The Best Pacific Northwest Winter Gear
If you want to get outside more during the winter months, you’ll need the right gear to stay dry, warm and comfortable. The best Pacific Northwest winter gear is critical in our climate and doesn’t need to be too expensive to get the job done. Finding the winter gear...
Salmon La Sac Snowshoe and Ski Guide
Salmon La Sac is a gorgeous winter destination with miles of opportunities for snowshoeing and cross country skiing with a fraction of the crowds you’ll find at the Snoqualmie Pass sno parks. Salmon La Sac is on the sunnier side of the Cascade mountains so you might find the...
10 Best Hikes near North Bend that aren’t Mt Si
The North Bend area has an abundance of wonderful hiking trails within an hours drive of the greater Seattle area. As a born and raised Seattleite, I’m sharing my favorite hikes near North Bend. This list does NOT include some of the famous (and extremely crowded) hikes in the...
Lena Lake Day Hike or Overnight on the Olympic Peninsula
Lower Lena Lake is a delightful large and very popular alpine lake on the Olympic Peninsula. This crowd pleasing hike makes for a wonderful day trip or backpacking trip. With plenty of opportunities to explore trails beyond, Lena Lake is perfect for beginners and experienced hikers and backpackers alike!...
Lake Wenatchee Guide: Ideal Year Round Family Getaway
Lake Wenatchee is a large alpine lake fed by Cascade mountain snow and glacier melt. Sunny and warm in summer and cold and snowy in winter (with a lot more sun than the west side of the state!) it’s an ideal year round family getaway. Every type of mountain...
Complete Guide to Camping in the San Juan Islands
Camping in the San Juan Islands is amazing! Nothing beats the epic sunsets, beautiful beaches, madrona trees and the marine wildlife! Not only is camping in the San Juans beautiful and fun, it is also an affordable way to visit the San Juan Islands, where hotels and vacation rentals...
How to Hike to Franklin Falls in Winter
This article was originally written in 2020 and was extensively updated in December 2024 to reflect the new parking options which change the location and distance of this winter adventure. As of January 2026 it has changed again – this winter the road is closed near the freeway adding...
The Best Whidbey Island Hikes
Whidbey Island is a short distance from the cities of Western Washington but feels a world away with it’s sweeping mountain and water views, open farmland and many parks and beaches. Whidbey Island hikes are perfect destinations all year round in just about any weather! Add to that lots...
5 Beautiful Hikes on Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is just a 35 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle across Puget Sound and yet feels a world away from the hustle of the city. There are plenty of wonderful hikes on Bainbridge Island to include in a day trip from Seattle or weekend getaway. In addition...
The Best Mt Rainier Waterfalls
Mt Rainier National Park is one of our earliest national parks and is famous for the massive volcano right in the middle of the park, Tahoma, or Mt Rainier. Visiting Mt Rainier National Park has so much more to offer that just views of “the mountain”. Mt Rainier waterfalls...