Hurricane Ridge is one of the most beautiful places in Olympic National Park and an incredible place for a mellow hike with incredible views! This is a very doable day trip from Seattle, although if you have more time check out my three day Olympic National Park road trip...

Anchorage makes a fantastic base camp if you’re exploring Alaska as an independent traveler. It has the least expensive flights from the rest of the country and the world, the most rental cars and lodging and the most and least expensive grocery stores. If you’re heading to Alaska, it’s...

The Margaret’s Way Trail is a gorgeous out and back trail close to Seattle that is my favorite forest hike close to town! This one even comes with a view at the very end of Mt Rainier! At 7 miles round trip and 1500 feet of elevation gain, it’s...

As hiking has become more popular in the Pacific Northwest and the population has grown quickly, many hikers have noticed and been frustrated by big crowds at popular trailheads. If you’re like me, crowding, traffic and parking are daily realities in city life and you want to get away...

Washington Beaches are nearly as diverse as the diverse landscapes of the state overall. Many people (correctly!) associate Washington with rainy gray weather, but those can make for great beach days, Washington style! If you’re looking for a strip of sand to stretch out your beach towel and read,...

The Wilderness Peak Loop trail is a perfect half day hike if you’re looking for something close to Seattle or Bellevue where you’ll have some challenge with no parking pass required! At just under 4 miles and 1200 feet of elevation gain, this hike is definitely steep in places....

As a former four year resident of Fairbanks, Alaska I love to share all the amazing and unique things to do in Fairbanks! I worked in tourism during the summers I lived there so I was lucky enough to get to show people around and I loved it. Fairbanks...

Camping is a fun and adventurous getaway but sometimes it can feel like so much WORK. This post is about how to have a camping checklist and keep your gear organized so that it’s much simpler to get out the door. I’ve spent at least several hundred nights camping...

One wonderful thing about living in the Seattle area or visiting Seattle is that there are so many incredible weekend getaways from Seattle that aren’t too far away. Within just a few hours, you can be in a completely different landscape, climate or even country! I’m defining amazing weekend...

An important part of planning an amazing road trip is giving some thought to what you want to bring with you BEFORE it’s time to load the car. If you have a road trip packing list, then you’ll be confident that you have what you need for your adventure....