Q: Where to Camp with Kids near Seattle?
Dear TripFinder, We’d like to go camping this summer with our 5-year old son and 3-year old daughter. This will be our first time camping since we had children. Can you recommend a campground not more than 3 hours from Seattle that has things for kids to do? Many thanks, Jessica in Lynnwood Dear Jessica, […]
State Park Cabins in Oregon, from Rustic to Deluxe
Picture this. After an unexpectedly chilly night spent sleeping on the hard, bumpy ground at a local state park, you skip your morning shower (too cold!) only to get rained on from the sky while eating instant oatmeal, shivering in your gortex. It’s car camping in the Northwest! And if you’ve had an overnight experience […]
Vintage Campers to Daydream About
When it comes to recreational vehicles, my tastes trend toward the old and cute. I adore vintage campers. I don’t own one, yet. The teardrop camper up there in the Northwest TripFinder logo is, so far, just wishful thinking in pixels. But when my new Sunset magazine arrived last week with a yellow vintage-style teardrop […]
CAMP & HIKE: Fort Flagler State Park
How about a hike with a history lesson? Fort Flagler was a military installation established to protect Puget Sound from invaders during World War II. Now it’s a waterfront state park.
Ohanapecosh Campground, Mount Rainier National Park
There are three stunning campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park, and each is wonderful, beautiful and… popular. Ohanapecosh Campground is usually the least crowded of the three, away from the hustle and bustle of the summer crowds at Paradise and Sunrise. The main reason it tops my list is for its magical old-growth forests and […]
HIKE: Three Beaches near La Push
There are three beaches in close proximity near La Push – First, Second and Third beaches. First Beach is a short jaunt from the Quileute Nation’s Oceanside Resort in La Push, and a popular gathering spot. Third Beach is 2.5 miles round trip through the woods (though the reward of solitude on the broad, sandy […]
CAMP: San Juan County Park
If ever there was a popular campground, this is it. We stop here frequently while on San Juan Island because you can sometimes spot killer whales from the park in the summertime. (Lime Kiln State Park is the spot for whale watching and a short distance south of here). Campsites can be reserved for May – September […]
CAMP: South Whidbey State Park
ALERT: South Whidbey State Park is open for day use only. Due to hazardous trees in the old-growth forest, the campground area is closed indefinitely. Camping is available at nearby Fort Casey and Fort Ebey state parks. Campsites are nestled in the lush woods on a bluff here, so there are no water views from the campsites themselves. Still, […]
CAMP: Salt Creek Recreation Area
Salt Creek is a dramatically beautiful and well-maintained campground with staggering views and terrific amenities. Like so many former WWII-era military lands set on the Salish Sea (this was once Camp Hayden), the 196-acre park has terrific sightlines, once used to watch for enemy boats. Now, you can enjoy these same views over a picnic lunch or beside a campfire. The […]
STAY & PLAY: Hiking Lake Quinault on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
Spring is a favorite season to visit Lake Quinault on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s not crowded. You have miles of trails all to yourself. Wildlife are becoming more active. And everything is green, green, green.
