Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike. 

John Muir

When we moved to Washington, I was immediately in love with the lush, green trees that are everywhere. Driving home took on a whole new beauty because, no matter where I looked, I saw pines and peaks. The first couple of years here our exploring was focused on fun things to do with the kids – pumpkin patches, short hikes, and of course the aquarium, zoo and science museum.

When the pandemic hit and we were all locked down inside our homes, my appreciation of being immersed in nature was truly awakened. I’m an extrovert through and through, and the isolation of quarantine really drained me. Getting out for a hike became a way to recharge and was something I looked forward to. The more I got out there, the more my confidence grew – I didn’t let rain or snow stop me and have some pretty epic memories because of that.

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