Margaret’s Way Trail: Best Forest Hike near Seattle
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...
How to Find Less Crowded Hikes near Seattle
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...
The 15 Best Washington Beaches
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,...
Wilderness Peak Loop Trail – Forest Workout Close to Town
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....
Master Camping Checklist for Alaska and the Pacific Northwest
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...
12 Amazing Weekend Getaways from Seattle
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...
Top 12 Hikes in Washington State from a Seattleite
Do you know how hard it is to choose the very BEST hikes in Washington State?? It’s extremely hard! We have so many amazing hikes all over the state to choose from, but I limited myself to my 12 all time favorites. All of these hikes are mellow or...
12 Best Year round Day Trips from Seattle
One of the many wonderful things about Seattle is that there are so many things to do outside the city! Seattle is surrounded by a vast diversity of landscapes within a few hours, including islands, forests, mountains, orchards, farmland and desert canyons. In this post I’ll talk about the...
Skyline Lake Snowshoe: Steep, Short and Spectacular
A Skyline Lake snowshoe outing is a spectacular trip at Stevens Pass with spectacular views and winter beauty! While short it is STEEP and therefore can’t be considered easy (3 miles round trip and 1100 feet of elevation gain). I wouldn’t recommend it for your first time on snowshoes...
Mother Mountain Loop Backpacking in Mt Rainier
As of Spring 2025, a bridge washout has caused an indefinite closure to the Carbon River Entrance of Mt Rainier National Park, including Carbon River Trails and Mowich Lake Trails. If the road reopens, I will update this article. Looking for a less-hassle or shorter alternative to the Wonderland...