Look at this Sunset!  Later last night on Lake Sammamish.  It didn't storm, don't let the clouds fool you.  Love this picture!!! -Comment from Tiff

Beautiful Lake Sammamish, located just north of Cougar Mountain.  Absolutely gorgeous spring day on the lake!!!

Seattle, Washington in May

The month of May might be the perfect time to visit Washington state.  Of course, the entire state boasts of things to do and to see.  For beginners, I recommend starting in Seattle.  In May, the whole city is in bloom.  The weather will be temperate, and summer sun has not yet burnt off the cloudy days of spring, so you’ll still find waterfalls and slugs on local hiking trails.  For much of your adventure, you can avoid driving, so fly into Seattle and get ready for adventure.  Since this was our second long flight (Vermont to West Coast!) in the last two months, Tiffany and I decided to that we are going to start to get into green travel.  We felt that if we are going to be traveling around quite a bit, we better do our part to be eco-friendly!!  

To help get started with our family green initiative we picked accommodations near the city center of Seattle.  You can get around easily be remembering one silly phrase: “Jesus Christ made Seattle under protest.”  This will help you navigate the east-west streets in the central business district with ease.  From south to north, there are two streets that begin with the first letter of each word in this silly saying.  They are Jefferson, James, Cherry, Columbia, Marion, Madison, Spring, Seneca, University, Union, Pike and Pine. With this knowledge, you can explore the city on foot or by bike and never get lost!  Huge help for Tiff ;)

Take a day trip to Cougar Mountain.  You’ll probably need to rent a car for this excursion to one of the most beautiful parks in the Seattle suburbs unless you are up for a bike ride, but the trip is definitely worth it!  Enjoy hiking trails, lush scenery and gorgeous waterfalls.  You may even seen a little local wildlife.  This adventure only takes a couple of hours and offers a simpler alternative to hiking on Mount Rainer and great for the whole family!

From your headquarters in downtown Seattle, you can walk to Volunteer Park where you’ll want to spend at least a day, maybe two.  The conservatory here boasts a collection of 600 different varieties of orchids in addition to hundreds of other plants from around the world.  You also won’t want to miss the exhibits at Seattle Asian Art Museum located within the Park.  Super Educational!

If you’re traveling to Seattle, you’ve heard of Pike Place Market, and it is certainly worth a visit.  Don’t forget to head south from there and enjoy Pioneer Square as well.  The quaint area features several independent shops and eateries.  You can embark on a journey across Puget Sound from here as well and do some whale watching this time of year.  Great trip for couples or families of all ages!  We loved our stay in wonderful Seattle!

Washington state is beautiful and green in May. What better time could there be to explore the Pacific Northwest?  Enjoy!!!

-Cliff and Tiffany

Exciting Spring Trip to California

Visiting California in the spring brings numerous exciting options for singles, couples and families.  In our case, Tiffany and I had a great couples getaway.  California offers many breathtaking landscapes, endless beaches, Redwood Forests, as well as great shopping and dining options.  If you happen to be traveling with a group, you may want to consider asking about group discounts for hotel accommodations and tour packages while you visit the West Coast.  Skimming through the lists below will help you to plan an amazing trip to California in the spring!

•           San Francisco is home to the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Conservatory of Flowers and the Napa Valley Wine Train.  This area of the state is a particularly amazing area to visit in the spring.  You can spend a weekend in San Francisco and schedule a train tour of Napa Valley to take in the blooming buds of the vineyards before trying some wine and cheese samples.  The Conservatory of Flowers (Tiff’s Favorite!) will also be an ideal place to schedule a visit to during the spring months.

•           Visit the towering and scenic Redwood trees (personal favorite!) in Humboldt County.  If outdoors and nature are on the top of your list when it comes to exploring California, this is one county you do not want to skip.  RV rentals and campground sites nearby make visiting this area family-friendly and affordable.

•           If beach life is a major part of your wish list for visiting California, you have to go to the beautiful Santa Barbara, as it provides a small town atmosphere with endless shopping and dining options.  You can rent a sailboat during the day, take a guided mountain tour in the afternoon, and enjoy one of the city’s premier restaurants and shopping centers in the evening.  Santa Barbara is also known for exceptional spas and indulgent hotel amenities.  If you’re big into fitness and wellness, this city will please you to no end.  

We had a blast out there on our trip!!! Although it was far different from Vermont, it was a fantastic experience and getaway for us.  Planning the best trip possible for your spring visit to California should be done in advance to make the most of your time there.  If you are traveling with a family, asking hotels about family-friendly amenities such as kitchenettes can help to reduce the cost of dining out each day.  If you want to tour the countryside of California, RV rentals is a great way to save money on transportation and overnight accommodation expenses for a group.  If shopping is on your agenda, be sure to check out online options for printable coupons to your favorite California stores!  I hope this gave some good insight and enjoy your trip!

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