For our third annual Goren-sibling summer backpacking adventure, we made our way to the Olympic Peninsula—one of the most unique landscapes in Washington state. After four hours in the car, a quick ferry ride, and a few warm pastries in Sequim, we were on the Ozette Loop trail making our way to the beach. There are few things I love more than a wet, mossy forest that breaks out into a rugged coastline.
Thanks to the sweet deal offered by Iceland Airways, Anna and I were able to extend our layover on the way back from Paris by three days, giving us a free four day trip to Iceland. Hversu dásamlegt! (As they say).
We rented an AirBnB in darling little Reykjavik, and due to the abundance of daylight this time of year, were able to squeeze every last drop out of that town. Each cafe was more charming than the next, and the streets were filled with adorable fair-haired families riding their bikes along the harbor. Needless to say, the grey skies, bikes, and coffee culture helped us feel right at home.
This past May, I had the privilege of traveling to Paris for a week with my family for a distant cousin’s Bar Mitzvah celebration. My great great uncle Yair Tarica and his wife Victoria started a family there in the early 1900s, around the same time my great grandfather Leachon left Rhodes, Greece for Seattle. Today, there are three generations of Tarica’s living in Paris, most of whom I had never previously met.
How wonderful to spend 5 hours in a room full of strangers just as shameless about taking food photos as me. Ashley Rodriguez of Not Without Salt, and her husband Gabe Rodriguez, a wedding and portrait photographer, taught this lovely food photography workshop a few weeks ago at The Pantry at Delancey. If you haven’t been, run—don’t walk—to their lovely cooking studio to enjoy a community dinner, cooking class, or simply peer in on your way out of Essex or Delancey next door. Read More
For our second annual sibling backpacking trip, Anna, Jacob, and I took our chances and applied for the highly coveted Enchantments permit, granting access to a beautiful alpine basin full of sparkling lakes. Luckily we were chosen, and got to spend four spectacular days exploring the lakes, larch, and massive granite peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Although the ascent up Asgaard Pass was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done, the 2,300 ft. steep scramble was absolutely worth it.
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Since getting my backpacking feet wet, I’d always wanted to explore the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. While I have a special place in my heart for the wet, mossy landscape of the PNW — the jagged peaks, wide open sage fields, roaming buffalo, and hidden alpine lakes of the Grand Tetons intrigued me.
My dear friend Anneliese flew down to Seattle and we hopped in my car and drove 14 hours to the park. The drive alone was spectacular, and we got to stop at Yellowstone along the way to check out some geysers, moose, and good-old-fashion gapers getting in and out of their tour buses, clad in high-water jeans and bucket hats. Thankfully, the Tetons had none of that.
To kick off our annual sibling backpacking trip, Anna, Jacob, and I spent three days frolicking in the Olympic National Forest. With its mossy hills, flowery meadows, birch trees, babbling brooks, corn flowers, glaciers, and wandering elks…Enchanted Valley is aptly named. It’s truly one of Washington’s most beautiful treasures.
Over the years, the Goren’s have managed to grant ourselves access to family friend’s homes in some of the most beautiful places in the U.S. — this one being Maui. Our dear friends, The Rosens, so kindly opened up their home to us during the winter of 2011, and we spent a week there together along with my Aunt.
Our stay on Wailea was the typical beach vacation—and then some. We spent time hiking through Hana’s beautiful bamboo forests, caught sunrise at the top of Haleakala National Park, and toured the spectacular eight acres of O’o Farm, finishing with a farm-to-table lunch on the grounds.
After returning from a summer in Spain, a road trip to California felt like the perfect way to transition home. Anna was about to start a three-month program on an urban farm in Berkeley, so we jumped in the car and headed south. Our first stop: Redwood National Park.
I thought I had an affinity for trees before this trip, but then again I had never stood at the foot of a 3,000 year old Redwood tree. It’s safe to say that trees know far more about the world than we do.
Ah, Spain. One of my favorite places on this planet. I was lucky enough to spend a summer basking in the Spanish sun with my best friend Shelley right after our college graduation, and we couldn’t have been happier with our decision. We made it to Madrid, Granada, Seville, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Valencia. We also made a quick jaunt over to Portugal, and spent a few days in the lovely Current-Rutledge apartment in Paris — truly icing on the cake.
Most days were spent at the beach; feasting on olives, cheese, bread, or paella; dancing until the wee hours; or simply sitting in a plaza, sipping sangria and watching the world go by. We left a little piece of our souls in Spain, and hope to make it back together one day.
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Molly Goren 