Goals, hiking, pnw, travel

Colchuck Lake ~Gateway to the Enchantments ~Hiking in the Cascade Mountains

Colchuck Lake has easily become a yearly favorite . The first time I ever had the privilege of doing this hike it turned into a crazy day . We had an injury in our group, we experienced bouldering for the first time , many of us ran out of water , it took us way longer then we planned  , and we met our first skinny dippers at the lake 😂 Since then, we have had so many laughs looking back at that first time. 

Here is some of the first boulders we experienced.. but stay to the right and you will find a path that makes it easy to get through.

This hike is so captivating that when you first get the glimpses of the water you are in awe that you have just stumbled on this hidden gem . It is surrounded by two of Washington’s tallest peaks ,Dragontail and Colchuck Peak. Literally, I could stay there all day ! So beautiful and the water is so clear . 

Colchuck Lake is one of the two gateways to the Enchantments. It’s an iconic hike in itself but if you want to challenge yourself more ,you can continue on to Aasgard Pass, the door to the Enchantment Core. Makes me think of a portal to another world , which now after doing Aasgards ,it actually does seem like a whole different world you step into . Look for that post later! 

Here are our stats⬇️

📍Colchuck Lake

🧭 Leavenworth, Wa

🥾 8.7 miles RT ( we came in at 10.55)

🏔️ 2342ft elevation gain ( we gained 2491)

⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple 

And now for coffee ☕️

Check out the full reel of our adventure ⬇️

And check out our post of the cutest Bavarian Starbucks we went to after our hike

family adventures, pnw, travel

Jakob Two Trees ~Northwest Trolls : Way of the Bird King

“A thousand circle suns, not old
Time will stretch and loop and fold
So stop, breathe out, breathe in, behold
The trees have sung a story told”
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Jakob is located in Issaquah and stands around 14-ft. tall, looking as future friends come to find him . You will find him paused between two trees as if to say peek a boo to all who pass by. He is fashioned entirely out of recycled materials, and wears a necklace of birdhouses.

One of the unique things about Jakob,is he is the first troll who has a ponytail with the ponytail holder and bracelet he is wearing made by the Snoqualmie Tribe.I love how this connects and weaves Coast Salish tribal communities with Danish and Scandinavian traditions, all through the beauty of environmental art.

Jakob Two Trees is one of the six trolls that are part of the Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King created by Thomas Dambo .The other trolls are on Bainbridge Island; Ballard, Seattle; Portland, Vashon Island and West Seattle. Check out our post below of the other trolls:)

And here is the link for the Troll Map to find them all ⬇️

https://trollmap.com/#/jakobtwotrees

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family adventures, hiking, pnw, travel

Kamiak Butte Trail

Kamiak Butte Trail is a beautiful trail tucked into the rolling Palouse farmland and comes with some great view points that is near Pullman ,Wa.


It was the perfect trail to stretch our legs after a long drive and take in the beauty of the area. I love that the landscape is so differant there . It reminds me of parts of Texas with its rolling fields that look like a quilt of patched farmland everywhere you look.


There is also a beautiful park with playground by the parking lot if you are looking to have a picnic with views and want to skip the hike.


Here are the stats ⬇️
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📍Kamiak Butte Trail
🧭 Palouse , Wa
🥾 2.5miles RT ( we came in at 2.57)
🏔️ 715ft elevation gain ( we gained 704)
⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple
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Goals, hiking

Mystery of the Climb

What does climbing mean to you?
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For me…There is something about each step I take on the way to the summit. There is a release of everything in my mental to do list or all the things in my life that are demanding my attention . Instead , my mind is filled with awe in all the beautiful details that I know my picture or video will not capture as accurately as I see it . Then the next step , the emptying of all my strength and full reliance on Gods strength, and constantly saying to myself “Oh my goodness , I can’t believe I’m doing this!! Praise be to God!”
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Wherever you are today in whatever journey your on , I pray that you will keep going …one step at a time. If you have any summit plans I would love to hear ..drop it in the comments below so I can be praying for you ⬇️

Goals, hiking, pnw, travel

Lake 22 Trail

View at the summit of Lake 22

Lake 22 was one of the most beautiful hikes we did in 2024 . The pics don’t even begin to do it justice or show just how huge the rocks are…Amazing!

This trail was not at all what I expected. With the elevation being under 2000 gained I was thinking easy but it was not. It was a great workout and the views were stunning! It was rocky which I wasn’t expecting and had some bouldering .
Definitely one of my top favs!

The stats for this trail are ⬇️

📍 Lake 22 Trail

🧭 Granite Falls, Wa

🥾 5.9 miles RT ( we came in at 8.38)

🏔️ 1446 ft elevation gain ( we gained 1526ft)

⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple

View on the opposite side of Lake 22

Check out our reel below ⬇️

coffee, family adventures, hiking, Review, travel

Espresso Chalet

Espresso Chalet has one of the best views of Mount Index . It was the perfect stop to grab coffee after hiking Wallace Falls & Heybrook Lookout. Both hikes are within a few miles of each other with the Espresso Chalet between them. Look for the Bigfoot and you will know you are there.


We ordered our drinks and then went to soak in some more Mountain views… amazing! Perfect place to stretch your legs and grab some drinks or snacks before heading home .


A fun fact : this was an official location from the movie Harry and the Hendersons … anyone remember that movie?

Check out our reel below ⬇️

disney, Disneyland, family adventures, travel

Storybook Land Canal Boats~Disneyland

Storybook Land Canal boats is the perfect way to see some of the enchanting homes and villages from classic Disney movies that are hand- built in miniature model size using the scale of 1 inch to 1 foot.


You gently float through the whimsical landscaping with gentle music playing . Each 12 person boat has a tour guide that tells the tale behind each scene as you float by.


Just a few of the places you will see are :
✨The village of Arendelle and Elsa’s ice palace from Frozen
✨The straw, stick and brick houses from Three Little Pigs
✨The manicured London park from Peter Pan
✨The Alpine village from Pinocchio
✨The English village from Alice in Wonderland
✨The royal city of Agrabah and Cave of Wonders from Aladdin
✨Prince Eric’s palace and King Triton’s underwater castle from The Little Mermaid
✨The Cottage of the Dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs..love the sign with all their names!
✨The French countryside village and mountaintop castle from Cinderella
✨Toad Hall from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad… one of our favorite books!


This is such a beautiful ride especially as it’s getting dark when it’s all lit up, but it does close for fireworks so make sure to watch your timing to not miss it.
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Toad Hall

Check out our reel below ⬇️

coffee, pnw, Review, travel

Unique Starbucks in Bavarian Town of Leavenworth ~ Review

One of our favorite @starbucks is in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth . The decor is a modern ski lodge vibe which we absolutely loved!

Looking out the window you can easily access Aasgard without the grueling workout or magic portal 😉


If you’re wanting a fun weekend adventure , Leavenworth is a great place to explore. Hike, shop , eat , and enjoy feeling like you traveled to a different country. Grab your favorite book and grab coffee as you soak it all in at this unique Starbucks.

Disneyland, Review, Starwars, travel

Ronto Roasters ~ Galaxy’s Edge ~ Disneyland


Ronto Roasters is one of our favorite places to grab a quick dinner or lunch when we are in Galaxy’s Edge @disneyland . Here you can find pita wraps filled with spicy grilled sausage and roasted pork that are delicious .

⭐️ Keto option.. ditch the pita bread .

➡️ Fun fact: A droid named 8D-J8 does the cooking here, turning alien meats on a rotating spit that roast under a recycled podracing engine.


You can also pick up the Paddy Frog Sipper at around $17 which includes a drink.What in the world is a patty frog? You know those things Jabba the Hut eats ? Yep thats them!


This sipper was a blessing on our last trip because it entertained our little for hours..and that is priceless!
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Mobile Ordering is Available .. another win!

Starwars

All Things Starwars Wrapup ~ May 4

Thanks to @readersdigest for the image.

Love this ❤️

These are not the droids you are looking for ⭐️

Droid coffee time … yes please⭐️

Check out all the cute Star Wars Merch .. perfect for May 4❤️

Check out our reel of Rise of the Resistance ⬇️

For more Star Wars fun …Check out our post on Star Wars Party Food ⬇️