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Marvelous Mary's Peak...

1/25/2015

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    Yesterday's clear skies were the only motivation our family needed to visit Mary's Peak, just outside Corvallis. The views from the 4,097 feet summit (the highest point in Oregon’s Coast Range) were absolutely amazing! Looking across the valley we could see snow capped Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Sisters, and even Mt. Bachelor.
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    There are a variety of "paths" to the summit. We traveled the "Meadowedge Trail" and found it perfect for families. Not too long/not too short (1.8 mile loop), includes both forest and meadow, picnic tables at the ready for snacks at both trail head and summit: Ideal for young explorers and parents.

    To get there:
From Salem, travel time is approx. 1 hour 15 minutes.  Take I-5 South to Hwy 34 (through Corvallis and Philomath). After passing through Philomath, follow the brown information signs north onto Mary's Peak Road. Once driving up the mountain, you'll come upon Conner’s Camp (5.5 mile loop hiking trail to summit from this point). Keep going another 3 miles and you'll see a paved road to your right that leads to the Mary's Peak campground. Once you've entered the campground, take the left loop and you'll see a place to park and a picnic table just right of the trailhead map. 50 feet after entering the forest, you'll see the sign (below).
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        Once on the trail, it is easy to navigate. Take water, snacks, a camera to capture the view and give yourself plenty of time to explore the beautiful trees along the path and the joy of the summit. This trail is a highlight of the mid-Willamette Valley.
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Newport Family Fun...

8/31/2014

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Our family made a quick beach-run a few weeks ago. It was a good way to beat the summer heat of the Valley. Here's a map that shows you a few of our favorite spots in Newport:

Oregon Coast Aquarium
Hatfield Marine Science Center
Coast Park
Don Davis Park
Mo's at Newport's Bayfront
Newport Candy Shoppe
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Terrific Track Meets...

7/10/2014

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Awards for July 9th Track Meet Participation
Attention Salem Kids (Age 1-13):
Don't miss the summer All-Comer Track & Field Meets!


These annual Wednesday nights in July are a fun evening outing.  Plan on bringing water, hats, sunscreen, and a blanket to sit on (between races). Many families also bring a cooler with picnic dinners - to enjoy as the evening goes on.

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First Day of Summer Vacation...

6/9/2014

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Today was my youngest son's first day of summer vacation.
I promised him a day of mom-and-son-time
dedicated  to his every wish!
So...
we slept in,
watched old home movies,
had pancakes for LUNCH,
rode bikes,
played tennis,
AND
went bowling!
It was truly a fabulous kick-off to Summer 2014.


 BONUS: While at our favorite bowling alley,
we also learned that bowling is free for kids this summer!
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This is a national program, so check for a location near you.
It promises to be a perfect air-conditioned activity for hot days.
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Little Free Library...

1/26/2014

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This past fall, my youngest son and I discovered another
little free library in Salem.
Just east of the intersection of Belmont and Winter -
the joy of reading awaits you.


To the community librarian we say:
"Thank you  for sharing your love of books!
We borrowed a few, added a few, and will return again soon."



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Peruvian Perfection in Portland...

11/15/2013

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          My oldest son studied Peru during the past school year. As part of an 'International Festival' he and his classmates chose nations from South America to research. For weeks, my son brought home books  and filled pages and page of notes. When the unit was over, he had produced this audio book to share with his peers:

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       As an extension of this project, I decided we should enjoy a meal at a local Peruvian restaurant. A search of the web led me to Las Primas Peruvian Kitchen. In a bike friendly section of north Portland, this restaurant has a variety of moderately-priced items our family could sink our teeth into. Family friendly and great service - we'll be back to enjoy more soon!

Here are the highlights of our meal:

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Purple Corn Juice and Inca Cola (seriously sweet and unique).
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Cheese and corn empanadas. Wowza!
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Foos ball anyone?
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Our son played the 'Sapo Game' he had read about in his research.
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The slow roasted chicken elevates fowl to pure heaven. Thumbs up for the golden potatoes too!
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Sweet yucca fritters for dessert!
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Open, airy, friendly atmosphere.
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Portland to Peru, Delicious for everyone, Coming back for more!
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Talking Garden...

5/26/2013

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Last summer, my family and I visited the Talking Water Gardens in Albany. Free and open to the public every day of the year, this "engineered treatment wetlands ... is a public works project that cools treated wastewater before entering the Willamette River." 

I know... I know... it doesn't sound exactly like a place you'd want to visit, but take a look at these photos, that I took as we walked along the trails, before marking it off your list:
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More please...Thank you.

4/4/2013

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The only thing I love more than libraries... are more libraries!
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Thanks to DIY wonder-woman Jessica, Salem has another library. Her "Little Library" project is one part literacy-education, one part community-building, and three parts awesome-Do-It-Yourself. They say that you should "be the change you want to see in the world"  - well, Jessica is a 'doer' who (without a doubt) is making Salem better. Read all about it here!

After hearing about this South Salem gem, my boys and I stopped by yesterday to "Take a Book - Leave a Book" on Summer Street. We left three paperbacks in exchange for three new treasures. My boys immediately devoured the texts, so it looks like we may revisit Summer Street soon.
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What are you reading these days?
Perhaps you might want to stop by Salem's newest library: 
It's little in size, but HUGE in heart!
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Eastbank Esplanade...

9/16/2012

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For years I’ve heard of Portland’s Eastbank Esplanade, but have never had the pleasure of exploring the 1.5 mile path.  Following along the east side of the Willamette River, the Esplanade officially extends from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge. Even better: there are a variety of connection to east-side destinations.

 My family recently accessed this amazing bike path from OMSI. After enjoying a few hours of science museum fun, we jumped on our bikes and followed the path all the way to the Portland Saturday Market on the north end of Portland’s Waterfront Park. Highlights included the floating portions of the Esplanade path, crossing the Steel Bridge (on a level completely separate from cars), ice cream cones at Saturday Market, water fountains in Waterfront Park, and (of course) little boys who love to ride!

Here’s a bit of info for out-of-towners like ourselves. Free parking for your car, can be found just south of OMSI near the SE Caruthers Street Portland Spirit and Portland Opera offices. East access to both the Eastbank Esplanade and the Springwater Corridor are available. We rode just a bit of the Corridor near OMSI and found it to be mostly undeveloped. The railroad is on one side and the unmaintained river’s edge is on the other. That currently makes for a feeling of seclusion. The day we were there provided enough traffic that I felt safe – but generally, I would not want to take the path without my husband along for the ride. This was in sharp contrast to the Esplanade which was more open, visible from a distance and heavily in use. I felt very safe, as the path seemed expertly integrated into the urban landscape.

I recommend that all riders bring water, sunscreen, a bike-lock, and money for ice cream along the way. If you don’t have bikes of your own you can transport to the big-city: Never Fear! Kerr Bike Rentals is right along the way and has everything needed to set you up for the day (including tagalongs and bike trailers for wee ones).

Reading about the design and planning involved in this great bike connection (between the two sides of the river), I’m impressed by the undertaking. This project is an amazing model for other communities. The possibilities (and benefits) of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure await!

Thank you to Bike City, USA for a day of great family bike ride and for leading the way.
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On Your Feet Friday...

9/8/2012

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Three cheers for Gallagher Fitness in Salem for organizing Friday night fun in downtown Salem.
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     After catching a brief bit of the Amazing Race TV series last spring, I’ve been looking for a race(-ish) event within an urban venue for our family. A few options quickly emerged (Urban Dare and The Great Salem Race), but for one reason or another these programs didn’t quite for the bill. Then we found ‘On Your Feet Friday' in our very own backyard. Hooray!

Here's how it works:

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Folks gather in the parking lot next to Gallagher's between 5:30 and 6pm to sign-up and receive their 'passport.' This shows all the groovy downtown spaces you must visit before 7pm.

Next - folks run, jog, walk, skip and dance about downtown Salem. In the crowd you'll find serious joggers, walkers, families with strollers, and just about everything in between. All this fun is then followed by prize raffles. The more stores/attractions/viewpoints you visit - the better your chances of snagging a great giveaway.

At last month's event, we visited these great local stores -- and stopped for ice cream too (The ice cream wasn't on the official program, but it was along our route and screaming our name)!

Overall, I'd say 'On Your Feet Friday' offers the very best in downtown energy, family friendly exercise and urban fun. This event is also for a great cause!
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The next event is: Friday, September 14th. Let's go Salem- I'll see you there!
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