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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Muir Woods National Monument With a Toddler

Muir Woods National Monument

When we booked a last-minute weekend trip to the Bay Area recently, we had only two must-dos on our list besides seeing our family. One of them was visiting Muir Woods National Monument. We’ve been fans of redwood trees for a long time as nature lovers, so we couldn’t wait to see them in person.

Muir Woods recently enacted a new parking and shuttle service, which means you must make a parking or shuttle reservation BEFORE your visit. I am glad my great aunt told me about this new rule, because I was able to log on the website and book a spot for the earliest slot available, 8 a.m. You must arrive during your 30-minute arrival window but you can stay in the park as long as you’d like until the park closes at sunset. The drive from where we were staying in the Union City area was about 45 minutes. Tip: Print or screenshot directions to the park and your reservation ahead of time because service is limited in the area.

The lot attendants will scan the barcode on your reservation (which you can show on your phone) and then you are free to park and enter Muir Woods. You can add an alternate name to your reservation. Admission to the national park was $10 per adult in addition to the $8 parking fee. Tip: Arrive early to explore the woods with few people around. It gets more crowded as the day goes on and the lots fill up.

We took the Hillside Trail loop around the park and it was easy enough for pregnant person and 3-year-old to do. Take your time and admire the views of the majestic trees. Note: This is a quiet trail. If your toddler can’t be quiet for long enough, it may not be the best idea, although we encountered plenty of adults who couldn’t abide by this rule, while V could.

In the middle of the loop we branched off to check out the beginning of the trail into the adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park. We ventured too far into the state park because we were starting to work up an appetite, but it’s worth a side trip while at Muir Woods. Next we went to the cafe for lunch. The choices were a bit limited (most of the salads were sold out), but I we chose from what was left, ordering an egg salad sandwich, a PB&J and a hot dog. Most (if not all) of the options are organic, grass fed and made with local ingredients, though. We also made a pit stop in the gift shop to continue our tradition of picking up an ornament on our travels.

 

You can easily spend an entire day here, but we decided to also check out nearby Muir Beach. It’s only 3 miles down the same road as the park. We were told we’d have to circle around looking for parking, but we lucked out and found a spot immediately. It was super full and a line was forming by the time we left, though, so arrive early! V enjoyed playing at the edge of the water. A man nearby was blowing bubbles for the kiddos, and she also really liked that. It was a nice little day trip.

 

Have you visited Muir Woods National Monument or Muir Beach?

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Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters

** This post has been sponsored by Paradise Helicopters of Hawaii. All opinions and images are my own.

Big Island Hawaii Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters

I’ve crossed off something that’s been on my bucket list for a long time during our Big Island vacation: seeing lava! During our honeymoon in 2014 Graham and I had hoped to see the lava but we weren’t able to; at the time it wasn’t flowing toward the ocean and we could only see the crater and billowing smoke at an overlook in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Thanks to Paradise Helicopters, which sponsored my ticket for the Lava and Rainforests Adventure tour, I was finally able to make that dream a reality!

Our Lava and Rainforests Helicopter Tour on Big Island of Hawaii:

I have been looking forward to our 45-minute doors-on helicopter tour with Paradise Helicopters from Hilo Airport for months! At the time of booking, we had planned to stay in Hilo for a night or two, but we eventually decided to only stay on the Kona side of the island. That meant that we awoke bright and early one morning for our one and a half hour drive to Hilo. The directions were simple: Park in Hilo Airport’s main terminal public parking and the check-in desk is directly across the street under the Paradise Helicopters sign. Hilo Airport is small, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding Lobby 2. They first weigh each member of the party (wearing anything you’re bringing on the tour, like your camera) and then you hear the safety restrictions. You are free to use the restroom or hang out in the lounge while you wait for the safety briefing, during which you learn how to wear use your headset, plus hear other important information about where to walk on the runway, as well as many volcano puns. haha (FYI: You may not bring extendable camera sticks!) The briefing includes a seat assignment; our flight was scheduled to have four passengers.

After our safety briefing we had some sad news: Our tour was canceled because of bad weather that was hampering visibility in the area where we would be flying to see the lava. Tip: Try to plan your Paradise Helicopters tour in the beginning of your trip so that you can reschedule for another time or day if needed because of the weather, which is ever-changing and unpredictable.

Don’t worry, though, we were able to rebook for Sunday morning! Plus, when we arrived back at check-in we found out we would be the only passengers on our flight. At the last minute we decided to make it a partial doors-off tour to appease the birthday guy in our group. 😉 I requested to keep my door on because I am terrified of heights! The ground crew was so nice and helpful, and V didn’t seem afraid at all as they buckled her into her seat.

 

 

 

Paradise Helicopters in Hilo, Hawaii
Be sure to walk along the painted lines as you head toward the helicopter. Follow the instructions from the ground crew.
Doors-Off Helicopter Tour of Hawaii Lava and Rainforests
A doors-off Paradise Helicopters tour was also leaving from Hilo Airport at the same time.

Our pilot Pete flew us south toward and over the various lava flows that have occurred over the years before we made it to the active crater.

It’s amazing to see how the trees are left lying on the black hardened lava rock.

You can also see a portion of a road that is still visible after it was cut off from the rest of the island during a lava flow.

Old Hawaii Road Cut Off By Lava

 

I was in awe of the patches of forest I would see among the black rock.

Hawaii Lava Rock and Rainforest

Lava is currently erupting from Kīlauea at its summit and from the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent on the East Rift Zone. The lava activity is constantly changing, so if seeing the lava flow into the ocean is your goal, be aware that it isn’t always happening. The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park website constantly provides updates. As you can see in the video and photos I took, lava flow is scattered across the plains.

Seeing the red snaking lava flow was surreal.

Lava Helicopter Tour with Paradise Helicopters

I was impressed our pilot could see the lava so easily in the brightness.

It’s a bit tricky to snap photos of the lava from a moving helicopter, but the pilot will circle around so you can get your shot.

Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters in Hawaii, Big Island

After circling the crater while listening to “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, we heading back north over the forests and toward the ocean. Our pilot wanted to fly over water since we had those handy floatation devices attached to us anyway. The remaining part of the helicopter tour was a flyover above Hilo and some of its waterfalls, including Rainbow Falls. We also passed over Hilo Bay and some of its surrounding hotels before heading back to Hilo Airport.

Lava and Rainforests Adventure with Paradise Helicopters, Big Island, Hawaii

Hilo Waterfalls from Paradise Helicopters Tour

FYI: You can tip the pilot and staff in envelopes at the check-in desk. Also, parking is not validated, so be prepared for that.

Tips for Paradise Helicopters tour with toddler and while pregnant:

  • Check with your doctor to make sure you are OK to fly. If you’re feeling nauseous you might not enjoy the flight and it may not be a good idea.
  • Be aware that the vibration of the helicopter could affect your lower back pain, if you have any. Again, check with your doctor.
  • Our toddler wanted to sit with me halfway through the flight and was sad she couldn’t. We should have asked which parent she wanted to sit with to avoid any crying.
  • It gets super windy, especially if you take the doors-off flight. Bring a jacket and wear pants and closed toe shoes!
  • A ground crew member will buckle the child into his/her seat, or you may do so if you’re more comfortable.
  • It’s best if your child can grasp how to use the microphone/headset system. V started crying because we couldn’t hear her until she figured out how to push to talk to us. Then she was happy!

 

 

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Is seeing the lava in Hawaii on your bucket list as well? Have you ever done a helicopter tour? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Connect with Paradise Helicopters:

Paradise Helicopter Tours Hawaii

Related post:

Exploring Hilo, Hawaii

Chicago Spring Bucket List

Spring is finally here, though Chicago has yet to get the memo. The only way I can get through the remaining weeks (days, I wish) of this weather is to plan all the fun activities I want to do this season. Thus, another Spring Bucket List is born!

Here’s what I have on deck:

  • Take three Dabble classes. I have my eye on a summer cocktail class, a jewelry-making class and hopefully at least one other. As I’ve said before, Dabble is a great way to find your next hobby and you can use code MARETTE10 to get 10 percent off your first class! 
  • Plant my garden. We’ll be heading to our favorite gardening shop soon to pick out way too many plants and garden supplies. I CAN’T WAIT.
  • Volunteer at the community garden. The Petersen Garden project in Chicago has countless opportunities to volunteer. 
  • See Hamilton Chicago! I bought tickets to Hamilton months ago and our show date is quickly approaching. This will be a highlight of the season.
  • Run the Chicago Spring Half. I have about nine weeks to train for the Chicago Spring Half. It was a fun race last year and I like that we got a free plant to take home.
  • Go to as many Cubs games as possible! Enough said.
  • Visit the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. I haven’t been there, but it’d be a nice place to practice my photography skills this spring.
  • Go to a farmers market. Fresh veggies from local farmers — what could be better?

What’s on your spring bucket list? Need some inspiration. Find some ideas below!

Our Canada Road Trip Itinerary + a Radisson Giveaway!

Graham and I have been planning a trip to Canada for a while. I recently read an article about amazing places to go in Ontario and I became inspired to plan a 2017 road trip from Chicago. The destinations we want to check out in Ontario are only about 7-8 hours away, and since we are pros at road trips — we have done three 1,700-mile road trips! — the distance doesn’t seem far at all.

One of our cross-country road trips in 2015.

We will save 20 percent on our Ontario hotels when we stay at Radisson and book with Radisson’s Advance Purchase Rate. 

Our road trip would go to Niagara Falls first, where we would stay at the Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview, Ontario. We would try to book one of the rooms with a view of Horseshoe Falls.

Then we would head to Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront. Its SPLASH Pool Patio and Terrace overlooks Lake Ontario and the CN tower.

Our last stop in Ontario would be Kitchener Waterloo, where we would stay at the Radisson Hotel Kitchener Waterloo. Its location makes it easy to check out some of our ideal destinations below.

What we will do at each destination:

  • Toronto: Check out the views from the CN Tower. We’d also go to a baseball game to see the Toronto Blue Jays play at Rogers Centre. (If visiting all major league stadiums is a goal of yours as well, print my ballpark checklist below!) Lastly, we’d shop and dine at local businesses.
  • Kitchener: Day trip to Webster’s Falls, one of 100 waterfalls in the Hamilton area. We’d also explore the Huron Natural Area for a hike. The hotel also puts us close to historic St. Jacobs Village, which has river trails and charming shops.
  • Fallsview: I’ve always thought it would be fun to do a Niagara cruise, and the Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview is just six minutes from this activity! I’d also like to check our Journey Behind the Falls, which takes you through bedrock tunnels to see water crushing down in front of you. We could also have lunch or dinner at Skylon Tower to get a different view of Niagara Falls.

Want to go on a Canada vacation? Create your own dream Canada trip with Radisson and take advantage of savings of up to 20 percent by visiting the website. Also, to help you plan your next Canada getaway, I’m giving away an e-certificate for a stay at a Radisson hotel!


Enter to win a Radisson e-certificate:

Check to see which Radisson is near your favorite Canada destinations and share where you would go in the comments for a chance to win a certificate that’s valid in U.S. or Canada! Winner will be randomly selected on Oct. 3 at noon Central Standard Time. Winners must be 18 or older and live in the U.S. No purchase is necessary to win. There will be one winner and the winner will be chosen via a random name generator. Winner will receive the e-certificate via email. I will reply to the winner below to notify that he or she has won. If winner does not respond within 24 hours with an email to send the prize to, another winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Want an extra entry? Sign up for my newsletter with the toolbar at the top of this page.

UPDATE: WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED.

Related: MLB check list

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Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

One of my remaining Chicago summer bucket list items was to visit a conservatory. I know you can visit Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory during all seasons, but I wanted to say goodbye to summer by strolling through a garden.

Graham and I had a day off together on Labor Day for the first time in a few weeks, so of course we made the most of it. We had breakfast together, took care of stuff around the house, went to Garfield Park Conservatory and enjoyed a lake cruise at sunset. 
I originally planned for us to visit Lincoln Park Conservatory, but Garfield Park’s seemed larger and had free parking. Sold! We spent our afternoon admiring the various houses at the conservatory, including Desert House, which is full of desert flora, and the Fern House, which has a pond in the center. I was impressed with the collection of plants at the conservatory. It was a lot larger and more beautiful than I had expected. You could easily spend a whole day there if you pack a picnic basket. When the weather is nice you can enjoy your meal at one of the many picnic tables behind the Desert House or in Horticulture Hall. Best of all, the conservatory is open every day of the year and it’s free. (You can leave donations at the door.) One room has photos of the conservatory’s history. It was designed in 1906, and you can see how it’s changed in its lifetime. I also liked the Urban Demonstration Garden that shows how to grow plants in an urban environment.

Graham and I love plants and we hope to have a business related to flora someday, so visiting gardens and conservatories inspires us to make our dreams a reality. It also gives us ideas for growing our plants and for arranging them. After we walked around for a couple of hours, we made our way to the gift shop to see if we could take some plants home. The selection wasn’t as big as we’d hoped, but we did grab a candle, some toffee and cold beverages. We needed refreshments after walking in the warm houses! The gift shop attendant was a lovely woman who offered us samples of another flavor of toffee. It was the perfect sendoff after a lovely experience. We will definitely be back!

The Desert House made this Arizona girl feel right at home.

Check out my video of the visit to Garfield Park Conservatory and subscribe to my channel to see more videos!



Have you been to Garfield Park Conservatory? What did you think?

Garfield Park Conservatory: 300 N. Central Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60624.  (312) 746-5100

Camping in Michigan | Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness

Graham and I love to camp. We camped together at Fossil Creek in Arizona for the first time after just a few weeks of dating and we’ve been doing it ever since. When we lived in Phoenix we would often camp once a month or so, but we had yet to camp in the Midwest since moving to Chicago in March 2015. We finally got a chance to remedy that when Graham had three consecutive days off work for the first time in months. We packed up our things (and the pups!) and headed to Michigan to find dispersed camping.

We do not like crowded campsites, and we had heard that you can camp anywhere on public lands as long as there are no posted signs prohibiting it. We chose Manistee National Forest as our destination and set off from Chicago on a five-hour drive. Graham and I kept asking each other if we were in Costa Rica when we saw the lush forests along the highway. It reminded me of the greenery we saw on our trip.

When we arrived at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, we didn’t immediately know where to camp. We drove around surveying the area before deciding to keep driving on the forest road. We drove north on 5356 until we found a spot near the Lake Michigan Recreation Area. While we had campers nearby, it was not on a developed campground and we had plenty of privacy.
We were so proud of ourselves for having out campsite set up so early in the day. When we camped in Arizona we had always rushed to beat the sunset. It was a nice change to have the entire day off and free to do whatever we wanted. We ate lunch and then set off to check out the Lake Michigan Recreation Area park. To park, you just need to pay $5 and deposit the fee into an envelope and drop it in the box. We walked over to check out the swimming area when we realized dogs aren’t allowed in the swimming area. We decided to walk up the stairs leading to the viewpoint instead. We later walked north from the park to a spot for a swim away from other people.

That night was spent relaxing and catching up. It seems as though I don’t see Graham a lot even though we live together because of our crazy schedules. I loved spending that quality time with no one else there besides the dogs. Dinner was our version of Mexican street corn plus black-bean burger patties on a bed of salad (from a bag) and topped with Colby-Monterrey cheese and salsa. We just hung out. I had limited to no service, so I was not distracted by social media at all. It was perfect.
The next day we drove to a nearby country store to get Graham his morning coffee, which was only 50 cents! We made egg burritos for breakfast and then set off for a hike at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. This park is dog-friendly so Taylor and Capone could join us on a hike to the beach. Each way was about 2 miles. We chose a less-frequented trail than most people seemed to be doing, but we’re OK with that. It led us to a section of the beach that was not crowded at all, and we swam and played with the dogs for hours. The water was clear, cool and refreshing, and I could not believe the views.

Later that afternoon, we headed back on another trail that was on top of a hill. You can see impressive views of the lake and the forest and we did not see one person on that trail. It was even a little nerve-racking because we didn’t know where the trail was heading at first. We later discovered that it rejoins the main trail but was a more scenic route. What a wonderful surprise!

We finished that day back at Lake Michigan Recreation Area, where we made dinner. I had black bean and vegetable soup and Graham had canned pasta, and each had a quesadilla. We then watched the sunset from the top of a hill above the beach. After all, Graham says one of his goals in life is to watch the sunset over as many bodies of water as possible.

I was in awe of the fact that the sun sets around 9. I had forgotten that Michigan is an hour ahead of Chicago and thus has so much sunlight late in the evening. It was incredible. As a lifelong Arizonan who never had to observe daylight-saving time, that is new to me.
Sunday was spent relaxing and cleaning up before returning to Chicago. The drive back took a lot longer –6 hours — because of construction and accidents. We were exhausted, dirty and tired of being on the road, but we had a wonderful time in Michigan. I can’t wait to go back!

Watch a video of our Michigan camping trip!

Predictions for 2015

I’ve never participated in a blogger link-up, but this one I found on The Other Juliette and Mr. Thomas & Me sounds like fun. I was already writing about my goals for the coming year, but now I will turn them into predictions.

In 2015, I will:

1. Run a marathon. I want to achieve this before my 30th birthday, and I have my eye on a race already. I also want to run 500 miles, which means I can’t let myself give up on running during the summer like I did this year.

2. Move. Either into a new, bigger home or away from Phoenix. Preferably the latter.

3. Volunteer more. I only volunteered three times in 2014, and I’d like to double that.

4. Travel outside of the country and to (at least) one state I haven’t been to yet.

5. Teach yoga again.

6. Do a handstand away from a wall. I’m getting closer!

7. Work on a book. I’ve started writing, but I’m not sure in what direction I want to go with it. I plan to devote time to it each week until it’s done.

I will try to:

1. Completely unplug after dinner time. No more checking my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds when I have my handsome husband sitting next to me.

2. Cook more. I should actually to try to make meals out of all those recipes I have found on Pinterest.

3. Work on my decision making. 

South Point on the Big Island 

What are your predictions for 2015?

Exploring Hilo, Hawaii

Our next stop on our Hawaii circumnavigation was Hilo.

It was too early to check into our hotel, so we explored the downtown area shops, farmer’s market and restaurants. We found almost any type of food in the area. We picked Lucy’s Taqueria for lunch; I was thrilled to find decent Mexican cuisine in Hawaii. I also found a couple of yoga studios and bought some shorts and a top at a clothing store.

Afterward we went to Akaka Falls, which is about 15 miles outside Hilo. The tranquil garden was a treat to walk through. We were surrounded in color and plants, but never by people.

We also went to Rainbow Falls. The waterfalls were flowing and the sun was shining. In fact, the temperatures were above normal every day on our Big Island vacation.

It’s just a short walk to the top of the waterfall. We paused to admire the banyan tree on the way.

Next we walked across the street to Rainbow Falls Cafe for a beverage. I opted for a lilikoi-flavored soda while Graham chose an iced white mocha coffee. We sipped our drinks on the patio for a while.

Hilo Hawaiian, adjacent to the bay, is one of the few hotels in the town, and we were told it’s the best option. The rooms were recently renovated and comfortable. Graham requested a room with a view so he could see the water and the colors at sunset. Mauna Kea’s summit is visible in the background.

I had time for yoga at Yoga Centered. It was an early evening class that focused on doing less. The instructor asked us to put in 75 percent effort into every pose. It was a drastic change from the classes I am used to in Phoenix, and I appreciated that.

In the morning, Graham watched the cruise ship come in.

We spent more time in the downtown area before departing for our next destination.

And that was our short but sweet visit. See you soon, Hilo!

Weekend in Sedona

Work has been crazy, so I haven’t been able to share our experience camping in Sedona last weekend. A year ago we camped in the exact spot we went to Saturday, and it was just as lovely and relaxing this year.

With our dogs in tow, we set off for Forest Road 525 near Sedona. We stopped to get a Red Rocks Pass without even realizing that the America the Beautiful pass we received as a wedding gift from Perfectley Peared works for that land as well. Oh well, at least we know for next time.

Our dogs immediately scoped out the area and indulged in some play time. After we were all set up, we hiked to the top of a small hill with our chairs and set up a fire in a conveniently located fire pit.

Sedona and yoga just go together.

The lighting at sunset was gorgeous against the red rocks. I never get tired of seeing it.

The temperatures were in the 50s during the day, which didn’t feel cold, until the winds suddenly hit in the middle of the night, dropping the temperatures into the 30s. We kept a Buddy Heater in the tent with us (with ventilation). At some point the wind pulled a stake out of the ground and part of the tent came blowing toward us and right to the heater, which promptly burned a hole in it. There was no fire, luckily, just a 6- by 6-inch hole. It was disappointing given that this was our first time using that tent.

The next morning we packed up and drove into town for Starbucks. We drove on the Boynton Canyon scenic route to get there.

 I would love to stop at a local coffee shop next time when we don’t have the dogs, but at least there was this view to enjoy.  It is probably the best from any Starbucks I’ve been to.

We also stopped at the Airport Overlook.

 We returned home by that afternoon to relax before the workweek. I love our little adventures!

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