We’re now back from our week-long vacation, and feeling both happy to be home and sad that our long awaited vacation is over. There’s laundry to contend with, despite having brought a collapsable clothes horse with us. But mainly, we’re all nice and relaxed and ready for whatever life throws at us this week.
We spent three nights/four days staying in an A-frame cabin on a lake in Central Oregon. Here, we boated, hiked, played cards and played with the golden mantled squirrels, which look almost exactly like chipmunks. We had a kitchenette, which meant that we prepared all our own meals. A huge savings. We chose to take the scenic route, which did not disappoint.
I didn’t actually take that many photos, as I’m apparently not the type to interrupt the activities of life for visual documentation.
Attractive boys at an attractive rest stop.
Hiking to go see waterfalls is easier when the trails are so well groomed.
Worth the hike.
Bringing a clothes rack meant we could bring less stuff. This is key when vacationing for longer than a couple of days.
Our Lincoln City condo, which was right on the beach. It also had a kitchenette and an indoor pool. (A necessity at the Oregon coast.) The pool meant we could have fun even when the beach was cold, windy and dark.
Our kitchenette at the beach condo. My sister Sara joined us for this leg of the journey, and was responsible for finding us a place to stay. She hit a home run, as the condo slept the five of us comfortably and was only $150, including the cleaning fee!
Yes, yes, I was also there. I just happen to be the one always taking pictures, despite my husband having a Bachelor in Fine Arts in photography.
We then dropped my sister Sara off at her school bus/farm/home and headed off for Great Wolf Lodge water park. It took us 6-1/2 hours to drive there, which was excruciating. I took no photos, as the hotel was not interesting, and I didn't want to bring the camera poolside, where it would get wet/stolen. This was the "splurge" portion of our vacation, although we prepared food in the room, brought our own garage sale Magiquest wand, ($14 to activate vs. $49 to buy + activate.) and bought not. One. Souvenir. We slept there one night and stayed the next day at the pool until the kids wearied of the fun/fun/fun.
I really liked this vacation. It was fun to break it up into different portions, and I enjoyed being able to treat my little sister to a short getaway. If I had to do it all over again, I might add an extra beach day into the trip, but otherwise there was nothing disastrous or regrettable. My goal, always.
I now need to whip the house into shape as we’re getting a Japanese exchange student on Tuesday for two weeks, which necessitates a different style of energy than I currently possess. Perhaps I’ll just pretend we’re renting this big ol’ Portland house, and the owners left it a big mess. A vacation mindset indeed.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
How did you wash clothes? I am thinking you may have brought your own bucket and plunger. Does you sister live in the school bus? How big a farm? I think a post about her would be interesting. The stone steap and the waterfall pictures are really magnificent.
I just washed the clothes one-by-one in a big plastic bowl that I found at the cabin.
Katy
I meant stone steps. Why can’t I learn to read my comments?
I liked the Not.One.Souvenier. Experiences over possessions. Priceless.
Glad you’re back – I missed your posts last week!
Welcome back, Katy!
Hey Katy,
That does look like it was a fun vacation. We’ve really enjoyed the multi-destination ‘cation also. And then you need a vacation from vacation.
The multi-destination sounds interesting. My least favorite part of vacation is the traveling part — the part where you have to get there and get back. I’m not sure I would want to add more traveling during the middle (as your six-and-a-half hour drive sounds extremely excruciating to me). But I can see how the Great Wolf Lodge would be worth it!
Heading off on vacation myself this weekend. Can’t wait!
The six-and-a-half hour drive was because of a car accident on the freeway that then put us in Portland during rush hour. It easily added an extra two hours onto the trip.
Katy
I too would LOVE a post about your sister! I am really hoping you got some photos and info for one while you were visiting her!
So glad your vacation was fun and relaxing (for the most part)! I missed your posting, but of course survived…
I love the looking at your house as if it were a rental! I just may apply that at my house… Though I haven’t gone anywhere, it just really looks like someone moved in and never settled in.
I’m with Jennifer. I’m intrigued by the “school bus/farm/home”!
vote three for your sister….
Looks like it was a great vacation! Big Emmett has the same cookie monster t-shirt.
Vote 4 for more about Sara and the bus…because we just bought a school bus, are working on getting the seats out, and I’m eager for good ideas of how to make it homey.