[Leavenworth, WA, Dec 23, 2024] A former struggling logging town, Leavenworth, WA reinvented itself as a Bavarian-inspired vacation destination in the 1960s. It has since become incredibly popular, and not just for its quaint European charm. Leavenworth also offers a plethora of outdoor activities in the North Cascades. It is especially packed in winter, when…
[Mt Baker, Sep 4, 2022] Chain Lakes Loop trail has it all – gorgeous views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan as well as a few beautiful alpine lakes along the way. The biggest challenge with it was picking a starting point and direction. Many people start this hike at Artist Point, which was where…
[Mt Baker, Sep 3, 2022] For my first full day at Mt Baker, I wanted to do the longer of the two trails on my list – Ptarmigan Ridge. It gets you ridiculously close to Mt Baker. However, it’s almost 12 miles roundtrip and the elevation gain is almost 2,500 ft. In other words, it’s…
[Deming, WA, Sep 2, 2022] For Labor Day 2022, I finally visited a national forest that had been on my list for almost a year – Mt Baker. Hiding near the Canadian border just 2 hours North of Seattle, Mt Baker is best known as a ski resort. The ski area is home to the…
[Last Updated May 2, 2026] Many of the national parks in the West offer amazing accommodations in the form of historic hotels and lodges built at the beginning of the 20th century. Train travel made America’s national parks more accessible at the time, creating the need for accommodations within or nearby. Spending the night at…