Treasure Hunting! - Finders Keepers @ Lincoln City, OR

Floats Photo from www.visittheoregoncoast.com

Our family loves a good treasure hunt.  Whether it's keeping an eye on the ground on our walks for discarded change or searching out hidden treasure in Geocaches, we love the thrill of hunt.  So when we heard about Finders Keepers in Lincoln City, OR we were immediately intrigued.  

Finders Keepers is an annual event along the 7+ miles of beaches that has over 3000 hand blown glass floats and other items hidden for the public to find.  Glass float hunting was a popular hobby up until a decade or so ago.  Japanese fishing boats previously used hand blown glass floats to float their nets.  During storms, and through wear and tear, the floats would come loose and people would find them along the coast.  As fishing boats turned more and more to plastic buoys, floats became harder to come by. 

As a nod to the past, Lincoln City sponsored the first Finders Keepers in 1999.  Growing to the more than 3000 glass items that will be hidden from October to Memorial Day, Lincoln City has created the perfect excuse to visit the coast out of the traditional tourist season.  So we will be heading to Oregon at some point this winter to try our luck...You should head to the beach too! 

Go Climb A Mountain - Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Here is the Pacific Northwest we are lucky to be surrounded with amazing options for outdoor activities.  Within an hour we can be hiking deep into an old growth forest or climbing mountains.  One of the reasons we have this bounty available to us, is the commitment to preserve these green spaces for public use.  In addition to the many state parks and community spaces, the National Parks System has several parks within driving distance with the most famous being Mt. Rainier and the Olympic National Park.  This weekend, no matter where you are in the United States, you can enjoy these historic wonders for yourself.  As part of it's 100th Birthday, the National Parks Service is opening all of it's parks for free!  That's right, no entrance fee at the more than 400 National Parks throughout the country.  So grab your hiking shoes, pack a lunch and go enjoy the tranquility of nature.

If You Build It- Adventure Playground

In a time where people are perhaps too focused on protecting their kids from every bump and bruise, there is a place you can take your kids where they can hammer, saw, construct and watch their imaginations take shape.  

Adventure Playground, located in Deane's Children's Park  on Mercer Island, is a build-it-yourself play zone that will satisfy anyone's craving for design and fabrication. 

Upon checking in at the front, kids are given a toolbox, safety gear (including a hard hat and goggles) and nails.  After that they are let into the construction zone.  

The current construction zone has a tree house theme!

All children under 12 must have adult supervision, but really, why wouldn't you stay to create with your kids. 

All in all we spent several hours 

hammering,

Sketching, 

Climbing, 

and building. 

 The best part was watching all of the various projects slowly emerge from the materials at hand. 

Adventure Playground is open Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from July 5th through September 25th. The program is run by donation.  All participants, including adults, must have closed toe shoes to enter. 

10 Tips For Surviving The Happiest Place On Earth - Disneyland

Recently, we were lucky enough to take our kids to Disneyland.  Over the course of our trip we noted 10 things that made our trip a bit easier.

1.       Bag Check – Disney has a way to prepare you for the many lines you will be in over the course of your visit: Security Check Point.  Before you are able to line up to enter the park, you must first enter through a bag check and metal detector.  To get through quickly, make sure to take your bag/backpack/purse/fanny sack off and have it open for inspection.  It will make the line go quicker for everyone and get you into the Happiest Place On Earth that much faster.

2.       Fastpass Tickets- If you have never used a Fastpass for the more popular rides at Disney, you may be doing it wrong.  For those of you who don’t know, Fastpass is a way to “reserve” your spot in line within a certain time frame.  Somewhere around the ride, there are kiosks where you insert your Disney ticket and a Fastpass ticket prints out with your return time.  Just come back during the allotted time and skip the line.

FastPasses saved us from waiting in the 90 minute line for the Cars ride. 

3.       Jedi academy – Along the same lines as Fastpasses, if you have a kid under 10 that wants to participate in the Star Wars Jedi Academy show head to the Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland first thing in the morning.  Starting when the park opens, Disney hands out passes for kids to participate in one of the shows that happen throughout the day.  Pay attention to the time on the slip and arrive 15-20 minutes early so you don’t miss your show.

4.       Star Wars Trivia –Make sure you take some time to enjoy the Star Wars Launch Bay after you grab your Jedi Academy Pass.  It is full of memorabilia and props from the Star Wars franchise, including meet and greets with some of the characters (Chewbaca, Boba Fett and Kylo Ren were there when we were.)  Be prepared for a potentially longish wait depending on when you are there….or, if your Star Wars trivia skill are strong, listen for the staff to announce a trivia contest.  Using our nerdy family power we were victorious and our prize was to skip the line for any meet and greet. (We saved 30 minutes in the Chewbacca line!) May the force be with you!

5.       Bring water – Although somewhere deep in the online rules of Disneyland they discourage you from bringing outside food and drinks, we had no problem with bringing in bottled water.  With the temperature hovering right around 100 degrees while we were there, it was imperative to stay hydrated.  We weren’t able to bring all the water that we needed, but we were able to save ourselves $25-$30 each day by bringing in a few bottles of water each.

6.       Food – The same goes for food.  To save on meals, we ate a good breakfast before we headed to the park and packed a simple lunch (sandwiches, snacks, and fruit) to eat at the park.  That way we were able to splurge on one meal a day without focusing on the cost.  And, while there is a designated “picnic” area, we sat down at one of the many shaded tables and ate throughout the parks.

7.       Pokemon go for lines – In the past we have used various ways to keep us entertained in long lines.  This year we are all playing Pokemon Go.  It’s as if this game was created for people waiting at Disneyland/California Adventure.  The parks are considered some of the best places to play, with dozens of Pokestops and people adding lures to them all day.  Battling a gym or chasing down a rare Pokemon makes the lines seem shorter and the time pass quicker.

Plus you can say you controlled the gym at Haunted Mansion

8.       Alternate air-conditioned rides/stores – To battle the heat in the parks, we learned to take advantage of the various pockets of air-conditioning throughout. Walking through the long stretches of interconnected shops found in most of the areas of the park became our favorite shortcuts.  We also sought out the indoor rides as well as ones with covered and/or air-conditioned queues.  Both of these tactics kept us from overheating.

9.       Pin Trading – Our youngest discovered a new passion while at the parks: Pin Trading.  Disney Pin trading has become quite the hobby for many of the visitors to the Disney Parks.  Pins can be traded with many other visitors as well as with any Disney employees that are wearing/displaying them.  (They have to trade with you; it’s part of the job) We met a great couple that gave us some quick pointers to trading.  The biggest tip they gave us is to search on eBay or craigslist for bulk pins before heading to the parks.  You can find bags of the more common pins for a reasonable price and trade them when you’re on vacation.

10.   Downtown Disney – We found that taking the occasional break from the parks themselves made our return that much more enjoyable.  The closest place for a break is Downtown Disney.  With several great shops, including an amazing Lego store, and many great places to grab something to eat (as well as some incredible caramel apples) Downtown Disney gave us a slight reprieve from the crowds.  

Gotta Catch Them All - Pokemon Go!

 We are a pop culture loving, video game playing, movie watching family.  That being said, we prefer games that allow us to play together.  We are drawn to trivia games like You Don't Know Jack and Scene it?, as well as group games like Mario Kart, Peggle, Mario Party and Super Smash Bros.  So when Pokemon Go! was announced we were both wary and intrigued. If you haven't yet begun you journey to be a Master Pokemon trainer, Pokemon Go! is an augmented reality gaming app that gets you outside to track down Pokemon.  

Now while only one of us is really into Pokemon, the game drew us all in fairly quickly.  By the second day of playing, we were planning a trip downtown to see if we could find rare Pokemon.

Hanging with his non-digital brethren. 

Our favorite part of the game (besides collecting them all) is that it gets us outside and moving while also keeping us engaged with each other.  On our walk downtown, our youngest worked as the spotter, letting us know each time the phone vibrated when a Pokemon was near and our oldest directed us towards better areas to track them down.  All said and done, we walked over 6 miles together tracking down elusive Pokemon.  Six miles of laughing and hanging out as a family... Just keep track of where you are so you don't stop traffic trying to catch a Pikachu.   

Pokemon Go is available on both iTunes and Android. 

Love Is Love - Pride Parade

Every year we head downtown to celebrate our LGBT community and love with thousands of other people at the Seattle Pride Parade.  The parade has an energy of it's own, driven by the music, sights and spirit of the attendees.  The overall mood is one of joy and celebration, unabashed revelry, happiness and, simply,  Pride.  Pride in who you are, who you surround yourself with, who supports you.  These are important themes in how we are raising our boys. This year's pride served as a counterbalance to the tragedy in Orlando which also opened a dialogue about love and loss.  It was invigorating to be around so much delight and  emotion. 

Cinema Under The Stars - Outdoor Movies In the Greater Seattle Area

There is something amazing about watching a movie outdoors.  The sounds and sights are amplified by the openness of the venue.  Add in a crowd that is unfettered by the limitations of the theater and you have a spectacle that is unlikely to be recreated at your local Cinerama.  Luckily in the Seattle area there are several locations where you can watch a film with the sky above you.  The Fremont Outdoor Cinema is the longest running of the bunch with Seattle Parks and Recreation (at both Westlake and Occidental Parks), Magnuson Park, Marymoor Park and  the Seattle Center all hosting their own movies within the last few years. With this many venues, there are movies playing 3 to 4 nights a week. As an added bonus, many of the showings encourage dressing up and several showings have movie trivia or other activities before the show starts.  So gather up your low beach chairs, pack yourself some snacks and spread out a blanket under the stars....

Wednesday, July 6: Back to the Future – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 7: Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Magnuson Park

Wednesday, July 13: Jurassic World – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 14: Labyrinth- Magnuson Park

Friday July 15th:  Movies in the Park: Inside Out - Westlake Park

Saturday July 16th: DEADPOOL | 21+ - Fremont Studios

Wednesday, July 20: Inside Out – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 21: Star Wars: The Force Awakens- Magnuson Park

Friday July 22^nd: Movies in the Park: The Goonies - Westlake Park

Saturday July 23^rd: Pretty Woman 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Wednesday, July 27: Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 28: The Incredibles- Magnuson Park

Saturday July 30^th: Mad Max: Fury Road 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday July 30^th: The Princess Bride Quote-Along - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 3: Aladdin – Marymoor Park

Thursday, August 4^th: Guardians of the Galaxy – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 5^th: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 6^th: Grand Budapest Hotel 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday, August 6^th: Mad Max: Fury Road - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 10: Singin' in the Rain – Marymoor Park

Thur. August, 11^th: Zootopia – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 12^th: Spaceballs - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 13^th: Galaxy Quest - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 17: Zootopia – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 18^th: The Sandlot – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 19^th: Dudefest V - The Big Lebowski - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Friday, August 19^th:  Barbarella - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 20^th: West Side Story - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 24: The Princess Bride – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 25^th: The Goonies – Magnuson Park

Friday, August 26^th: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Cal Anderson Park

Friday, Aug 26^th:  Movies in the Park: Labyrinth - Occidental Square

Saturday, August 27^th: Life of Pi - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Friday, Sep 2^nd:  Movies in the Park: Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Occidental Square

$5.93 or Keep Your Eyes On The Ground

Over the last year our youngest and I have kept an eye to the ground.  It all started when we found a few pennies on one of our daily walks.  He asked if they were fake and, when I said they were real, asked why they had been thrown out.  It began a talk about the value of little things and how the things that some people thought had little value meant more to others.  We also discussed how little treasures added up quickly, both monetarily and in life.  We decided to collect what we found in a special container and total it after a year.  $5.93....134 coins....one little treasure almost every other day.  We are about to start a new year of treasure hunting....I think we'll keep looking down. 

Eat from the Street - Beacon Food Forest

Seattle has long been a place where urban living and nature have coexisted.  We boast being one of the top 10 cities in the US for access to parks.  We are called the Emerald City even.  So it should come as no surprise that planning and construction is underway for an entirely edible and FREE forest of food.  The Beacon Food Forest is underway next door to Jefferson Park in Beacon Hill.  The Food Forest is being designed to mimic a natural ecosystem but substituting edible nuts, fruits, veggies and herbs throughout.   Phase One, consisting of building the fruit and nut tree grove, has already begun.  The Food Forest will progress over the next several years.  If you like to visit and/or volunteer at the Forest, more information can be found here: http://beaconfoodforest.weebly.com/

Spare Gutter + Soil = Recycled Planter - Create A Custom Window Box

Historically our house has had a love/hate relationship with gardens.  We love to garden and hate it when our plants die.  This year the 4-year-old has made it his mission to change that.  He has been the driving force behind our renewed gardening efforts.  He has selected the plants, set a watering schedule and loving placed random toys in the planters.   We needed more planting room in a limited space so we created our own planter from a recycled gutter.  First we drilled some drain holes along the bottom of the gutter about 18" apart.  After cleaning the gutter, we filled it with soil and planted some lettuce and basil. A couple of zip ties to attach it to the railing and our planter was done.  Our balcony is beginning to look like an oasis thanks to our little green thumbed gardener. 

Walk Into Fantasy - Fremont Troll

There are not many places where you can come face-to-face with mythological creatures.  And there are even fewer chances in the city.  Which is why the Fremont Troll is such a magical creature.  Built in 1990 to protect and transform the area under the Aurora Bridge, the troll has become a Seattle icon.  The Troll is holds a full size VW Beetle under his hand and holds court at the top of his own street, Troll Ave. This is one of our favorite stops on neighborhood hikes, with the 4 year old proclaiming him "Friend Troll" and the 11 year old figuring out how to put his head in the Troll's nose.

Celebrate with Sub Pop!

 

Sub Pop Records is turning 25 and they want you, yes you, to come to their party!  Sub Pop is a Seattle institution that has given you some amazing music through the years with bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden,  The Postal Service, Iron and Wine, Sleater-Kinney and The Shins, so give the love back to them and wish them a happy birthday!  Did I mention that it's free!!!!  http://silverjubilee.subpop.com/info