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 […]

Ask TripFinder: Oregon Campervan Road Trip Itinerary?

Oregon Campervan Road Trip Itinerary

Want to rent your own campervan to take the camping road trip I describe below? Browse camper vans, RV’s and travel trailers that you can rent by the night at Outdoorsy. Check out Vagabond Vans which offers converted camper mini vans, Go Camp Campervans for cool pop-up VW Vanagons and Eurovans.  Dear TripFinder, Q: Hey there!  […]

DAY TRIP: Escape to Jetty Island near Everett

Set sail on a free ferry boat. Spend the day on a wide sandy beach. Build sandcastles. Unplug. Have fun.   If the ferry lines to nearby escapes like the San Juan Islands have you staying close to home on perfect summer days, there’s a little escape you need to know about. It’s called Jetty Island and […]

Road Trip: Olympic National Park

One of the nation’s most-visited natural treasures, Olympic National Park is a place of great beauty, mystery and intrigue. Ancient trees stand like giants, tall enough to pierce the sky. Chartreuse moss drapes across the canopy. The forest floor is carpeted in ferns. And at the edge of it all, a beach more wild than […]

Olympic Peninsula Weekend: The Hybrid and the Kabin

I’m a bit inclined to get stuck in ruts, from the cars I like to drive (old Volvo station wagons), to the campgrounds I prefer (tent sites near wilderness) to the toppings on my pizza (pineapple and hot peppers). And that’s usually okay because really, change is over-rated. But one kind of change is not over-rated: climate change. Our record-hot Northwest […]

Campfire Restrictions in the Northwest

Taking a camping trip this weekend?  Pack your gear using our handy Car Camping Checklist and you won’t forget anything, ever. UPDATE: August 20, 2016 Going camping? There are campfire restrictions in place (see details below). In fact, 2016 marks the fourth summer in a row that has seen restriction on campfires in the Northwest, though the restrictions are […]

Q: Great Camping and Fishing near the Tri-Cities?

Dear TripFinder, Q: I recently moved to tri cities and love to camp and fish. Are there any forest areas that have good camping within 100 miles? – Terek  Dear Terek, First, only because some readers may not know this, the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland and Pasco) are in Washington’s desert country in the south central […]