Point Defiance

Today started off in a whirlwind of activity of eating a quick breakfast, packing a lunch, and getting on the road by 8:15 am. We made it by the skin of our teeth.

Maddie and Kiara enjoyed a day at the doggie resort called Biscuits Doggie Day Care, highly recommend (and they had a fabulous day too.)

We then turned towards the Point Defiance Zoo. This is hands down one of my favorite animal sanctuaries I have ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Today we learned about some amazing animals, my favorite and James’ favorite exhibit was the Red Wolf enclosure. The zoo has launched an incredible conservation effort to bolster the wild populations that thanks to the settlers and the modern era were nearly wiped out to extinction. (By the 1970s there were just 20 left in the wild.) Today there are more than 250 of the species.

Danny’s favorite was the Porcupine 

(though he begged and was allowed to visit) the Pacific Ocean touch tank more than once today and the ocean loving boy would have stayed there all day if allowed.

I took over 400 pictures but then the camera battery died, I won’t post all of them, but here are some of the highlights.

After an exciting trip to the zoo we explored the Point Defiance Park. Unfortunately Fort Nisqually was closed but we drove around the 5 mile loop and took in some incredible views of the Narrows and revisited the Tacoma Yacht Club and Marina, where in 2011 we took a sailing ship with friends of James’ Parents (seriously how was that trip just 10 years ago!! I remember like it was yesterday).

Danny discovered an amazing playground and he played for almost an hour before we had to go pick up Maddie and Kiara from day care.

(We also discovered one of our favorite seafood take out restaurants had a chain nearby and yes we enjoyed Ivan’s for dinner. They have seriously delicious clam chowder and fish and chips.) and an incredible view of Mt Rainier

Back at the rig, it was time for more mundane activities like laundry and dishes.

One observation about the pacific northwest is that I have forgotten how much later sunset is! Bedtime for poor Danny has been so much more of a challenge because it is so much brighter for so much longer.

 

Tomorrow we are checking out Seattle.