Quick Escape: Soak at Harrison Hot Springs
The thermally-active Pacific Northwest is home to many natural hot springs rumored to hold therapeutic powers to cure what ails you–or at least warm up your achy muscles after a winter hike. Yes, winter hike… or summer, or fall, or whenever a dip strikes your fancy. That’s the wonderful thing about natural hot springs–you can soak year-round, but in […]
Guidebook: Autumn Escapes in the Pacific Northwest
Welcome to fall! If you ask me, this is the best season for Northwest weekend getaways for a number of reasons. That’s why I’ve written a book on it! Autumn offers unique, colorful and delicious opportunities to explore the Pacific Northwest. Get inspired to spend your fall weekends combing rocky beaches, savoring the harvest, and […]
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 […]
Q: Great Northwest Getaways Under $100 a Night?
Dear TripFinder, Q: Our family is on a budget but we still need to get out of town once in awhile. Where can my family (me, wife, baby) go for a fun summer weekend for under or around $100 a night? We’d like to avoid chain hotels and dingy roadside motels, if possible. We’d prefer destinations that are within a few hours’ […]
Top Picks from REI’s Biggest Outdoor Gear Sale
I have to say, it’s quite thoughtful of REI to have their biggest sale of the year just as I’m planning our summer camping trips and figuring out all the gear we need. This isn’t just a clearance sale–many of the deals are new gear products, discounted as much as 30% off. Check out the sale; it ends May 25. […]
Q: Peak Wildflowers at Mt. Rainier National Park?
Dear TripFinder, Q: I am trying to decide between Ohanapecosh and Cougar Rock campgrounds for a reservation this summer. I would like to be able to go view wildflowers towards the end of July. Is Paradise or Sunrise better for that and based on that which campground would you suggest? – Mary S. Dear Mary, At […]
Northwest Notes: April
Spring is here, and it’s early! Use your free weekends to experience this beautiful season in the Pacific Northwest. GO NOW: Don’t miss the peak bloom at tulip festivals around the Pacific Northwest. The largest is the Skagit Tulip Festival, which runs April 1-30, 2015. Monitor the blooms by taking a peak at the #skagittulipfestival in […]
Weekend Escape: Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast
One of the most stunningly scenic coastlines in the Northwest draws travelers to the Sunshine Coast’s sheltered bays fringed with fir-scented forests. Plus, the 100-mile coastline enjoys more sunny days than anywhere else in western British Columbia. The Sunshine Coast is the stretch of British Columbia’s mainland coast to the northwest of Vancouver. Sheltered from the Pacific […]
