You don’t need to shell out a lot of money to have a great time in Tacoma. After spending my high school years in this town, I can assure you this town has many cost-free things to do around every corner. Between public parks, shoreline on Puget Sound, original Dale Chihuly artwork and views of Mount Rainier in your face, Tacoma has a little something for everyone and every budget. Here are a few of my favorite things to do around the 253 that won’t break the bank. 1. Point Defiance Rose Garden Point Defiance has a lovely, free garden where…
Hiking is a lot more fun when you can bring your four-legged friend. Why just leave them at home when they can get some fresh air and exercise too? Oregon has miles of trails where pets are welcome on a leash. While our big icon Crater Lake only has a few limited tail-friendly options – most without views of the lake – there are still many state parks, recreation areas and national forests where you can take your collared hiker. These are ten of our favorites. 1. Ramona Falls A fairy-tale-like waterfall on a dog-friendly trail – it doesn’t get…
via Ian D Keating
California is one of the most beautiful places to wake up. Every morning, when the sun rises and fills the sky with pink, orange and purple hues, our landscapes could not get any more gorgeous – especially out by the coastline. Throw in some palm trees, curious seagulls, ocean waves & surfers and the scene becomes even more lovely. These are just eight of the many beaches that are worth getting up early for to watch the sunrise. Our friends at California Beaches has helped us put together this list. 1. Huntington Beach Huntington City Beach is a place for…
One of the great things about Seattle is our prime location. We’re set along the beautiful Puget Sound and Lake Washington, only a few hours from the Pacific coast, and close to many areas for hiking, picnicking, boating, fishing, kayaking and camping. These state parks are only about an hour drive from the city or less, and perfect if you feel like getting out but don’t want to travel far. 1. Dash Point State Park Dash Point sits on the shores of Puget Sound between Federal Way and Tacoma. The park has a huge campground, miles of several trails for…
via Thomas Shahan
Three Capes Scenic Route is an excellent way to take in 40 miles of Oregon’s coastal scenery. The drive connects three beautiful state parks, including: Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and the smallest, Cape Kiwanda. Cape Kiwanda may not be as big, but it has a gorgeous diversity of scenery: with tide pools, brilliant sandstone, sand dunes, coves and a huge off-shore monolith. The coastal park’s known for getting strong winds, but that just makes for great hang gliding, surfing and kite flying, and the chance to see powerful ocean waves crashing in. The hiking opportunities here are amazing. For those…
via Feel Planet
You can’t visit Yosemite without seeing beautiful waterfalls. The national park has thousands – from ones that tumble a few feet to others that drop from almost 2,500 feet high. But one stands out in particular around the last couple weeks of February every year. If the weather conditions are good, and the sun is shining down at just the right angle, Horsetail Fall can illuminate at sunset and look like a giant stream of lava pouring off a cliff. It’s known as “The Natural Firefall”. Every year, hundreds of people come to witness this fiery phenomena, but it can…
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest holds so many hidden gems in southwestern Washington. Stretching between Mount Rainier National Park and the Columbia River at the Oregon border, this forest encompasses over a million acres of woods, waterfalls, lakes, rivers and mountains – including the 2nd highest peak in our state (behind Rainier), Mount Adams, and the infamous Mount St. Helens. These are just six of the many remote treasures you can find hiding amid this lush, beautiful forest. 1. Ape Caves Even if you’re not a spelunker or experienced hiker, you will love venturing through Ape Caves. These lava tubes…
via Flickr/Ian Sane
Silver Falls State Park lies southeast of Salem with not just one waterfall you can see, but ten. And on top of that, you can take in sweet views of them one after another by following a beautifully maintained trail that loops throughout the forested canyon. The Trail of Ten Falls loop spans for a decent 7.2 miles with about 800 feet in elevation, but you don’t have to go the full route if you don’t want. Many side trails along the way provide easy shortcuts to loop back around to your car. A lot of people like to take…
Piers have been a defining part of Southern California’s coastline for years. Stretching far out over the ocean, they provide the most beautiful setting for fishing, shopping, restaurants, and some like Santa Monica’s even have attractions like a ferris wheel. Combine these historic seaside structures with the bright colors of a California sunset and you’ll be at no end of perfect photo opportunities. These are just 12 of the many gorgeous piers along the coast where you’ll love watching the sun go down. 1. Huntington Beach Pier Let’s just get this out of the way – it would be impossible…
You don’t need to hike far to see beautiful waterfalls in Washington. We have lovely cascades around every corner and many of them can be reached by a short hike that goes for three miles or less round-trip. Some aren’t even really a hike at all, rather just a short nature walk in the great outdoors. Try taking on some of these easy trails across the state if you (or something you’re with) is new to hiking, or you just don’t feel like going on a long and strenuous venture. 1. Franklin Falls Total length: 2 miles, round-trip Ahh, Franklin…