Hiking

Northwest Bookshelf: Exploring Northwest Nature with Kids

Thumbnail image for 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 […]

Read more.

CAMP & HIKE: Icicle Creek Canyon

Thumbnail image for CAMP & HIKE: Icicle Creek Canyon

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 […]

Read more.

CAMP & HIKE: Steamboat Rock State Park

Thumbnail image for 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 […]

Read more.

Columbia River Gorge: Cheap Sleeps and Wildflower Hikes

Thumbnail image for Columbia River Gorge: Cheap Sleeps and Wildflower Hikes

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 […]

Read more.

National Parks Fee-Free Days for 2019

Thumbnail image for National Parks Fee-Free Days for 2019

On a budget?  Our National Parks offer free admission days for 2019. 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 2019 Monday, January […]

Read more.

NORTHWEST GIFT GUIDE: The Outdoorist

Thumbnail image for NORTHWEST GIFT GUIDE: The Outdoorist
Read more.

DAY TRIP: Hiking in Paradise at Mount Rainier

Thumbnail image for DAY TRIP: Hiking in Paradise at Mount Rainier

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 […]

Read more.

Rainy Day Hikes from Seattle

Thumbnail image for 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 […]

Read more.

Northwest Bookshelf: Best Hikes with Kids, Western Washington

Thumbnail image for 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 […]

Read more.

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 […]

Read more.

← Previous Entries