This summer, we finally took a trip to the Rockies. I had been talking about doing this for years; my family lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and the idea was to meet halfway and have a joint vacation, the bonus being the shortened trip, the kids (my sis has three, I have two) wrecking someone else’s place instead of our own, and maid service and restaurants to clean everything up and keep everyone refueled. We managed two out of three, landing a very nice, very inexpensive condo just outside of Dillon, Colorado. My wife and I debated: fly? Drive? If we drive, which car? We drove the Audi A4 (small, but it fit all of our luggage, the kids were actually pretty comfortable, and best of all the car kept up an average speed of 90 mph and cornered like it was on rails in the twisty mountain sections of I-15 and I-70; road trips are much more when taken in cars built to perform on the Autobahn), and the drive from San Diego took us two days.

The I-70 through the Rockies: a driver's-eye view.

Read More »

"Pink skies at night, sailors' delight."

This photo taken from a dockside restaurant near the Rhode Island-Connecticut border is a typical scene in seaside towns along the coasts of Rhode Island and Southeast Connecticut. If only the sunsets were always this beautiful.

The Center for Wooden Boats offers excellent opportunities to enjoy the Water in Seattle

Late spring ushers in a wonderful time in the Northwest. Grey skies gradually give way to magnificent sunny afternoons paired with low humidity and lush green landscapes. It is a breath of fresh air which convinces more than a few locals to take a step back from whichever bridge or cliff they may have been contemplating after dealing with endless dismal afternoons for the past several months.

And, for this long time resident, nothing refreshes the senses more than getting out on the crisp Seattle area waters. Too expensive you say? Well, it doesn’t need to be. There are plenty of inexpensive ways to get your outdoor boating fix in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Here are five refreshing options which won’t bust your wallet.

1. Ferries: The Washington State Ferry System has routes running all across Puget Sound and to the San Juan Islands. Several routes leave from downtown Seattle to various ports of call. One of my favorite lazy weekend activities is to board the Seattle to Bainbridge Island Ferry leaving from Pier 50. You can walk on for under $7.00 per person round trip and walk to the lovely town of Winslow.  Alternatively, you can drive on for under $30.00 and then take a scenic drive around the Island. While traveling on the ferry, take advantage of stunning views of the water, mountains, city, wildlife, and other boaters as you travel across the sound.

Sea Kayaking in Seattle can be refreshing

2. Sea Kayaks: If you want to get more up close and personal with the water, and get a healthy workout while you are at it, you can rent sea kayaks from any of a number of local spots around Seattle and the Puget Sound. One trip I took with my wife we saw seals, bald eagles, water fowl and, at shallower depths, purple starfish and other Pacific marine species. For local sea kayaking options, a great place to start is with this link. Read More »

May ushers boating season into the Northwest

Photo courtesy of Dan Hershman