4 Can’t Miss Hikes in the Pacific Northwest

If you’re going to the Pacific Northwest, there’s one activity you don’t want to pass up: exploring the can’t-miss hikes in the area. Of course, Seattle is known for coffee, craft beers, and eclectic restaurants, but what many people don’t realize is some of the best hiking trails in the Pacific Northwest are located in and around Seattle. While making plans for your trip, you just might realize that stationing yourself in and around the Seattle area to be close to these hiking trails is an idea you don’t want to miss.

Old Mount Si Trail

Want to find a trail less traveled but still itching to experience Mount Si in its entirety? The Old Mount Si Trail gives hikers a view similar to one you would find on the newer Mount Si trail but without the crowds. Located in the Snoqualmie region, the Old Trail is only 24 miles from Redmond, the perfect place to make your hub if you’re wanting to be outside of the city. While this hike will give you a more challenging experience with an 8-mile round trip hike and an elevation gain of more than 3,200 feet, it will be well worth the trek.

Little Si Hiking Trail

With an elevation gain of more than 1,200 feet and a 4.7-mile hike round trip, Little Si is perfect for those hikers who are less experienced or want a moderate workout with stunning sights along the way. At the top of Little Si, you will find a panoramic view of Mount Washington, the Upper Snoqualmie Valley, and Mount Si on a clear day. Make sure to obtain the Discover Pass before hiking Old Mount Si Trail and Little Si Trail.

Mount Teneriffe

While Mount Si and Little Si are well-known hikes in the Seattle area, don’t shy away from the lesser-known hikes such as  Mount Teneriffe. It’s longer, at 13.8 miles round trip, and has an elevation gain of 3,800 feet. You will pass the Kamikaze Falls and come across incredible views of Mount Rainier from the summit without dealing with the heavily populated trails at Mount Si and Little Si. Note that the trailhead is only 36 miles from Seattle.

Crystal Lakes Trail 

For those looking for a hike farther outside of the city, Mount Rainer has the Crystal Lakes Trail. Gaining 2,300 feet elevation during this 6-mile round trip hike, you will come across a view of Mount Rainier, the wildflowers lining lower Crystal Lake, and various wildlife as you make your way towards Upper Crystal Lake. If you’re looking to camp, both Lower and Upper Crystal Lakes have sites available, but be sure to obtain a permit.

Whether you decide to hike Mount Si, Little Si, Mount Teneriffe, or Crystal Lakes, the Pacific Northwest does not skimp on diverse terrain or stunning perspectives. If you can’t decide on one trail, make a weeklong trip out of it to enjoy as much as you can of this spectacular region of the United States.

Enhancing Your Vacation: Much More Than Just Sitting On A Beach

Vacations are something that many of us really look forward to. In fact, the majority of us will plan our year based around vacation time and book the destinations way in advance. We work hard to save the money for these trips and so, the truth is, we want to ensure that we get as much out of that time away as possible. Many people get to enjoy a vacation once a year, and they really countdown the days until they head off. Not all of us like the idea of just sitting on a beach for two weeks. Sure, for some, that might be heaven, but I wanted to share with yous one of the other things you could consider doing on your vacation. Helping you to get the most out of it. So if a beach lounger doesn’t inspire you too much, here are some of the other ways you could enhance the vacation this year.

Consider camping instead of a hotel

Holidays don’t always need to be spent going somewhere hot, booking into a hotel and spending your days lounging around the pool or the beach. Why not try something different this year? Camping is fast becoming a viable choice, not just for families, but for groups of friends or even as a couple. It is a real different way of enjoying a vacation and with websites like Tents and Camp gear providing you with all the essentials, you can even enjoy some of the home comforts you are accustomed to. Camping under the stars, enjoying being at one with nature, and spending some quality time together with your friends and family really sounds like the perfect ingredients for a smashing vacation.

Go hiking and exploring

Maybe you like the idea of venturing off somewhere warm or in a different country, however, once you are there why not use the opportunity to explore and see the destination from a different side. Hiking and exploring in a different area can be very exciting, and many locals or accommodation staff will be only too pleased to tell you about amazing walks you can embark on or secret sights that are a little off the beaten track. This is your chance to experience some of the beauty of the location you have chosen, so don’t delay.

Research different sightseeing opportunities

If you like the idea of learning or want to quiet the historic buff inside you then doing plenty of research ahead of your vacation should highlight some of the main attractions and sightseeing opportunities. No matter where you go, I guarantee there will be something exciting and different to see. A temple or some ancient ruins, a cactus garden or the local town. Explore a little and don’t be afraid to try new things. It might present you with a great chance to hire a car and head out on the road to some of the best attractions out there. You may be surprised with what you find.

Combine a few locations into one vacation

Who says you can only go to one place for your vacation? No one. If you have two weeks why not look at the surrounding areas of your chosen country or destination and see if you can combine a few other stops along the way? Maybe a few different cities or even jumping on a plane and traveling somewhere else for a few days. Cruises are a great opportunity for this if you like the idea of destination hopping but you don’t want the hassle of booking flights or different accommodation. Many cruises will enable you to see different countries in one vacation, and often these locations can be pretty amazing. Alaska. Europe. The Panama Canal. Some of these places you may never get to see in one holiday.

Go back to your youth

Finally, why not take a leaf out of the students book and travel a little? Life as backpacker has to be experienced at least once, right? Student son GAP years use the time to travel around and see different places, often the locations that are the most popular are Australia and Asia. You may not want to do it for months at a time, but you could try it out for a week or two and see some of the more rural locations that are yet to be touched by tourism.

I hope that this has inspired you to consider some of the other ways you can spend your vacation time. Sitting on a beach is great, but there is so much more you could do, wouldn’t you agree?