Author: Jennie Flaming

Hanford Reach National Monument is an incredible landscape and a place to find solitude in an area of jaw dropping natural beauty with a fascinating history. Located in super dry Eastern Washington, this area was part of the buffer zone for the Hanford Nuclear Site starting in 1943. The...

The delightful end of the road town of Homer and Kachemak Bay are wonderful additions to any Alaska itinerary! Off the cruise ship circuit, you’ll be sharing it with independent travelers as well as Alaskans exploring other parts of their home state. It takes some effort to get to...

Sucia Island is an absolutely stunning place in the outer San Juan Islands of Washington State. This is a wonderful destination to really get away from it all and experience some of the best camping in the Pacific Northwest. It takes a bit of work and planning to get...

If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, I’d like to be the very first person to welcome you! You’ll have an amazing time on your trip, but it can be a little overwhelming to figure out how to spend your time and how to get around. Should I stay...

The foothills of the Cascade Mountains surrounding the town of Issaquah are locally referred to as the Issaquah Alps for their multitude of wonderful hiking trails! These hikes in Issaquah are a short drive for residents of Seattle and Bellevue. Some of these hikes are extremely crowded but others...

Flattop Mountain is Anchorage’s most famous hike and with good reason. It’s close to town, has amazing views and a big, flat top to spend some time taking in the view, hanging out with a friend and enjoying lunch. This post is about going the backway up the “backside”...

Bainbridge Island is a quick ferry ride from the middle of downtown Seattle, but it feels a world away with it’s charming shops, beautiful gardens, forests and beaches and history and culture. Add to that some delicious food, local wine and craft beer and spirits and you really can...

If you’re ready for the epic road trip adventure of a lifetime, then a drive to Alaska on the Alaska Highway just might be for you! I’ve driven the Alaska Highway many times along with the access roads in British Columbia and the Yukon and nearly every highway in...

Spring is a long season in the Seattle area, starting sometime in late February or early March in the lowlands near the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) and lasting until June. As the days get longer and warmer, it’s a great time to get out and enjoy some of the...

There are a number of fantastic hikes in Bellevue! This may come as a surprise to those who associate Bellevue with affluent suburbs, freeways, Microsoft and shopping malls. If that’s you, give Bellevue another look and don’t miss out on the wonderful hikes in Bellevue that are really easy...