We’ve reached the middle of the hottest summer on record here in the Pacific Northwest and the soaring temperatures combined with our home’s lack of air conditioning are making me long for cool forest pools and fresh waterfalls. Thank goodness it’s time for vacation!
This year we’ve decided to shake things up and instead of traveling for a destination holiday we’re planning a series of day trips designed to get us out of the hot house and into some of the beautiful scenery we live with but can’t appreciate fully during the work week.
If all goes as planned we will board the Washington State Ferries, visit Pt. Townsend and Fort Warden, hike to Wallace Falls, visit the Seattle Aquarium and ride the Great Wheel, hike two more days around Snoqualmie Pass and finish with a final trip to Whidbey Island. Mixed with these adventures are some stay home family nights with BBQ dinners, party lanterns and movies in the backyard. A true staycation!
Tomorrow’s “Shake It Up” post will be my last here until August 9th but I won’t be vacationing from all my social media accounts. If you’d like to follow our adventures through the beaches, forests and mountains of Washington State I’ll be dusting off my neglected Instagram account and increasing postings on Facebook. Everyone’s welcome to come by for a visit, peek over our shoulders and hike the trails with us!
Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Inspiration.
Enjoy!
Thanks, Jim!
Sounds like a great idea. I have suggested the same to the OH – day trips to local sites that we haven’t yet explored. Have fun Lisa, I am sure you will find lots to inspire you 🙂
We’re all looking forward to seeing some new sites, Jude. 🙂 I hope you get the chance to do the same!
You are obviously having much better weather than we are, so I am crossing fingers that for August it stays fine and dry and sunny 😀
Happy travels!
Thank you!
Gorgeous photos and enjoy!
Thanks so much, Cindy we will enjoy every minute!
what an inspiration..
the beauty of nature is a great inspiration..
Thank you, Vizon. I agree the beauty of nature is full of inspiration.
What a beautiful little pool and waterfall! That would be a great place to be today. It’s always fun to play tourist in our own backyard! We tried to go to Whidbey today, but the 3 HOUR ferry line dissuaded us. 😦 Tip: When you go on the Great Wheel, go on a cooler day. Those closed gondolas get toasty! Have a fun vacation!
Oh no, a 3 hour ferry line is a deal breaker for me too. 😦 If it gets that bad we’ll drive around. Thanks for the tip about a cooler day for the Great Wheel, I’ll be sure to check the weather report!
Now those staycations sound wonderful and have a great time and stay cool.
Thanks, Ruth. 🙂 We plan to stay cool and I hope you can too!
What a beautifully inviting spot!
It really was. 🙂
What great plans, Lisa. You gave me a lot of good ideas for a staycation.
Great news, Patrick I hope you can plan one for you and Maggie too!
Enjoy and stay cool!
Thank you!
So beautiful! Have a great vacation Lisa!
Thanks, Nancy!! We’re on the way to our first hike now. :). More waterfalls!
Have a great time exploring, and getting inspiration from your locality! Stay cool!
Thanks so much, Sue! Our destination today should be pretty comfortable compared to our house. 🙂
Good!
The mini-staycations are a great idea — I am always amazed when I tally up the destinations and sites within my own city let alone state that I have not yet made tie to visit! Refreshing photos 🙂
Thanks, Kat! Isn’t it crazy that we don’t spend enough time exploring our own backyards? We’re trying to chip away at a long of sites list this week. 🙂
Beautiful spot, Lisa! Can’t believe it get this hot for your guys… Enjoy your trip. 🙂
Thanks, Amy! We’re off to a good start. 🙂
Have a fabulous vacation, Lisa, and come back refreshed.
janet
Thanks so much, Janet. 🙂 We had a fantastic day today and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the week ahead.
Closer to home, a very nice idea. I’ve been on the road more or less since early last October and am starting to look forward to heading home and staying put for a bit. Enjoy! 🙂
That’s a long stretch to be on the road, Bob! Thanks for the visit today. 🙂
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very inspiring photo, Lisa! enjoy and safe travels 🙂
Thanks, Lola. 🙂
Have a wonderful vacation!
Thanks, so far so good!!!
I bet you you won’t miss the destination vacation. The Pacific Northwest is so beautiful you will never run out of places to explore. Enjoy!
My list is longer than our days off, Bebs but we’ll have fun exploring what we can. Something new every day. 🙂
Wonderful images Lisa. Enjoy your travels!
Thanks so much, Lisa!
Have you taken the ferry to Victoria before? We did that a couple of years ago from Port Townsend. Nice little trip. Victoria very nice little town.
I haven’t been to Victoria in a while but the ferry trip is beautiful and the town is a great place to visit. We were in Port Townsend yesterday! It sounds like you’ve visited some pretty places.
Yes, having a teenage daugther, I got caught up in the Twilight movies, thus visited Forks. The first time through, I had not seen any of the movies and I wondered what the heck was up with all the vampire stuff!
Lisa-
We are in the same boat… heat and no air conditioning. These plans sound wonderful! You are visiting many of our favorite places in the Northwest! Have fun… and I will find you in Instagram. Let’s follow each other;)
~Jane
Sorry to hear you’re suffering in the heat too Jane. 😦 On a brighter note I just clicked through to follow you on Instagram!
Thanks that will be fun… I’m following you too😃
That is a very beautiful pool and waterfall. I hope you made it to Whidbey, I spent many years there, I get homesick for it sometimes.
We did make to Whidbey, Iris and I enjoyed every minute. What a beautiful island. 🙂
The waterfall looks gorgeous. I have pinned the post on my ‘Places to Visit’ Pinterest board. Thank you for the inspiration.
You’re very welcome. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today.