Geocache 101

Seattle is home to a lot of really great companies. We have Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Expedia, and the list goes on and on. (We have a theory about techies and temperate climates, but we can get into that another time.) Everyone knows about the big hitters, but we hold a smaller Seattle company as our personal favorite: Geocaching. 

Geocaching is company that combines the outdoors with technology to get people exploring. The general gist is that ordinary people hide "caches" anywhere and everywhere around the world. These are registered on the Geocache app (free to download, but if you want premium access it will cost you $29.99/yr) and people can go find them. It's like a world-wide treasure hunt. There are millions of geocaches hidden around the globe and lucky for us the PNW is somewhat of a hotspot for geocaching.

Looking for a cache

Here is your Geocache 101 to get you started.

What you need to bring with you to geocache. 

• A pen
• Your smartphone
• Comfortable walking shoes 
• A small knick-nack to leave behind (keychain, toy car, magnet, etc)
• An inquisitive mind

Step 1. Download the geocache app from the app store and create an account. Note: If you don't have a smart phone, no worries you can use the search function on the website, it just is a little more handy to have the information at your fingertips while you explore. 

Step 2. If you are just trying it out, you might want to stick with the free version for now. This means when you open the app only certain caches will be unlocked to show details. These are indicated by a black dot. Click around and find one a cache you think sounds fun or is close by! 

Search high, search low

Step 3. Once you have selected a cache to hunt down, head out! One of the things we love so much about geocaching is it gets us outside and exploring our city and nature. Use the dot on the map to make your way to the location of the cache. The GPS is usually fairly accurate and will get you close to the cache. 

Two different "nano" caches

Step 4. When you arrive at the dot on the map start searching. Look for clues in the name of the cache (ex: a cache named I-Spy might be hidden in something shaped like the letter "I") Caches can be anything, tupperware containers, a coffee tin, an old Altoids container, etc. If you get stuck and are struggling to find the cache there is usually a "hint" you can read on the app to help you out. 

Sign the cache (sometimes you need to bring your own pen)

Step 5. You found your first cache! Now what? The container will have a piece of paper in it, this is the log. You should sign your name and date on the paper. The log is a fun way to see the reach of geocaching. Sometimes people from countries across the world have been to the exact same spot as you! Depending on the size of the cache there might also be small tokens inside from past geocachers. If you brought something along you can trade it out with something of equal or lesser value in the cache. 

Step 6. Put the cache back the way you found it. You can leave a comment on the app detailing your experience, but don't leave any clues or indicators of where the cache is hidden. The app also allows you to indicate which caches you have found. Check the box and it will start a log of your conquests! 

Step 7. Head to the next adventure!! Isn't this fun? 

Mailbox Peak

It's true we are no strangers to hard hikes (see: Grouse Grind), but we wouldn't say we exactly seek them out. What we do love here at Rain or Shine Guides and what we WILL seek out is weird stuff (see: Hat N' Boots). When we heard there was a 4,800 foot+ mountain peak with a mailbox installed on it, we decided, yes, that's weird and we must see it. It didn't matter that Mailbox Peak is arguably one of the hardest hikes in the Snoqualmie area. Weird stuff is always worth it.

Our office dog, Maggie, crushed the trail

Nobody knows exactly why a longtime letter carrier decided to install a mailbox at this particular mountain, but it is what gives this peak its name and is what made it famous. There are two ways to get to the top of the mountain. You can go the old way, which is so steep it's considered a vertical incline, gaining almost all of that 4,800 feet in 2.5 miles. Fair warning now...it's unrelenting. It's torture. It will make you call your Mom crying. The trail will start with a well worn path but quickly becomes a mess of trees, and you must follow the white diamonds stapled to the trees to find the rest of the way to the top. Your other option is the new trail, which was built not too long ago as a result of all the injuries and rescues that were occurring on the old trail. So, why would you even consider the old trail, you ask? The new trail is nothing but a sea of switchbacks and will take you over twice the distance (9.4 miles roundtrip). We decided to take the old trail up and the new trail down, and this worked out well. It cut the distance a bit, but felt safer overall. No matter what option you take, remember to take your time. Your quads, knees, back, calves and sanity will thank you.

When you do finally reach the top, give yourself a pat on the back, crack open one of those beers you remembered to pack, and take in the 360 degree panoramic views.

Insider tip: People leave all sorts of interesting things in the mailbox. It's fun to bring a small token with you to leave or to swap out for something different. We brought a Marshawn Lynch themed poker chip because nothing is more beast mode than this hike. Also, don't forget your Discover Pass!

5 Tips for Exploring Pike Place Market with Kids

Doesn’t dragging your children through hordes of tourists at Pike Place Market sound like fun? If you’re like me, you’ll either lose a kid or lose your cool. The amount of visitors to our historic landmark is increasing exponentially each year, which is great for the market, but hard on locals and especially those of us with kids.

What follows is an insiders guide to the mini Pike Place Market tour for you and your minis. It doesn’t cover much ground and it doesn’t cost much money (most of it is free), but it is big on good food and fun. There’s even some quiet time thrown in for those after-toddler-tantrum-moments or a breastfeeding break.

Getting there. Let’s be real. Taking the bus is the best bet since parking at the market is expensive and far away. However, if you can rally your troop to arrive at the market before 11 a.m. on a weekday you might get lucky and find a parking spot on Pike Place. This early in the day you’ll have most of the market vendors to yourself, and you’ll be there when the shops open. On Sundays, street parking is free all day.

What to bring. Coins for Rachel, five one dollar bills per kid to spend on new fruits and veggies, wipes for cleaning up afterwards.

Dress Up. If your child likes attention, have he or she wear a favorite costume. On the day my daughter wore her princess dress, she was addressed as such and felt like royalty for a day.

1.      Ride Rachel

Start with a requisite ride on the market mascot, Rachel the Pig, in the heart of the market at the corner of Pike St and Pike Place directly under the neon Public Market Center sign and “the clock.” Have your kids jump on her back for a photo, then drop some coins into her change slot. She’s a life-size piggy bank modeled after a real pig! Can you find her hoof print? Know that your donation to the Pike Place Market Foundation supports a food bank, a preschool, a senior center, as well as a medical clinic in the market.

Make sure you drop a few coins into Rachel after getting your picture

 2.      Pike Place Fish and more

We all know the orange-clad fish-throwing guys are loud and fun, but they’re also full of tricks for kids. The large crowd around our world famous fishmongers might be intimidating but there’s still space for you and yours to get up close and personal. First of all, find the monkfish. Have you ever seen the grotesque gargoyle hanging from the salmon bench? That’s the monkfish! Ask one of the guys to “coach your kids on how to pull the monkfish chord.” When done right, it jiggles and lurches towards screaming onlookers. Excuse yourself into the inner sanctum, passed the crowd and hang out by the corner counter where the fishmongers toss and catch fish from. You can comfortably stand next to the display case, just be sure to leave room for the guys to walk through and duck if you hear them yell “Back Jack” or “TT” (test toss).

The guys at Pike Place Fish give kids the ultimate experience

For the full market-to-plate experience, have your child pick out a crab, then watch it get cracked and cleaned. It’s ready for immediate consumption. If you forgot the wipes, ask them to throw in a few wet paper towels. Before you leave the fish guys, be sure to grab a sample of their smoked salmon and if it’s a hit, try our favorite kid-friendly meal for dinner: smoked salmon fried rice with peas, carrots, egg, and soy sauce.

If your kids weren’t big fans of the smoked salmon, maybe they’d like another easy smoked snack, a little sausage landjäger from Don and Joe’s Meat. They are perfect for little hands (just ask them to slice it longways for your kiddos under 4 years.) Before bringing your ready-to-eat crab to Tip #3, try an apple chip sample from Simply the Best Dried Fruit stand. Much of what they sell is additive and sugar free. Directly behind you is the Sunny Honey Co. Their honey sticks are affordable for the kids to purchase on their own and many of their sweet products are under six bucks. Everything is handmade in Bellingham from local busy bees.

No sugar added Apple Chips from Simply the Best Dried Fruit

Delicious honey flavors at Sunny Honey Co. 

 3.      Pike Place Market Urban Garden

This rooftop garden is our favorite hidden treasure, a gorgeous place to have a snack and enjoy the view. A pig will also greet you at the entrance of this fruit and veggie wonderland. On this porcine sculpture, your children can leave their John Hancock in chalk. In 2013, this beautifully designed garden produced over 20lbs of food for the Food Bank and Senior Center. Located just to the left of Pike Place Fish towards Maximilien restaurant. Follow the hallway through gray double doors. If the weather is cold and rainy, pop into nearby Crepe de France for delicious food with tables and chairs.

Pike Place Market Urban Garden

4. Thomas the Clown, Frank’s Produce, Ellenos Yogurt, Britt’s Pickles and Beecher’s Cheese.

Be sure to watch the balloon twisting magic of Thomas the clown who’s usually seated near Rachel the Pig. He’s a permanent fixture within the market that was once asked to design an ensemble for a local fashion show. More amazingly, he may be the only balloon clown left who blows the balloons up with his mouth. The kids can use their one-dollar bills to choose a creation. How many balloons did it take to make his hat?

At this point you might be ready to cross the street towards the fresh fruit stands. There are always samples at Frank’s Produce and the kids can use the remainder of their money to buy something they’ve never tried before. Tucked-in, down the hall behind the nearby oriental market is Ellenos Greek Yogurt which also offers yummy samples to tempt your littles’ palettes. Down the hall a little more is Britt’s Pickles who sells pickles on a stick, a classic old-fashioned treat. On the next block, is Beecher’s Handmade Cheese with a viewing window for the kids. You might get a chance to catch the cheese makers in the act.

5. Take a break and a pit stop at Local Color Café or Lowell’s Restaurant

If you need a rest, a potty stop, or a breastfeeding break, visit the back of Local Color Café. Here you will find couches surrounded by art and a quiet space for some down time. Across the street, Lowell’s Restaurant offers three floors of water front views (one of which has a restroom).

Before you leave, check out the lower levels for magic tricks, a chocolatier, comic books, a pinball machine, photo booths, fortunetellers, and collectible rocks. Savor the memories of your day by picking up a copy of Sara Anderson’s colorful children’s book called A Day At The Market.

Jennifer Kakutani lives with her husband and three children on Bainbridge Island, WA. She is writing a memoir on mothering, as well as articles for Parentmap.com. She is married to a fishmonger named Taho.

Emerald Downs + Horse Racing 101

Pull out the big hats, pour yourself a mint julep, and let’s head to the racetrack! Seattle is lucky enough to have Emerald Downs just a short thirty minute drive from the city in Auburn, WA. It’s a thrilling way to spend a weekend afternoon and affordable (only $7 for entry, $9.50 if you want a reserved seat) as long as you don’t get too crazy with those bets.

Now, we know there is an art form to horse racing. Some say it’s important to visit the horses in the Paddocks before the race to size up the animals. Others use the handy “Parker’s Picks” program, which gives you expert advice on which animal is a good choice. Us? Well, we use the very strategic, mostly successful tactic of picking our horse based on his or her name. A Storm In Paris? Sounds like a winner to us. Maggie’s Special? Totally a sure bet. We once won $230 on a $5 bet by choosing a horse named Life is a Joy. It works. Trust us. (Actually, don’t trust us this isn't very good advice).

If you want to place a bet, you’ll need to let the teller know a few things:

1.       Name the race # you are betting on.

2.       The amount of bet you want to place ($2 is the minimum).

3.       The type of bet you are placing.

4.       The number of the horse (don’t give the horse’s name).

It should sound something like this:

“I would like to bet on race #4, $2 to win on horse #3.”

Now, there are a few different kinds of bets. You can bet your horse will win the race (“win”), come in 2nd place (“place”), or come in 3rd place (“show”). If you want to bet your horse will make it in the top three then you say you want “across the board.” This will cost you a minimum of $6, though, as it is $2 minimum per bet.

If you want to get a little more exotic, you can also bet an Exacta (correctly guessing the first and second place), a Trifecta (correctly guessing the first, second, and third place), and the Supertrifecta (correctly guessing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place). We like to put money on these exotic bets mostly because they are fun to say, but for beginners, we recommend the fairly straightforward bets. Of course, do what you want. We won’t judge. Just don’t mortgage your house or spend your child’s college fun. Standards, people!

Insider tip: Every so often Emerald Downs will host wiener dog races in between the horse races, and this is a spectacle NOT TO MISS. It’s hilarious and chaotic and very, very cute. Emerald Downs also releases Groupon deals quite frequently if you are into making the day even cheaper. Keep an eye out!