You have driven past the Cle Elum exit on I-90 more times than you can count. Most people have. It is 80 miles east of Seattle, just past Snoqualmie Pass, and it looks from the highway like a gas station and a Dairy Queen. It is not. Here is what is actually worth your time…
Washington’s state bird is the Willow Goldfinch, a flash of brilliant yellow that turns up in backyard feeders, weedy fields, and wetland edges across the state. Learn how to identify it, when breeding colors peak, and the best places to spot one near you.
Spring in Seattle means one thing for a few glorious weeks each year: cherry blossoms. The city comes alive with pink and white blooms at parks, gardens, and campuses across every neighborhood. Most people know about the famous trees at the University of Washington, and for good reason, but Seattle has more cherry blossom viewing…
Washington morel season can last four months if you follow the elevation from low river valleys in late March to high mountain passes in July. Here is the complete playbook for chasing morels across the state.
The UW cherry blossoms are blooming now in 2026. As of mid-March, the Yoshino cherry trees at the University of Washington Quad are in early bloom, with peak bloom expected in the last week of March through early April. The 29 trees that line the central lawn create one of the most photographed scenes in…
Blake Island Marine State Park to us, is a local paradise and what the locals call a “Blakation”! Your arrival at the island puts you directly into another world. You will be greeted with grazing deer, possibly a bald eagle, the sounds of birds chirping and the waves crashing over the rocks on the beach….
Hey there, fellow adventurers! Grab your favorite PNW flannel, lace up those hiking boots, and maybe pack a cozy picnic basket, because today, we’re setting our sights on a place where stunning natural beauty meets fascinating military history: Fort Flagler State Park. If you’re looking for a day trip that offers a little bit of everything…
Waikiki Beach Cape Disappointment State Park is one of Washington’s most spectacular winter destinations, where storm-watching, coastal forest hikes, and sweeping views of the Columbia River mouth await. Who needs to hop on a flight and wing their way across the Pacific for some primo beach adventures when you can do the same thing closer…
If you’ve ever camped at Lake Chelan State Park, you know how busy it can get. Summer weekends fill fast. Campgrounds feel packed. The lake is constant motion. What most visitors never see is what it takes to keep a park like this running when it’s full. “During peak season, Lake Chelan State Park can…
A Conversation with Author Eric Vickrey Most baseball fans can tell you about the Dodgers’ iconic moments in Los Angeles — legendary players, unforgettable seasons, and the culture that turned the franchise into a powerhouse. But far fewer know where the roots of that success were actually planted.And almost no one points to Spokane, Washington as the…
New Year’s Day Hikes in Washington: Start 2026 Outside Forget resolutions you’ll abandon by mid-January. First Day Hikes offer a better way to start the year—getting outside, moving your body, and spending January 1st in a Washington state park instead of on the couch. More than 30 parks across the state are hosting ranger-led hikes,…
Wallace Falls State Park is one of those places almost everyone in Washington has a story about. A first hike. A rainy weekend escape. A “let’s just go to the Middle Falls and see how we feel” kind of afternoon. It’s familiar, it’s reliable, and it’s always busy. But the version of Wallace Falls most…
