Vacations Blog

The view of Flagstaff from the top of Mars Hill.

Last weekend my husband had to work up in Flagstaff, AZ, about two and a half hours north of our home in Chandler. I availed myself of the opportunity for a free hotel room, and drove up to join him on Friday night.

Saturday I set out to explore the lovely city of Flagstaff. I wanted to enjoy the wonderful fall weather to its fullest, so I decided a bit of hiking was in order. After perusing the area map provided to me by the hotel, I found one of the entrances to the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS, pronounced “foots”).

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Fall Offers Some Great Northwest Hiking Opportunities

Autumn in the Northwest is a beautiful time of the year.  And although it means that cooler temperatures and wet weather are just around the corner, it doesn’t  also mean the end of your opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty of the region.  October ushers in the vibrant colors of the season to the regions abundant hiking trails.

Many hiking opportunities are just a short drive from metropolitan Seattle and can have you home and relaxing before the earlier dusk settles in.  Not sure where to start?  A great place to start is this link from the Washington Trails Association highlighting Fall hiking in the region.  A quick Internet search will also yield plenty of other options. 

So, if you are looking for a refreshing way to experience the colors of Northwest  this Fall, consider a local hiking trail.  Just remember to be safe out there.

Photo courtesy of brianholsclaw from flickr creative commons

As previously mentioned, the family spent a little time in Tennessee earlier this month. Admittedly, most of the time was spent taking full advantage of my in-laws lake front home. I couldn’t find much to complain about, what with the gourmet meals, nightly karaoke (Much to my surprise I discovered that I’m a mic hog) and instant access to all variety of lake activities. The boy learned how to bait a hook and spent many an hour paddling around trying to land a biggin, while the girl morphed into a mermaid, coming out only for meals and to text her friends back home.

But in an effort to get acquainted with our southern surroundings, we did venture out to explore one of the local sites. In the city of Crossville stands what some of the locals refer to as God’s tree house.

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During 70’s we had ourselves a big t-shirt fad. There were all sorts of custom T-shirt stores around; The Shirt Shoppe, The T-shirt Shack, etc. Folks were big into wearing T-shirts adorned with pithy sayings and cool decals. One that I’ve always remembered read “Go Climb a Rock,” which apparently was the logo for the Yosemite Mountaineering School.

Well this past Saturday the boy and I joined some friends and did just that, except the rocks we climbed were at Rock City located in the Mt. Diablo State Park.

Having grown up in the San Francisco/Bay Area, I’ve been to Rock City a few times in my 40-something years, however my last visit was probably during the latter part of the 80’s, and most definitely “pre-boy.” So when friend KC invited us to spend the day with his folks and family I jumped at the chance to show the boy all the good, wholesome fun to be had climbing around on a bunch of rocks. Sarcastic as that might sound (even more so if you know me), Rock City is a great time.

Located somewhere just beyond the 2,000 ft level in Mt. Diablo State Park, Rock City is, described thusly in the Mt. Diablo State Park online brochure; “Rock City: You will find unusually large sandstone formations and small caves here.”  Wow, is that some exciting copy or what?

Be not deterred by the lack of colorful adjectives, would be outdoors-person. Rock City is an awesome place to spend the day. You can climb all over those “unusually large sandstone formations,” and many have had actual foot/hand holds ground into them over the years. The views are spectacular, plus you’re getting exercise, fresh air, and sunshine. And because KC’s parents are so generous and well organized, I also got hot dogs and fried chicken. I can’t promise the same on any visit you might make.

Many visitors have taken to carving their names, and in some cases the occasional vulgarity, into the rock, and while this sounds something akin to vandalism, it actually adds a certain charm to the place. In honesty I prefer the dedication of those willing to take the time to carve something as opposed to some lazy sods that actually used markers to add their names to the sandstone.

There are numerous picnic sites available, each equipped with a table and a bbq stove/grill, and while we did grill, (and when I say “we” I mean KC’s dad) I’d recommend bringing sandwiches or the aforementioned fried chicken. The distance between the actual grill top and one’s charcoal is rather yawning, thus requiring us (us also equals KC’s dad) to assist the charcoal in its task by adding wood and small animals to the blaze. I’m kidding. It’s against the law to gather firewood. Actually I have no idea if that’s true, and if it is KC’s dad broke the law.

Anyway, I can say from personal experience that the boy and I had a great time at Rock City. The entry fee to Mt. Diablo State Park is $7.00 per car.

For more information you can check out the California State Parks website.

A few words of caution; keep a close eye on small children. There are many places where they can get lost, and many very large, very high rocks from which they can fall. DO NOT let young children climb on the rocks without an adult present. Also, this being California mountain country you might run into a rattlesnake. In fact, we did. Fortunately it was on our drive down the mountain and we were able to snap some pictures from the safety of our car. Even still, they’re pretty scary and I cried a little.

Ah, spring has sprung, and there are many more beautiful days than crappy ones here in the Southland.  I’m loving it.  One of our family’s favorite things to do here during nice weather is explore the hiking trails within the city.  You don’t have to go too far to find a lovely trail because there are pockets of greenery hidden (or not so hidden) within a quick drive of most areas of Los Angeles.  If you’re visiting from out of town and you’re sick of pounding the pavement or sitting in traffic, why not try some of these local natural oases?

Franklin Canyon:  Deep within the hills between the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles, Franklin Canyon park is 605 acres of hiking trails, meadow, lake, and chaparral.  Several trails with varying degrees of difficulty, including one that is very easy and suitable for families with young children.  Close by is Coldwater Canyon with similar terrain but a lot more hippies:  the Tree People have a mission to keep Los Angeles green and make you hike in the dark.  Join them for full moon hikes once a month.

Franklin Canyon

Griffith Park:  The Central Park of Los Angeles, Griffith Park itself is a must-visit spot if you are a tourist and want to see some of the city that doesn’t have much to do with Hollywood.  Or the beach.  Many hiking trails have been blazed throughout.  The most popular and spectacular is the Griffith Park Observatory loop which offers breathtaking views of the city below.  I will second the website by warning you to be aware of local wildlife.  We spotted a coyote just last night, strolling along the edge of the upper road, just yards away.

Runyon Canyon:  Here’s where you can combine outdoor exercise with celebrity hunting.  Located at the edge of Hollywood, Runyon Canyon is a busy trail that serves as a regular workout spot for the 9-5 crowd and a perfect location for journalists to stroll with the celebrities they are interviewing, so they can comment in their articles about how that movie star loves to play with his dog, or that socialite is self-conscious about being spotted in public.  You get there by driving up Fuller Ave. north of Hollywood Blvd. and parking where you can.  Casey Schreiner of Modern Hiker has a great realistic guide to Runyon Canyon as well as hundreds of other Los Angeles hikes, near and far.

Topanga Canyon State Park:  What is it about the hills of Los Angeles that attracts hippies?  I once visited a hidden commune of travelers and artists nestled in the woodland hillside up on Topanga Canyon.  They all lived out of rusty old Airstream trailers and shared a single electrical outlet and one lightbulb.  But they were happy.  Every time I hike in Topanga Canyon I’m happy, too, so whatever is in the air up there seems to work.  This park has a network of trails with varying levels of difficulty and plenty of room for children to run wild without risking traffic danger.  It’s not too far out of the city, either, and if you visit during a weekday but outside of rush hour, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting there or leaving.  On your way back down to the beach, stop by the Reel Inn for some fresh seafood or a cheeseburger to enjoy on the picnic tables and continue breathing the fresh air.

Escondido Canyon and Falls:  I’ve lived and hiked here for almost 14 years, and I didn’t know that there was a waterfall within a not-too-hard hike of Pacific Coast Highway.  Wha?  That goes to show you that as battered and sordid as Los Angeles is, she still has a few secret gardens for us to visit and marvel within.  Check out the top 5 list of Discover Los Angeles for a guide and directions to this hidden gem.

Photo credits: Runyon Canyon – Casey Steiner.  Escondido Falls – Roy Randall.

Hiking Mineral Ridge

Spring is about to be sprung on us here in the Pacific Northwest. The one thing I look forward to most with the passing of winter is packing my kids into the car and finding a mountain trail somewhere nearby so I can stretch out my legs and shake off the cabin fever.

I’m familiar with most of the easy trails in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Western Montana. By “easy” I mean, simple day hikes that won’t end with one or another child having a meltdown, pleading with me to “never do this again.” No, we’ve been on those hikes and I learned my lesson.

Today I’m going to highlight eight fun family hiking trails in North Idaho, close to the towns of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, Idaho, and not too far from the metropolis of Spokane, Washington. If you’re in the area for a vacation, or just passing through on I-90, any of these treks will make for a fun, and relatively short, way to experience the wonder and wilderness of Idaho’s great outdoors.

Tubbs Hill Picnic Spot

Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene – It’s the crown jewel of Coeur d’Alene, situated right next to downtown. We’ve made this into two separate hikes; one from the 3rd Street parking lot out to the halfway point and back, and a second hike from the east side parking lot on 10th St. to the halfway point and back. Either one, or all the way around, is mostly level, with awesome views of the lake and hundreds of perfect picnic spots.  You can walk to Tubbs Hill from any downtown hotel or bed and breakfast.

Q’emiln Park in Post Falls – The hiking trails start right at the parking lot near the west entrance to the park. There are spectacular views of the Spokane River, and the rock climbing walls provide a chance for the kids to watch people scaling the vertical rocks. On a hot summer day the city beach with lifeguards is right there at the park for a swim or a picnic.

Higgins Point in Coeur d’Alene – At the east end of Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive, it’s a leisurely walk along a paved trail next to the lake. Perfect if you don’t want to get your feet dirty. We go past the photographer statue and up the hill into the park, then down one of the rugged trails to the water’s edge.

English Point National Recreation Trail in Hayden – This one’s kind of hidden away off Highway 95. We love looping through the woods, catching glimpses of Hayden Lake, and generally feeling like we’re in the middle of nowhere. If you’re on your way to Silverwood Theme Park, make a quick stop at English Point.

Mineral Ridge in Coeur d’Alene – The longest of the hikes, at 3.3 miles. We only do it once or twice a year, and make it an all-day trip, with a picnic at the very top where the lake view is well worth the climb. There’s a little cave to explore on the way up, and the whole area is rich with mining history.

Beauty Bay Trail in Coeur d’Alene – At the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene on Hwy. 97, the Beauty Bay Trail is the shortest and easiest hike, at just a half-mile to a viewing deck and then another half-mile through the forest. The kids might want to walk it twice.

Ancient Cedars

Cougar Bay Preserve in Coeur d’Alene – A few miles south of the Blackwell Island Bridge on Hwy. 95, Cougar Bay is one big wildlife nursery with miles of rugged trails. If you want to pretend to be lost in the woods, this is a good place to do it.

Settlers Grove of Ancient Cedars in Murray – Further away than the other hikes, but worth the drive to the Silver Valley. It’s a quiet place, with few visitors. The level dirt trail winds through huge towering cedar trees that make you feel like you’re in another world. In Murray, the historic Sprag Pole Museum is a must-see while you’re in the area. It’s also a good place to get a huckleberry shake.

All photos by Phil Corless

Hiking for Fossils

Photo: Tricia Honea