Mossy Boots

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 […]

Tide Pool Party: Where to Spot Cool Marine Life Near Seattle

Grab your rubber boots and low tide field guide–there are some fantastic minus tides in Puget Sound this summer! There are a few things in life that you can rely on with absolute certainty. One of those is the rhythm of the sea. Twice a day, the tide will come in (high tide!) and twice […]

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. Rocks and birds. Hikes through desert wildflowers. Fragrant sagebrush whipping in the wind. Sleeping under a big sky of stars. The […]

How To Choose Your Next Camping Tent

Why go camping? How about because it’s loads of fun? Because you create lifelong memories with people you love over a crackling campfire. Because coffee tastes better outside. Because… s’mores. Because waking up to the sound of birdsong. Because camping will save you a bunch of money that you don’t shell out for a hotel. […]

Trip Guide: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

This sunny Central Oregon treasure is the perfect spring escape for hikers and rockhounds. At first glance, you see a stunning landscape with multicolored badlands and eroded pinnacles. And you think, this looks like Utah, or maybe even another planet. But it’s right here in the Pacific Northwest. The John Day River cuts trenches through […]

STAY & PLAY: Soft Beds and Desert Hikes in Washington’s Canyon Country

There’s no better way to experience the natural splendor of our Pacific Northwest landscapes than hiking, and if you make a weekend of it you can squeeze in two hikes! Not into camping? Even a soft-bed enthusiast can hike a desert canyon or enjoy a creekside stroll without ever setting foot (or head) in a tent. To […]

STAY & PLAY: Hikes in Washington’s Columbia River Gorge

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 […]

BOOK: 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

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 […]

Camping Coffee Six Ways

When I plan a camping trip there are a few comforts that are non-negotiable, even when hiking deep into the backcountry. One is warmth, and I have a ridiculously low-temp sleeping bag with a waterproof shell to ensure I will never again stay up all night shivering. The other is hot morning coffee, preferably ready […]

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