It’s officially been raining *forever* in the Pacific Northwest. Honestly, this is only a slight exaggeration. This year, we had the rainiest winter in decades, and it’s unfortunately leading right into one of the rainiest springs I can remember. I think at this point we’re all very over the grey and drizzle, and I, for one, cannot wait for summer weather to emerge. But sadly, we’re still waiting and the drizzle shows no signs of stopping.
So, while we were waiting, we escaped the rain for a bit for a little warm water fun. We didn’t need to fly south or utilize our passports, we just needed to drive a few towns over to visit the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA {in between Portland and Seattle}. These kids didn't know where we were headed until we pulled into the lot at Great Wolf Lodge, and there was a whole lot of screaming once they put together where we were staying.
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Marriott Hotels partners with TED to inspire new perspectives
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about curiosity. With an into-anything-and-everything toddler, an active little boy, and an 8 year old who thinks she has the whole world figured out, I unfortunately spend a huge amount of my time discouraging their natural curiosity. 
But, even while having serious discussions with them about why moving a 10+ lb. dollhouse up bunkbed ladders with jump ropes by yourself is a bad idea, suggesting that they not dig up my garden just to see what’s below, or even by answering their 300th question of the hour, I do love that they are so busy being curious about everything, and I hope that never changes. 
It’s this curiosity that will keep them wanting to “science” the things that they find in our backyard and beyond. It’s this curiosity that will keep them seeking answers to the questions that seem unanswerable and always asking “what if…?” It’s this curiosity that will encourage them to read so they can learn about worlds that are near, far, and make believe. And, it’s this curiosity that will fuel their love of travel and challenge them to visit as much of the world as they possibly can.
Since travel and curiosity go together hand-in-hand, it only makes sense that Marriott Hotels is exploring the theme of curiosity in their recent partnership with TED, the non-profit devoted to ideas worth spreading. If you love listening to and watching TED Talks as much as I do, you’re probably as excited as I am. This relationship will be a whole new way to experience TED – with creatively curated TED Talks, blogs, and original quotes available to hotel guests worldwide. 
Seattle getaway: La Conner, Washington in the fall
I was talking to a Seattle resident a few weeks ago and I mentioned that I was taking a roadtrip to La Conner, WA to sightsee. She admitted that she had never been further north than Lynnwood, and I don’t think I hid my shock very well. How could you possibly limit yourself to just … Read more
Seattle getaway: Lake Chelan, Washington in spring
Lake Chelan is one of my absolute favorite places. You know when someone says to close your eyes and go to your happy place? For me, that’s Chelan. It’s got an average of 300 days of sunshine {!!}, a gorgeous lake, water sports galore, a fun downtown, and it’s one of the best sandy beaches in Washington. 
My family has been going to Lake Chelan since I was little, so I’ve been to the lake over 25 times in my lifetime, which includes 15 times with my husband. We’re now continuing the tradition with our own children by making Chelan our extended family vacation with cousins and grandparents. At this point it holds so many memories and good times that it truly feels like my home away from home. 
Wordless Wednesday: Guess where we were
This last weekend we had a mini vacation at "the best place, ever", according to my daughter. She will tell anyone who asks that she wants to go "for 18 days next time, not a measly 1 day". Can you guess where we were? Here's a few more clues: And, one of my favorites of … Read more