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 […]
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 […]
Gear Closet: Up to 50% at REI
The holidays are so over, as are last year’s models of many outdoor gear items. If you’re like me and don’t mind last year’s leftovers when they come 50% off, head on over to REI.com and check out their January clearance sale. Here are some highlights from the sale. Thanks for reading Northwest TripFinder. See […]
Gifts for Intrepid Pacific Northwesterners
The holidays are upon us. Whether you give lots of gifts this time of year or spread your generosity across the seasons, you might find yourself stumped over choosing the perfect present for the local traveler in your life. Here’s a little guide to some of our favorite things for local travelers this year. Whether your […]
CAMP & HIKE: Trillium Lake, Mount Hood
On the south side of Mt. Hood at 3,600 feet elevation is Trillium Lake, ringed with fragrant conifers, flower-filled boggy meadows, and a flat, family-friendly, barrier-free loop trail. If you’re looking for a late summer or early autumn overnight camping trip near Portland, this should be near the top of your list. Where to Hike […]
CAMP & HIKE: Beverly Beach and Yaquina Head
I love this year-round central Oregon Coast trip because it combines a really nice campground experience (with yurts!) and plenty of good beach exploring. Devil’s Punchbowl is just to the north of the state park campground, and Yaquina Head Natural Area with Oregon’s tallest lighthouse is just to the south. And it’s right by the town […]
Quick Escape: Lake Crescent
People come to glacially-carved Lake Crescent to see its crystal clear waters ringed with fragrant conifers. They stay for an enchanting hike to a waterfall and a night at the historic lakeside lodge. Thousands of years ago, massive sheets of ice carved this long, deep lake through the Olympic mountains. And deep it is–the second deepest […]
CAMP & HIKE: Moran State Park on Orcas Island
No reservations? No problem. Get our FREE GUIDE to Last-Minute Camping in the Pacific Northwest. Orcas Island is a beautiful patchwork of lush farmland, rolling hills and gorgeous coastline–a whole lot like its sister islands in the San Juan archipelago. One thing that undeniably sets it apart from the others, though, is Moran State Park–5,200 acres in […]
The Ten Essentials, plus Five Important Hiking Safety Tips
Enjoy your hike, but take these precautions to help ensure your safety out there.
