Lauren Braden

Tide Pool Party: Where to Spot Cool Marine Life Near Seattle

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Grab your rubber boots and low tide field guide–there are some fantastic minus tides in Puget Sound this summer! There are a few things in life that you can rely on with absolute certainty. One of those is the rhythm of the sea. Twice a day, the tide will come in (high tide!) and twice […]

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Find Cool Geology at Mount St. Helens

Forty years ago, at 8:32am on a quiet Sunday morning, Mount St. Helens blew its top. The explosion was a massive volcanic eruption, the most disastrous in U.S. history. A plume of searing hot ash spewed hundreds of feet into the air that turned day into night around the Pacific Northwest. The unexpected lateral blast […]

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COVID-19: The Perfect Guidebook for Finding Trails Close to Your Home

No doubt, this is an exciting week for outdoor enthusiasts. Some public lands have now opened up for hiking, boating, and fishing (with safety guidelines), and more will follow soon. However, the new coronavirus hasn’t gone anywhere, so maintaining physical distance from one another is still crucial. Plus, we’re being asked to stay as close […]

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COVID-19: Northwest Public Lands are Re-Opening

UPDATED: May 22, 2020 Have your hiking boots been sitting beside the front door, collecting dust? How about your fishing pole, binoculars, kite and canoe paddle? The coronavirus put spring outdoor adventure on hold for months, and most of us have been sheltering in place. Now, thanks to our collective diligence and determination to put […]

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COVID-19: How to Explore Nature Without Leaving Your Neighborhood

It’s not overstating things to say we are living through a really weird time right now. All of us, in different ways, are spending our days in ways we were not just a month ago. If you’re a front-line health care worker you’re risking your own wellness every day to save lives of people afflicted […]

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National Parks Fee-Free Days for 2020

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On a budget?  Our National Parks offer free admission days for 2020. The number of fee-free days has been reduced from ten days under the Obama administration to only five days under the Trump administration, so you’ll definitely want these days marked on your calendars! Free U.S. National Park Admission Days for 2020 January 20: […]

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Where to Find Snow Right Now (and How to Play In It)

For the powder heads among us, last winter was glorious. Across the lowlands of Puget Sound one February morning we awoke to an uncommon sight–snow flurries cascading from the sky, and there was enough to stick. And it kept snowing, then snowing some more. With school cancelled for days, happy kids went sledding at Seattle’s […]

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Winter Outdoors: Ice Skating Rinks in the Pacific Northwest

Imagine skating in circles with your sweetie among gently-falling snow, a chill in the air and a mug of hot cocoa on your mind. Winter at its best. Got ice skates? If you don’t have a pair of your own, you’ll be able to rent them for the whole family at most of these outdoor […]

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Autumn Escape: Harvest Time in Hood River, Oregon

THIS WEEKEND!  Hood River Harvest Fest (October 11-13, 2019) is a classic fall festival that takes place right on the waterfront overlooking the Columbia River. Sample local apples, craft brews, wine, cider and artisan cheeses. Browse booths filled with local art and crafts. Enjoy live music and plenty of games and activities for the whole family. Kids […]

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Northwest Autumn Day Trips: Corn Mazes, Apple Orchards, and Pumpkin Patches

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Psst…. get our premier guide to fall travel – Autumn Escapes in the Pacific Northwest. Get inspired to spend your fall weekends combing rocky beaches, savoring the harvest, and hiking scenic mountain trails of Washington and Oregon. Get it here. It’s October, my favorite month in the kitchen and in the great outdoors. Let’s see… the past few days I’ve […]

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