Small Adventures
““We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.””
“Mom, let’s go for a walk!”
It doesn’t take long for my children to realize the season has changed and adventure plans, carefully accumulated over the course of a long and snowy winter, can now be realized. And we can’t think of a better place for adventures than the meadows and waters of House on Metolius. With a winding river, open meadow, and natural springs to explore, this quiet pocket of unspoiled land invites spontaneous and unstructured adventure—just our kind of fun.
On one occasion we—not so quietly—snuck into the willows to a small spring pond, in hopes of capturing a glimpse of the very secretive Beaver. We observed the small beaver dam hidden in the willows and admired his hard work. Although we were unsuccessful at spotting the Furry Engineer, we were already planning our next ‘stake-out’ and what kind of snacks we might bring along.
There are many areas to explore on this 200-acre private nature reserve. One of the many Special Places, perhaps a family favorite, is a shallow spring that surfaces near the 1930s barn and flows into the Metolius River. The spring widens to a plank bridge, where we challenge each other to remain the longest in the cold, knee-deep spring water. If you’re patient, the Kokanee river salmon will swim to your feet. A nice warm up in the sun and a picnic to follow is the perfect way to end the afternoon along the banks of the icy spring.
