We pulled up to the abandoned lot that was mostly surrounded by  shrubs and blackberry bushes like a castle with a moat. There was one small area that allowed us entry into this secret spot that is overlooked daily by commuters. The spidery cracks in the asphalt were being widened and elongated by the same loopy prickly blackberry vines and the dry brittle grass. This secret spot was being overtaken by the wild and that was what made it the perfect place to pick the juiciest and darkest blackberries.  We could make our way around the perimeter carefully with our buckets strung around our necks so we could use both hands. One hand gingerly held onto the thorny armoured vines while the other hand slowly and carefully plucked one ripe berry after another until we striped each clump clean leaving the green berries to ripen for another day. With each step, we needed to release the hold the vine from our clothes as if it was angry that we had gathered it's treasure. Two gallons of berries, made it's way into our buckets with the promise of blackberry peach smoothies and jam for the end of summer, and blackberry cobblers and pies for the fall. This little bit of treasure found in an abandoned parking lot with no hint of why this area was paved to begin with.

I had yhis need to find a beautiful rugged mostly empty beach.  Sand was optional but it did need rocks jutting out of the water hinting at tide pools. It needed a soft forested path with ferns, maybe a creek, lots of trees with views that play peek-a-boo. I wanted to explore something that was close to being wild. The kids each had other things they wanted to do so John and I took the opportunity to explore on our own. Originally our destination was Hug Point and Arch Cape. When we had visited this beach years ago, maybe even 10 years, the beach was practically deserted even though it was steps from the parking lot. This day was not a repeat, instead the parking lot was full with cars waiting in line for a spot while the beach was flooded with adults, kids and dogs.  I didn't begrudge them the beach, it was nice but it wasn't for us. So on we went driving ever farther south. Oswald State Park was next and despite the fact that there were large parking lots on each side of the highway they weren't full. I think it was far enough from a town that people weren't willing to drive even 5 more miles. It was a quick walk but it had everything I wanted, a soft forested path, a creek and cliffs and rocks.  Last year we had hiked to a promontory point overlooking this beach. Once on the beach we picked a spot and set up camp, pulled out books and just relaxed. After a while I picked up my camera, making my way along the beach. There were so many things that caught my eye and I wanted to enjoy each one. The flowers that bloomed at the edge of the forest, the surfers who huffed their surfboards and gear down the tree, the little forts  built with drift wood and stones, the moss covering the rocks and the wind swept grass.

About 4 or so years ago a family told us about a "secret" beach near Ecola and so we checked it out. Then it became a thing for us. It has sand, rocky cliffs, beautiful views, and was mostly private. There were times when we would be there with only two or three other families while other beaches were crowded with people. This year I was surprised with the amount of people on the beach. We have never done this hike from Ecole State Park but instead wandered through the forest on a path just inside the park along the south boundary. The hike is easy, beautiful and soft. Once down on the beach we quickly shed our shoes and find the perfect place to set up "camp" for the day.  Dumping out our towels, grass mat, soccer ball, frisbee we are ready for the day. Note to self: bring food, especially for Isaac who tends to have more lows here because of activity level.  While the guys were playing frisbee and Lona laying out tanning, I grabbed my camera and headed to the south end of the beach where the rocky cliffs rise straight out of the water at high tide.  I walked along and getting close was able to see the feathery little fans or appendages reach out of the shell. When I read up on it, they were actually feeding and syphoning the plankton from the water.  It really was amazing.  I don't think I've ever really paid attention to it before. Once the guys were done, Lona and I headed to the north end of the beach and had an impromptu photoshoot.  She wanted some hipster type photos. So funny, but when my kid asks to be photographed why would I say no? In seven days, we had two days of just family activities, the zoo and Crescent Beach. I think this is one of the reasons that Cannon Beach has been a great family vacation for us. The social ones get their fix of being with people, the ones that need to be around family and not around people get their fix; we can spend time all together and also have seperate time.  Each year we ask "Do you want to come back next year?" Each year is the same, "Yes, of course." 

We've taken the kids to the Portland Zoo a few times and the Seattle Zoo a couple of times yet they were younger then.  Taking teens and young adults to the zoo is a whole different story. It is still fun to watch their reactions to the animals but they laugh and joke about way different things than when they were younger. Going with Job though is like walking with an animal fact file.  I didn't know that there were different types of flamingos but he did. We could walk to an exhibit and he would tell us about the animal.  Maybe he should work at a zoo as a guide. The very first thing that we encountered even before showing our ticket were the Mountain Goats as part of the Pacific Northwest Exhibit.  They had a baby and he was hilarious. At one point his family wandered over the hill and he wasn't paying attention.  He was so worried when he realized that he was alone. He went bleating and jumping and running all over trying to find his herd.  It was comical.
Of course the seals were amazing as they glided through the water effortlessly along with the otters. We could watch them for hours but there was so much more to see such as the bizarre naked mole rats.  They have kind of a weird fascination for our kids.At first I think it was the name "naked" mole rats and then because they are so ugly looking. Of course the large cats are a draw but what really gets me is when animals almost stalk kids. It is a creepy feeling.  When we arrived at the lion cage, there was of course the male lion on the hill just taking view of his little kingdom but it was what the lionesses did. They walked back and forth at the window, standing on their hind legs, licking and scratching at the glass where the youngest kids were lined up to watch.  Unnerving to say the least.  One other patron was saying that it was almost feeding time. Didn't make me feel better to be honest. Another big draw was the elephants. I had no idea that elephants could swim. Watching the youngest enter the water and swim to the edge to get treats and dive under was a new one for me.  It was good to go as an older family and I think we were the only older family there.