We just returned from a week in southern California. We drove a total distance of about 2750 miles from Washington state to Indio, CA and back. We also did a little driving around the Indio/Palm Springs area while at our condo down there.
During the trip, there were two phone apps we used that were indispensable. The first was Google Maps/Navigation. It has come pre-installed on every android phone I’ve ever owned. It’s the best tool on my phone. I use it all the time.
I’m not writing this post to discuss Google Maps, though. I just wanted to highlight the other app that became extremely useful for us. Let’s talk about Gas Buddy.
Gas Buddy is an app for you phone that provides you with gas prices at local stations wherever you happen to be and/or inquire about. You can view gas prices ranked in order of price or in proximity to your location. You can view prices in a list format or in a map format. When you select a gas station to fill up at, you press the button to navigate to that station.
We used the app regularly to find the gas stations with the best prices. since we used around 100 gallons of gas, being able to save 10 to 20 cents per gallon or more each time we stopped made a little difference. We bypassed certain cities because of their high gas prices. Without the app, we may have unknowingly paid significantly more for our fuel.
Leslie and I have decided that whenever we pull our Goldwing out of winter storage in the spring, we are going to begin touring Washington state and surrounding areas in search of the most spectacular waterfalls of the pacific northwest. Our plan is to venture out about every other weekend through the riding months.
According to Northwest Waterfall Survey, there are around 2000 waterfalls in Washington and about 1200 in Oregon. There is no possible way that we will see all of them in one summer, but we want to find the biggest and the best of all of them.
One of the most popular is Multnomah Falls. I’ve been to that one many times, as has everyone who has driven down the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge on I-84. It is a beautiful sight to behold and I would highly recommend stopping by the visitor’s area and walking, at least, up to the Benson Bridge.
When we find our waterfalls, we plan to view them, take some pictures, and move on. Don’t expect us to do any waterfall hucking during our adventures. Our pleasure is in traveling together with a destination in mind, and finding the destination. The bonus is in the beauty of the waterfalls that we explore.
Since I live about 2 1/2 hours from downtown Seattle, and we have a number of relatives living in the vicinity, it has been a common weekend destination for my family and I. Whether we are in town for an event, like a Seahawks or a Mariners game, or if we are visiting our favorite haunts, such as Pike Place Market, the Boeing Aerospace Museum, or Seattle Center, there is always great fun to be had.
I’ve been there enough times that I can always find my way around, even though Seattle is laid out in one of the most convoluted jumbles of streets and highways that I’ve ever seen. I’ve always said that when I’m in Seattle, I can find anything – I just won’t find the shortest route to get there.
Seattle has a myriad of one way streets so when you want to turn left, it’s a one way road to the right. Even when you aren’t facing a one-way the other direction, they will have a sign up that says you aren’t allowed to turn left at that intersection, anyway.
For me, the worst part might be trying to figure out how to get back on the freeway going in the right direction when I’m ready to leave town. I usually end up zig-zagging back and forth, under and over, across I-5 trying to find an on-ramp that will get me on the freeway headed toward I-90.
I’m fortunate enough to have an Android phone with Google Maps and navigation. I didn’t purchase the device only for maneuvering around the streets of Seattle, but it sure has come in handy. Now, when I’m ready to get back on the freeway and head home, I just punch my home address into my phone’s GPS and I’m on the road again. Life is good.
If I didn’t have GPS available on my phone, I would definitely be looking to purchase a GPS unit. You know, once you become accustomed to doing things a certain way, it’s hard to go without. I’ve become quite spoiled.
Some of my happiest and most vivid memories of my childhood include traveling with my Grandparents. I specifically remember a time when I was about 4 or 5 years old and spent a week, or so, driving around Western Canada in a camper alone with my Grandparents. We went through a haunted shack and swam in a hot springs. More than anything, I remember feeling pretty special just to have the time alone with my Grandparents.
I want to give my Grandchildren the same type of happy memories. We are starting while they are very young and taking trips with them (with and without their parents.) We happen to live very near our Grandchildren and see them quite a lot, but if we weren’t so close to them, I think traveling together would be a great way to build stronger bonds with them.
The last thing I want, though, is for the creation of happy memories for the grandchildren to become a nightmare for the grandparents. Children need the proper dose of age specific stimulation to keep them from becoming cranky, overexerted, and whiny. When “I’m bored!” sets in, the fun stops for everyone.
The good news is that I’ve got a few tips for you that can help to alleviate some of the problems associated with traveling with grandchildren.
Talk to your grandchild’s parents
Before you make any plans for traveling with your grandchildren, be sure to talk with their parents. Make certain that they feel their children are ready to travel without them. Find out what the children like and dislike. Be sure you know what their interests are so you can tailor your activities around those interests.
Especially with the younger children, know their schedules and routines. If you can stick to their routine while traveling, your travel companions will be much happier. Be sure they have food when they are accustomed to eating and a rest time when they are routinely ready for a nap. If they are too hungry or too tired, life will not be pleasant for anyone in the group.
Make a Trial Run
Part of the preparation for that “grand” adventure with your grandchildren, you should make a trial run first. Take them on a short over-niter or two-day trip away from home without their parents. This will be a good test of how well they do away from home. If they get too homesick after only one night away from home, you’ll be much better off to find out now than after you’ve embarked on that 10-day vacation.
On top of that, a trial run will also test your own endurance levels. Maybe a long trip with the kiddos will be much more challenge than you care to endure. Remember, the point is to build the relationship and create happy memories, not to damage it.
Plan Your Trip Together
A fun way to get your grandchildren excited about traveling with you, and to get things started on the right foot is to plan your trip together with them. Have them tell you what kinds of activities they want to do. Involve them in deciding where they want to go.
By including them in the planning, you can be more certain that you’re planning a trip they’ll enjoy. Furthermore, if the child realizes that they’ve invested in the planning of the trip, they are less likely to voice their displeasure in the outcome.
Consider a Packaged Vacation – You’ll find that some travel companies are offering packaged vacations for grandparents traveling with their grandchildren. By taking a packaged vacation designed for you by travel experts, you can be sure that both you and your grandchildren will have fun. There are packages for visiting dude ranches, touring the countryside, going overseas, and many more.
Explore the National Parks – This can be a fun, affordable vacation for grandparents traveling with grandchildren. They offer discounts for seniors, and lots of space for children to burn off their energy. You can try tent camping or staying in a hotel in the park. National parks offer activities both you and your grandchildren will enjoy, such as hiking and wildflower and animal viewing.
Go to the beach – For a more relaxing vacation, you might consider renting a beach house or staying in a hotel along the beach. Kids can spend hours playing in the water and sand without getting bored. If your grandchildren are a little older and can play safely without constant monitoring, you can even relax by the waves with a good book. Some of our best vacations with our grandchildren have included trips to the beach.
Bring Proper Documents
Whenever you are traveling with your grandchildren, be sure to bring along any documentation you might need. That even goes for your own children. I remember flying to Mexico City with my young teen daughter. Besides carrying the expected passport, I also had to bring along a notarized letter indicating that I had permission to travel alone with my daughter.
They should always have some form of I.D. and emergency contact information on them at all times. You should also carry a recent photo in case they do go missing. In case they need medical attention, you’ll need to prove that you have been granted authority, bring along notarized authorization forms. If the child is required to take any medication, make sure you bring it and the dosage instructions with you.
Traveling with your grandchildren can be the experience of a lifetime. Following the above tips will help make sure it is a positive one.
Leavenworth’s main street reflects its modelling on a Bavarian village (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Leslie and I made the 2 hour drive from Yakima to Leavenworth a couple Saturdays ago for a family reunion. Our children were unable to attend the reunion with us this year, so we decided that we would at least take our 2 young grandsons (both are one and a half years old) with us.
We were only able to stay in Leavenworth for a few hours, with more than half that time spent enjoying dessert and visiting with our extended family in a banquet room at the Enzian Hotel. That left very little time to see the town and wander through the vast array of Bavarian shops that Leavenworth is known for.
We’ve been in Leavenworth at least once a year for as long as I can remember, and have visited the shops there every time. Skipping them this one time wouldn’t destroy the trip for us. Besides, we didn’t think the babies would be real content strolling through stores that are packed with pretty little gift items that they aren’t allowed to touch.
No, instead we decided to spend our spare minutes on the other side of Leavenworth. The side behind the town and down by the Wenatchee river. The side that I have only on rare occasions ventured into.
On the Riverfront Park Trail in Leavenworth, WA. image by Don Wilson
Leavenworth has a couple nice little nature parks with neat walking paths through them. The pathway criss-crosses the Wenatchee river over bridges to get from one park to the other.
Our walk took us through Waterfront Park, across a bridge to Blackbird Island, and across another bridge to Enchantment Park.
Our primary focus was on keeping the boys entertained while we hurriedly completed the walk through the nature trail, so we didn’t take time to fully enjoy the surroundings. I understand that Waterfront park is a popular bird-watching paradise and it is common to spot an osprey or a bald eagle there. We saw neither.
On Blackbird Island, we stopped to let the boys throw some rocks in the river. You have to let the boys be boys, you know. I’m sure this was one of the highlights of their day with Nana and Papa. The younger one gave us a bit of a surprise, as you’ll notice in the following video.
About this time, I received a phone call from my dad, who was with some family members at Krystall’s restaurant. They were sitting down for lunch and wanted us to join them. That led to a hurried walk through Enchantment Park without really noticing anything about it. Through research, I learned that they have a playground, baseball field, soccer field, and trails for hiking and biking.
It’s quite an asset for Leavenworth to have this nice little sanctuary so close, yet isolated from the busy traffic and tourism of downtown Leavenworth. Though the town was packed, as it always seems to be, the parks were quiet and peaceful with a limited number of people. It seems to me it’s a nice little getaway.
CYakima, WA, from Lookout Point (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Yakima may not be the first place that comes to mind while planning a trip, but they have so much to offer.
I’ve lived in the Yakima Valley my entire life. Most of what this valley has to offer, I take for granted. In fact, when we have guests from outside this area who ask about things they should see while here, I’ve had difficulty coming up with suggestions. I had to stop and think a bit to come up with my thoughts for this web page.
While researching the topic, I found this short video by the Chamber of Commerce. It a promo video that gives a quick overview of a number of things to see and do in the Yakima Valley.
Whenever I’ve taken week long vacations with my family to some of the Worldmark resorts, of which we are members, we try to balance our activities with some good old-fashioned relaxation. We want to see some sites and do some activities, but we don’t want to try to cram too much into a short period of time.
Typically we restrict ourselves to one activity per day, during our vacation. The rest of the time, we spend at our condo eating, swimming, playing board games, watching movies, and then eating some more. That way, we don’t return home from our vacation more worn out than when we left.
This list is what I might line up as our daily activities if I were a visitor to the area.
Water Recreation
One of the most popular activities for Yakima residents in the summer is to float the Yakima River Canyon. Every summer, thousands of people spend the day relaxing and partying as they casually drift down the river on their rafts.
For those who prefer excitement over relaxation, you may wish to try your hands at white water rafting on the Tieton River when the flows from the Rimrock reservoir begin to increase in the late summer and early fall months. During this time, this stretch becomes the fastest white water rafting in the state.
Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre in Yakima, Washington (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Capitol Theatre is a historic building that continues to offer concerts, broadway shows, and a variety of performances throughout the year. It may be hit-and-miss as to whether or not they have something playing during your trip to Yakima, but if they do, it would be one of the activities you should consider.
When I was young, the Capitol Theatre was being used as a movie theater. At one point, the building caught fire and was badly damaged. It sat vacant for quite some time before a group came in and renovated the building. They’ve done a fabulous job and the theater has continued to operate in it’s current fashion ever since. It is a great asset for the community of Yakima.
Wine Tours
I’m really not even a wine drinker, but I’ve added this to the list because the winery business plays such a strong role in the Central Washington agricultural scene. I’ve been to a number of the winery’s in the valley and find the business to be very fascinating.
The Yakima Wine Association provides a list of suggested wine tours that are recommended. I could probably get away with driving myself around to the various locations, but for some others, it may be recommended that you enlist a limo or a bus to assist you on your tour. Stay safe.
Museums
Yakima Valley Museum (Photo credit: Frank Fujimoto)
The Yakima Valley Museum is located in Franklin Park on Tieton Drive to the west of downtown Yakima.
I had driven by the museum probably a hundred times without ever stopping to go through it. Recently, I joined a group from my workplace that held a social event in one of the meeting rooms inside the museum. We were allowed to wander around the museum while we were there. I was completely surprised as to how much history they housed there.
The Yakima Valley Museum is the best and most interesting place to go for learning about the history and culture of the area.
Recreational Sports
All year round there are a number of sport tournaments and events being held in Yakima. From the high school district volleyball and basketball tournaments that are held in the Sun Dome in the fall and winter, to the baseball at Kiwanis Park, to the Hot Shots 3 on 3 basketball tournament held in the middle of Yakima Avenue in the summer, there are sporting events for everyone all year ’round.
As I write this post, the city is preparing for the Pirate’s Plunder Adventure Race. This obstacle course will require extreme strength and endurance in the contestants. This October 5, 2013 event is just one example of the quality recreational events held in this area.
Old West
Toppenish is a half an hour south of Yakima, along the I-82 corridor. It’s a small town where the west still lives. It also just happens to be the town that I was born in.
Shortly after I graduated from high school and moved away from this little town, they began a couple new initiatives. They adopted an “old west” theme, and they started painting murals around the town. In fact, every June, they hold an event that they call Mural in a Day where a number of artists band together to paint a new mural.
Today, nearly every business in town sports an old west look and as you walk around the town, you can find more than 70 spectacular murals painted in various locations.
On top of all that, they have a number of fascinating museums, including the Rail & Steam Museum, the American Hop Museum, and the Yakama Nation Cultural Center.
Produce
It hardly makes any sense at all to come to the Yakima Valley and not pick up some locally grown produce. Many people come to Yakima from around the state just to stock up on the local delights for canning or just eating good fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Yakima Farmer’s Market is open in downtown Yakima every Sunday from early May through late October is a great place to find your produce, local crafts, and much more.
The Birchfield Manor has served guests from all around the world. Some of their guests have even traveled hundreds of miles for the sole purpose of dining here. Only the finest dining establishments can claim to be a destination for travelers, and the Birchfield can legitimately make that claim.
When I was still a teenager, like so many my age, I could barely rub 2 nickels together. The Birchfield Manor was hardly a place I could afford to frequent. Though not outrageously expensive, they are a business and thus have to produce some profit. They use the best ingredients, provide first class service, and surround you with beautiful and comfortable decor. They have to charge prices that cover their overhead, and given my circumstances at the time, seemed quite lofty.
Fortunately for me, I worked for a restaurant whose owner had become a personal friend of Wil and Sandy Massett who, at that time, owned the Birchfield Manor. Because of that relationship, my boss occasionally held events for his restaurant staff at the Birchfield Manor. What a privilege it was for me to be able to frequent an establishment that held such class and style.
Around that time, I save up my nickels for awhile and was able to take a special young lady to the Birchfield for dinner one evening. During the meal, I presented her with a promise ring and expressed my wishes to her that we would save ourselves for one another.
That young lady and I have now been happily married for more than 30 years.
The Food at Birchfield Manor
As far as the food goes, I must say that I’ve not ever had anything there that I didn’t like. Even though they have served some dishes to me that just didn’t sound all that good, and I was sure that they wouldn’t be that pleasant, I’ve always enjoyed every bite. One time, they served me something called gespacho…..really? C’mon, now….cold tomato soup? I don’t even like tomatoes…unless they’re cooked into something like spaghetti sauce. As it turns out, the way they prepared it was quite tasty.
Certain Items on the menu really get my chops watering. My all-time favorite is their fresh filet of salmon in a puff pastry with wine sauce. You owe it to yourself to try that. Or, for the red meat crowd, you can’t go wrong with their filet mignon.
Birchfield Manor’s Service Quality
Let me tell you a brief story that describes the type of service that you will receive at the Birchfield Manor.
One time, my wife and I were dining at the Birchfield with another couple who were friends of ours. Near the end of the meal, the server came to our table and asked if we would like coffee or tea. My friend blurted out that he would like some hot chocolate. The server offered up that they could provide that for us and brought us what turned out to be the best tasting hot chocolate that I’ve had anywhere, still to this day.
Approximately one year later, my wife and I were at the Birchfield Manor once again. We happened to recognize that we had the same server as the year before, but we had not been there anytime between that evening and this one.
When it came to the part of the dinner that the server offers coffee or tea, the server started to make those offerings, but suddenly stopped himself and the proclaimed, “Wait! You want hot chocolate, don’t you.”
Bed and Breakfast at the Birchfield Manor
My wife and I have even spent a night at the bed and breakfast. That may seem a little silly, since we live within 5 miles of their property.
It was on one of our wedding anniversary dates that we wanted to make a little special. We decided to splurge for our special occasion, but we didn’t have enough time to be able to leave town. So, we found a babysitter to watch after the kids (Grandma and Grandpa), and drove down the road to the Birchfield Manor. As it turned out, this was as nice a vacation as any other we could have taken.
The setting is quiet and comfortable. Their swimming pool was cool and refreshing – just right for relaxing in the hot summer evening. Their grounds were immaculate. The rooms were plush, yet homey.
We stayed in one of the upstairs rooms in the main farmhouse. The new addition that they call the cottage had been built not long before our stay. It was quite a bit more spendy, and a little too much for our budget at the time, so we did what we were able to do.
I don’t remember much about the specifics of our breakfast – it was a long time ago, and being our anniversary, I had other things on my mind. What I do remember was that for part of the breakfast, they served some homemade granola. I had never cared much for granola, but this breakfast at the Birchfield changed all that.
My Recomendation
I suppose I’ve made it very apparent that the Birchfield Manor holds a special place in my heart. They’ve been very hospitable to my wife and I over the years and have added a touch of class to our dining experiences. I can add my strongest endorsement to this establishment. Whether for dinner or for a stay at the bed and breakfast, try it. I’m sure you’ll like it. It isn’t the cheapest place around, but it’s well worth every penny.
Check it out! This past weekend, my wife and I wanted to do some motorcycle touring so we went out and picked up this 1984 Goldwing Aspencade. It’s been around the block a few times and is a little rough around the edges, but it runs and rides great.
This is going to make it real easy for us to take off for the weekend and tour around the great Pacific Northwest. It will certainly add a new element of adventure to our travels.
We already have a couple trips planned and coming up. We’re going to ride down to central Oregon to visit my in-laws, soon. That trip will be around 500 miles round-trip and will span 3 days.
Soon after that, we’ll plan to ride to Leavenworth, Washington and back. We’ll be attending an annual family get-together, there. It will be a one day round trip that will cover about 200 miles. I’m especially looking forward to that drive.
My previous motorcycle
There will be many more trips like those. I love riding motorcycles and am excited to finally have a bike that’s made for touring. The bike I had prior to this one was great for getting back and forth to work, or short trips around town. It was fine for short day trips by myself. It wasn’t any good for passengers and it wasn’t comfortable for long trips.
I’m sure you can understand by looking at the picture of my old green monster why I loved riding it. I’m going to miss it, but I’m looking forward to many new touring adventures on the Goldwing.
4th of July fireworks (2013) at Birch Bay, WA (Photo credit: WXRob)
During our short stay, the tide was low and there was about 1/4 mile of exposed beach. People were out playing in the sand all over the place. Many people appeared to be digging for clams.
We took a peaceful walk along the sidewalk, looking for interesting shops or restaurants. Quite frankly, we didn’t find anything along the main road that we were overly enthused about. We did, however, find a nice little flea market sort of setup in the park. It was worth taking an hour to peruse the vendor’s wares.
While we were visiting Birch Bay, I’m just glad we didn’t see anything like the people who recorded this video experienced.
I sure wouldn’t want to be here during a tsunami! This place would disappear.
Stacked on the onramps, Traffic jam, after a day of work, 2 hours of traffic to get home, Seattle, Washington, USA (Photo credit: Wonderlane)
I just experienced what may have been my most horrendous driving experience of my entire life.
We were traveling from our home in Yakima, to a family member’s wedding near Lynden, Washington. It was a Friday afternoon drive. I mapped out our trip for the shortest distance on the best freeways.
Online mapping suggested just over 4 hours for the trip. We left at 1:00 p.m. and the wedding was to start at 7:00.
I admit poor planning. The 2 hours to drive the 135 miles to the beginning of the metropolitan area and the point were we exit I-90 and head north on I-405, and awhile later on I-5, would put us in the heaviest traffic at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.
Still, I had no idea what we were about to encounter.
After the 135 miles in 2 hours I just mentioned (which included a brief stop in North Bend), we endured stop and go traffic for the next 45 miles through about Marysville (which included a brief stop every 50 feet).
Suddenly, the 3 hour time cushion we had left for ourselves seemed rather insignificant.
We made it to the Lynden area with just enough time to hurriedly register at our reserved condo and change into our wedding duds. We arrived at the church about 10 minutes late. Fortunately, this wedding was typical to most I’ve been to and started a little late. We arrived just as the groom was greeting the guests from the front of the church.
My cousin’s wedding was lovely. It was very relaxing to sit quietly in the back pew of the church listening to encouraging words and soft music. That was just what the doctor ordered after after our miserable experience driving up the I-5 corridor.
My recommendation – avoid metro area freeways during rush hour.
We just returned from a week in southern California. We drove a total distance of about 2750 miles from Washington state to Indio, CA and back. We also did a little driving around the Indio/Palm Springs area while at our condo down there.
