The Season Begins: A Quiet, Perfect Weekend at Flowing Lake
Our first trip of 2026 wasn’t about going far. It was about getting back into the rhythm. We stayed at Flowing Lake Park and Campground, April 24-26, 2026 in site #9.
After a winter spent dreaming about RV adventures, we rolled into Flowing Lake Park and Campground in Snohomish County ready to shake off the cobwebs and reacquaint ourselves with life in the RV. This trip felt less like a grand getaway and more like opening day for a season we’ve been eagerly waiting for.
And right from the start, we knew this trip would be memorable.
As we pulled into Site #9, something caught us by surprise. Parked in the site next to ours was our RV’s identical twin. Same model. Same look. Same everything – just two years older. In all our travels so far, we had never seen another one like ours on the road, and here it was sitting just feet away.
Naturally, we made fast friends with our neighbors.
That chance encounter turned into one of the highlights of the weekend. Our neighbors had logged over 20,000 miles in their rig, while we’re still very much in the learning phase. We spent the evening touring each other’s RVs, swapping stories, and soaking up every bit of wisdom they were willing to share.
The weather did its part to welcome us back to camping life. Sunny skies and afternoons hovering around 60 degrees made for perfect outdoor time. Mornings were crisp, dipping to 38 degrees, reminding us that early-season camping still demands a warm sweatshirt and a steady supply of hot coffee.
Most of this trip was about settling back into routine. We tinkered with small maintenance tasks, tested systems, and Juanita made lists. Lots of lists. Sitting quietly beneath towering mossy trees, we scribbled down ideas for upgrades, gear to buy, and the little comforts we want to add as we prepare for moving into the RV full-time after this summer.
Brandon was excited to break in our new Blackstone grill. There’s something deeply satisfying about cooking outside again, especially when paired with a bottle of Lick My Lips Merlot from Page Cellars. We toasted to the start of the season and to RV adventures ahead.
Each afternoon, we walked down to Flowing Lake, where families lined the dock with fishing poles and ducks drifted lazily across the water. It was peaceful in the way that reminds you why you do this in the first place.
At night, the campground settled into quiet, broken only by the chorus of frogs. In the morning, birdsong took over. No alarms needed.
This trip may not have been far from home, but it was exactly what we needed. A gentle restart. A reminder of why we love this life. And the perfect first chapter in what we hope will be a very full 2026 travel season.
Campground Review: Flowing Lake Park and Campground
Site #9 was plenty long for our 30-foot Class A and wide enough to comfortably park our SUV beside it. The back of the site opens to deep woods filled with moss-covered trees and a lush carpet of ferns. A small trickling stream runs behind the site, adding a peaceful background sound we didn’t realize we needed.
Our site sat directly across from the restrooms and showers, which was convenient. The women’s side had two showers and three toilets, while the men’s side included two showers, two urinals, and one toilet. Everything was clean, well-maintained, and stocked with toilet paper and soap. One thing to note: the bathrooms are not heated, which made for a very chilly shower on that 38-degree morning.
Wine of the Weekend: Page Cellars 2022 Lick My Lips Merlot
The 2022 “Lick My Lips” Merlot from our friends at Page Cellars leans confidently into what Washington Merlot does best—ripe fruit, supple texture, and effortless drinkability. From the first pour, it opens with an inviting nose of dark cherry, plum, and wild strawberry, layered with a touch of baking spice and a faint earthy undertone. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with a plush, rounded mouthfeel that makes it immediately approachable. Red and black fruit flavors carry through, supported by soft, well-integrated tannins that provide just enough structure without ever feeling firm or aggressive. There’s a subtle warmth to the finish, where hints of spice and cocoa linger alongside the fruit, making each sip easy to return to. This is not a brooding or overly complex Merlot—it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it succeeds as a polished, crowd-pleasing expression that feels equally at home around a campfire or at a well-set dinner table. It’s a wine built for enjoying now, not cellaring. Where this Merlot really shines is at the (picnic) table. Its balance of fruit and softness makes it incredibly versatile with food.
Food Pairings - Best Matches
Grilled ribeye or sirloin
Burgers (especially with caramelized onions)
Meatloaf or short ribs
Mushroom risotto
Roast chicken with herbs
Elevated Pairings
Duck breast with cherry reduction
Pork tenderloin with plum or fig glaze
Lamb chops with rosemary
Casual / RV-Friendly
Smashburgers
Sausage + peppers
BBQ chicken
Cheese
Aged cheddar
Gouda
Gruyère
