Parfait

Parfait

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Seattle, Food

This Summer, we have tried our best to take advantage of what has seemed like endless glorious weather. A couple weekends back we spent the entire day hiking the 11.5 miles to Pratt Lake. Aside from the air being hazy from all the fires in the North Cascades, it was a wonderful day spent together as a family up in the mountains. I have to give my husband major kudos because he not only hiked, but carried Jasper on his back almost the entire way. Since Pratt Lake is such a long hike it deters a lot of people. As a result, we found ourselves alone most of the time on the trail. It was a scenic hike where we passed through several different types of landscapes and encountered endless types of terrain. It was a beautiful hike, albeit long and one I am eager to do again as an overnight adventure. 

Pratt Lake

Pratt Lake

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Hiking, Outdoor adventures, Seattle

This Summer, we have tried our best to take advantage of what has seemed like endless glorious weather. A couple weekends back we spent the entire day hiking the 11.5 miles to Pratt Lake. Aside from the air being hazy from all the fires in the North Cascades, it was a wonderful day spent together as a family up in the mountains. I have to give my husband major kudos because he not only hiked, but carried Jasper on his back almost the entire way. Since Pratt Lake is such a long hike it deters a lot of people. As a result, we found ourselves alone most of the time on the trail. It was a scenic hike where we passed through several different types of landscapes and encountered endless types of terrain. It was a beautiful hike, albeit long and one I am eager to do again as an overnight adventure. 

Capturing everyday moments

Capturing everyday moments

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Parenting

Now that Jasper can pull himself up and stand on his own I find him standing all over the place. The other day he was suppose to be napping, but instead he was standing and beaming from ear to ear. Rather than try to fight it and lie him back down, I went and grabbed my camera to capture him in all his ten month glory. This child of mine is changing everyday and whether it be the tan lines in the folds of his wrists and thighs or the way his hair and eyes continue to lighten I want to capture all these little moments. 

Annual tradition: Camping on the Washington coast

Annual tradition: Camping on the Washington coast

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Seattle, Weekend

One of our favorite Summer traditions is camping on the Washington coast. We load up our backpacks with supplies, make certain to pick up a bear can, permit and tide chart and head to the beach with no particular plan in mind. We stop and camp wherever looks like the best spot that day and enjoy big decisions like whether to eat and then look at tide pools or look at tide pools and then eat. Spending time at the coast is always extremely relaxing, restorative and beautiful. One of our favorite spots on the coast is Rialto Beach. Although we typically camp on the weekends, as long as we go a bit passed Hole in the Wall we have no trouble finding a spot to ourselves. Just like hiking, the farther afield you go, the least likely you are to be surrounded by other people. 

Hike to Melawka Lake

Hike to Melawka Lake

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Outdoor adventures, Travel, Weekend

This Summer we have made a conscious effort to branch out and visit several new alpine lakes. Even when it comes to hiking it is easy to find your favorites and visit them again and again. Between the changes seasons and weather in general each visit is a new experience. A mere 40 minutes from Seattle is the I90 corridor where there are countless trails to tackle. Our goal, if we continue to enjoy hiking for many years to come is to eventually visit them all. 

Recently, we had Jasper spend the night at my parent's house and enjoyed a beautiful hike to Melakwa Lake. Melakwa Lake is part of the Denny Creek trail. Denny Creek is a popular trail for families, but as you continue on the trail for a few additional miles you can find yourself at a beautiful, uncrowded alpine lake. There is no place that invigorates my mind and body more than being in the mountains. I feel my most content breathing the fresh air and being surrounded by trees. I am truly a Pacific Northwesterner at heart. 

South Lake Union Block Party

South Lake Union Block Party

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Food

Each Summer South Lake Union puts on a Summer Block Party. The highlight of the event is always the Seattle Met Burger Competition. Although I am not a huge red meat person, every now and again I crave a delicious hamburger. For $15 you are able to try five delicious sliders from five local restaurants and walk away with not only a full stomach, but an adorable little tote bag. Summer is that time of year we really try to savor in Seattle and with all this fantastic weather there has been ample time spent outside enjoying these long days and warm Summer breeze. 

Note: The South Lake Union Block Party typically occurs the second Friday in August. 

Avalanche Lake Trail

Avalanche Lake Trail

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel, Weekend, Outdoor adventures

While we were in Glacier National Park we did a fantastic and easy hike called Avalanche Lake. The trail starts at the Trail of the Cedars and is located 6 miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge. The trail is only 4.5 miles long with a mere 730 feet elevation gain. On the day of our hike the weather was a bit cool and the clouds were hung low. This moody weather not only made for beautiful photographs, but made us feel right at home. 

Family photos

Family photos

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Familly photos are equally fun and terrifying. There are numerous people to please, but there are also ample people to enjoy being with. Families are one of my most favorite subjects to photograph because I know these photos will be looked back on fondly and serve as a reminder of a bustling and precious time in their lives. 

Ice Cream Cruise

Ice Cream Cruise

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Parenting, Seattle

For Jasper's nine month birthday we wanted to do something festive. So the moment I saw a large bouquet of multi colored balloons hanging off the dock I was interested. Below the balloons sat a little sandwich board which advertised an Ice Cream Cruise; a one hour cruise around Lake Union. It looked festive and fun, so on a whim we hopped aboard. The sky had been threatening rain all morning so the boat was only minimally full. We set out on our cruise around the lake as a light rain started to fall and seaplanes buzzed by overhead. One of my favorite things about Lake Union is it is always a bustling place. In a five minute span you might see a stand up paddler, a sailboat, a kayaker, a seaplane and a helicopter. There is no shortage of boat traffic or things to look at. 

South Lake Union Adventure

South Lake Union Adventure

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Seattle, Weekend, Outdoor adventures

Some Saturdays we leave the house without a plan. Our main goal for the day is always to have fun, but we don't always have the details ironed out. One such Saturday we had loosely planned to rent a paddle boat at The Center for Wooden Boats, but a combination of high winds and the Seattle Dragon Boat Races soon changed our plans. Instead, we ended up spending the entire day at South Lake Union Park. We watched the Dragon boat races, walked around The Center for Wooden Boats, toured an old tugboat, took an Ice Cream Cruise and enjoyed a leisurely lunch at Duke's. It was such a diverse and fun way to spend the day together as a family.  Jasper loved watching all the water and air traffic. He kept craning his neck every time he heard another plane or helicopter fly overhead. With the recent revisions to South Lake Union Park it has become a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. 

Everett Aquasox's game

Everett Aquasox's game

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Weekend, Outdoor adventures

While my sister and her family were in town we went to an Everett Aquasox's game. Over the past several years we have preferred going to these games as opposed to the Seattle Mariner's because you can get tickets for a fraction of the cost of what they would be at Safeco Field. We also are able to get much better seats and they even do a fireworks show after the game. It was a rare treat to have so much of our family together and this was Jasper's first baseball game to boot!

Senior Prom

Senior Prom

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Whenever I have the opportunity to capture an important moment in a person's life, I always feel honored. It may be the first time their entire family has been together in years, a wedding or this particular time it was Senior Prom. Before I take someone's photo I always feel like a ball of nerves. I always hope they are deeply satisfied with the end results and that my vision was what they had in mind. The thing I most enjoy about photography is its ability to capture a moment and freeze it in time. Especially now having children, I view each photo I take as a mini time capsule I can pull out again and again. I always feel both excited and honored to capture other people's memories and appreciate the faith they put in me and my abilities. 

Rachel Lake

Rachel Lake

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Outdoor adventures, Seattle, Weekend

We have been experiencing a scorcher of a Summer this year in Seattle. Most Saturdays, we escape to the mountains for a drop in temperature and to take in the gorgeous views of all the many alpine lakes in the area. A week ago we made the hike up to Rachel Lake. We had not been here in a long time and the last we came here there the trail was pretty snow covered, we lost our way a couple times and I am not even certain we made it to the lake. Since it was such a warm day, we appreciated how most of the trail was in the shade. Once at the lake there was ample shoreline for everyone and I even took a dip in the icy alpine lake. Such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday!

Alki Beach

Alki Beach

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Seattle, Weekend

This Summer we have had lots of family visiting from out of town. Although the main attraction for them has been meeting Jasper we have also spent plenty of time at Alki beach. Sharing with others what a beautiful place West Seattle is always makes us happy. Among some of our favorite things to do at Alki Beach are rent surreys, have a sunset bonfire, get ice cream cones, watch the sunset, eat at one of the delicious restaurants or go for a run or a long walk. I realize all these things sound quite simple, but they make for a lovely way to spend an afternoon or an evening. 

Snoqualmie Ice Cream Social

Snoqualmie Ice Cream Social

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Food, Weekend

Every Summer we like to invite our friends over for an Ice Cream Social. It is the perfect party to host in the Summer because it is a simple party to put together. Based upon the decor, guest list and food offered, it can be as elaborate or laid back a party as you desire. Although we always host our Ice Cream Social in our backyard, the party could easily be held at a park, or inside if the weather does not cooperate. This year for our Ice Cream Social we served one of our favorite locally made ice creams- Snoqualmie Ice Cream.

Being a tourist in Seattle

Being a tourist in Seattle

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Seattle, Weekend

This Summer Cameron's brother, Ryan, and his family visited us from Oklahoma. We took this rare opportunity to be together and played tourists with them for the weekend. One afternoon we had lunch at Elliott's on the Seattle waterfront and then enjoyed the Argosy Locks Tour. It was the quintessential overcast Summer Seattle day, not too hot or too cold. When the weather is extreme everywhere else, we are reminded why we live here. 

Whitefish, Montana

Whitefish, Montana

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel, Weekend, Outdoor adventures

Over the Fourth of July weekend we rented a three bedroom condo in Whitefish, MT with some friends. Although we had visited Whitefish a couple times in the past on our way to Glacier National Park, we had never spent any significant time there. We realized once we were there the four days we had planned to be there was not nearly enough time to enjoy all Whitefish, MT had to offer. During our time there we spent a morning hiking up Big Mountain, and then riding the gondola back down, another morning enjoying the alpine slides and chairlift, an afternoon swimming in Whitefish Lake, a couple dinners in downtown Whitefish and an afternoon at Stumptown Marketplace. 

Glacier National Park with kids

Glacier National Park with kids

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel, Outdoor adventures, Parenting

Boasting over 700 miles in trails, Glacier National Park is one of my all time favorite places to hike. Over the Fourth of July weekend we visited the park with some of our friends and our three small children under the age of five. Rather than our usual 8-10 mile hikes we enjoyed a couple easier hikes, but there was no shortage of beautiful scenery or fun. On our first day we went to Logan's Pass and hiked the Hidden Lake trail. Logan's Pass is a mountain goat research area and the hike was visually diverse enough to keep everyone interested. There were streams, wildflowers, mountain goats, beautiful vistas and plenty of rocks to pick up along the trail. 

A day trip to Port Townsend

A day trip to Port Townsend

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Weekend, Seattle

Over Father's Day weekend we spent a day in Port Townsend. The goal for the day was pretty simple; grab a slice of pizza from Waterfront Pizza and get an ice cream cone from Elevated Ice Cream. In reality, the day was far more exciting than that. We enjoyed a scenic ferry ride to Southworth, a pretty drive to Port Townsend and most importantly a fun day with each other. We gave Cameron his Father's Day cards will we were picnicking on the beach and before Cameron had the chance to open Jasper's card Jasper had started chewing on it. A soggy card, sunshine and Jasper's first boat ride were just some of the highlights of our day together. 

Load More