Welcome to Hurricane Ridge

There are several tunnels as you make the climb to Hurricane Ridge. Each one is short, but certainly adds to the beauty and charm of the mountains. Hurricane Ridge is named for the fierce winter storms that create it's snowy peaks, but in the summer months the driving is easy with views that go on for miles. This is one of the most popular stops in the park and you can expect to see wildlife! We certainly did:

Black tail deer are common in the peninsula making higher elevations their home in the summer and migrating to lower heights in the winter. Although the views are stunning, the highest peaks in the Olympics are still under 6,000 feet.

For the record, it was not warm enough for shorts in June. By the ocean we were dressed perfectly for the temperatures. At this elevation, there was still plenty of snow!

This is the view to the north from Hurricane Ridge (snow in the foreground). You are absolutely as high as the clouds and you see the Juan de Fuca Strait on the right of this photo.

I'd recommend stopping at a few of the pull-outs either on the way up or down the mountain. The views are equally spectacular in a different way:

We're almost to the open Pacific and the wild coastline that stretches from north to south! We still have one more stop on the way. Twilight fans: next stop Forks!

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Mom Spot: Progressive Pioneer

Here is another blog I've come across in recent weeks. She has gorgeous pictures and her post yesterday was truly fantastic.

"Maine is pretty rainy in the spring. And I lived in Oregon for awhile and it defines rainy. So, a little rain rarely puts me in a gray mood. In fact, this rainy, rainy spring we've been having here in Utah has actually made me feel quite cheerful! Each rainy day has felt like something of a celebration."

Click HERE to read the entire post - you have to see the photographs! You'll also find all kinds of topics on sustainable and simple living. Enjoy!

Butterfly Pavilion

Of all the child-focused exhibits I wish I could visit weekly, Butterfly Pavilion is number one. I could spend hours in the rainforest-like room where butterflies dance through the air, lush vegetation sprawls from every corner, and a delightful assortment of other tropical animals make their home. You can meet Rosie, the resident tarantula and stroke a horseshoe crab as a wonderful side-light to your Pavilion trip. (Is there a child's birthday in your future? The Butterfly Pavilion is available for parties!)

The Sunset Stroll, a monthly event, gives you a more exclusive tour where you will see activities not seen during the daylight hours. A reservation is necessary. The Butterfly Pavilion is open seven days a week and summer is a great time to go! Schools are mostly finished with their field trips and you can walk the outdoor nature trail. Everyday, new butterflies are released between 12:30 and 3:30pm, and there are great spots to have lunch, so plan to make a day of it!

Fun Fa…

Make a Difference: Black Stallion Literacy Program

Although it's hard to pin down our very favorite summer activity, one would have to be our afternoon with the Black Stallion Literacy Project. I was unfamiliar with the program until it was brought to the HoneyBear Tree Preschool at our church and my children attended with other children from the community. The Black Stallion Literacy Project (BSLP) is a program that is well represented around the front range in Colorado, but extends across the country from it's roots in Florida.

Born of a family heritage in 1999, BSLP has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of children across the nation. The purpose and goal of the organization is clear on their website:

"The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation is an innovative partnership of educators, businesses, volunteers, education foundations, and staff members focused on promoting literacy through the winning combination of live horses and books by Walter Farley. The program is based on the classic books of Walter Farley an…

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