Rainy Day Hikes from Seattle

Are drizzly skies washing away your hiking plans? Some trails are best hiked in the rain! So go ahead and strap on those (waterproof) hiking boots–below are low-lying hiking trails that are glorious when pelted with rain and shrouded in mist. We happen to live in a glorious temperate rain forest. With the right gear to […]

Northwest Bookshelf: Best Hikes with Kids, Western Washington

You had a baby, shelled out the cash for a primo baby carrier, and have packed all the snacks (and the ten essentials!) Only question left is: where to hike? A completely revised edition of the popular book Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington by hiking expert Susan Elderkin has just hit bookstores, and I was […]

Free Admission Days to National Parks in 2018

Free Admission Days to National Parks in 2019

On a budget?  Our National Parks offer free admission days for 2018. The number of fee-free days has been reduced from ten days to only four days in 2018, so you’ll definitely want these days marked on your calendars! Free U.S. National Park Admission Days for 2018 January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day […]

Act Now to Stop the National Park Entrance Fee Hike to $70 per Car

ACTION ALERT: This land is your land… but it’ll cost you! Your comments are needed now to stop a 180% increase in the admission fee for National Parks to $70 per vehicle in 2018.  When was the last time you soaked in the majesty of a giant Sitka Spruce in Olympic National Park, or meandered through […]

Campfire Bans for September 2017

Taking a camping trip this weekend?  Pack your gear using our handy Car Camping Checklist and you won’t forget anything, ever. UPDATED: September 1, 2017 Going camping? There are campfire restrictions in place. In fact, 2017 marks the fifth summer in a row that has seen restrictions on campfires in the Northwest. It seems it is our new normal. […]

Camping Coffee Six Ways

Camping Coffee Six Ways

From the classic cowboy method to fancy backcountry espresso, here’s how Northwest campers get their morning buzz in the wilderness.

Five Great Urban Paddles

One of the coolest things about living near the water? Getting out into it.   In much of the Pacific Northwest, our cities and neighborhoods are literally surrounded by sparkling bodies of water—rivers, small lakes, large lakes and even a big, beautiful saltwater sound. And while all this water is lovely to look at, it’s even […]

Waterfall Weekend: Columbia River Gorge

When the mighty Columbia River cut a deep canyon through the Cascades, it just wanted to get to the ocean. But hikers have been reaping the benefits for years, as the river’s urgency gave us dramatic scenery with a plethora of cascading waterfalls enveloped by mossy canyons.

Free Admission Days to National Parks in 2017

On a budget? Then mark your calendars! Our National Parks offer FREE admission days for 2017. Free U.S. National Park Admission Days for 2017 January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day February 20: Presidents’ Day April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week August 25: National Park Service Birthday September 30: National Public Lands […]

Amp Your Camp: New Essentials for Modern Camping

Camping season is almost here! In just a few short weeks, we’ll be sleeping under the stars atop a plateau in the Eastern Washington desert. And then under old growth at Mount Rainier. And then steps from the beach on Whidbey Island… Where will you be camping this year? (and have you made your campground […]