A month ago we were on our first family road trip to the Hood Canal, a great vacation spot about two hours west of Seattle, located on the Olympic Peninsula. It was our first time away from Seattle since the beginning of the pandemic (that wasn't to visit our family) and I forgot how incredible it feels to get away, unplug, and be in nature! We went with Mr. Fleece's parents which definitely made the trip possible and more enjoyable :)
The Giggle Fish House served as a wonderful home base and a destination in itself. Stocked with everything we needed and even outfitted with a separate guesthouse for the grandparents, I particularly loved the safe fenced-in yard and water views from every window. Our binoculars got a good workout with the daily seal and bald eagle sightings. It was like a mini summer camp with story time, toy airplanes, a fire pit (that doubled as a makeshift sandbox), private access to our very own rocky beach, and nightly dessert!
Each morning we loaded up our snack backpack and bundled up the children in a million layers to face the rain, sleet, wind, and snow. Somehow we managed to time all our outings really well and enjoyed a rain-free hike along a riverbank, a magical mossy forest dusted in snow, and a sunny lunch at the famous Hama Hama Oysters. Other points of interest/activites include:
- Potlatch State Park
- Goldsborough Fish Ladder Trail
- Kneeland Park
- Meandered *very short* distances on a few trails and campgrounds in Olympic National Park
- Drove along Lake Cushman -- would love to go back on a sunny summer day!
- Drinking Hoodsport Coffee
While traveling with three young children certainly brings its challenging -- loading up half our house for a four-night stay...frantically child-proofing the bedrooms...trying to maximize sleep in a new space -- we're so glad we did it! We made incredible memories and kick-started our exploration of the incredibly beautiful PNW as a family of five!
Side note: We've definitely evolved into a family that ends their vacation on a Friday so we still have the weekend to relax and regroup :)
Next up: Southern Washington in late June!
- SJW
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