Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids

When my children were about nine months old, my best friend, Chrissy, and I thought it would be a good idea to strap them to our chests and go hiking in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Turns out, it wasn’t a good idea, it was a GREAT idea!  We had a wonderful day exploring the geothermal features of the park while introducing the kids to the first of many National Park adventures. Lassen is off the beaten path but well worth the drive. Here are some of my tips for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids:

WHEN TO GO:  The park is snowed in until June so my recommendation is to plan for a mid-June to mid-September visit unless you are in to snowshoeing.   We went in June and while all the roads were plowed, there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground which was a surprise to us. After all, we were wearing t-shirts and shorts!

WHERE TO STAY: We stayed near the town of Chester, in a cabin by the shore of Lake Almanor.  It was close enough to drive back and forth to the park every day, but much more practical for us than camping inside the park with a couple of infants.  Lake Almanor is a popular summer vacation destination and there are plenty of cabins for rent in the area.  If your family loves to camp, there are 6 campgrounds (3 of them are group sites) within the park. 

WHAT TO DO: I think every trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park should include a hike to Bumpass Hell.  It is a beautiful 3 mile hike over the side of a mountain and into a stinky, hydrothermal wonderland filled with steaming pools, bubbling mud pots, and multicolored streams.  Make sure to keep your children on the boardwalk so they don’t break the fragile crust on the ground surrounding the features. Mr Bumpass made the mistake of walking too close to the features and slipped through the crust, scalding his leg in the process!!!

Those with older children who are up to the challenge can take the 5 mile RT hike to the top of Lassen Peak.  On May 22, 1915, Mt Lassen experienced a large volcanic eruption and the effects of the volcanic eruption can still be seen throughout the Devastated Area.  Views from the trail leading up to Mt Lassen are nothing short of spectacular.

Another fun (and short!) hike is to Cold Boiling Lake. This trail is only .8 miles RT and leads to a lake with gas bubbles coming up which give it it’s boiling appearance.  For an even more incredible boiling lake experience, take the easy 3 mile RT hike to Boiling Springs Lake where the water temperature is 125 degrees due to a number of hot springs under the surface of the water.

This post is featured on Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday. Click on the link below and see who else is playing along!

Family Vacation
Redding

Barbara’s Lake Hike, James Dilley Preserve

How many natural lakes do you think Orange County, CA has? True, there are a few lakes in OC, but as with alot of things in Orange County, most of them are not natural.  The answer is ONE.  Just one.  One small, unassuming lake tucked away in the James Dilley Preserve off Laguna Canyon Road.  At 12 acres, Barbara’ Lake may not be Lake Superior, but she certainly is pretty.

Mari and I met some friends and introduced them to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.  We have hiked quite a few trails in this park but we still hadn’t seen the lake!  Since the trail from the Nix Nature Center to Barbara’s Lake is flat, we decided it was a great hike for our toddler foursome to take on.  We began with a quick loop around the 1/2 mile nature trail (named Mary’s Trail) and admired all the sights and scents of the coastal sage scrub habitat.

Then we headed out south on the Little Sycamore Canyon Trail which lead us under the road past more great scenery and over towards a little pond.  Now this may or may not be Bubble’s Pond.  I seem to have found conflicting reports on the internet as to its exact location.  What is the significance of Bubble’s Pond?  Well back in the early eighties a hippo escaped from the (now closed) Lion Country Safari and took up residence for 19 days in the area! 

 

We took a right on the Stagecoach Trail and then a quick left onto the Lake Trail.  The vegetation grew more lush and we could tell that we were close!  Suddenly we found what we were looking for- Orange County’s lake!!!  The shore was lined with cattails and wildflowers instead of million dollar homes.  I think I like lakes alot better that way…

Mc Cloud Falls

Back before there was Mari and Ben, there was Toby and Raley. They were my first children and the thought of leaving them behind for a hike or a camping trip was incomprehensible.  They wagged their tails and happily hopped in the car and went along with whatever journey I had up my sleeve. Today, the dogs don’t join us nearly as many trips as they used to because honestly, two toddlers are hard enough to wrangle, let alone two dogs! Luckily, things are getting easier. Soon Toby and Raley will be hopping back in the car and walking alongside us on the trail. Until then, I have memories of trips past, including the one we took to McCloud Falls.

McCloud Falls are actually three different waterfalls located within two miles of each other along the McCloud River in Northeastern California, not far from Mt Shasta. There is a trail that runs along the river connecting each of the falls and the entire roundtrip hike is 3.4 miles. Its a great little hike for families with three different destinations along the way!

The Lower Falls are the most popular due to their accessibility. They are only twelve feet high but the water takes a powerful plunge over those twelve feet into a wide pool below, creating a beautiful scene. The base of the falls is a popular spot for swimming and picnicking. The edge Lower Falls is also a popular cliff jumping spot. There was absolutely no way you were going to get me to take the plunge (one fall off a cliff will do that to you) but Paul and my friend Kristi were happy to take the plunge over and over again while Toby howled with worry.

The Middle Falls are the most impressive of the trio. They are 46 feet tall and nearly 100 feet wide. The area surrounding the pool has plenty of boulders around it, perfect for soaking up the sun after swimming in the chilly waters at the base of the falls.

The Upper Falls are just a couple minutes up the trail from the Middle Falls and shoot over the edge to a pool 25 feet below. Most people only view them from the platform above but I have read that you can scramble your way down to the bottom.

Camping along the McCloud River is a wonderful way to spend a family vacation and explore a part of California that few people ever see. I look forward to taking Mari and Ben to McCloud Falls with my original babies one day, and  making some new memories as a complete family.

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Family Vacation
Mount Shasta

Laurel Canyon Hike- Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

As we round the corner she spots what she’s been looking for, an open expanse of trail. She turns around, her eyes searching for my nod of approval. When she sees it, she takes off in a full sprint, her silent strides only interrupted by the occasional joy filled giggle.

She loves to run.

Suddenly her gate slows to a stop and she covers her mouth  with one telling finger. Shhhh….. She has spotted something. I creep closer to spot her discovery. Its a lizard. Probably the tenth we have seen one our hike but no less exciting than the first. He does his chest pumping dance and then scurries under a rock. She is overcome with joy and squeals with excitement. Nature through her eyes is pure magic.

Our hike through Laguna Canyon was a special one. I love when I am able to spend time one on one with my children, especially when we are doing something they love. Mari is my little clone. She loves animals, the outdoors, and hiking. So when we get to hike together, we are two peas in a pod. She asks me about animals and what sorts of food they eat and I point out different flower species to someone who actually has genuine interest.

We headed up Willow Canyon at a fast pace. Most of the time I was trying to keep up with Mari. We stopped occasionally to check out the new crop of poppies and point out tracks that animals had left in the mud.

We admired  boulder outcrops in the distance and talked about when we had explored rocky caves in hikes past. 

As we reached the top of the hill, we took in the view. I tried to help Mari grasp the concept of those little bumps in the distance actually being the mountains near our home. I wonder if three year olds are as taken aback by grand views as adults are…

As we wound our way down into Laurel Canyon, we admired the lush vegetation and a steep drop off which was for most of the year, a dry waterfall. We had some rains recently but not enough to get the water flowing over the edge. I imagine it must be a beautiful sight when the water does flow.  We followed the barely trickling stream and stopped to peek at lizards who clung to sun filled portions of trail like they were tiny pieces of heaven.

On our way back to the trailhead, we passed a boulder that looked just like Blinky from   Pac-Man (Or maybe it was Inky. Or Clyde).

Blinky, however, was not the most excited thing we came across on our hike. Just as the parking lot was in eye sight a snake slithered right across the trail in front of us. And not just any snake, a rattlesnake. A LARGE rattlesnake. I told Mari to stand back as I peered into the bushes to make sure he was gone. Suddenly a loud rattle came from the brush, causing me to gasp and poor Mari to cry with fear. I knew that rattlesnakes were not aggressive but I still wanted to get the heck out of there as fast as possible. I waited until he calmed down and then grabbed Mari and made a run for it. I have been hiking for years and I knew eventually I could come across a rattlesnake, but it was still a nerve jarring experience. I have since explained to Mari the differences between good snakes and bad snakes and have made sure she has had contact with the good snakes (at zoos and nature events) so she doesn’t develop an unhealthy fear of them. Spring is a common time of year to find reptiles on the trails so always be aware of where you are stepping and you should have no problems.

If you would like to hike the trails we did (don’t let our run in with the snake deter you, it certainly won’t deter us.), park at gate #6 on Laguna Canyon Road just west of El Toro Road. Take the Willow Canyon Trail up to the Laurel Spur and the Laurel Canyon Trail back down. The total loop is about 3.7 miles. For more information about Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park click here.

Family Vacation
Laguna Beach

Wildflowers in Orange County: Quail Hill

One of the best things about spring is all the new life. There is just something so miraculous about bursts of color sprouting up amongst fields of vibrant green. Tiny mice and fluffy bunnies open their eyes for the first time and are exposed to Southern California at its best. Little do they know that in a couple short months, the green will be replaced by brown. Recently, I had the chance to participate in my very first photo workshop at Quail Hill in Irvine. The hills were lush and green but the flowers weren’t as plentiful as we had hoped. Luckily there were still enough around to help me work on the finer points of lighting and  manual shooting. Here are some of my best shots. Enjoy! (Special thanks to Nick Carver Photography. He is young  but he certainly knows his stuff. I highly recommend his workshops and hope to be taking another one soon!)

Family Vacation
Irvine

Red Rock Trail, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

Spring is in bloom in Orange County. The air is filled with scents of fresh cut grass and newly budded blossoms. The beauty of wildflowers decorating our semi arid landscape makes it impossible for us to stay inside. This past weekend we headed out to Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

The Red Rock/Borrego Canyon hike at Whiting Ranch is one of contrast. You start out in the parking lot of a Ralph’s grocery store, head through a steep, tree shaded canyon, enter a world of wildflower studded hillsides, and end in a stark sandstone canyon that looks like something you would find in a National Park in Utah. Its incredible. The hike is almost 4 miles roundtrip and mostly level.

We took this hike in hopes of spotting wildflowers. They didn’t seem to be as prolific as last year but they were still plentiful. We saw plenty of purple lupines, blue dicks, poppies, buttercups, and lots of other flowers I have no business trying to identify. Its no secret that I have a serious “thing” for wildflowers and its seems to have rubbed off on my daughter as well. We can’t pass a patch without my daughter reminding me to take a picture.

The Red Rock trail (and offshoot of the Borrego Canyon Trail) leads you into a land filled with cacti, circling turkey vultures, and deeply carved sandstone cliffs. Its truly hard to believe you are only a couple miles from suburbia. Its easy to find yourself staring at those red walls whilst dreaming of  a world filled with condors and desert dwellers.

One of the more unexpected experiences we had on the trail was having a man show us a fossil on the side of a boulder that had been washed down a creek. I knew there were fossils just waiting to be discovered but I had never actually stopped and tried to find any. They are certainly something I will start to keep my eyes open for in the future.

(Look closely, its there!)

I can’t end this post without sharing a couple of my favorite pictures from the hike. One of them is a close up of a lizard we met on the trail. He just looks so darn cute! The other is of me and my kids in a tree. Its the first shot that I have had with my kids and I actually looking at the camera and smiling in well over a year. We were out doing what we love and its a photo I will treasure forever. Many thanks to my husband, Paul, for capturing this treasured moment.

 

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is located in Foothill Ranch on the corner of Portola Parkway and Market. Hour are from 7AM to Sunset. Hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians all frequent the many trails of this beautiful park. For more information click here.

For more fantastic travel photos, check out Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday here.

Family Vacation
Lake Forest

Cabrillo National Monument

I love that end of the earth feeling. It usually involves standing at the edge of a cliff that drops off into a never ending sea full of churning blue water. I can’t help but imagine what it must have felt like to think that the earth was flat and the drop into oblivion was just on the edge of the horizon. What a scary and finite concept.  Cabrillo National Monument is a great place to let your mind get swept back to the days of conquistadores, Spanish occupation, and early exploration.

 

We decided to head over to the tide pools for the first part of our Cabrillo NM tour. I had planned our day around low tide so we would have the best opportunity to view sea life. Unfortunately, and tragically, the Chilean earthquake had hit the day before. Between the tsunami warning and the massive storm that had hit the day prior, the minus tide ceased to exist. The seas were incredibly rough and most of the tide pools were inaccessible. That being said, I felt the rough seas added to the rugged feel that Point Loma possesses.

 

We followed the trail that hugs the cliffs and stood at cliffs edge, admiring the swirling waters below. The scenery reminded me a bit of Point Reyes in Northern California and served as a nice reminder of what the San Diego coast once was.

We did manage to make it down to beach level and spot a few critters that had washed ashore. Since it was the weekend (and the first warm day in over a week), there were crowds down around the tide pools. I think if the tide was lower and people were able to spread out a bit more, it would have had a much more intimate feel.

 

Next we headed over to the visitor’s center to get our National Park passport book stamped and learn about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on the West Coast way back in 1542, and historians believe those first footsteps were made on Point Loma.

The views from this area, including the actual Cabrillo monument are filled with vistas of the San Diego Bay and the city beyond. 

 

The visitor center provides educational videos, a small museum, and replicas of 16th century armor for children of all ages to try. My son thought the 16th century sword was particularly cool and wasted no time knocking his sister in the head with it. Luckily, she was wearing a 16th century replica helmet…

 

If you would like to visit Cabrillo National Monument (and you should) check out the park’s website here. We didn’t have time to visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse (the park closes at 5PM due to it proximity to the naval base at Point Loma) but tours are offered frequently. It will be high on my priority list for our next visit.

For more fantastic travel photos, check out Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday here.

Family Vacation
San Diego

Hiking Through- A Guest Post

Today’s guest post comes from Paul Stutzman, the author of Hiking Through. Originally when I was contacted by his publicist the goal was for him to write an article about hiking the Appalachian Trail and provide some family tips. Instead, he found Tuesday’s story on my blog and decided to write about something that is so much more important. His sentiments  reflects my own desire to inspire families to get out and enjoy the world with each other. Family is such a gift and sometimes our time with them is cut tragically short. I hope you find Paul’s words just inspiring and heartfelt as I did.

Initially, I came to this blog as part of a virtual book tour, hoping to promote my new book. But after browsing through this site and reading Tuesday’s story, I simply want to write a message from my heart.

Cherish and enjoy your children, your spouse, your loved ones! Mary, my wife of 32 years, died of breast cancer in 2006. My life as I had known it was gone. And part of the pain I felt was in knowing that I had taken my wife and our life together for granted. My one goal in life was to be wealthy. In pursuit of that goal, I spent too much time at work and missed much of my children’s growing-up years. It was only after my wife was gone that I realized what had been mine—and I had failed to appreciate it fully.

A year after Mary’s death, I quit my job and hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, demanding answers from God and trying to find healing. Early in my hike, I met the man I called Sailor, who grew up on Cape Cod in the same neighborhood as the famous Kennedy family. When I first met him, I was quite impressed with his background, thinking that he was surely part of that “upper crust” society of wealth and privilege.

In fact, I never knew if Sailor was a millionaire or had only a few dimes. The Trail is a great equalizer, and bank accounts don’t mean much if you’re trudging alone through the wilderness. But I believe Sailor was one of the wealthiest men I met. His wealth lay in his family. Several times during the weeks I knew him, Sailor’s sons joined him for parts of the hike. His wife also walked part of the trail with him. That man has riches far greater than any bank account. Bank accounts swell and shrivel, as we all know, but memories made with our loved ones only grow more precious with time.

Whenever I had a chance on my hike, I tried to pass on this message: Enjoy and appreciate your spouse, your children, your loved ones TODAY, while you still have the opportunity.

After Paul Stutzman’s wife died, Paul quit his job to hike the Appalachian trail to give himself time to think and to heal.  Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail is his story.  A former restaurant manager, he is now retired and planning his next big adventure: a cross-country bicycle trip. Stutzman currently lives in Berlin, Ohio. To see pictures of his hike or to find out more about Paul and his book, visit his website at www.hikingthrough.com.

Waimea Valley Audubon Center

I love the North Shore of Oahu. Life there seems to be lived more my speed.  High rise hotels are replaced by shrimp trucks and shave ice shacks. It’s home to my favorite snorkel spot on the island (Shark’s Cove) and gorgeous beaches known for their winter swells. It is also home to the Waimea Valley Audubon Center, a beautiful nature park with plenty of opportunities to learn about ancient Hawaiian culture and enjoy lush, bird filled gardens.

This was our second visit to Waimea Valley. I had such fond memories from our last visit that I insisted we return. There is just something so peaceful about this park. Waimea Valley has an interesting history too. It was an important spiritual center to ancient Hawaiians, a theme park for a number of years, and is now a botanical gardens with a focus on preserving plant life and birds.

We were greeted by a very social peacock in the parking lot. Maybe he knew he lived someplace special and wanted to share his gorgeous home with us. Or maybe he was just hoping he would get the last of my corn chips. Either way, we were happy to see him.

Once inside the park you will find a couple small bird seed stations. If there seem to be alot of birds loitering in the area, dig into your pockets,  drop a couple quarters into the machine, and buy a handful. When we bought seed all we had to do was extend an arm and it was covered in birds!

One bird we saw plenty of this past visit was fowl. They just seem so happy being free range and fancy free. I especially loved the chicks. Its seems no matter what the species, babies are just plain cute!

Of course the scenery in Waimea Valley isn’t half bad either. From tropical gardens to sacred Hawaiian grounds, you are guaranteed to be wowed.

There is even a Hawaiian games demonstration area where you can take a stab at some of the traditional games native Hawaiians play.

For me, the highlight is always the waterfall at the end of the trail. It is so fun to swim in the pool (bring you suits!) and sit under the falls. They provide boogie boards to help those “not so strong” swimmers and lifejackets are required (and free) for children under 12.  There is also a life guard on duty. The water is cooler than the ocean but still very swimmable.  Perfect for some safe family fun!

Waimea Valley Audobon Center is located at  59-864 Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa, HI 96712. It is just off the main highway behind Waimea Beach. Adults are $10 and children 12 and under are $5. Military discounts are available. The hike (more of a walk than a hike) to the waterfall is 3/4 mile and paved. Very doable for children of all ages and very stroller friendly. There is food and a very nice gift shop on site.

Family Vacation
Honolulu