Sunday, July 5, 2009

Family Vacation - Orcas Island, WA

Our family has been vacationing for the last week. On Wednesday June 24 we left in the morning and drove to Puyallup, WA (south of Seattle) for a LeBaron family camping trip on Orcas Island. A 12 hour drive. we left South Jordan a little after 10 in the morning and got to Seattle at about 11:30. Annika did great. I think she might have done better on the ride then I did. She was happy just to be coloring. There was one point that she didn't want to get back in her car seat, but other than that it was great. Thursday was spent grocery shopping, letting Annika play with her favorite cousins, and packing cars with more camping gear. On Friday morning we headed out nice and early and drove to a place called Anacortes. There is a Ferry that takes you out to Orcas Island which is part of the San Juan Islands. It was soooo cool. You wait in this line with other cars, and drive your car right on the ferry. What an experience.

On the way to the island, we stood out on the deck. There were jelly fish swimming in the water and the view was spectacular. We finally got to the island, and it was so pretty. we drove to our campsite and started setting up camp. There was a lake right by our campground. You could actually see the lake from our tent. After we set up camp we decided to walk down to the lake. There was a beach and tons of families enjoying the water. We ended up stripping down the kids and letting them play in the water. It was so warm!

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After we got back from the lake, we ate dinner. Then everyone in the group but Allison, Marla the kids and I, were going on a kayaking adventure. While we were back at camp, Allison and I decided to take the kids on a hike. We found a little waterfall, which I thought was so pretty. It looked like we were in a rain forest.

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We hiked for a long time, and poor Abe almost didn’t make it. He was tired. I found a stinging Nettle plant, which then made me get hives on my arm. We made it back to camp, put the kids in bed, and enjoyed the rest of the night. Everyone that went on the kayaking adventure said it was a lot of fun. They got to see star fish, bull kelp, jelly fish, crabs, harbor seals, and multiple schools of fish. Brian’s favorite part was kayaking under the pier. It was called the sunset kayak adventure. They got to watch the sun set, (doesn’t that sound so romantic. I think that we will go back and I will share the kayak with Brian and we can share the adventure together.) On Saturday we woke up ate breakfast and packed some sack lunches and we drove to the top of Mt. Constitution. It is the highest peak on the island. You can look out and see the other islands and see Victoria Canada. It was definitely an amazing sight.

After Mt. Constitution, the girls and Abe went out on our adventure. We went Whale Watching. I have to admit, I didn’t know how excited I was about going. I thought we would sit there for a long time and hope to see a couple of whales. That wasn’t the case at all. It was amazing! I loved it. We got to see a little rock where a ton of Harbor Seals were just laying out. Then we got out to the ocean and it started. There were whales. Some of them even breached for us! It was like sea world only more exciting! At one point in time these three whales were swimming right toward our boat. I got this video and the whales are seriously like 10 ft away from our boat. It was so much fun! I would recommend it to anyone.

On Sunday we got up ate breakfast and headed out to pick up our bike rentals. We biked around the island. Annika and Henry sure did look cute while they were taking their nap in the trailer. It wasn’t supposed to be a long ride, but we ended up riding 17 miles! Holy cow! It was too long. It was a lot of fun, and frustrating. Annika lost it at the end.

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But once we returned the bikes we went to this restaurant that was right on the coast. It was amazing, we sat on the patio and looked out at the ocean, me and Annika walked down to the sand, there were all of these little dead crabs. It is amazing to see things like that, things we aren’t used to.

Annika really enjoyed playing with Henry and Abe. She is still walking around the house saying Henie. I have to say it is stinking cute. Monday, we woke up, packed up camp and headed out to catch the ferry. We made it back to Puyallup. We all got ready and went and enjoyed dinner at an all you can eat Chinese buffet. Then we went and played at this wonderful park in Puyallup.

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Tuesday we went to Snoqualmie falls. They were really pretty. We hiked to the bottom, it is amazing how many trees grow up there, they are all so tall and covered in moss. Brian found one tree that was going out of another cut down tree. We also found a slug that was as long as my hand. It was huge and gross. It was all things we just don’t have around here.

On Wednesday we went to a splash pad in Auburn and then to the Super Mall of the North West. It was huge.

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On Thursday morning we woke up and started driving home. We left Puyallup at 8 in the morning and got back Home at about 11:30. Those days of driving make for a really long day. It was a really fun trip, but I am so glad to be home.

7 comments:

Holly said...

You just described my summer vacation every year growing up! I love Washington. My mom grew up in Enumclaw (near Auburn) so we went there every year. I miss it!

Christina Olson said...

Looks like you had fun!!

Kristin @ Navy Bean Lane said...

What a fun vacation! It sounds and looks beautiful there!

mel said...

Sounds like a ton of fun! We are going to Washington later this summer! Hope it's as fun as yours was.

Robin said...

Man you guys are quite the adventurous little family. That sounds so fun and soooo beautiful. Now I want to go there.

Jen Jarrett said...

IT LOOKS LIKE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!! I love the video's and the pictures! Awe! I miss you guys and I hope Annika can say "Jen" as well as she can say "water." Can't wait to see you guys! Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.

allison said...

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