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Category: Destinations

Embracing the Rain on Seven Stunning Olympic Day Hikes

Finally. Raindrops are falling once again around Olympic National Park. The endlessly glorious summer ended long ago, and amazing warm, blue skies are a thing of the past. The days are growing short, like baby boomers, while the sun hides behind gray clouds, giving us a mere shadow of its potential.  The rain is here for …

Hike Summit Lake Near Mount Rainier

There are more classic hikes around Washington State than can be listed, though many authors try. It seems like early every road, from the gravel ones in the forest service to the paved ones in the National Parks, leads to a trail that is incredibly, jaw-dropping and beautiful. Around every bend, and in every corner …

The Seven Highlights of Hiking Olympic’s Staircase Loop Trail

There are hikes serious hikers are afraid to admit they enjoy. Maybe it is ego, or maybe it is the expectation that each time they go out, they need to crush 15+ miles and 4,000 feet of elevation gain, but talk with hikers tends to be about their most epic hike. Comparing where you have …

This Summer, Hike Olympic National Park’s Maiden Peak

The naming of Olympic National Park’s Maiden Peak is under debate, but the most likely story of why the area is called as such comes from the book Gods and Goblins. In the book, it is said that Maiden Lake and Maiden Peak got named in the summer of 1913, when a bunch of young …

Your Guide to the Campgrounds of Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is known for amazing views, fantastic hiking and some of the last true wilderness in America, yet few know of all of the unique camping opportunities along the roads of the park. Spread around the region, camping in Olympic offers visitors a wide of variety of choices.

Beat the Heat: Nine Hikes to Stay Cool Around Olympic National Park

The region in and around Olympic National Park is known throughout the world as being a wet, damp, and sometimes dreary place. With an average rainfall in some locations of over 14 feet, it is easy to see why we have that reputation. During the summer months, especially in the last couple of years, the rainforests, …

Going Wild for Wildflowers at Mount Rainier National Park

People love wildflowers. Actually, that is an understatement. People go crazy for wildflowers each and every summer, flocking to the high-alpine meadows around Mount Rainier, hoping for a chance to witness every colorful petal. Each summer, visitors from around the world for a chance to see, smell, and take in the gorgeousness of the flowery …

Black and White Lakes in Olympic National Park

The Staircase region of Olympic National Park is full of surprises, be it the stunning mountain views at Flapjack Lakes and Gladys Divide, the serene sounds and sights along the Skokomish River, or the solitude and splendor of Wagonwheel Lake and Cub Peak. Up high in the Staircase region, mountain goats roam the rocky peaks, …

10 Reasons to Visit Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park

The state of Oregon has many amazing and beautiful places, and yet, has just one National Park. Down in the south central Cascades, an ancient volcanic lake sits, waiting for your discovery. Widely recognized, yet rarely visited, Crater Lake National Park is a crown jewel in the National Park Service, offering visitors a wide variety …

America’s Best Small Towns: Port Angeles, Washington

Port Angeles is an amazing small town on the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula. Home to just under 20,000 residents, this port city offers stunning views of the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, and gives those willing to drive a few miles the chance to have the best scenery …