the unexpected winner of the day was the Library of Congress! I am still in awe of its beauty. Registering for a Reading Room card definitely added to the experience! Follow along as I explain each leg of our adventures through Washington DC! Adventure is in Our Souls Join the Adventure All rights reserved. © 2024 Adventure Is In Our Souls