King County

UPDATE FEBRUARY 19, 2025 The trailhead for Franklin Falls has been closed due to lack of funding by the federal government. Resting between the north and south lanes of I-90 lies an idyllic scene, full of cedar and pine that seem to stretch miles into the sky and views of the mighty Snoqualmie River. On...

Last weekend I had the pleasure of being invited to make a wreath for a charity drive at Duvall Flower and Gifts in Washington. I was intrigued. I have zero experience in the wreath-making industry and not having the faintest clue of where to begin but being a lover of all things holiday/outdoors-y I merrily...

Walking inside Sweet Mickey’s retro-styled candy store on Ballard Avenue, I was expecting to learn more about the eternal appeal of crafted sugar in all its forms and flavors. I’ve toured jelly bean factories and chocolate production lines, but Sweet Mickey’s is a next-level candy destination. As we begin this year’s season of sugarplums, candy...

The Cedar River Cabin is located in Maple Valley, Washington, and is only a forty-five-minute drive from Seattle! Our drive was extra dreamy and beautiful since the fall colors around Maple Valley were in full swing! The quick drive made it so convenient to be able to get there quickly and enjoy our stay in...

What are you up to this weekend? If you are fortunate enough to be reading this while looking at a forecast of sunny skies and warm weather then I presume your answer will involve warm weather activities. In fact, I’d imagine that given the chance you might insist it will only be warm weather activities for warm weather...

With the weather getting colder outside, there’s never been a better time to get a warm cup of hot chocolate. This is especially true if you love the outdoors, as you get to reward all your activity with a tasty mug of chocolate. I’ve been in Seattle for over 25 years, so here are my...

Pike Place Market in Seattle has been a beloved shopping hot spot for over 100 years. With shops of all kinds, it’s no wonder why Pike Place Market is still favored by locals and tourists alike. As high-rise apartments develop and pieces of historical Seattle cease to exist, it’s hard to find places which add...

I hopped off Chair 6 and started traversing towards Southback. The resort was to my left and all 14,411 feet of Mount Rainier was staring at me on the right. I was starting to feel a little choked up and short of breath. I wasn’t tired or scared. I’ve done this plenty of times. I...

Just a short drive from either Seattle or Tacoma, south King County has many great places to explore outside. PowellsWood Garden in Federal Way and the Redondo Beach area in Des Moines are two of those places. If you’re not quite ready to be out and about, you can still explore the garden and local...

There are few activities available outside of the home for a 93-year-old matriarch who has been self-quarantining since the beginning of January. My grandmother’s pandemic routine includes waking, dressing, breakfasting, and then alternating between books and television throughout the day and occasionally arranging a new bouquet of flowers my mother brings her once a week...

I moved to the greater Seattle area in early September and immediately went out and started exploring everything this state has to offer. I quickly realized just how incredible the State Park system is here. The abundance of public land combined with its tendency to be very pet-friendly (it’s not an adventure without my sidekick...

Want a gem of a hike that’s family-friendly and won’t take an all-day drive? This is your go-to hike with a great reward: Teneriffe Falls, North Bend, WA. After our rainy January, I was delighted to see the sun out and raced for the mountains. Weekends are busy on popular hikes such as this, but...