Ever since I was young, whenever I went on any kind of trip, I didn’t like the idea of sleeping anywhere, be it a friend or relative’s house or a hotel, if I was totally unfamiliar with the area. If we got in before dark, I would take a walk around the area. If we got in late, I would wake up early… before-the-sunrise early, to take what I started calling my ‘adventure walks’. I continue with this practice, which is why this blog has so many awesome pictures of sunrises as well as sunsets. As I started to enjoy photography, I would tend to let my walks lead me to the best views.

Since my daughters were very small, I have shared this tradition with them. Here is Mollie and I on our most recent adventure walk.

When the kids were little, we would name the places we walked. Usually, we named it after ourselves, so we would find Jessica Land, and Mollie Mountain and Arthur Town.

Nowadays, Jessica doesn’t get up early on vacations.

But Mollie still humors me.

We really do have fun. There is a lot of giggling.

And the mossy woods of Oregon are a pretty nice place for an adventure walk.

Don’t I look happy?