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Posted in Point Ruston, Travel, Washington Adventures

Point Ruston Waterwalk Cool Sights

Snazzy waterfront views of Commencement Bay are just one of the cool things about Tacoma Washington’s famous Waterwalk at Point Ruston.

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Alderbrook Resort & Spa outside stairs
Posted in Hood Canal, Kid-Friendly Hotels, Washington Adventures

Alderbrook Resort & Spa | Union, Washington

The Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union Washington is a dreamy Pacific Northwest getaway boasting rooms with a view, rare Hood Canal waterfront access and a collection of homestyle Covid-19 precautions that recently earned them national attention.

We felt pampered, taken care of, and in tune with nature. And we can’t wait to go back. 

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family with pumpkins
Posted in Attractions, Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

Hunter Farms Pumpkin Patch | Union, Washington

We made it to our very FIRST Washington pumpkin patch yesterday 🎉 and it checked off all the boxes: ✔️…

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Potlatch
Posted in Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

Potlatch State Park | Shelton, Washington

Potlatch is an 84-acre park with camping and water access, also along the Hood Canal. I think it’s a little more scenic than Twahna because of the fallen logs and visible tree-capped hillsides. It also has … buried treasure! Read on to see what we found 🙂

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Nature trail with big tree
Posted in Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

Alderbrook Golf Club & The Hood Canal | Union, Washington

It’s been eight weeks since we moved to Washington. And while we are househunting, we are livin’ it up in a  family cabin on a golf course along the Hood Canal.

If you ever travel to the Pacific Northwest, make sure to put the Alderbrook Golf Club and the Hood Canal on your bucket list. 

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kids on a bench with swim stuff
Posted in #MomTruths, Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

#Momtruth Musings: Saying Yes More

That day we didn’t plan to swim …. but then I said yes anyway. Because that is what childhood is about! It’s about letting go of perfection.

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Twanoh Creek
Posted in Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

Twanoh Creek | Union Washington

Let me tell you about Twanoh Creek – because the kids and I love a good creek. 

You’ll find this one at Twanoh State Park, in Union Washington.

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Twanoh State Park shells
Posted in Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

Twanoh State Park | Union, Washington

When we visited Twanoh State Park in August, it was interesting expanse of shoreline because the shallow water stays warm in the summer, a creek flows into the canal and there are shells all over the ground.

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Railroad car - House
Posted in #MomTruths, Hood Canal, Washington Adventures

We made it to Washington! 🌲

We made it to Washington! 🌲 For those just tuning in here, Bowen and I decided to move from California…

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Paso Magazine | August 2020
Posted in #MomTruths, As Seen in Paso Magazine, Washington Adventures

Moving from California to Washington

Here’s my goodbye column in California with Paso Robles Magazine and Colony Magazine. Community news helped bridge the gap from my blogging world to local print and it’s sure been great ride.

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Hey, I’m Tonya

mom and two kids posed on green lawn

I'm a longtime journalist, former community government reporter, and PNW mom-of-two. I started this blog because sometimes you just need to get out of the house.

Writing makes me happy, and I’ve been involved in newspapers one way or another since high school.

I currently live in Gig Harbor, Washington with my husband Bowen; and our two kiddos, Clara and Wyatt. We moved here from SLO County (aka a sunny slice of coastal California definitely worthy of your next vacation!)

Now that we’re on the Puget Sound, I’m scouting out all the family-friendly things to do here. I don't post as many to the blog these days, but you'll find kid adventure articles from me twice a month in Gig Harbor Now, the best online news nonprofit in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Hope to see ya out there!

Meet Clara

Clara is 10 years old. She likes to see how things work, eat all the desserts, does an awesome foot pop in pictures. Last fall, she not only placed a special bow in her hair for picture day, but she also added one to her bear, Pom Pom!

When she's not adventuring, Clara is an awesome artista, loves to run and can hear an ice cream truck from 5 miles away :)

Meet Wyatt

Wyatt is 8 years old. He sports some major dimple action and is most definitely the funniest elementary school student around. Whenever we go anywhere, he says hi to all the kids he recognizes - even his sister's friends. He knows them by name and is not afraid to call to them from across the room. Watch out, world! Here comes Wyatt :)

When he's not adventuring, Wyatt loves reading Garfield comics, anything to do with cats and hitting up the library.

Visit us at Gig Harbor Now’s online news site!

www.gigharbornow.org/author/tstrickland

#SouthSoundProud

Black mountain illustration with text

We are #SouthSoundProud, celebrating the local community in and around the Puget Sound in Southwest Washington State.

Posted in Attractions, Fox Island, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Washington Adventures

9 Places to Take Kids in Gig Harbor & Beyond

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