This weekend we checked the last thing off our list to become official Seattle-ites. Nope, not a new drivers license or plates for the car. We went to REI. Not sure how we’ve been here 1.5 years and not gone yet, but here in Seattle, the REI store is more talked about than the Space Needle.
It’s the flagship store and it is GIGANTIC. Just entering feels like a hike itself – passing waterfalls, giant trees, and trail markers pointing you toward the store entrance. Once you get inside, you find yourself at the bottom of a 65 foot indoor climbing wall – pretty impressive!
We’ve been enjoying a lot of time outdoors this summer, and most recently we’ve started exploring the local hiking scene. There are endless hiking opportunities beyond Seattle and in other parts of Washington, but there are also some smaller, day hikes you can do right inside the city.
One of our goals each weekend is to get out and be as active as possible. These days, Cullen is just NOT feeling the jogging stroller, which is making running quite difficult. We did a six mile run together on Saturday which was a miracle, and he still screamed for half of it.
So we’ve been looking for other ways to get out and be active that don’t involve a screaming baby. For whatever reason, he seems to love hanging out in the hiking backpack. And so, we hike!
Before we hit the trail, we headed to REI for some new shoes. We’ve both been hiking in running shoes, and slipping and sliding all over the place. We needed a much safer option – particularly for Casey, who is usually wearing the hiking backpack. We both picked up some cross-training all-terrain Merrels on clearance. I’m excited to wear mine for my daily walks with Cullen – I’ve needed new walking shoes for way too long.
We also finally got a hiking backpack of our own! We’ve been borrowing one from a friend, but I knew we’d need to get one eventually. It has a million pockets and some extra storage, and Cullen loves his cushy seat.
It’s a pretty hardcore backpack – definitely not necessary for simple city hikes, but it’s really comfortable and Cullen lasts in it for hours – priceless. And since he hates the Ergo (on the back), it’s the best option even for short hikes right now! Next year he’ll be running along side us with his own little backpack – too cute.
We slipped into new shoes, loaded up the new backpack, and headed over to Discovery Park in the Magnolia neighborhood. I had only been there once last summer, and we didn’t explore too far because I was pregnant and tired. This time we did quite a bit more!
We did the full loop trail plus the two beach trails – bringing us to about 5 miles total round-trip. It’s not a particularly challenging hike – no major inclines or declines – but it’s still amazing at how different it feels to my muscles. The beach trails ran right along the Puget sound, with gorgeous views of the Olympic mountains in the distance.
I cherish our weekends together as a family so much. They are what get me through the long weeks of early wakeups and long work days. It’s so nice having a husband who likes to get outside and be active as much as I do!
The trail wound through the trees with the water below in the distance – so beautiful.
It was a little bit breezy and cool yesterday – I can tell that fall is definitely around the corner. And while I’ll miss shorts and sandals, I’m also ready for jeans and – my favorite – puffy vests.
We were thinking that Cullen would probably take a snooze in the backpack since we were out during his typical naptime, but he was having too much fun to sleep. I think his favorite feature is the long straps that he can chew on.
We made our way down the beach trail until we hit the sand. It was cool and breezy and smelled like stinky ocean. I loved it.
I sat on a large log of driftwood and fed Cullen. I thought about how lucky I am to live here, and how happy I am that he gets to grow up doing things like this on Sunday afternoons.
After a short break, we made our way back up the hill – passing this awesome staircase that descends straight into the water on our way.
We passed the lighthouse and made our way back up to the parking lot – a solid five mile hike. My legs definitely felt like they got a good workout, but I didn’t feel totally wiped like I did last weekend either.
It’s interesting to think about how my fitness level and activities have changed over the last few years. I used to log high mileage and run almost every day. These days, that just isn’t practical or possible while taking care of Cullen full time. I’ve considered quite a few different fitness goals, and what I’ve realized each time is that right now, I’m just enjoying watching my little guy grow up WAY too quickly.
I do love having my own goals, and absolutely want to continue to make fitness a high priority in my life. But at this point, I don’t want to spend long hours in the gym or do runs that take up half the day. I want to find ways to stay healthy and active that can involve my whole family. And during the week – I have to find ways to keep moving with my sidekick in tow. I love that we can walk, jog, and hike together, still stay in good shape, and get to take advantage of the beautiful scenery around us.
Casey’s parents will be here next weekend, and we’re planning to head back up into the mountains. I’m looking into challenging baby-safe hikes so that we can show them how beautiful it is up here. I’m also looking forward to having two extra sets of hands in the house, so perhaps I can even go for a few runs on my own! I’d still love to get one more race in this season. Hopefully I still have time!
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Your hiking trails look amazing. I love it that you can go as a family, I hope to do the same when I have kids someday. I love to hike as well, and I would definitely recommend investing in some sturdy hiking boots (I wear Asolo’s) and hiking socks (Smart Wool are by far my fav). They have saved my feet and ankles many times. Plus they are super waterproofed so your feet never get wet. Happy Hiking!
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Leah Reply:
August 28th, 2012 at 7:11 am
Smart Wool is my favorite sock brand! Worth the splurge for hiking (or just having warmer socks for the winter). I’ve been loyal to the brand nearly 10 years now. :)
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What a lovely weekend!
Is that Deuter KidComfort? We tried that for Sawyer and really loved the KidComfort 1 (sold at REI). It looks the same but I can’t tell.
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That’s exciting that you invested in some hiking gear! You have such great hiking options near you. I need to find some near Lincoln/Omaha Nebraska where I am.
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What a beautiful hike! It must be so nice to have all of that readily available.
When I was in Seattle last Christmas the bus took us right past REI, and I wanted to go soo bad. Unfortunately, my sister had no desire to check out REI, so alas, we just hung out downtown on our day in the city instead. Hopefully I’ll be able to go back to Seattle soon, and then maybe I can check out REI then :)
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These hike pictures are beautiful! I also went on a hike this past Sunday – it’s our favorite weekend activity since it’s so much fun and so healthy. We need to invest in real hiking shoes though (especially with my ankles that love to roll).
I can’t *stand* hiking on sand though, it’s so difficult!
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Wallace Falls is a good ‘easier’ hike with pretty waterfalls. You will need a Discovery Pass though because it is a State Park (which you can get at REI). They have picnic tables, etc for lunching after. Also, the drive there is beautiful:)
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Your hiking trails looks so amazing! Having an active partner is a must if it’s what you’re in to (I’m still on the look out! ;) ) Cullen will benefit so much from it too!
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How gorgeous! I am incredibly envious of the scenery that surrounds you in Seattle.
We had a fussy couple weeks in the stroller, and I was terrified what it would do to my training plan (I naively thought it would be no problem to train for my first marathon with a toddler). When I wrote about it, a mom commented that by the time you think you find a solution, they’ll change back. And sure enough, within two weeks, Miles was glad to be back in the BOB. I know it’s not fun but the behbs always seem to come around.
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Note to self: Check out REI (I’ve never been in and I’ve been here 7 yrs!) and go to Discovery Park…
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Oh my goodness… this makes me want to move to Seattle. Such beautiful scenery!
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Ohhhh, the mecca – REI! Love that store!
Hiking is a great way for exploring and stayin fit with kids. Our 2 lived in packs and are now happy to run and explore with their own feet. We aren’t up to challenging hikes like we did pre-kids yet but we’ll get there. Enjoy!
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!!! I love Discovery Park!! I used to live over there during the college years. I hiked the trails quite a bit!
I think you and the in-laws would love Rattlesnake Lake. Its 30 minutes out of Seattle on i-90 in North Bend. The path is wide for most of it, and it has a good incline that is challenging but not too challenging for out of towners. My dad did this hike with us and loved it. And you don’t need to purchase a parking pass for it! Get there early to avoid any Labor Day crowds.
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Meg Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
I second this! My fiancé, future MIL and I did this hike a few weeks ago and it was gorgeous. The trails were very well maintained and safe, but challenging because of the incline. It’s a good distance up to rattle snake ledge you look down over the pond.
Also twin falls hike was nice and easy, and you get to see some great waterfalls at the end.
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love the new hiking shoes! our flagship REI in denver is pretty big, but i can only imagine how huge the one in seattle is!
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How beautiful it is where you live Emily.. can I ask about what you use to carry your camera when hiking, I have a camera bag that is really bulky, or if I just carry it with the strap around my neck, I feel like it just is swinging around too much. Have you found a good solution?
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Leah Reply:
August 28th, 2012 at 7:15 am
I take my camera hiking a lot (particularly when on vacation) so I figured I’d chime in. I have a Canon DSLR and it is not the lightest camera (lighter than some similar models though). Although we have a large camera case (with telephoto lens) typically when hiking we put the Canon into a smaller case (not much larger than the camera itself). The small case goes into the backpack. We just take along one backpack and share who has to carry it (hubby and myself). :)
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It is great that you have other options for fun exercise adventures that don’t require the stroller. My guess is he sees more up high and probably prefers that to sitting down in the stroller – but he may grow out of that.
I’m counting down the days until you buy a tag-a-long for Cullen. I can totally see him biking along on paths with you guys in the future!!
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That does it, I want to find my husband a job in Seattle! Every picture you post makes me insanely jealous of all there is to do there!!! I’ve been a stay at home mom for 4.5 years now and I still look forward to the weekends for family time :)
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Random question – Did you ask someone to take that pic of the three of you or did you put your camera on the timer? I’m always trying to get nice pictures of me and my husband and always have the weird self-photo arm thing going on instead!
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Looks like such a beautiful family day! I love those types of Sundays, spent outside with loved ones. I totally agree, you have to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors around you.
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Try Wallace Falls. Not too strenuous and has a great view of waterfalls.
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/wallace-falls/
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My husband and I spent a long afternoon at Discovery Park this weekend too!
Given that it is late summer, I would try a hike that starts at a higher elevation as these hikes are snowed in earlier in the year and will provide incredible mountain views. Snow lake is close to Seattle. Beckler Peak has some great views, although I do not know what the second half of the trail is like as we lost the trail due to snow and had to turn around when we tried in April.
If you are looking for more of a forest hike – try Wallace Falls or Greenwater and Echo Lakes. The first had great waterfall views, while the later is a long trail but has little elevation gain and closely follows the river crossing it several times (there are well made bridges for all the crossings).
Two other common hikes to try would be Mt. Si and rattlesnake ledge. Both are popular and can be quite busy, but they are close to the city and still offer good views. You could also try any of the various hikes in Cougar Mountain Park or on Tiger Mountain.
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I have those shoes, too :) And totally agreed on the exercise. I thought I’d be able to run a full marathon this season. No way. Even training for a half is hard now that I’m alone again. Oh, well. Getting it in when you can is the key — and you have some gorgeous places to do it!
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Isn’t REI amazing? I seriously think it is one of the best perks of living in Seattle! lol. So glad you had a chance to get outdoors and enjoy the weather! And Cullen looks so adorable in the new backpack! :)
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Hi Emily, I feel like I owe you a comment since I have spent the last month or so (since discovering your blog) whipping up and devouring your delicious recipes.
The crispy blackened tofu is now a regular feature on my weekly menus and don’t even get me started on the healthy un-fried rice! Those energy balls from a couple of days ago are amazing – such a fantastic healthy alternative to the biscuits I normally grab between meetings.
Just thought you should know that your recipes are a massive hit around the globe (I am from New Zealand). I cannot wait for the next one!
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Have you ever considered cycling? You could still do events and/or racing. It would also be a fun family activity for every one. It is a great workout and my favorite way to get some sunshine. Thanks for posting the beautiful pictures!
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I’ve been wanting to check out Discovery Park, but I’m always on foot when I’m in Seattle!
At some point in time if you decide to explore away from Seattle (I know longer car trips can be unpleasant with little ones), I highly recommend Hurricane Ridge. It’s in the vicinity of Port Angeles, WA. It is breathtaking. I took my sister while she was visiting last year and she said it was better than her visit to the Grand Canyon.
The last time we went was in early July and there was still snow to play in!
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So glad you were able to visit the REI Flagship store! My fiancé Joe can’t get enough of it. Did you know that the popular Californian restaurant, Veggie Grill, just opened up lat week? Super close in South Lake Union.
Also loved that you got to hike around Discovery Park. It was absolutely beautiful this weekend in Seattle. :)
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Your weekend posts always make me miss Seattle so much!
When my brother and I were young, my parents would take us hiking to Denny Creek. There are pictures of us there when I was about one with my family and the grandparents! It’s a pretty easy trail, check it sometime. It’s only about 30 minutes outside of Seattle.
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The way you enjoy life makes us all green with envy! Cullen is growing so fast! It proves something: you’re one splendid mama chef!
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I too am jealous of your trip to the REI flagship store! I can’t wait to stop in when I visit Seattle in the fall. If you didn’t sign up for a membership while you were there, I definitely recommend it – 10% back on all eligible purchases is awesome, especially if you think you might purchase any big items there (such as a bike trailer or something). I also tend to use REI to stock up on tech tees and Smartwool socks (my favorite) since they’re very competitively priced and the selection is always good. I unfortunately can’t do too much hiking in Boston without a car, but I’m working on finding new places to go. Seattle looks like my dream location for quick day hikes! Cullen looks so cute in the new backpack, too.
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Hooray for hiking!
Love the new shoes and new backpack. I was just thinking this morning that the best kind of days are ones that include an afternoon hike! :)
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Ahhh, Emily THIS really hit home to me and you say it perfectly: “I’ve considered quite a few different fitness goals, and what I’ve realized each time is that right now, I’m just enjoying watching my little guy grow up WAY too quickly.”
I tend to get down on myself for not exercising like i use to or for having major fitness goals (i have a 10-month old too) and you summed up how i feel too – i cannot feel guilty about it because some things definitley do trump exercising – at least for a little while right?
Great post, thanks!!!!
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My daughter is over 2 and we still have her in the hiking backpack. It’s nice because we can still go on some good hikes. As soon as she comes out we won’t be able to go as much. We are hoping to get through the fall with her in it.
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I am super jealous! We live in Houston and there is NOTHING like that anywhere around here. My husband and I love to hike and do anything outdoors but when it is 110 degrees with 98% humidity the pool and our ac house is the only place we want to be….
maybe we can move to Seattle in a few years… maybe…
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So this is really funny. The REI in Denver is also called the “flagship” store. I’ve called it that on the blog a few times and people from Seattle have gotten quite upset about it. haha — I just checked Wiki and it says there are 3 flagship stores. Maybe the Seattle store is the original? :) Looks like a fun day!! Beautiful too!
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You guys MUST drive up to Paradise while the wildflowers are still out! Just make sure it’s sunny before you go so you don’t end up hiking inside of a cloud – Rainier is so big that it tends to make its own weather. :)
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I loved REI when we were on vacation in Seattle last year. I actually got lost there and spent way too much money on things like a flashing light for the dogs collar, a headband for myself, a new bladder for my hydration pack. They I had to get it all home to Ireland. Its an outdoor lovers paradise.
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