Category Archives: Parks

Quickest Adventure Ever

Leave a reply

9701944641_1edd8b3ff4_cSo the other day when I was near Baltimore Park, I went past this wooded lot between a new house and a vacant lot available for sale. I was intrigued. Was it a little park? A pathway? To be honest it seemed like a bad idea to go explore it by my lonesome, so I drove away. But today I was in the general area with dear husband and I talked him into going with me. It was a steep little trail down, but I made it and it was pretty except the trash (only two pieces), There was a culvert for draining water. I walked on about five feet, really no more, and found this

9705181344_eac1e40ca4_cWell, OK. That was fun. I climbed back up (dear husband had sensibly waited at the top). We did get to see some deer, two does, a fawn and a shy buck, so that was cool.

9705176718_750f281bb6_c9704740940_3fc97a4321_o

Mima Mounts near Maytown

Leave a reply

9541088065_2bc2dea785_bThe Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve is a designated National Natural Landmark near the Capital State Forest and Maytown. The 3′ to 6′ high mounds themselves are kind of cool, large, rounded hills. The Mima mounds appear in parts of Washington, Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and California, and also in Kenya, Mexico, Canada, Australia and China. Scientists don’t really know what caused them, but theories include pocket gophers, wind blowing around vegetation, seismic activity, shrinking & swelling clay and, my personal favorite, space aliens.

Fair warning, this park requires a Discovery Pass which can be purchased online here.

9543930022_772de4a52c_b 9543881998_754205fef6_b

Ginkgo Petrified Forest Museum

Leave a reply

9519078987_09b46847d8_bOn my way home from dropping dear daughter off at college, I stopped at the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage, WA.There are over 40 species which have been petrified in the 7,470 acre park. Per Wikipedia the area had originally been lush and wet, but much of the vegetation was covered in volcanic ash and eventually became petrified. The park opened in 1938 and much of the work had been done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). I didn’t realize that petrified wood is the state gem for Washington! The site is one of 594 properties to have the National Natural Landmark Designation. I would have liked to have stayed longer, but I wanted to get home, I didn’t have the right shoes for rattle snakes and it was really hot!

Two of the photos below are from the nearby gem shop, which was also very cool.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

John Rankin Rogers, Sylvester Park

Leave a reply

Photo Jul 31, 3 43 02 PMThere is a statue of John Rankin Rogers in Sylvester Park in Olympia, WA. Mr. Rogers was Washington State’s third governor serving between 1896 and 1901. He died towards the beginning of his second term. He is best know for supporting the “Barefoot Schoolboy Act” which he had first sponsored while in the state legislature. The Act provided a mechanism of state funding to equalize support for free public education between counties which had a large tax base and those without. (thanks Wikipedia!)

Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort

Leave a reply

Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort is a magical island place. The resort is situated on Moreton Island, about 70 minutes by boat from Brisbane. The majority of the island (98%) is National Park, though it had been a whaling station between 1952 and 1962. The resort is well known for its wild dolphins which come in every evening to be feed by visitors. Another major feature is the Tangalooma wrecks, 15 vessels that were deliberately sunk to create a dive and snorkel site. For some great photos of those, go here. Oh, and how could I forget sand tobogganing!? A long walk up and a few very fast seconds coming down. Note to self…wear the goggles when they offer them next time!

9387997679_0cbbf83554_b 9390679432_70e80a89a1_b IMG_4332 IMG_4346 IMG_4323

Great Barrier Reef

Leave a reply

Our first full day in Australia we set off to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, which is a World Heritage Site as of 1981. We went on a catamaran to a large pontoon and the boat ride was very choppy! I’m guessing that about 70% of my fellow adventurers were sea sick and it was not a pretty sight! I has on my wrist bands and had taken ginger tables and a Dramamine and came out without an problems — surprising myself. Our adventure included:

  • Return air-conditioned fast catamaran transfers to Outer Barrier Reef Pontoon
  • Morning and afternoon tea and coffee*
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • Use of buoyancy vests
  • Reef education presentation
  • Hot and cold buffet lunch
  • Semi-submersible coral reef viewing tour
  • Underwater Observatory
  • Guided Eco Reef Talk

It was my first time snorkeling and, again, it was pretty choppy. But despite that it was very wonderful! I don’t have photos because my camera is not waterproof.

Rain Forestation Nature Park

Leave a reply

9390501463_0f65e2e86f_cThis begins a 20+ day blog catchup and recap of my time in Australia. No doubt the recap will have more photos than words. 🙂

The first day we went to the Rain Forestation Nature Park in Kuranda. Link is here. There were kangaroos and koalas (I got to hold one!) and crocodiles (oh my!). There was a WWII amphibious duck  (DUKW) boat which toured the tropical rainforest and the plunged into a lake.  It seems like everything the guides pointed out could kill you, including the plants!

9390486165_bd813fe597_c(1)

China Lake Park

Leave a reply

9195094891_21de209d51_bIt was very hot the other day and dear daughter, our two pups and I decided to visit the 373 acre Swan Creek Park. The creek itself was delightfully cool and the dogs walked right into it. There is also a pond at one end that had a couple of kids floating around. The link for the park is here.

9218089276_fd35aa588b_b

The Earth laughs in flowers, Bellevue Botantical Garden

Leave a reply

23131f99-ba63-456c-98af-815f782b4820wallpaperThe Bellevue Botanical Garden (1200 Main Street, Bellevue) is really lovely and has the added bonus of being free. I explored some of the gardens today and it was tranquil and smelled good. I strolled through various gardens with my favorites being the kitchen garden and the border garden. I also wanted to see the ravine and suspension bridge, but I turned right instead of left. Oh well, next time! There is some significant construction going on and new delights are promised for next year. I’m already looking forward to visiting again! There website is here.

IMG_3215