What do you do when you want to get out
for a family hike, but have a list of must-do items
that just won't allow time for a drive up to the hills?
Answer:
View Croisan Creek Scenic Trail in a larger map
Question: What do you do when you want to get out for a family hike, but have a list of must-do items that just won't allow time for a drive up to the hills? Answer: This urban trail offers hikers and mountain-bike enthusiasts a touch of the outdoors without ever having to leave town. Part gravel/part pavement/part dirt path: The (less than 1 mile) trail meanders down the hills of south Salem just skirting the backyards of a variety of homes. _ Here's how we found the trail: Drive west on Kuebler Road in Salem just past Skyline Road. Turn right on to Croisan Scenic and park where the street ends. There is a gravel road that takes you twenty feet, then the dirt path leads off to your left. View Croisan Creek Scenic Trail in a larger map
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_ Have I mentioned how much I love my local library? While these events have passed, I’m posting them here so that you can keep an eye out (and join in the fun) next time they roll around. Our library usually hosts these events twice a year and are favorite for my boys. _ Participants donate one book in return for $100 of auction money. After reviewing the offerings, the librarian begins auctioning off each book to interested buyers. Bids are made in $10 increments and you can buy, buy, buy until your money is gone. _ During this past auction, several chapter books went for as low as $10. Other books sparked a bidding war with bids climbing as high as $70. __I like to watch the money management strategies taken by the young participants. Some wait and wait until the perfect book comes up for auction and then blow the whole wad. _ Others bid on books no one else is interested in so as to get the maximum amount of books possible. Each of my boys came home with four new books and smiles. _ Everyone knows the classic Bingo – but the library version has (of course) an early literacy twist: Book Bingo! _ This non-competitive game of bingo features bingo cards with words rather than numbers. Participants have to read the words on the card to play the game. _ My first grader was a bit nervous at first, unsure of some of the holiday words featured on his card. However, after just one game I saw his confidence and competence rise. _ In the end, his voice rang out, “BINGO!” and he proudly chose a new book for his prize. _ In Salem, the best way to get the latest library information and schedule is to join the Salem Friends of the Library and receive a monthly newsletter at your home mailing address.
I try to remember to pick the newsletter up at the library – but I always forget. I have received the newsletter by email – but it’s too long to digitally peruse. Instead… for a steal-of-a-deal life membership I can do my part to support local literacy AND receive a monthly newsletter updating me on the latest and greatest services provided by the regional resource. You still have a chance to catch Magic at the Mill 2011. This great event offers the walking tour of the Mission Mill facilities, tunes by local musicians, a miniature train exhibit, a variety of children's crafts, and a visit with Salem's very best Santa Claus. Be sure to dress warmly and, once inside, be sure to get your free tickets for the historic home tours.
In the 6th grade, I often walked after school from my middle school campus to the local public library. Spreading my books across the oak table in the magazine room, I often had a whole room to myself to study, read, and daydream. It was book-worm heaven - but incredibly square. These days, afternoons at the library have reached a whole new level of cool. The Salem Public Library Teen Scene has converted to dusty old basement into a a groovy new space -- as appealing to teens as the Discovery Room is to toddlers. Stacks of teen-friendly books, hundreds of graphic novels, a game station, a computer/video production lab, concerts, pizza parties, book talks, writing groups, and library staff ready & willing to provide a safe place for teens to gather: This great space offers something for book worms, musicians, writers, and teens with any and every interest.
As an educator, this thrills me. As a momma, I feel grateful that my community cares about our youth. Thanks Salem! My boys have always enjoyed the Salem Riverfront Carousel and now that they are old enough to ride solo, I enjoy it even more. (This momma doesn’t like to spin.) Recently, my oldest son developed a renewed love of the carousel after discovering the brass ring. “What is the brass ring?” you ask. It’s the work of a creative salmon-loving genius and holds the magical power of granting wishes! At random times, or by rider request, the Carousel operator will move this beautifully carved salmon into place. Pivoted so as to face the carousel riders, older children sitting on the outside edges of the carousel can then attempt to pull a ring from the salmon’s mouth as they twirl by. Hold on tight, then grab as many red, green, white and 'brass' rings as you can. When the ride is over, each brass ring is good for another ride- free of charge! And if you’re lucky – maybe you’ll grab two and have a free ride for you AND your brother!
High in the hills of the Opal Creek Wilderness Area, six amazing kids from our neighborhood held hands in an effort to reach all the way around this cedar tree. These tree-huggers (and their parents) were my fabulous traveling companions for a weekend get-away. When it comes to a trip to the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest, here's my recipe for a perfect outdoor adventure: 1) Drive 1.5 hours north-east of Salem. 2) Park when you reach the end of Forest Road 2209 and load your food and supplies on to the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center gear shuttle. 3) Leisurely walk the 3 mile trail to Jawbone Flats. Be sure to stop and enjoy a picnic lunch, impromptu swim, and breathtaking view. 4) Enter Jawbone Flats (population 12) and have a seat in the comfort of Cabin #4. Kick back, relax, and praise an off 'the grid' system that provides lights, a full kitchen, flush toilets, and hot showers. 5) Explore the old mining community of Jawbone flats - you're sure to spot both the past (old mining equipment & buildings) and the future (ecology education programs & solar panels). Then strike out and enjoy the endless opportunities for hiking, creek walking, and discovering nature. In my experience, two nights and three days at Opal Creek is the perfect length for families with young children. For us, such a weekend is like our own private outdoor school; a personalized family retreat; an un-plugged & off-line slumber party of fun. Climbing into the car for the ride home after this trip, my six year-old said it best: "When can we do that again?" Along I-5, between Albany and Salem, sits this billboard: And every time we pass this sign, my nine year old says, “Let’s take the Factory Tour, Mom!” This week – I finally obliged. Palm Harbor Homes has a factory and sales center just off the freeway in Millersburg and offers free tours daily at 10am. These tours are designed for potential buyers, but we received a warm welcome when I explained our mission: to learn more about a business near our community. We first started in the tour center/demo room. This space allowed us to learn about the materials used in construction. As our family has been in the midst of a basement remodel this past year, my boys knew all the lingo: insulation, drywall, tile, grout, cabinetry. Moving on from there, we donned out protective eyewear and stepped onto the factory floor where the systematic construction process of each home was explained. Vacation cabins, single-wides, double-wides, even quad-homes and houseboats are all custom made right here in the Valley. Customers can choose the floor plan, exterior and interior paint color, and can even designate accent walls. Following our guide, our group walked to a raised viewing room in the middle of the factory. From our second story perch, we saw workers simultaneously laying linoleum flooring, building and installing walls, roofing, finishing counter tops, and welding the metal frames used for shipping the homes. The tour guide told us the details of the various stages of construction and answered any questions (How many factory-floor employees? 135. How many women? About a dozen. Salaried or hourly? Hourly with bonuses for customer satisfaction and tenure. Health care included. Bankers hours.) Once back to the main lot, my boys and I crossed the road and toured the model homes. Beautifully furnished, I found the small Avantii III to be a charming vacation cabin. My youngest son preferred the 2,500 sq. ft. Mt. Shasta model, although he did admit, “I’m afraid I’ll get lost in here”. We left the Palm Harbor parking lot just 90 minutes after we first arrived. Speeding by the Beaver home as made our way up the highway, my sons cheered: “We’ve been in there!” ---- Yep. One more corner of our world explored. One more bit of local knowledge gained. I’m looking forward to our next adventure already. It's blueberry picking time.... We're in the thick of picking berries to freeze
so that we can enjoy them with cold cereal - all winter long. Here's a great way to find a berry patch near you: pickyourown.org Today while my boys and I traveled from A to B here in Salem, we happened to pass beautiful Bush Park. Glancing over, I saw soap box derby cars racing down the hill and so quickly asked my boys if they wanted to stop and watch. We parked the car nearby and soon found a shady spot near the course finish line. After watching several runs, a kind momma asked the age of my boys. Upon hearing that my oldest was 9, she invited him to enjoy a ‘fun run’. That’s right: the gracious folks of the Salem Soap Box Derby Association offered my son the chance to drive one of their cars down the track. Needless to say, my oldest sprinted halfway up the hill to the starting line before I finished my “Thank you – we would like that” response. At the top of the hill a well-spoken tween and a welcoming dad gave my new recruit a quick lesson. Having heard that the cars can reach speeds up to 30 mph –I was impressed by the care taken by the volunteers to help my son. The car and driver were allowed to roll forward (perhaps 10 to 20 feet) several times so that my son could practice his ‘braking skills.’ Once cleared for takeoff, he then rolled down the 900+ foot track. Of course, I wasn’t there to see his face at the bottom – but the smile he held, after sprinting up the greenway to meet me, said it all: sometimes the detour is the best part of the journey.
It's been years since I’ve gone out to the field to pick strawberries.... but when a friend extended the invite, my youngest and I grabbed some plastic containers and headed for Fordyce Farms. Once in the rows, I had to ask myself, “Why have I not indulged in this outing more often?” My inner-voice then responded, “Because bending over can be uncomfortable, the sun can bear down on us unmercifully, and the pesky juice can stain your fingers!” But wait….. Surveying the cheerful families around me, I thought, “This is u-pick family-fun style NOT berry picking first-teenage-job style.” Oh, the difference! As a family, you can meander down the row, picking only the best looking berries. As a family, you can hear your son yell “Jackpot!” when he finds a big one and “Come here little guy!” when he picks a small one. Family style, you can lift young children row over row and send them running to collect the flag marker. You can go early and leave early (before the sun grows strong). You can take pictures, sing songs, and generally enjoy the experience as an experience. It doesn’t matter how many pounds you pick, or how fast you pick, or how long you pick. It’s the ultimate lazy days of summer. Of course, the resulting strawberry pie is great too. Now I’m looking forward to blueberries…
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