Washington

Some may call us nutty for how much we packed into this trip but we are wildly happy with our time spent in northwest Washington. You never know when you’ll be back to the same location a second time so it’s very much our style to squeeze the most juice out of the lemon so to speak. The variety of terrain and scenery we were able to see in a four day timespan was largely thanks to Dan’s expertise and navigational skills. But before we dive into the nitty gritty, lets take a moment to appreciate our adorably quaint airbnb that overlooked Possession Sound.

*3rd Street Bed and Breakfast located in Mukilteo, 25 min from Seattle.*

Before we checked in to our BnB we stopped by Lumen Field, the stadium which the Seahawks, Sounders FC and Reign FC all call home, before grabbing dinner at a local brewery called Elysian Fields. Elysian is a casual but trendy sports bar. You could tell it’s one of the spots people go for a post-work beer and surely it gets packed on Sundays. The stars aligned and we got a special treat in the form of our friend Sean who just finished hiking the PCT. He met up with us and had plenty of stories to share. A huge shoutout to him for such a massive accomplishment!

Day 1: North Cascades National Park
About two hours northeast of Seattle, butting up with the Canadian border, lies the North Cascades. Getting around 1/100th of the annual traffic as Olympic, this park tends to fly under the radar but is no less worthy than the heavyweights of the northwest like Glacier or Olympic. Currently holding 312 glaciers, it is the most glaciated park in the lower 48 states. Home to over 1,600 plant species across eight different life zones, it is one of the most eco-diverse parks in the country. With over 400 miles of trails spanning about 1,000 square miles, makes it is one of the most hikeable as well.

Trail: Cascade Pass to Doubtful Lake
Style: Out and back, scree fields, shaded until the pass
Distance: 9 mi.
Level: Intermediate

An early rise around 5:30am was needed to get to the Cascade Pass trailhead at a reasonable time. Fortunately, the road leading into the area had just reopened from a summer closure due to wildfire. The temp was a cool 50 degrees at the trailhead, with a thick layer of clouds and fog. Starting at around 4,000 ft, we switchbacked up through the lush temperate rainforest for about 4 miles until we reached the pass. The weather really turned at this point, as it was now freezing with less than 100 feet of visibility. Around a mile beyond the pass we ran into a few fellow hikers and decided to turn back with them, as the weather did not seem to be clearing up anytime soon. Through the thick veil of clouds you could see the colors of the meadows and some incredible views in the distance, but the morning would not allow for anything more than a small tasting. It was a little before noon when we arrived back at the trailhead, so we decided to drive into the park a bit deeper to see what else it had to offer.

The views from Rte. 20 are nothing short of stunning. Following alongside the Skagit River through canyon and lake country, the drive itself could have been enough to make the trip worth it. We decided to stop at Diablo Lake for a short hike, as we were thirsty for some Cascade views.

Trail: Thunder Knob
Style: Out and back, shaded
Distance: 3.5 mi.
Level: Easy

The trail was short and well maintained and the views at the top of the knob were the best so far. Would certainly recommend this hike if driving through the area.

After the three hour drive back, we decided to try neighboring Everett for dinner and a night cap. We ended up at Anthony’s HomePort, a stalwart local seafood chain located right on the water. Dan ordered some grilled halibut and Laura went big with the Dungeness crab, and neither disappointed! After dinner we drove a couple minutes to The Muse Whiskey Bar & Coffee Shop also right on the water. There were only two other cars in the parking area, so we were a bit hesitant walking up the stairs of what seemed to be a Victorian era mansion. Once inside, we were greeted and escorted to the bar area which was dripping with Prohibition-style swank and ambiance. We would both recommend this place, as it was not only about food and drink but also the experience.

Day 2: Seattle
We thought if weather permitted, it would be best to break up the hiking days with a casual city day and it worked out just like we’d hoped. We began the day at Starbucks Reserve and Roasters. Admittedly, Laura is not much of a Starbucks fan so this took some convincing on Dan’s part. In her mind, why choose an international chain over supporting a small business with charm? That said, this was a wonderfully unique experience for the both of us. (So much so that we crammed in another coffee run on the morning of our departure back to L.A., almost missing our flight!)

After the Reserve we walked to Seattle’s lively Waterfront. It turned out to be a great place for people watching, appreciating the skyline over the water, plus it was conveniently located near other top attractions—our next being Pike Place Market.

Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country. They have local artisans, plenty of food vendors and the flowers are epic. You could easily spend a few hours in this market alone. One of the highlights for Laura was finding a bakery called Cinnamon Works offering delicious Gluten Free pastries. She opted for the cinnamon bun and it did not disappoint.

After our bite to eat, we rented scooters to take us back to our car instead of walking up a giant hill. We needed all the time we could spare for our next stop, the Iconic Space Needle Tower. We mostly spent time meandering around the grounds and snapping photos from the outside (Laura is afraid of heights) but If you want, you can bundle your ticket for the Needle (going inside) along with the admissions for the Chihuly gardens. There is a lot to do in this area besides just the tower if you have time to kill.

At this point we felt good about our time spent in the city, and since our lovely Airbnb host recommended a place called Deception Pass State Park, we decided to drive the hour and a half to get there in time for sunset. Let us tell you–it was worth the effort. Set on the northern edge of Whidbey Island, this area is full of old-growth evergreens, scenic hikes, and opportunities to see wildlife. Depending on the hike you choose, you may end up at a beautiful beach down below or an unforgettable cliffside view. We chose to do a miniature hike from the parking lot to the bridge where we walked across it and found a spot to watch the sun go down on the cliffside. There are so many great lookout points! You can even kayak along the Sound or camp overnight depending on how much time you have. Anything you do will be spectacular; It’s worth taking the time to explore this area.

After sunset we were starving so we barreled over to a Thai Restaurant (what else?) in nearby Oak Harbor called Sweet Rice (surprisingly, it was the best orange chicken Dan ever had) before heading back to Mukilteo. We needed to get quality sleep for our next day of adventure.

Pro tip: we ordered a third meal to take home–pineapple fried rice, so that we had a packable lunch for our Olympic day.

Day 3: Olympic National Park

Our last full day and certainly our most eventful was Olympic National Park. She did not disappoint! We lucked out and were gifted the most PERFECT weather. Not a cloud in the sky to begin our day. After stopping at the visitors center to get the lay of the land and grab our maps, we decided to begin with a hike up to Hurricane Ridge. Thankfully we packed some layers because it was cold 🥶 up around 6,000 ft. After a short hike up around the ridge, we came back down to Rte. 101 and took the scenic byway towards the coast. On the way, we passed through Forks, WA where Twilight series was set. Here, a thin layer of fog cast itself over a sandy beach which stretched for miles down the northwest coastline. This was the perfect spot to unwind for a bit, eat our leftover Thai, and reminisce about the trip. After a bit of foraging for seashells and pebbles, we were back on the road heading toward the rainforest. We ended up at Lake Quinault, and drove another 45 minutes upriver until we reached a trailhead to a dry lake.

Trail: Irely Lake
Style: Out and back, muddy, shaded
Distance: 2.5 mi.
Level: Easy

The trail was pretty well maintained compared to some closer to Lake Quinault. It would rain lightly for a few minutes, then turn sunny. The forest was dripping wet, complete with singing frogs, slithering banana slugs, and wild mushrooms. Around a mile into the hike, we came across a log bridge which was turned on its side and did our best Simone Biles beam routine to skirt across and over the creek below. There were no other cars or people in this neck of the woods so were thrilled to have it all to ourselves. After a couple hours in the forest, we were ready to move onward.

Back on the 101, we had run out of peninsula and needed to turn back east. Remembering that Aberdeen, WA was home to one of the most influential rock musicians of our time, we decided to make a pitstop there. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana paved the way for most of the bands we both grew up to, and it was sobering to see his childhood home and memorial park down the road. After paying our respects, we stopped to get a bite at Billy’s Bar & Grill for some needed pub grub and refueling for our 2 hour drive back to Mukilteo.

From Utah to Colorado