May 29, 2011 Our last night in Zillah was a stormy one. Strong wind gusts shook the flaps of the teepee and woke us up several times. That, and the fact that our muscles screamed whenever we moved, helped us sleep in until 7am. Again, breakfast was served on the patio. This time we were treated to pastries, fresh fruit, frittata and sausage. It was heavenly and extremely filling. Mom and I ate with six of the riders from the wine tour, who had stayed the night also. They were all from the Silverdale and Belfair area; practically neighbors. Mom and I packed our bags and thanked Pepper for her hospitality. And of course, we said good-bye to the two Icelandic ponies that humored us through the whole stay. On our way back West, we stopped ... read more

May 27, 2011 Mom and I enjoyed a special weekend getaway in Zillah, celebrating her both Mother’s Day and her birthday. From Olympia, it’s about a three-and-a-half hour drive to Zillah, a little town in Eastern Washington. We were promptly reminded that it was a holiday weekend when we came to a complete stand-still on the interstate. Construction zones couples with merging lanes and a surplus of travelers turned our drive into a five hour trip. Taking the Zillah exit off I-82, we found the remnants of a town. It may have had stable businesses at one time, but the boarded up windows were an obvious display of how the economic downturn impacted the little communities. Not without some difficulty, we zig-zagged on old back roads and found our way to Cherrywood Bed and Breakfast. Pepper, ... read more

March 5, 2011 One of the fun things about being new in a town is getting to do all the tourist things. For Kyla and me, this would be a visit to the world-renowned San Diego Zoo. Our field trip took up almost the whole day; we were at the zoo practically from open to close. Getting there early really helped. We were able to be choosey about the parking space and stash the car under what little shade was available. Being such a popular attraction, we expected huge Disney-like crowds. But the only cluster was near the front gates. After that, all the visitors disbursed, and we felt like we had the place to ourselves. The reptile house was worth a drive-by. We joked about the scene in the first Harry Potter movie. “Make it ... read more

October 18, 2010 Kyla and I are well-studied on how to maximize our Disney vacations. On a weekend like this, where crowds were inevitable and the weather was dreary, it was a good thing we were experienced park-goers and could make the best of our weekend. Spending the night in Anaheim Friday and Saturday was a great plan. Both nights we left the park relatively late, and we would have been insane to drive all the way to San Diego and back the following mornings. We stayed at the Lemon Tree, which was about 3.5 miles away from the park. The website offered a one night free promotion, which meant we got a little studio apartment for two nights for the bargain price of $125. Being out all day, we didn't use the amenities much, but ... read more

October 14, 2010 While not as experienced as say, an annual pass holder, several trips to Disneyland has afforded me knowledge through trial and error. This is a break-down of how I maximize my days at the Happiest Place on Earth. Touring the Park Research before you go. I know, some people love surprises. But for the amount of money it costs for four days at Disneyland, just do a little reading. The park website is very user-friendly, and instantly you can access ride descriptions, park hours, entertainment schedules, ride closures, and other resort information. Making a general plan will help economize your group’s time in the park. Front-load your day. This means going straight for your favorite rides, or the most popular rides, before the crowds hit a couple hours after the parks open. All ... read more