Grindavik
GRINDAVIK, ICELAND :: Before leaving the area, we stopped by the lava field that flowed through a few weeks ago, cutting off the main road to Grindavik and the Blue...
Author
John
We’re John & Kristie. Here we share our adventures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, along with the places, projects, and experiences we’ve enjoyed together since 2001. Between 2010 and 2026, this website became quiet while we focused on the greatest adventure of all: raising our kids. We never stopped exploring or taking photographs, but during those years we shared most of our stories and everyday moments on social media instead. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we brought the website back to life. We’re now gathering those missing years in one place, adding the posts and photographs we previously shared elsewhere and rebuilding this site as a lasting record of our family’s adventures. Thanks for visiting and exploring our story with us. We hope you enjoy looking through the photographs and memories – and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
1272 Articles
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
BLUE LAGOON, GRINDAVÍK, ICELAND :: Our last day in Iceland was spent driving back to Keflavik from Vik, catching up on laundry, and relaxing in the Blue Lagoon! The...
Vík í Mýrdal
VÍK Í MÝRDAL, ICELAND :: In Vik, we stayed at the Black Beach Suites for a couple nights. It was a good midpoint between Reykjavik and Jokulsarlon along the...
Jökulsárlón
JÖKULSÁRLÓN, SKAFTAFELL, ICELAND :: Jokulsarlon is a large glacial lagoon filled with icebergs calving from Vatnajokull, Europe’s second largest glacier....
Diamond Beach
DIAMOND BEACH, JÖKULSÁRLÓN, ICELAND :: Diamond Beach! This is an area where glacial icebergs from Jökulsárlón float out to sea, get battered...
Puffins
DYRHÓLAEY, ICELAND :: We drove up the big rock on the Dyrholaey Peninsula, hoping to see a few puffins. We were surprised and very pleased to see hundreds of them...
Skógafoss
SKÓGAFOSS, VÍK, ICELAND :: Of course one cannot tour the Southern Ring Road without being drawn into the magnificent sight of Iceland’s most famous waterfall,...
Seljalandsfoss
SELJALANDSFOSS, HVOLSVÖLLUR, ICELAND :: We kicked off our tour of Southern Iceland at Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui. Two awesome waterfalls with a short trail connecting each...
Ærslabelgir
ICELAND :: Driving from site to site in Iceland can be exhilarating, but frankly also exhausting. Iceland is not a small island! Fortunately there are many opportunities to stop...
Geysir
GEYSIR GEOTHERMAL AREA, GEYSIR, ICELAND :: Another thing we get from Iceland is the word for geyser. When Vikings discovered this natural phenomenon here 800 years ago, they...
Gullfoss Waterfall
GULLFOSS WATERFALL, LAUGARVATN, ICELAND :: The second stop on our way around the Golden Circle was Gullfoss, the largest waterfall in Europe. Only Kristie, Lauren and I decided to...
Þingvellir
ÞINGVELLIR – THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK, ÞINGVELLIR, ICELAND :: Today we drove the Golden Circle, starting with a hike through Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO...
Reykjavík, Iceland
REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND :: We kicked off my sabbatical in Reykjavik! The grandparents didn’t survive the jet lag, but Kristie and the kiddos pressed on after our long red...
59er Diner
59ER DINER, LEAVENWORTH, WA :: It’s always sad leaving Chelan, but we have fun along the way searching for bighorns and stopping midway for shakes at the 59er Diner! ✖...
Grilling in Chelan
CHELAN LOOKOUT, CHELAN, WA :: Good times and good eats! ✖ Preparing Raw Steak Seasoning for a Meal Freshly Prepared Grilled Garlicky Bread and Corn Family Sunday Dinner Time...
S’mores
CHELAN LOOKOUT, CHELAN, WA :: S’mores every night in Chelan! Along with games, fishing, and swinging together on the porch. ✖ Family board game time in bright living room...
Chelan Lookout
CHELAN LOOKOUT, CHELAN, WA :: Summertime in Chelan! Splashing around in the pool and the lake at The Lookout! ✖ Summer Fun in Clear Water Leaving the Lodge for a...
Marymoor Park Birding
MARYMOOR PARK, REDMOND, WA :: Got up at 5:30 on Saturday to shoot some birds and bunnies with my favorite little birder buddy at Marymoor Park’s Audubon trails. ✖...
Rattlesnake Ledge
RATTLESNAKE LEDGE, NORTH BEND, WA :: Starting summer vacation a couple days early with a hike up to Rattlesnake Ledge. ✖ Mountain View Hiking Adventure View from Enchantments...
The Fremont Solstice Parade
FREMONT FAIR, SEATTLE, WA :: The Fremont Solstice Parade! ✖ play_circle_filled Pride March Participant With Umbrella on Street play_circle_filled Colorful Dragon Parade Float in...
Fremont Fair
FREMONT FAIR, SEATTLE, WA :: We love visiting our favorite Seattle neighborhood to celebrate the summer solstice! ✖ play_circle_filled Village Lemonade Stand Juggler’s Act...
End of 7th Grade
NORTH CREEK, WA :: Just a week of 7th grade to go, and the kiddos have been busy with celebrations and recitals. Both were inducted into Honor Society, and Lauren...
Sarah McLachlan with Feist
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE WINERY, WOODINVILLE, WA :: Sarah McLachlan and Feist kicked off the “Summer” Concert Series at Chateau Ste Michelle! A little chilly, but at...
Happy Mother’s Day
NORTH CREEK, WA :: Happy Mothers Day to our real-life Care Bear (full of love and hugs) and Momma Bear (a fierce protector and provider)! We love you! ✖ Joyful...
The Aurora
BIG ROCK PARK, DUVALL, WA :: The Aurora! We drove out to a stargazing event in Duvall to get the darkest skies and saw some faint curtains and pillars, but...
