Author: Jennie Flaming

If you want to get outside more during the winter months, you’ll need the right gear to stay dry, warm and comfortable. The best Pacific Northwest winter gear is critical in our climate and doesn’t need to be too expensive to get the job done. Finding the winter gear...

Salmon La Sac is a gorgeous winter destination with miles of opportunities for snowshoeing and cross country skiing with a fraction of the crowds you’ll find at the Snoqualmie Pass sno parks. Salmon La Sac is on the sunnier side of the Cascade mountains so you might find the...

The North Bend area has an abundance of wonderful hiking trails within an hours drive of the greater Seattle area. As a born and raised Seattleite, I’m sharing my favorite hikes near North Bend. This list does NOT include some of the famous (and extremely crowded) hikes in the...

Lower Lena Lake is a delightful large and very popular alpine lake on the Olympic Peninsula. This crowd pleasing hike makes for a wonderful day trip or backpacking trip. With plenty of opportunities to explore trails beyond, Lena Lake is perfect for beginners and experienced hikers and backpackers alike!...

Dawson City is one of my absolute favorite towns in the entire world. I’ve been lucky enough to visit many times, when I lived in Skagway and when I lived in Fairbanks. I’ve also had the chance to visit since then while updating the Milepost as well as with...

Camping in Alaska is the ultimate adventure and a dream trip for many people who already enjoy the outdoors. In addition to the adventure and beauty, it’s a great way to save money on your trip to Alaska. But what about Bears? Bugs? will it be cold? I’m a...

Lake Wenatchee is a large alpine lake fed by Cascade mountain snow and glacier melt. Sunny and warm in summer and cold and snowy in winter (with a lot more sun than the west side of the state!) it’s an ideal year round family getaway. Every type of mountain...

Alaska is home to 8 National Parks as well as many other Federal and State public lands. More than half of all National Park Service land is located in Alaska. The 8 National Parks in Alaska are double the size of all the National Parks in the Lower 48...

Camping in the San Juan Islands is amazing! Nothing beats the epic sunsets, beautiful beaches, madrona trees and the marine wildlife! Not only is camping in the San Juans beautiful and fun, it is also an affordable way to visit the San Juan Islands, where hotels and vacation rentals...

This article was originally written in 2020 but was extensively updated in December 2024 to reflect the new parking options which change the location and distance of this winter adventure. If you visited this area prior to December 2024 – things have changed! Franklin Falls is one of the...