“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”

These two quotes from Brené Brown, have been speaking to me in a deep way.

I have decided to publicly, for the first time, talk about my son's suicide. Tears well up in my eyes as I type this. It's been a long, painful journey over these last 16 months. It is not a secret I keep, and I know we need to talk more openly about suicide, I just, well, I couldn't. 

I will share the realness of my pain, I will not sugar coat it and no, I will not "just get over it."  I hate the phrase, "Choose Joy." How am I supposed to just, "choose joy" when the pain runs so deep? If I can't "choose joy" does that mean I am doing it "wrong?" "Time heals all wounds." What amount of time? "He is in a better place." No, his place is here. Did you notice all of the quotation marks, along with all the multitudes of other "shoulds" and clichés that go along with grief and death? They are exhausting, frustrating and full of lies.

Yeah, part of my journey is recognizing just that...this is MY JOURNEY. No one else's. I have fully embraced that, and I am learning to live within my grief and pain, knowing this is not something that will one day end. The love for a child never just evaporates. I look forward to maybe just a little less pain when I think about my Jake and the pain that he was in, that he thought the only way out, was to take his life.

In Jake's goodbye letter, he mentioned that (my interpretation) he could not see the good in the world anymore. He saw no beauty, only the harshness of people. I have taken this idea to help drive my photography these last 16 months. I want to show all the Jake's of this world  that there is so much beauty and still so much good, you just need to look. 

My counselor at the time, encouraged me to do some of my processing with my camera. I had a difficult time raising my camera to my eye early on, but I knew I could use my smart phone to give this a try. But, how do I tell the story of the pain I was in? On my, almost daily walks at the marina, where I live, I started to see pain, or more so, things that can bring me pain so I started photographing those. Here are some of the photos I took.

Thorns

Unending sharp, cutting thorns.

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Huge, deep cutting thorns.
 

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Barnacles that scrape and can draw blood.
 

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Rocks that can break bones, scrapes and cuts.
 

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Water that can drown or sink a ship.

Those captures helped me with seeing the pain. But, wait. What else do these thing offer? 

I needed to see the good too.

The first thorns come from one of the most fragrant rose bushes I have ever encountered. The aroma greets me when they are in bloom and their season is long. It is candy for my eyes with the gorgeous colors.

The second large thorns are blackberry bushes that bring nice juicy fruits for cobblers, pies and pancake toppings or, just the pure joy of picking some alongside the path for a sweet moment.

The barnacles contain life and they help keep our waters filtered and they are an important role in the food chain, plus they are fun to listen to and also watch when they are active.

The rocks provide shelter for little critters to live and stay protected from those who want to eat them and they provide a surface for other life to also live. Rocks can also hold up hillsides and structures, like these rocks that keep the train tracks above them, safe and sturdy.

We need water to just survive, to grow crops, to provide a home to so many living creatures from tiny plankton to the Antarctic Blue whale weighing 400,000 pounds. Also, water allows me to live on a boat and go on many adventures.

Are you following me? There is pain in this world. We all have pain of some sort and most also have grief. Don't hurry and try to get "through it" or "to the other side." You just can't. Know it's okay to sit with pain and grief, but seek healing and learn how to handle it. Don't ignore the hard stuff and try to bury it away. Be vulnerable like Brené talks about. Talk to others, be courageous. It is NOT weakness. It is hard and it hurts, but only good can come from healing and learning to just be. 

Remember, there really is good and beauty in the world, you just have to look for it. Thank you for allowing me to be vulnerable with you and in a very public way. I do not take this lightly. It is now part of my journey.

When I stumble upon or go to a planned location that I wish to capture, I first take in the whole scene. What am I seeing? A main subject? Special lighting? Reflections? Colors? What is it exactly that draws me to this scene?

Once I have identified that, I start deciding how I am going to share this little story and I go through these steps to make sure I capture what I desire.

1. Take a full, widest angle you can of the scene. Capture it all. Now, was it too much? A little messy or busy? Did you need that wide angle to tell the story you want to share? That answer could be yes, but let's try some more!

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2. Now, tighten up that view a little bit.  Can you see clearly what you are trying to capture or is it still lost in the bigger scene? Maybe it's perfect.

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3. Next, come in tight. Focus on the one object you chose. Did it pull away from everything around it? Does it look like it is the star of the show or does it need a little bit more of the story around it, brought back into the view? 

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4. Be sure to turn your camera into the vertical position too. Sometimes that allows you to isolate or focus on your main subject and can give a different feel all together.

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Look at what you captured. Did the close-up surprise you with a "stronger" image or maybe did it lose something? On your widest angle, did you happen to see things on the outside edges of the images that did not contribute anything to your scene or maybe it was exactly as needed.

Which angle (telephoto, vertical, horizontal, or wide-angle) captured what you wanted to freeze in time?

What is amazing, is that this will change every time! Continue to practice all four steps as you are out and about with your smart phone or your camera. You will find that this becomes second nature to you. You will eventually start seeing the shots in your mind, but I still encourage you to try out these different steps. Someday you will be sad that you didn't get a vertical shot of that one scene that would have been perfect on that magazine cover! ;)

Oh! By the way, these photos were all shot with my iPhone 12 PM on a gorgeous morning in spectacular golden light! 

Below is another example of getting multiple shots of one location to find your favorite composition and story to tell!

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There are many types of light and I will go through a non-exhaustive list with you!

Bright Sunlight or Hard Light: often in the middle of the day that causes harsh shadows, and direct or concentrated light spread. This light can be difficult to photograph depending on your subject. Other times it's just perfect when you want to capture blue bird skies or even stormy clouds! The following two photos are from the Palouse region in Eastern Washington. The first is just full sun. The second has a concentrated light and shadows.

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Golden Light or Golden Hour: this warm glow happens almost magically in the morning, during the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. Most photographers seek out this lighting! This warm glow can truly add magic to a photo! Also, this is great light for breathtaking portrait photography! These next two photos are of that morning golden light that add such richness.

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Sunrise and Sunset: this light can cast long shadows as the light is low to the horizon. They can be any color you can think of, pinks, purples, yellows and oranges. The colors can add so much to a scene! Have you ever seen a sunrise or sunset you didn't like? Me either! :) In the next two photos you can see the differences in the colors that can show up for sunrises and sunsets!

Blake Sunrise with Rainier Lisa Mize

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Blue Hour: this light happens just before sunrise and then after sunset. It makes the sky a beautiful blue. It only lasts for maybe 20 minutes, so you need to be quick, but the experience and images are truly amazing! As you can see in the next photos that blue hour can be absolutely beautiful!

Blake Island view of Seattle Lisa Mize

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Diffused Light or Soft Light: this light happens when there is cloud cover and the light is evenly spread, softening shadows. This is perfect outdoor, portrait lighting! It also is good for many outdoor scenes like in the woods, long exposures, crashing seas and especially when you don't need an interesting sky in whatever you are photographing. Sometimes there is even color in the diffused light! 

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Flat Light: this is when there is no distinct contrast in the scene. Everything just seems to be the same, the highlights and the shadows. This is different from the lovely diffused light I just mentioned. I have been in beautiful places and have taken photos and realized something is lacking...it is most often that the lighting is "flat" and it is not providing the "pop" needed to make a scene stand out and come to life. As you can see, this is a beautiful place in the Hoh Rainforest, but this day was just, well, flat so the photos have no heart almost!

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Start training your eyes to look for the light! Often, when I am with other people, I will point out the light around us, hoping they will see the beauty too! They often hadn't even noticed!

As you look for the light, what do you see? Do you see cool patterns from shadows because the sun is bright? Are the moss and trees dripping with beauty because the light is diffused or soft? What scene can you set up with that gorgeous sunrise or sunset as your backdrop? What can you capture with that beautiful golden light that just warms you to the core?

Light is a necessary part of photography. As you learn it, your images will only get better!

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Waking up Friday morning, I asked Johnny, “Where can we go?” It’s supposed to be so beautiful this coming weekend, so we decided on a “Blakation” as the boating community calls a trip over to Blake Island.

We pulled into the marina and two bald eagles greeted us in a tree close to shore.

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The deer were grazing, the Canada geese were honking, kids were playing and running around while the adults looked on. Some folks had grabbed dock carts and were hauling their camping gear out to the campsites and Mount Rainier (Tahoma) stood in her place at the end of Puget Sound. Friendly boaters were helping the newcomers by catching lines as they came in. The iconic Washington State Ferries were busy on their routes to the north and to the south of the island. Container ships were anchored out in view, waiting their turn to be unloaded in Seattle.

It’s winter in Seattle, but the sun was out. The blue skies and puffy white clouds filled our windless view.

I found a huge sunbeam on “Our Dance’s” party deck, as we call it. Relaxing and reading was about all I had on my to do list this day.

As the sun was setting, the sky came alive with purples and pinks. The docks had quieted down as most people were serving up dinner. I walked out to the beach to photograph the skies over the Seattle skyline. Turning to the south, the majestic Mount Rainier was draped with the colors of the sunset and the Vashon ferry was running its route, right in front of the mountain. I just stood there for a moment saying to myself, “We live in an amazing place.” DSC_8238 DSC_8259

I turned back toward Seattle. The pinks and purples had disappeared, but what was appearing right before me was BLUE! Blue everywhere! The sky, the water, everything. It felt like it had enveloped me too! I do love the blue hour when everything seems to change into the most calming and peaceful color. DSC_8280

Johnny was manning the BBQ and grilling up fish and veggies for dinner. We happily enjoyed our meal next to our propane fire on the party deck. Soon the cards came out for a “friendly” game that I lost terribly!!!

I almost woke too late the next morning as the sky was already filling with color! Pinks, purples, oranges! It was crazy cold and about 36 degrees. The main dock was extremely slippery with frost. I carefully managed my way across and headed to the beach to find some interesting compositions for the sunrise. I was hoping to include Mount Rainier, too! With all the driftwood, the gorgeous trees, tall grasses, rocks, sand and shells definitely made my composition hunting pretty easy! It was just a spectacular morning. DSC_8308 DSC_8309 DSC_8354 DSC_8379 DSC_8388 DSC_8407

Hiking was on our list while at Blake. Eight miles to choose from, plus five miles of beach! We set out for a couple hours enjoying the beautifully maintained, but sometimes VERY muddy trails. Sunny skies, cool air and no wind made for a lovely hike.

Naps and rests on the deck, with the sun on our face, warmed us to our core. Lovely….

There was not the most spectacular of sunsets, but the blue hour was again, gorgeous. I decided to do some long exposure photography to capture the Seattle skyline, the Space Needle, the Sound, and the perfect blue that blanketed everything in sight. Blake Island view of Seattle Lisa Mize DSC_8438 DSC_8443 DSC_8450

The racoons are often on the move in the evening, though during the day now, more and more, looking for free food! They will actually climb aboard boats to find food. The new folks to Blake might not know this yet and will often donate a loaf of bread or other treat to their newfound “friends”.

The docks had cleared earlier in the day, leaving about eight boats for Saturday night. The marina was much quitter than the active docks from the night before. We knew rain was coming on Sunday so we decided that writing, photo editing, planning and researching boat projects and of course naps would make for a great day while at Blake. We decided to stay until Monday!

I didn’t even set an alarm for sunrise, as I knew the rain was moving in, but WOW! Was I taken by surprise! Thankfully, it was daylight savings time that morning, so my body woke me up in plenty of time to see the sky filling with bright yellows, oranges, reds, and purples. I was in awe. What an amazing surprise for sure! Out I went for sunrise photos. There was no way I wasn’t capturing this! All of the campers were gone and no boaters were out yet, so I had the entire beach to myself. I watched Mount Rainer wake up and come alive. I watched the sun break above the Cascade Mountains and the Seattle hills. I saw the first, warm, morning light hit the amazing red barked madrone trees. Once again, I paused and said to myself, “We live in an amazing place!” Blake Sunrise with Rainier Lisa Mize DSC_8469 DSC_8500 DSC_8512

Minutes after I got back to the boat, the rains came as predicted. We never mind the rains (We do live in the PNW!) as they are so cleansing, and they also give us time to focus on maybe more pressing matters and chores as we are not itching to go play in the sun!

We had rain and high winds all day.

Monday morning, we were on our way home. We were going to take the long way home by going around Bainbridge Island to burn some fuel. (We need to do a repair on a tank and we need less fuel in that tank!) As we started around the island I asked, “Any reason we have to go home?” “Nope,” was the answer so we headed to Poulsbo for a night! We love Poulsbo! Great food, great beer, great coffee!

After we tied up and paid the guy at the port, who by the way, tried to get us to stay longer by enticing us with, “What is better than a bunch of drunk Vikings?” We headed into town to get some coffee at our favorite coffee shop, Hot Shots Java. We did a little browsing in a couple shops too. We walked up to the Red Western Brewery (our favorite in Poulsbo) and Johnny had a beer. They have a lovely outside seating area with heaters and an adorable fence, made from, yeah…cedar!

Johnny had a call to take back at the boat, so I stayed in town and did some shopping. This is not my norm, but I was looking for some writing journals that were “just the right size.” I was also on the lookout for a Birds of Puget Sound book. We see so many, I want to be able to identify them easily. I was thrilled to find both! Thankfully, Poulsbo has a couple of wonderful bookstores! (A Way With Words and Liberty Bay Books.)  I also found a sweet gift for a dear friend. It was a locally written book that seemed to be written about her!

We decided to get some dinner at the Brass Kraken Pub so we could sit outside and watch the sun lower in the sky. Our server was fantastic!

We were the only ones on the whole dock! It was pretty fun!

The next morning, we decided that yeah, we should probably actually go home and that is what we did. What a wonderful get-away. The Puget Sound is an awesome place to live!

This well-maintained property is located in La Push, about 20 minutes from Forks and US-101. On the Quileute Nation’s land, the tribe has called this land home since time immemorial and is rich in history and tradition. The tribe chose to open the resort on the mile long First Beach to invite others to visit and be able to experience their amazing land. It is an absolute honor to be welcomed to stay here. The ever-picturesque James Island, or A-Ka-Lat, is of great importance to the tribe, and it makes an amazing addition to the sunsets, though please remember no one is allowed on the islands as they are sacred. Check out https://quileutenation.org/history/ to learn more about these amazing people, their stories and traditions.

Resort Amenities

The resort offers every comfort level including deluxe and standard oceanfront cabins, two oceanfront motel units, camper cabins and now, two full-service RV parks, and for those roughing it, tenting is also available! All the rental units have a fully stocked kitchen, beautiful Native American décor and historic photos of the location. Many units have ocean views, but all are just a few steps to the beach. Two things that are wonderfully missing from the resort are Wi-Fi and TV’s and the only cell carrier is Verizon. The Lonesome Creek store has any last minute or forgotten items, including ice! A lovely, onsite coffee stand is available to fix your caffeine cravings. Laundry facilities, bathrooms and showers are available at the north end. In the camping area at the south end, there are additional porta potties that are regularly cleaned and maintained, and fire rings are available at each campsite too.

Start your day with coffee on the beach or on your private deck and watch the sun cast its first light onto James Island. After that, the options are endless! There are sandcastles to build, beach walks to take, kites to fly, driftwood forts to build, or a beach blanket and a book might be your pace. And First Beach is a great place for surfing! It is a fun time just watching these brave athletes and rooting them on to find the perfect wave. Look for whales while you soak in the view of the crashing waves and listen to the sound the rocks make as the waves are carried back out into the ocean. Play fetch with your four-legged friend as there is no shortage of the perfect sized stick! Ride bikes through the resort. After dinner (do check out the Rivers Edge Restaurant that is just a short walk away by the marina) enjoy a campfire or even a fire on the beach while watching the sunset! (Be sure to pick up a fire permit for beach fires at the office and bring your own wood as there is no burning of driftwood.) After dark, the stars fill the sky. The light pollution here is so low it is an amazing location for stargazing!

This is an all-weather resort. In the spring, the Quileute Tribe has a yearly welcoming of the whales event! In fact, winter may even be better than summer as the storm watching from the comfort of your rental is unbeatable. Crack open those windows and just listen! It’s a wonderful time to make more memories as you bring out the puzzles, the board and card games and snuggle in next to the fireplace. Don’t forget the hot chocolate. I do encourage you to still head out to the beach, just dress accordingly and keep an eye on the tide. 

Beach Recommendations

As I mentioned before, Quileute Oceanside Resort makes a great base camp for the vast and spectacular Olympic Peninsula! If you can pull yourself away from the resort there is so much to see, adventure and explore! For hikers, I recommend going to Second Beach. It is a short hike down to this magnificent beach which is also a great location for an easy backpacking trip to spend a night or two directly on the beach. Third Beach is a little longer hike, but well worth every step through the gorgeous forest. Be sure to find the waterfall! Second and Third Beach can be walked to from the resort on a trail or they are a very short drive away.

Rialto Beach is a fantastic Beach that you can see from the end of the resort and the Quileute Marina, but you must drive about five miles inland to cross the Quillayute River that dumps into the Pacific Ocean at that location. Back out on US-101 there is Ruby Beach, though it is closed right now until September. Kalaloch Beach is where you can find the Tree of Life, something you definitely want to see! For more beach exploring, check out Kalaloch Beach 3, Beach 4, and hidden Beach 6! Look for the Big Cedar tree too, on the east side of US-101!

Explore The Area

Another gem is our Olympic National Park which is pure awesomeness! The Hoh Rainforest is a marvelous experience! There is the short .8-mile Hall of Mosses trail and the Spruce Nature Trail at 1.2 miles. If you want to hike further the Hoh River trail is a fantastic option. Many backpackers use that trailhead to get deep into the Park. Another option for going into the National Park is the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and Campground which has three mineral soaking pools and a freshwater pool for day use. Further up the road, be sure not to miss the 1.6-mile round trip hike to the breathtaking Sol Duc Falls. You won’t regret that decision. 

When you check out, don’t forget to pick up a souvenir, art, book or some jewelry at the beautifully stocked office and welcome center, and please, be sure to review the Tribe’s Photography and Video Policy at https://quileutenation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/media-policy.pdf.

The Quileute Oceanside Resort really does check all the boxes and it is definitely a yearround location! One hint, book EARLY! The resort fills up quickly as it is loved by many that return repeatedly. A true gift to us all from the Quileute Tribe.

We have many dear friends that live on boats and we have talked for a few years about joining them. Now was the perfect time! We bought a great boat, moved aboard and have never looked back. Here are some of our top reasons for living on a boat.

6. Decrease Monthly Expenses

The thought of living a lifestyle that we crave while decreasing our regular daily expenses seems like a dream, right? We found out that it can be done! Monthly moorage is less expensive than renting a land-based home (or a mortgage). Our heating bill is much lower, as is electricity and natural gas (now propane). Even our garbage and water bills are included in our moorage. We have found that we eat out less because we already have THE BEST waterfront view while dining!

5. Embracing Minimalism and Helping Our Planet

“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life,” says Marie Kondo, organizing consultant and author of “Spark Joy.”

Minimalism is the rage right now. Less stuff = a better life. We could not agree more! It is absolutely astonishing what we actually do not need in our lives. Getting rid of extra “stuff” can bring tremendous peace. The freedom I felt while purging to get ready to move on a boat was immeasurable! (Even if you do not plan to move onto a boat, I highly recommend purging unneeded stuff from your life. You can thank me later!)

Minimalism goes hand and hand with helping to leave less of a “footprint” on our beautiful planet. Using less water, less fuel, less power, and buying less stuff that eventually ends up in a landfill is an impactful and simple way to help the environment and our little corner of the world.

4. The Wildlife

Your windows become your own National Geographic WILD channel!!! Every day you get to see the amazing life that lives in Puget Sound. All kinds of ducks, birds, eagles, seals and pups, otters, sea lions, and on extra special days, porpoises and occasionally even a humpback, gray, minke or a pod of orca whales!!!

We saw this seal and pup while kayaking by the San Juan Island National Wildlife Refuge.

3. Meeting Really Cool People

We grew up knowing everyone on our street, but we had not experienced that in years. Moving onto a boat introduces you to like-minded people and to an amazing community! We have found the community friendly, willing to help at a moment’s notice like catching lines as you dock on a very windy day, loaning tools, helping troubleshoot system problems and sharing knowledge from experience.

Planned and unplanned dock parties are the norm, sometimes with live music! Potluck dinners with way too many people smashed into a boat are some of my favorite memories in the marina. (We look forward to post COVID-19 so we can get back to this part of our life!)

2. Learning New Things…Constantly

There is no shortage for learning when owning and living on a boat. There are so many systems! Septic systems, electrical, battery, structural, engines, generators and if a sailboat, all the rigging and sails. (Do you know that there are HOLES in your boat! UNDER the waterline! Talk about learning!) Remember the really cool people from number three? They are invaluable as is YouTube! As my husband says, “You should always keep learning until the day you die.” Boat life gives you ample opportunities to learn and stretch your mind. “WOW! I did that,” will start flowing from your mouth. Doing new things that you can be proud of is limitless! Learning to drive, dock, undock, and sail are more skills to learn. We highly recommend taking some good classes and learn about safety while aboard.

 1. The ADVENTURES!

Our number one, hands down, best reason to live on a boat is the adventures! You get to go to extraordinary places, some only accessible by boat. There are many Washington State Parks that are available all over the Puget Sound, including the world-renowned San Juan Islands. (Hint: Buy a yearly park pass. They pay for themselves after seven nights!) We found that visiting little towns that we normally would not drive to is a blast! Finding interesting small-town shops, specialty local food shops, tasty restaurants, new artists, comfortable “local” bars, live music, breweries, wineries and distilleries make for fascinating adventures. Be sure to ask a local for what you are looking for. They usually let you in on local secrets and most often, those are NOT in the travel brochures! We have adopted this method as we travel, and some of our best experiences have been because of asking a local a simple question. 

The Puget Sound and the Salish Sea have countless miles to explore. There are adorable anchorages in hidden coves, energized marinas and everything in between. The biggest question you will face is “What type of adventure am I looking for this weekend?” Do you want to try out a new brewery or do you just need some peace and tranquility and maybe a killer sunset? Maybe you are craving a lovely bay to drop in your stand-up paddleboard or kayak to get in some paddle time! 

Each morning, we are greeted by the Olympic Mountains. We watch breathtaking sunsets when the weather and skies gift us one. We hear the calls of the seagulls and ducks on the breakwater and watch them float down the fairway. We greet our neighbors as we pass on the docks. Next weekend’s plans are being made… yeah, best decision ever!

Twenty-seven minutes to paradise. That is it. Twenty-seven minutes. Okay, it’s Blake Island Marine State Park, but to us, it’s a local paradise. Your arrival at the island puts you directly into another world. You will be greeted with grazing deer, possibly a bald eagle, the sounds of birds chirping and the waves crashing over the rocks on the beach. There are families interacting and playing and the views are well, magnificent. Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? Well, it gets better!

How To Get To Blake Island

Getting to Blake Island is part of the adventure! The only way to get there is by boat. We usually take our private boat to Blake Island for what the locals call “A Blakation,” but this time we let someone else drive! If you do not own your own boat or are not lucky enough to have a friend that owns a boat, the Argosy Cruises added a fast foot ferry to their fleet last year that runs hourly from Pier 54 in Seattle, every weekend from April through October. During the summer, the ferry runs five days a week. You can purchase single round trip tickets ($29 RT), or they have a discounted five trip pass ($125) and an unlimited seasonal pass ($250). Be sure to book your roundtrip on their website!

As you depart the Pier, the view of Seattle, the Space Needle, the Great Wheel and the Seattle waterfront adds something special to the beginning of your experience. It still gets me every time and I am a local! We enjoyed every minute of the ride. The crew was fun, informative and you could tell that they love their job!

Explore The Trails

If you only have a day to spend at Blake, I highly recommend exploring the five miles of beaches and choosing any of the 8 miles of hiking trails throughout the entire island. Hint: If it has been raining, it can be extremely muddy on the island. Have appropriate footwear! If you are into mountain biking, they even have seven and a half miles of bike trails for you to traverse! There is plenty of wildlife to search for on the island including black tail deer, eagles, osprey, geese (beware of these guys during nesting season… just trust me), racoons (don’t leave ANY food out unattended!) and even river otters! There are guided nature hikes during the summer if you would like to learn more about the wildlife and plants on this amazing island. ($20 for 1.5 hours)

When it is time for a break, grab your picnic lunch and sit at a picnic table that looks south, down Puget Sound like the Tilicum Village to Mount Rainier (Tahoma). The Vashon Island ferries run right in front of the mountain presenting a perfect photo op!

What To Eat

If you do not want to bring a picnic lunch, the Longhouse Café is open on the days when the ferry is running. They offer northwest inspired light entrees, soups, salads, drinks and desserts including s’mores kits that you can roast over a fire! We shared the combo and we were blown away with how much food we received! We cannot recommend the Smoked Salmon Chowder enough! Yumm! Enjoy your meal outside where there are many options of seating, but believe me, no seat has a bad view! You might catch otters playing in the water as we did, watch boats come in and out of the marina, and you will take notice of the iconic ferries crossing the Sound all day with the Seattle skyline and the Space Needle as the gorgeous backdrop. As we relaxed there and finished up our beers, we looked at each other and just said, “We live in such an amazing place!”

What To Do

For some local history be sure to check out the Coast Salish Cultural Presentation that lasts about 60 minutes. It includes dancing, storytelling, a question-and-answer time and more. This is a fabulous opportunity to learn more about our Native Americans here in the Puget Sound. It’s available select days mid-June-September, and cost is $18. For more history, be on the lookout for the markings for the Historic Trimble Mansion Estate!

For the more active and adventurous, kayaks ($50/hour for two) and SUP’s ($25/hour) can be rented to explore around and end of the island and in the marina (June-September). Blake Island is also a great place to scuba dive. Crabbing, fishing and clamming are allowed during their seasons and with licenses. Dig some clams, start a fire and make your own clam chowder, right next to the beach! What an adventure!

To finish off your busy day, enjoy a local wine or beer tasting during the summer weekends ($20). This island REALLY does have it all!  

Content and maybe tired, head back down to the marina to catch your scheduled ferry back to Seattle.

Camping

Make your adventure extra special by staying and camping for a night or two! Watching the sun set behind the Olympic Mountains on the west side is an amazing experience or seeing the city come alive with lights after dark from the southeast side is also truly a treat. The campsites like the Cascadia Marine Trail Campsites are spacious, they have a campfire ring, picnic shelters, tables and magnificent views. If you thought your sunset was amazing, wait until you see the sunrise from Blake Island! Yeah, breathtaking…

A few last things. There are restrooms on the island camping ground, both flush and vault toilets. Blake Island State Park has no garbage cans. It is a “pack in and pack out” island so all of your trash must leave with you. Please prepare for this. Be sure to thank the friendly park rangers who help keep Blake Island the kind of place you will want to return to again and again. My last tip is to book your roundtrip ferry early! They are capped right now at 17 people. Summer is going to be busy!

Blake Island Marine State Park is a gem. This is the place to create an amazing adventure for your family or friends. There is something for everyone and for every age at Blake. Start planning your adventure in one of the best Washington State Parks now!

With starting up my photography business, editing pictures, doing photo sessions, building a website and facebook page, ordering business cards, and everything else, I have not  had  taken the time to go do what I love...getting my feet on some trails! With this gorgeous weather we have been having in the Seattle area, I knew I had to get out! My hiking boots have been calling to me from the corner of my room for just too many weeks! So Tuesday I got on the road by 5am to catch the sunrise on Mount Rainier! It was a GLORIOUS morning! I was the only one at Tipsoo Lake. A lovely time to soak it all in.

After Mount Rainier, I went down to Silver Falls Loop Trail. It was so good to walk, sweat, and see the beauty EVERYWHERE! This is an easy hike with so many payoffs. There are woods, creeks, blankets of green, bridges, rivers, and of course the Silver Falls. I had been here last year during the fall. Mushrooms everywhere! It was fun to go back to see everything frozen!

I hope I have inspired you to go put on your hiking boots or even your tennis shoes and go celebrate life somewhere...ANYWHERE!

For hiking ideas, I highly recommend www.wta.org .  This is the wonderful Washington Trails' Association website.