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Cascade Loop Road Trip in Washington
Washington’s Cascade Loop paints a dramatic portrait of the Pacific Northwest’s raw and wild scenery. The area’s roadside attractions feature granite mountain peaks that reach toward the sky, quaint towns nestled among greenery, and emerald islands sprinkled across cobalt waters. While many stops along the Cascade Loop are must-sees on their own, together they form an unforgettable road trip itinerary. Along its course, the road trip reveals a tapestry of lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains. With twisting scenic byways and opportunities for jaunts into untamed wilderness, the 440 mile loop…
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Skagit Valley Day Trip from Seattle
Every year during springtime, Seattleites flock to the Skagit valley in order to capture Instagram-worthy selfies against a backdrop of tulip fields. The rows of red and purple and pink are a spectacular sight to behold. And it is no wonder that people will withstand clogged streets and traffic jams in order to catch a glimpse of their beauty. Yet, once the flowers shed their petals, the verdant valley reverts to being an afterthought. Aside from its annual springtime tulip bloom, Skagit County is mostly regarded as drive-through country. It…
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Leavenworth in Winter: A Bavarian-Style Getaway
Leavenworth Washington is a little slice of southern Germany that lies in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Located at the eastern edge of Washington’s Cascade Mountains, the logging-town-turned-Bavarian village is more than 5,000 miles from the place it was made to resemble. With its faux-German storefronts and exaggerated Bavarian folk culture, it isn’t the type of place I typically choose to visit In fact, I’ve often found myself remarking at the town’s kitschy and over-the-top decor. But I have to admit that Leavenworth in winter is a magical sight.…
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Driving Oregon’s McKenzie-Santiam Scenic Byway
In Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, two geologically fascinating ecosystems collide. On the west side of the Cascades, lush Douglas fir and red cedar forests conceal waterfalls and glimmering lakes. On the drier east side, ponderosa pines prevail and cloudless skies abound. Oregon’s two halves clash in everything from climate to politics to scenery. The area of their convergence reveals a place that is at once hot and cold, wet and dry, living and dead. Charred forests give birth to new life. Frigid streams contain pockets of boiling water. Lava fields adjoin…
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Central Oregon Coast Road Trip Attractions
The central Oregon coast is a land defined by its natural diversity. It is a sprawling patchwork of forests, lakes, dunes, and marine gardens. Along its tumultuous expanse, rocky headlands loom high above the ocean, providing astounding vistas of craggy rocks and offshore islands. While the northern coast receives most of the tourists and the southern coast is considered to be Oregon’s darling, the central coast is the section I hold closest to my heart. It is my childhood playground and the location of my elopement. I could go on…
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The Mighty 5: A Guide to Utah’s National Parks
Southern Utah is an expansive desert wilderness that beckons travelers from around the world. One of nature’s great canvases, it features chiseled canyons, red rock hoodoos, delicate arches, soaring cliffs, and lonely unpaved roads. I’ve said it often and I’ll say it again: There’s no place quite like southern Utah. While the United States has its fair share of breathtaking landscapes, southern Utah is truly out of this world. The legendary area—home to some of the American Southwest’s signature attractions—boasts some of the most iconic desertscapes on Earth. Its swath…
