In years past, whenever I traveled to a new place, I shied away from popular activities and attractions, deeming them “too touristy.”  I’d comb the literature about the location, looking for the places the locals go, eschewing the tours, the long lines at the historical sites, the overcrowded chain restaurants.  “Bah!” I’d say, eager to dash down an alley or sample the freshest locally made fare.

As I’ve gotten older (ahem) and my available time has grown shorter, I’ve found that those tours can show you the major sites of a new city in a fraction of the time it would take to discover them by wandering around.  The chain restaurant on the corner is good enough when you only have a half an hour to choke down lunch because you want to explore another secluded beach.  The #1 most popular tourist attraction is #1 for a reason:  it’s awesome.

Sure, it sucks to have to join the wave of humans in the madding crowd, but when are you going to be back here again?  You might as well visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and wonder at the inscriptions in the crypt or inch up the impossibly endless spiral staircase.  Get a glimpse of Grand Canyon on your way across the country to start a new job.  Have a drink in the revolving restaurant at the top of the space needle.  Who cares if everyone else is doing it?  You haven’t done it yet.

I’ve found that when traveling alone, I’m more likely to wander off in the direction opposite the dense collections of people.  When I’m with my children, the conveniences of an inclusive tourist area prove themselves to be essential.  This afternoon on my own, while poking around the north shore of Oahu in my tiny, zippy rental car, I simply followed my whims and found myself on a fairly deserted beach with blown out swells and few locals swimming in the choppy surf.  The scene was breathtaking.  Nothing out there but ocean – vast, wide, pure aqua blue ocean.  The air smelled deliciously fresh and clean.  The sand massaged my feet.  The sun warmed my neck.  Not a tourist trap in sight.

Waialua Beach

But then I got hungry and I had to pee, so I got back in the car, a little bit sad that there were no familiar golden arches along the barren stretch of road that greeted me.  Just a little bit, though.  I wound up at a local spot famous for its saimin, and slurped down those salty noodles to my heart’s content.  To satisfy the tourist in me, I loaded up on tacky souvenirs at an outpost of the ubiquitous ABC store.

At this point in my life, it’s no longer “tourist vs. local.”  They’re both inside me, and I indulge each of them when the moments are right.

When in Hawaii do as the Hawaiians do. In this case that means charge a bunch of tourists a hefty sum and then dump them in the ocean.  It was worth it.

This photo is from a snorkeling expedition off the coast of Maui.  That’s a sea turtle.

“Dude? Dude? Focus dude… Dude?”

See?

“Saw the whole thing, dude. First you were all like “whoa”, and we were like “whoa”, and you were like “whoa…”"

And that’s how it happened.  No Snorks were harmed in the writing of this post.

“RIGHTEOUS. RIGHTEOUS.”

Photo by Whit Honea

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Quotes courtesy of Crush

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