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 […]
How to Explore Nature Without Leaving Your Neighborhood
Nature is all around us, right outside our doors and windows for us to enjoy, if only we take the time to look, and listen, and smell, and learn.
Where to Find Snow (and How to Play In It)
Grab a sled or strap on some snowshoes, and head up to one of these snowy spots to play in the late-winter powder.
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 […]
Northwest Autumn Day Trips: Corn Mazes, Apple Orchards, and Pumpkin Patches
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. First, in the kitchen: I’ve made apple […]
Four Autumn Weekend Getaways in the Pacific Northwest
These fall trips are for autumn lovers–to wineries in harvest and colorful foliage.
Northwest Bookshelf: Exploring Northwest Nature with Kids
As a kid born in the 1970’s, my own childhood was free-range and mostly outside. Or rather, those are the vivid memories I have—on a bike, digging in the dirt, or playing with our dog in the park near my house. The reality is more mixed. We had cable TV and a Nintendo, and I […]
CAMP & HIKE: Icicle Creek Canyon
An outdoor playground in autumn, this little valley stretches like a finger into the North Cascades from Leavenworth and is lined with trailheads and campgrounds.
CAMP & HIKE: Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon Coast
On the craggy Oregon Coast, a “headland” is a giant chunk of rock that juts out into the ocean, formed over millennia from volcanic lava flows followed by constant water erosion. Some of the larger ones are called “capes”. The coast is dotted with them, all up and down from Indian Point to Cape Ferrelo. […]
CAMP & HIKE: Steamboat Rock State Park
In the heart of Washington’s Grand Coulee desert country is an outdoor lover’s paradise. And your base camp for all of it sits in the middle of an “island” surrounded by your outdoor playground. Cool rocks and unusual birds. Hikes through blooming desert wildflowers. Fragrant sagebrush whipping in the wind. Sleeping under a big sky […]
