It's a hike that you must do in the Bellingham area, hell, in the state. It's one of those gems…read morethat everyone talks about - and I know in Washington, everyone talks about hiking trails, but this is one of those that you have to do...if you like hiking and are in the area. We spent a weekend in Bellingham and not gonna lie, Oyster Dome was one of the primary reasons for spending time up north. Located along the Chuckanut Drive on Blanchard Mountain, it's a hike with a rewarding view at the end. So yes, it's worth it. This hike is about a five-mile, round-trip trail with an elevation gain of just over 1000. It's a good climb, but not difficult or challenging. The parking area can get filled up quickly, and you'll likely see many people along the trail and definitely up at summit. It's dog-friendly; we saw a lot of dogs on the trail and brought our little hiker, too. You'll need a Discover Pass to park here and in the lot is where there are restrooms. The hike goes through a forested area, providing tree canopy and cooler temperatures. But some parts can be rocky, especially towards the summit. Descending was worse as it can be sore on your knees, so it felt longer going down than up in my opinion. The views are incredible. You can see the mountains, the valley and even Canada. Pretty amazing.

Yet another great hiking trail we softly explored, to help our toddlers calm down before we headed…read moreback home. Oyster Dome Trail has multiple markers for guidance throughout it. Now that we've all thawed out from the winter, exploring WAs beautiful trails, parks, and landmarks come naturally; investing in a Discovery pass could be helpful. We will definitely return, and recommend!

First time on Ancacortes. Beautiful area! The hike was moderate, a few short inclines, but nothing…read morekiller, it was great to be out, after some much needed rain, which according to the one other hiker I encountered, usually doesn't include here, because it's in the 'rain shadow' but it was awesome to hear and see babbling brooks, amazing small waterfalls, and listening to the wind howling through the trees. Add in the sun.. Wonderful! I did the hike clockwise, it can be done either way, it's about the same inclines and descends, I guess it all depends how quickly you want to get to the lake? Clockwise, then is faster. Great swimming opportunities all around Whistle lake, definitely will be back in the summer. It must be a popular swim area, because anywhere it looked like people had used it for swimming, it was posted NO ALCOHOL, yea, cliffs, water, and alcohol may not mix. lol Lots of wildlife, bald eagles, ducks, swans, bushtits, and a few woodpeckers. All the leaves on the trails definitely marked fall weather, along with the mossy branches and fallen trees. Like most trails I've been on, come early to get parking, no permit needed here, but it was almost full and more cars coming in when I left. Trail was a little longer than AllTrails indicated, no problem, but it definitely helps to have a trail app, quite a few forks in the trails, with just numbers, not much direction. Beautiful views of a few surrounding lakes, farmland, and the bays. Definitely one to be done, multiple times throughout the year, as some of my other favorites will be under snow... time for some snowshoes? Possibly:-) After a fun cool hike a fire in the fireplace is going to feel good. Happy hiking and yelping! God bless and Cheers!

Super cool! Writing this as a manual wheelchair user who can limp a few steps with assistance. The…read moremain plaza is incredibly well-maintained and paved. The bathroom was accessible and clean. From there, the trail itself is mostly gravel with some uphill portions. Getting up to the main set of buildings was a workout for me, propelling, and another person pushing me. There are two paths, one gravel and the other semi-paved with concrete ridges. I would not recommend getting up there without help in a wheelchair, but it was certainly possible, and worth it in my opinion. The buildings are super cool. The area is surrounded by nature and mountains. We turned back after getting tired, but will absolutely come back better prepared to see some more stuff.

I went here with a group of people from a social group I am in and really enjoyed it a lot! It's…read morethe grounds where the defunct Nortgern State Hospital was. We went by soke run down buildings, one that was more of a food preparation area and they once grew fruit trees there for the facility. The fruit trees can still be seen and at the time we were here were bearing fruit! We also went to some old barns where livestock was once kept for the hospital. Those buildings were very impressive and a bit creepy. To add to that someone in our group went over some of the experiments that went on here as well as possible mishaps that they pulled up online. That definitely added to the creepy vibe. But still it was a very pleasant stroll as we also was in a nice field and encountered a babbling brook. It was a great outing with great company! I'd love to explore the grounds even more as I have a feeling some of the buildings I didn't get to see.

Skagit Riverwalk Trail is a walking trail extending south of, through, and north of Downtown Mount…read moreVernon. For the most part the trail is paved. A stretch north of Mount Vernon Lions Club Roadside Park extending to the North Lions Park I found to be a dirt/gravel pathway. The trail runs alongside the Skagit River and has a guard rail between the trail and the river with occasional signs/placards in the railing providing context and background about the river and area. Trees and tulips speckle the walkway near downtown. Occasional signage provides arrows to nearby locations. A number of parks, businesses, and the Skagit River Jam Memorial are located along the trail. I have walked the trail a few times now exploring both north and south and checking out the different parks and memorial. Traffic each time has been pretty light, typically I come mid-afternoon, and occasionally there are birds out on the water of the river or in the vegetation between the river and the guard rail. All around an enjoyable place to come walk and take in the beauty and harmony of nature and Mount Vernon.

Beautiful place to spend some time outside. Lovely place for a walk when the weather is niceread more

Another sunny PNW weekend, another chance to explore and find a new beach! Snoo-oosh is a…read moresmall-but-mighty little slice of paradise with a beautiful view of Whidbey Island. It's a level, rocky beach, with some driftwood - perfect for exploring, beach walking, or just sitting on a log and taking it all in. There's a bit of a rough parking area (watch out for potholes) and zero facilities, so keep that in mind as it's a bit of a drive to the nearest restroom. This would make a great beach for kayaking or canoeing, as the bay it sits on is semi-protected and seemed insulated from the wind. Note: the map indicates there's a boat launch here, but there is not. There appears to have been one at some point, but it's been mostly washed away and covered with rocks and driftwood - definitely no way to actually use it to launch anything but a portable watercraft.

Beautiful place to take an easy to moderate stroll among the miles of hikes that this magical place…read morehas to offer. Wonderful for children and friends. We hiked the Whistle Lake loop trail, which took under two hours and was moderate. It was easy to find and park, and the greenery was absolutely breathtaking. I can not recommend this place enough!

It was yet another glorious sunny weekend in the PNW, so we grabbed our buckets and headed to…read moreWhidbey Island for some beachcombing - discovering this beautiful beach along the way. It's a small, but mighty, little strip of land that's bordered on three sides by private property, so while it might not be a great place to hang out with 1000 of your closest friends, you can't beat the vibe here for a small romantic picnic or playtime with the kid. The beach is pretty typical PNW: driftwood, rocks, mud, and lots of stinky seaweed to give the place atmosphere. We were there at low tide, so it definitely had wading potential (if you're into cold, Puget Sound water). The thing I liked most, besides the stunning views out to the Olympics, was that there were only two other people on the beach. This would also be a great place for some sea kayaking on a calm day. There is a port-a-potty in the small parking lot, but other than that there are few amenities here, so bring along your own water, shade, and seating. But if you're looking to cross yet another gorgeous PNW beach off your list, this one is definitely worth a visit.

Moran state park was top of our list to visit while on Orcas Island. It's a beautiful park to…read morevisit, with unbelievable views and you can drive to the top making the views accessible to everyone. You need a Discovery Pass to park at the park. They have lovely lakes, and amazing trails to explore them. We completed a couple lake trails and absolutely enjoyed them. So calming and peaceful. A must visit while on Orcas Island.

My family and I had a beautiful visit to this park. It's small. It's on the island and there's a…read morelot of historic buildings around and it was worth the side trip. Located in a beautiful area next to the water plenty of places to walk around and the tallest mountain in the San Juan Island Chain, is something to cherish. Plan a little bit of extra time for the walking. It's not hard and it's absolutely gorgeous there. I meant the Ranger both of them and they were absolutely great history. They know how to treat a you. Thank you people for showing us incredible hospitality, and immaculate Property. It was very clean very well. Every corner is a picture waiting to be taken.