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Hiking

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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Northwest Bookshelf: Exploring Northwest Nature with Kids

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  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 […]

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CAMP & HIKE: Icicle Creek Canyon

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The Icicle Creek Canyon may be a tad far away to be Seattle’s outdoor playground (five to six hours of drive time, round-trip) but for many Central Puget Sound hikers and rock climbers, it is anyway. Simply put, it’s totally worth the drive. There was a particular feeling I got the first time I hiked […]

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CAMP & HIKE: Steamboat Rock State Park

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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 […]

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Columbia River Gorge: Cheap Sleeps and Wildflower Hikes

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Are you in search of sunshine, open vistas and fields of wildflowers? Don’t wait for summer–find these adventures now on the sunny Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Sunshine and springtime wildflowers draw adventurers to the east end of the Columbia River Gorge. The views open up and you can see for miles. Oak trees […]

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NORTHWEST GIFT GUIDE: The Outdoorist

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DAY TRIP: Hiking in Paradise at Mount Rainier

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Explore the Paradise region of Mt. Rainier on one of these hikes that are bursting with wildflowers right now, plus where to stay if you make it a weekend.   Do you hear a mountain calling your name? It’s the most recognizable icon of Washington state’s landscape. It has three of our state’s best campgrounds […]

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Rainy Day Hikes from Seattle

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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 […]

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Northwest Bookshelf: Best Hikes with Kids, Western Washington

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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 […]

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Waterfall Weekend: Columbia River Gorge

I know it’s unconventional, but I don’t subscribe to the idea of “summer vacation.” Here’s the deal: my family takes our vacations in small, weekend-sized chunks close to our home base of Seattle. With our energy-filled son in tow, we combine outdoor activities like day hiking with exploring small towns or visiting local wineries. Local, bite-sized […]

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