If you are looking for a getaway, may we suggest the southeast corner of Washington? Here you will find Fields Spring State Park, an 825-acre park located in Washington’s northern portion of the Blue Mountains. The park lies within forested land and atop a natural spring, from which its name derives. Features of this park include camping opportunities, hiking trails, and scenic views from Puffer Butte. We stayed two nights in Tamarack cabin and loved every moment.
Read MoreThe temperatures have dropped, the leaves are falling, the rain is here, and winter is coming. With all of that being said, now is still a great time to get away and spend time with nature. Don’t let the change of seasons get you down, there are opportunities for all comfort levels, from backpacking in with the proper gear to sleeping in a cozy cabin at a state park. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind, unique, maybe even luxurious experience, there is also the option of “glamorous camping” through Glamping Hub. No matter your preference, there are plenty of late-season camping options favorable for all. We have put together a list of ideas to get you started.
Read MoreAs part-time wanderers, we often find ourselves looking for last minute plans for the weekend. This past weekend was no exception; no decided upon plans until Thursday when we found The Kite Festival scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on Whidbey Island. As it happened, we had not visited 4 of the five state parks on the island, so Whidbey became our weekend destination.
Read MoreLonging for ocean breezes, scenery, sunsets, wildlife encounters, quirky art, and history rolled into one destination? Anacortes on Fidalgo Island is a taste of island life that will leave you charmed and craving your next trip.
Read MoreThe river canyon known as the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington/Oregon border is one of only nine National Scenic Areas within the United States. Stretching from Portland and Vancouver in the west, all the way to Wasco and Klickitat counties in the east is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Passed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, this became the second scenic area of its kind. The 292,500-acres of land contain a wealth of history, gorgeous landscapes, and interesting places to see and explore. This is one road trip you do not want to miss!
Read MoreThe Ginkgo Petrified Forest is an intriguing, one of a kind forest. "Why", you ask? There is no visible forest as far as the eye can see. No trees are reaching to the blue sky. No shade is covering the sage-filled land. Moreover, the only natural water is the nearby mighty Columbia River. The forest is mostly beneath this desertscape, in petrified form. However, there are some million-year-old gems which have made their way to the surface. Petrified Ginkgo is just one of the many types of trees you will discover here. These, along with the ancient petroglyphs, make this a trip worth taking.
Read MoreConstructed between 1898 and 1917, Fort Worden was one of three posts collectively known as “The Triangle of Fire”. This triangle was strategically located to protect the Puget Sound and its surrounding cities from attacks by sea. The post never saw action and the state purchased the property in 1955 to turn it into Fort Worden Historical State Park. Hiking trails, historic lodging, a lighthouse, old batteries, and even a castle all make up the interesting parts of this 433-acre park. The location was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Read MoreHappy Halloween! It's the time of year when our imaginations lean toward the eerie and mysterious. A perfect time for us to share one of our trip reports of a ghost town, Melmont Ghost Town. Uninhabited and reasonably easy to get to, it's worthy of your chill seeking!
Read MoreSummer is here, maybe. Actually, it comes and goes every few days. We're still trying to figure out this crazy weather. However, when the sun is around it warms up quite a bit! Enough to discourage many from leaving home to explore. We don't want you to stop your adventures because of the heat. So we put together five great spots worth checking out on a hot day. Each location will keep you cool enough so you don't melt!
Read MoreAbout a month ago we set out in search of fossils at Racehorse Creek Landslide in the Mount Baker foothills area. Although we were on the wrong path, and didn't make it to the actual landslide location, we still managed to find a pile of recently fallen rock with some good leaf fossils scattered about it. We'll make our way to the landslide one day, but for now we'd like to share a little info about this area and what we found.
Read MoreOne of many coastal defense sites in the United States is situated at the Columbia River estuary in Chinook, Washington. It is well intact with 12 historical fort buildings, including the officer's house, artillery batteries, and two coastal artillery guns. The site is one of the many associated to the Lewis and Clark National and State-Historical Parks in Washington and Oregon. Construction of the 643 acre original fort lasted between 1896 and 1903, with additional construction during World War II. The fort was fully manned and operational for approximately 18 years before being transferred to the state in 1950. Today the park provides three miles of trails, a museum, wildlife viewing opportunities, and two historic vacation houses for overnight stays.
Read MoreThis past weekend we set out by ferry to San Juan Island to explore something that we'd recently heard about on the Lore podcast. That is the John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum, commonly known as Afterglow Vista. This mausoleum is hidden on a hill by trees, only accessible by walking a trail which goes through a nearby graveyard. Once you come to the monument you're awe struck by the size, beauty, design, and all of its masonic symbolism. Sitting on one of the six limestone chairs may make you feel uneasy if you know what lies within them. This memorial is astonishing with all of its history, symbology, and secrets.
Read MoreGold! Gold! Gold! Gold! was printed across Seattle newspaper headlines on July 17, 1897. This was the start to the Klondike Gold Rush as dreamers came from all over the country attempting to strike it rich in the Yukon gold fields near Dawson City. Of the estimated 100,000 prospects that set out on this journey, only 4,000 found gold and a mere few hundred became rich from it. The rush here lasted only a few years until gold was next discovered in Nome, Alaska. Pioneer Square in Seattle is home to one of the four units of the National Park Service's Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park. The other three units are located in Skagway, Alaska.
Read MoreNative Americans fished and hunted for centuries in the Cama Beach area before logging took over in the mid-1800s. After that, cottages and fishing resorts were built and Muriel and Lee Risk operated one such resort between 1934 and 1989. Around 1990 Washington State Parks began to acquire land through family donations and purchased other parts of it. Today the park offers visitors a restful and relaxing getaway. It also includes learning the history and culture of native people from the area. There's a Center for Wooden Boats where you may learn about boat building. The park includes numerous cabins for overnight stays along the waterfront with a park store nearby that offers groceries, snacks, supplies, and much more.
Read MoreDedicated in 1921 by Washington philanthropist Samuel Hill, Peace Arch is a one of a kind monument. In the interest of peace and nations, this is the only international gateway of its kind in the world. The arch straddles the 49th parallel, the international border line, and the surrounding park lies within both the U.S. and Canada. Visitors from either nation may walk through the arch and park without passing through customs, so long as they remain in the park boundaries and exit through the same side they entered.
Read MoreThis Stonehenge is a curiosity, kind of in the middle of nowhere. This memorial sits atop a windswept hill overlooking the mighty Columbia River. We found out about it while looking up information on area campgrounds.
Read MoreAs we started our 3 hour drive towards the state’s most south western point, where the Columbia River opens to the Pacific Ocean, we were getting hammered by the rain. The closer we got, the harder it came down. We planned on setting up our tent and camping for one night. Thank goodness we opted for only the one night instead of two like we originally planned. We still knew this single, wet, windy, and stormy night would be pretty uncomfortable.
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