Category: Washington

I have no idea why this is called Rattlesnake Mountain. We don’t have rattlesnakes in this part of the state and there’s nothing whatsoever that makes me think of a Rattlesnake here. But, that’s the name of this well known area in North Bend! Described below is a trail...

The Cherry Creek Falls hike is a beautiful half day hike and one of the best waterfall hikes near Seattle. At 5 miles and 500 feet of elevation gain, it’s a good workout but not extremely steep. There is a lot of mud on this trail and some potentially...

Despite a lifetime of hiking in Washington, I’ve often not had this trail on my radar, except as a bike ride through the Snoqualmie tunnel further up the trail or access point for other hikes like Twin Falls or Cedar Butte. It’s great for those purposes, but this section...

At 3 miles round trip and with about 500 feet of elevation gain, the Twin Falls hike is a good half day hike option close to Seattle with a stunning waterfall you get to see from a distance as well as up close. This is one of the best...

Snowshoeing is an excellent way to enjoy getting outside all winter and a fun progression for anyone who enjoys hiking or walking outdoors. It is also a way to enjoy the outdoors in the winter that requires minimal gear and no specialized skills (unlike skiing!). Snowshoeing is taking one...

“Go ahead, eat one!” Jessika, part time cranberry farmer, full time nonprofit leader, encouraged me to pop a ripe cranberry in my mouth. Just eating a plain cranberry off a vine in a Washington cranberry bog is something I never considered before. Until recently, my knowledge of cranberries barely...

I’m a fourth generation Seattleite and I love Pike Place Market! Pro tip: It’s Pike Place Market or The Market, NEVER Pike’s or Pike’s Place! It does get really crowded and touristy, but I still love it. Even if you are visiting our town for only a day this...

A Long Beach, Washington weekend is the perfect getaway from Seattle, Tacoma or Portland any time of year. It’s a low key, outdoor oriented place with tasty food and drink, cozy lodging and miles of walking and biking opportunities, not to mention the beach! It’s probably obvious that the...

Looking for a relatively easy hike to see the gorgeous orange larch trees of North Central Washington? Similar to Blue Lake, Cutthroat lake is a mellow 4 miles round trip with just 400 feet of elevation gain, this one is easier and in the same area along the North...

Did you know that Seattle is the only major city in the United States named for a Native American? When white people came to this area, they called him Seattle because they were unable to pronounce is name, Si’ahl. He is buried near Seattle in Suquamish, which is about...