“Between every two pines there is a doorway to a new world.”

~John Muir

Two weeks ago, we traveled by air for the first time since the pandemic turned our world upside down. Our trip to Seattle was for a most joyous occasion: the wedding of our son and daughter-in-law! We arrived six days before the big event, giving ourselves some extra time to relax and see the sights of the Pacific Northwest.

With this being the first trip to Seattle for my mom, we enjoyed many of the typical outings–shopping at Pike Place Market, strolling through the Japanese garden, exploring Capitol Hill–and drinking lots of great coffee. While the highlight of this trip was, of course, the wedding, my favorite day trip was the one we took to Bainbridge Island.

We previously made the 30 minute trip by ferry to Bainbridge in late 2019, but we didn’t make it past the quaint downtown shops and restaurants before it was time to return to the city. This time, we took a car and made a plan to see some of the beautiful spots beyond the town and ferry dock.

This plan led us in mid-afternoon to The Grand Forest, a spot that more than lived up to its name. We chose to explore the West Grand Forest with an easy hike through its groves of Douglas fir and cedar trees. Rich with moss, ferns and other native plants, this spot was both peaceful and breathtaking. We moved very slowly through the woods, in awe of the plant life all around us. It was hard not to stop every few moments to look about in wonder.

The tree canopy was quite thick, blocking most of the sunlight and giving us a nice respite from the day’s heat. But when the sun did penetrate the trees, it was most magical.

Words do not do justice to the beauty of this place. There was an other-worldly–almost pre-historic– vibe about this forest, with its mosses, ferns, and paths strewn with decaying trees and plant matter.

Although we encountered a handful of other hikers, it felt as if we had the forest to ourselves. The peacefulness, the quiet, and the stillness were alluring.

I will not soon forget the majesty of this place, the lovely pause in our day, and the momentary escape from our pandemic world. If you ever have the chance to visit here, don’t hesitate for a minute. And if I’m lucky, I hope to return here one day, too.

~Leslie