Vacations Blog

Understorms by Barry Gunderson. Sculpture near the park and train depot in Gambier.

Entropy: see also chaos, disorganization, randomness.

S = -k_b Σ (over subscript i) p_i ln p_i

S in the above equation represents entropy, the chaotic state of disorder to which my household has evolved over the short course of the summer break.  The k sub b sigma p little i?  That’s my kids and chaos they seem so adept at creating.  They have become the rough equivalent of a feral pack of coyotes, pitting their base desires against each other in a daily and constant battle that would make a prison riot seem more like an innocent game of freeze tag. Read More »

Bench with a view, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

National Geographic called Lake Coeur d’Alene one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.  I might be a little biased since I live right next to it, but I’d certainly have to agree.  Located in the panhandle of Idaho, far from the state’s population center of Boise, the alpine beauty of Lake Coeur d’Alene offers a wide variety of fun family activities, whether you’re on a budget or you have money to burn.

To me, it’s just about the ideal place to spend a few carefree summer days on the water.  With a length of over 25 miles and a shoreline measuring over 109 miles, the lake is big enough that it never feels crowded, even on the busiest Saturday in August.

The obvious place to begin your family vacation is in the city of Coeur d’Alene, which sits on the north shore of the lake and is your best bet for lodging.  Your hotel options range from the luxurious Coeur d’Alene Resort, which juts out over the water near downtown, to a Holiday Inn Express less than a mile from the city beach.

Summer fun in the water

During the summer months, mainly July and August, the water temperature of the lake is perfect for any activity you can imagine.  My kids and I swim at least two or three times a week during these warm days.  Coeur d’Alene’s city facilities stretch out across the north shore, so you don’t have to go looking for a spot to set up your beach chairs.  City Beach offers the safety of lifeguards, but if you want to get away from the crowds there, simply stroll down to the adjacent beach in front of North Idaho College.  You’ll feel like you have the lake to yourself.

If you want to do more than just sit on the beach and take in the beautiful view, you don’t have to go very far for a refreshing hike.  Right smack dab in the middle of downtown Coeur d’Alene is what can only be described as the jewel of the town.  Tubbs Hill is a 135-acred forested peninsula with a 2-mile loop trail that takes you all along the shoreline, where you can find secluded beaches, scenic overlooks, rocky coves, and woodland habitats.  My family hikes Tubbs Hill regularly, and I’m always amazed at the beauty of the place, not to mention the fact that the city was able to save this urban wilderness from development.  We pack a picnic lunch, hike out to the tip of the peninsula, and find a quiet spot for the afternoon.

Tubbs Hill

If you want to get out onto the water, there are several options.  At Independence Point, next to City Beach, you can rent jet skis, kayaks, and paddle boats.  Many different businesses in town offer reasonable rentals on everything from jet boats to luxury yachts.  Well, I’m not so sure if the words “reasonable” and “luxury yacht” go together.  The Resort also offers daily lake cruises, ranging from 90 minutes to 6 hours.  There’s even a parasail boat and a float plane if you want to see things from a different perspective.

If your kids are waterlogged and tired of hiking, you can rent some bikes and head down any number of paved bike trails that hug the lake shore.  The Centennial Trail runs right through downtown, heading east all the way to Higgens Point and west along the Spokane River, across the border into Washington, all the way into the city of Spokane.  Or, you can explore the prairie north of the lake on the new Prairie Trail, which connects with all the other bike trails.  Come to think of it, there are so many miles of trails around here, you might actually get lost.  But a good kind of lost.  If a park is what the kids are hoping for, there’s the City Park which, naturally, sits right next to City Beach, and contains a huge castle-like play structure for the kids to run wild on.

Hiking, biking, boating, and swimming.  What more could you ask for in a relatively inexpensive family vacation?  You’ll find it all here, in one extremely centralized location at the north end of Lake Coeur d’Alene.  Like I said, though, it’s a big lake and there’s certainly more to explore.  But I’ll save that for another post.  I could talk about “my lake” endlessly.  I’m sure that if you bring your family to this part of Idaho, you’ll also be talking about one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

Kayaking on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Scenic overlook on Tubbs Hill

Cliff diving in Idaho

All photos by Phil Corless

What would seem more ‘Old World’ authentic this holiday season than a trip to a little Bavarian village nestled away in the mountains?  You could enjoy the seasonal cheer, do some unique Christmas shopping, cozy up to a fire, sample the local fare, or get out and hit the nearby slopes for some world class skiing.  I know just what you may be thinking. A European vacation is definitely not in your travel budget.  Especially this year.  Fear not, if you are visiting the Seattle area this winter you can experience an “authentic” Bavarian trip just a couple of hours away in Leavenworth, WA.

Leavenworth Bavarian Ice Festival - Fireworks Finale

Leavenworth, population 2500, is a favorite Seattle area tourist destination.  Faced with a struggling economy in the early 1960’s, the town rallied together around their Alpine setting in the Eastern foothills of Washington’s Cascade Mountain range with a vision to transform their hamlet into one with distinctive European appeal, Bavarian architecture, and an abundance of Bavarian themed festivals and attractions. This vision paid off as Leavenworth has become a Washington State tourist Mecca attracting more than a million tourists each year.

Leavenworth offers a unique shopping experience with plenty of storefronts selling Bavarian themed gifts such as nutcrackers, beer stiens, and handmade wooden toys.  There is also an abundance of art and photography galleries, candy shops, and fine restaruants sprinkled throughout the town which make exploring a real treat.  Wintertime is a special treat, when the quaint village is decorated for the holidays and often coated with a sugar-topping of snow.

The wildly popular Christmas Lighting festival was a few weeks ago, but January offers another popular Levenworth event: The Bavarian Ice Fest (January 17, 2009 – January 18, 2009).  Here is the description provided by the Chamber of Commerce:  “A weekend grab bag invigorating outdoor events including, snow sculpture, tug ‘o war, ice cube scramble for kids six and under, the great Frisbee sweep, and Leavenworth’s famous Smooshing Contest, a unique race peculiar to the Great Bavarian Ice Fest. The Smooshing contest is held on Front Street with teams of four having their toes strapped to 8’ long boards trying to maneuver and glide down the street tandem style.” Sounds like a blast to me!   The Ice Fest also includes the Northwest Dog Sled Pulling Competition, a snow fun fest at the Winter Sports Club, live music and a fireworks finale.

Smooshing Competition

In addition to its shopping, culture, and holiday events, Leavenworth also offers a full range of nearby recreation activites for winter or summer travelers.  For those visiting in the wintertime, you can take advantage of world class ski lifts by stopping at Stevens Pass or nearby Mission Ridge. I have snowboarded ‘badly’ both sites and can vouch for the excellent quality of the smaller runs, as well as the snowboarding lessons for kids (and adults) at Stevens Pass.  Other winter recreational activites include dogsledding, guided snowshoeing, sleigh rides and music festivals.

During the warmer season, vacationers can use Leavenworth as a base camp for a full range of outdoor activites including camping, river rafting, mountain biking, climbing, hunting and fishing and plenty more. Stevens Pass offers summer bike trail riding packages, which are followed by food and drink in Leavenworth.  Or, you can rent a summer cabin on Mission Ridge to enjoy summer hiking, biking, boating or kayaking on Columbia River or Lake Chelan.  I personally like a shorter Winter trip, so I’ll spend a night in town, and hit the slopes at Stevens Pass on my way back to Seattle.

To reach Leavenworth from Seattle, travel north to Washington Highway 2 and follow it through the scenic Cascades, over Stevens Pass and down into the town. There are an abundance of hotels, motels, and B&B’s to fit your lodging needs but be sure to book early as this is a popular destination.

All in all, Leavenworth, Washington offers a perfect mix of culture, shopping, and recreational fun.  If you are looking to get away for a fun vacation, loaded with interesting activities on a minimal travel budget, give Leavenworth a try.  It may just become your favorite vaction destination.

*Photos courtesy of Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

Sun Valley, Idaho, is a great place to visit, whether you seek a romantic weekend getaway, or a fun-filled family vacation. My husband and I just returned from a quick trip last week, and even though we were only there a short time, we came up with a list of our favorite outdoor activities in Sun Valley:

Biking
Sun Valley, a planned resort community near Ketchum, Idaho, boasts miles of paved and unpaved bike paths, perfect for leisurely rides into town for ice cream, or an over-the-bar, single-track mountain bike adventure up one of the many trails in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. I rented a bike from one of the local shops and headed out with a group to conquer the Copper Basin – my personal recommendation? Go for a higher-end bike with multiple shocks. That single track can get a little bumpy!

Fly Fishing
The river runs right through town, and during the summer, locals hire out as guides to tourists interested in learning or perfecting their fly-fishing technique. My husband went out with Silver Creek Outfitters on the Big Wood, just above the Magic Reservoir, and enjoyed an afternoon of catching (and releasing!) rainbow trout. Although, he did add that it was a good thing the scenery was so beautiful, as sometimes the fish did not cooperate!

Horseback Riding
Just north of Ketchum, in Galena, Idaho, several outfitters offer guided trail rides ranging from 1.5 hours to all day. Our friends took their daughter up one afternoon and enjoyed a lovely trail ride with spectacular mountain views.

River Rafting
Alas, the water was very low in the Snake River when we visited, but early in the season, white water rafting is an exciting way to see the Sun Valley. With Class II and III rapids perfect for family adventures, and Class IV rapids for those seeking more thrilling rides, river rafting looked like a great activity. Next time we will make sure we visit in May and June, when the waters run high.

Ice Skating
That’s right, ice-skating. Even in the summer, the ice rink at Sun Valley Lodge offers open-skate, private lessons, and ice hockey. And for those of who would rather leave this sport to the professionals, Saturday nights during the summer, Sun Valley is host to The Sun Valley Summer Ice Show, featuring Olympic and World Champion skaters.

In between these activities, we also took in a tennis lesson or two, went swimming in the pools, and enjoyed a few retail therapy opportunities. Sun Valley also offers golfing, hiking, and other family activities. We are already planning a winter trip, with all the cold-weather sport options!