Hiking in Malibu, California

After an incredible day hiking in Channel Islands National Park, we were ready for more time outdoors in the sunshine exploring Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Area. We made the time outdoors happen, but there wasn’t much to be done about the sunshine. Apparently even Malibu sometimes has its gray, rainy days! We …

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A Day at Channel Islands National Park

On January 31, Seattle-area news outlets reported that there had been 28 rainy days in Seattle throughout the month, tying records set in January 1953 and 2006. We’re pretty accustomed to clouds and rain after having lived here almost five years, but even this was a bit much for me! I don’t mind the rain …

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Iceland Itinerary

This spring we’re meeting my parents in Iceland for a week. It’s an interesting time of year to go. We’re a bit too early for whales and puffins, and some of the recommended day-hikes are still inaccessible. However, we should be there at an ideal time for spotting the Northern Lights--assuming the solar flares and …

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Environmentally Friendly Travel: 10 Ways to Reduce Your Impact on the Road

I’ve been reading Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson’s first autobiography, Losing My Virginity, and have been blown away by his story and success. I’m also impressed at how he’s leveraged his businesses and personal profile to support social and environmental causes. Just this week I saw his post on LinkedIn about his investment in sustainable …

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How to Spend a Rainy Day in Vancouver

We love Vancouver, British Columbia, and I couldn't believe it had been about six months since I'd last visited. We decided to make it one of our January adventures and booked a night in Gastown for a brief weekend getaway. As it turned out, the weather was crummy across the region so we certainly weren't …

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Washington Hikes: Tubal Cain Mine

Our first hike of the new year was a memorable one, replete with snow, history, ferry rides, and a kitchy burger joint. When we took a bike trip around the lower Olympic Peninsula last fall, I pulled a number of possible hikes we could do along the way. We ultimately landed on hiking Mount Walker, …

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Opt Outside: Exploring the National Parks

Last year I asked for an annual U.S. National Parks Pass for Christmas, and it ended up being one of the most useful things I could have put on my list! I wanted to make the most out of having it. As we were plotting our travel plans for the year, we prioritized destinations where …

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