All of this time indoors has me daydreaming about when we’ll be able to go outside again… That feels surreal even typing that but such is life right now. So as my own therapy today I decided to put together a post on all of my favorite hikes as a little excuse to daydream and go through a bunch of photos for each. Most of the trails may be closed for now, but they won’t be forever (or they better not be!) so definitely pin this post for later!

I tried including a little something for everyone with hikes of varying lengths, difficulties, and areas. Plus, I also included the stats for each according to AllTrails or WTA — both awesome resources for finding great hikes! Although I will say, sometimes I’d take the distance as more of an estimate because they vary site to site. So let’s get going on this virtual hike!

Greenwater Lakes

4.9 miles | 492 elevation gain | Easy | Northwest Forest Pass

This is a great easy trail with nice views along the way! It has a kind of sketchy (but surprisingly sturdy) bridge to cross a stream near the beginning and you end up at a gorgeous lake where a lot of people were relaxing by. This trail is the start to other longer trails (I’ll highlight one below) that is popular for backpacking so you’ll see a lot of people with overnight gear. This trail has great accessibility too because the service road it’s off of is paved all the way in (which definitely isn’t usually the case).

Echo Lake

14 miles (but I’d say closer to 15) | 2,339 ft elevation gain | Moderate | Northwest Forest Pass

We set out for the day only planning on hiking the Greenwater Lakes trail but had some steam in us and decided to get a little ambitious and hike to Echo Lake, adding an extra 10 miles to our hike. In hindsight maybe not the best planning, but we did it! It also crosses the path of remnants from a wildfire from a few summers ago so it’s a little eerie and you need to be careful in that section. All that being said, Echo Lake was so serene and really beautiful and a lot of the trail is shaded which is great for those hot summer days! There were also a decent amount of hikers on the trails but there’s plenty of space to spread out.

Naches Peak Trail at Tipsoo Lake

3.2 miles | 636 ft elevation gain | Easy | Northwest Forest Pass

If you’re looking for a nice quick hike with some amazing views of Mt. Rainier, this one is a great option. It’s located right off the highway before Chinook Pass and is an easy hike for all levels. Definitely pack the bug spray and sunscreen for this one. Even though it’s a short hike, the trail is in the open and I don’t remember any shaded spots. Even with bug spray you may get eaten alive by the mosquitos, but the views are incredible. If you want to make your hike a little longer, there’s a trail down to Dewey Lake which I definitely want to check out next time too! Another thing to note is this is definitely a late summer hiking option, it’s pretty far up so the snow doesn’t melt until later in the season.

Rattlesnake Ledge

5 miles | 1,469 ft elevation gain | Moderate | No pass needed

I’ll be honest… this hike can get a little crazy because of the people but it’s still one of my favorites because the views are GOR-GEOUS! If you can get up there on a weekday I definitelyyy recommend that because it will take you an hour longer from the highway of people hiking on the weekends. Like, I’m not going to sugarcoat it… it’s ridiculous and you get a lot of people who have no trail etiquette…. playing music, flying drones.. like I said, it’s ridiculous but if you go in knowing that or go on a weekday the views really are worth it.

Annette Lake

8.4 miles | 2,132 ft elevation gain | Moderate | Northwest Forest Pass

We actually ended up on this hike after trying to do another in the area that was too crowded — everyone and their mom wants to hike these days, me included lol. This was a really awesome trail though! You definitely get a work out in with the elevation gain but the trail is very well maintained and it had some interesting viewpoints along the way. A really great day hike!

Snow Lake

7.2 miles | 1,800 ft elevation gain | Moderate | Northwest Forest Pass

If you haven’t noticed… I’m all about trails with lakes! Haha, seriously though, the views are even better in person. This is another super popular (aka crowded) hike but again worth it. It’s tougher than Rattlesnake so you’re definitely dealing with more experienced hikers than you’ll find over there. The terrain is pretty rocky too so I’d recommend a boot with good grip. I’d also recommend an early start if you can too. Most of this trail is in the open so it can get a little toasty on those hot days plus the parking lot fills up fast.

Heather - Maple Pass

7.8 miles | 2,257 ft elevation gain | Moderate | Northwest Forest Pass

If there was a hike that had it all, THIS is the one. You may have already read my Methow Valley travel guide post where I gushed about it but I’m about to do it again because it is my absolute favorite.😍Hands down, this hike is going down as my favorite OF ALL TIME! This hike had views at pretty much every single step of the trail and truly it was just incredible. We saw views of some of the lakes, the cascades, wildflowers and even a few marmots! In the Fall they’re also known for their larches! Look them up, they look pretty cool. Since it’s a loop, there are a lot of people who recommend hiking it clockwise because they say it’s a little easier. We actually intended to do that, but it turns out we went counter-clockwise but honestly, either way, would be just fine. The way we went may have been tougher but having the views the whole way was so worth it. There’s also a decent-sized parking lot on-site and there aren’t any forest roads so it’s easy accessibility.

Mt Peak Cal Magnusson Trail

1.7 miles | 1,000 ft elevation gain | Hard | No pass needed

I grew up in Enumclaw so this one is a local go-to and one I do on the regular when I visit my mom. It’s only about 2 miles round-trip but has a 1,000 elevation gain that kicks my booty every time. It’s a really great workout hike and probably one of the only ones you can be in the woods but then hear a cow or chicken from one of the local farms every now and then. Always cracks me up. I usually just stick with the tried and true original trail, but they’ve created a few others over the years with varying lengths too.

Little Si

4.7 miles | 1,300 ft elevation gain | Moderate | Discover Pass

This is a great, pretty easy hike in the North Bend area. It has great coverage so it would be good for a hot day too. There were even people mountain climbing while I was up there which I thought was pretty cool to watch. The views up on the ridge at the top make for a great lunch spot too! The parking lot gets filled up pretty easily but you can park down the road across the bridge and walk to the trailhead if you can’t score a spot there.

Summerland Trail

12 miles | 2,950 ft elevation gain | Moderate | National Park Pass

The trailhead starts right after the ranger station for the National Park and I really loved it because it had a lot of variety! Waterfalls, streams, log bridges… it was awesome! There’s also a lookout if you make it to the top. We went on Father’s Day and ended up losing the trail after hitting some snow so we only completed about 9 miles of the hike but I’d definitely check it out again. The elevation gain is more gradual too since it’s longer so a great beginner hike. All and all, a really awesome hike and one that isn’t packedddd like a lot of the ones at Snoqualmie.

Grove of the Patriarchs Loop

1.5 miles | 50 ft elevation gain | Easy | No pass needed

This one is more of a nature walk than a hike but definitely worth a stop if you’re near Paradise! There’s no elevation change and it’s super short so definitely something for all levels too. Here, there are trees that are over 1,000 years old, which is just crazy to think about and they’re SO wide! It was really cool to see and definitely worth a stop.

Mount Ellinor

6.5 miles | 3,400 ft elevation gain | Hard | Northwest Forest Pass

This one is def on the tougher side but I love hiking up on the Olympic National Forest. We did this one right before they started removing the mountain goats in hopes of seeing them and we did! Don’t worry, they were further away than they look in the photo. Not going to lie though, this was a hard hike. At the beginning, it seems pretty doable but the last mile is STEEP! By the time we got to the top we were fogged in so we couldn’t see the crazy views but I have to say if you’re afraid of heights this one isn’t for you. I had a few moments where I was wondering how the heck we were going to get down. It’s not on the level of Storm King in term of heights but if you’re looking for a challenge, this is a great choice. Just make sure you bring trekking poles because you’re going to need them! It’s also up a long service road. Totally okay without 4-wheel drive but lots of deep potholes so you’ll want to take your time.

Hope you guys enjoyed some of these recs and if you have some other awesome ones I should check out this summer definitely let me know!

P.S. If you like keeping up with my PNW adventures, Evan and I started an Instagram account focused on just that! Follow along at @TheHicksintheSticks

When I moved back to Washington, visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival got added to my adventure list real fast! We did a lot of adventuring growing up, but my appreciation for the state and the variety of things it has to offer is much clearer now as an adult! Plus, the last time I visited I was probably just a little bit taller than the tulips so it was time! If you’re not familiar, the Tulip Festival takes place each Spring in April (sometimes it starts a the last week of March) in the Skagit Valley, which is about an hour north of Seattle. They have a variety of events that happen locally each year, but the main draw is to visit the farms with rows and rows of all of those beautiful tulips! And yes, they really are THAT pretty! 🌷🌷🌷Now that I’ve visited and am clearly an expert on all things tulips now (onlyyyy kidding), I wanted to share some of my advice so you can plan the best trip up there too!

Prepare for Traffic & Crowds

Let’s just get this out of the way… there’s going to be traffic and crowds! it’s going to happen. You’re visiting farmlands full of a lot of two lane roads that are seeing more traffic now than any other time of the year. So just go into your adventure knowing it’s going to happen, make some good Pandora stations and you’ll be justtt fine. Obviously, the weekends are the most packed — especially on those rare sunny April days too so just be prepared for that. If you happen to have a job with days off during the week, I’ve heard that’s a great time to go, but most of us end up going on the weekends so.. yep you guessed it that crowd part comes into play. Everyone just wants to see those pretty flowers so give each other a break and just acknowledge the inevitable. That being said, we got there around 11am on a Sunday and the traffic wasn’t bad at all and we easily got a parking space. Realistically you’re not going to be there more than an hour or two so people luckily are in and out. The fields can get crowded but they’re so big that there’s plenty of room for everyone! We’re not talking Times Squares packed 😜

Pick Which Field You’re Going To

The next big question is which farm to go to. There are two main ones, Tulip Town and Roozengaarde and they’re not too far from each other. We went to Tulip Town for our trip, but the main differences I’ve heard are Roozengaarde’s fields are a lot bigger and Tulip Town is smaller (but still big) but they have a lot more color variety. Tulip Town also has an indoor display and some other family friendly activities too. I don’t think you can really go wrong whichever you decide though and the next time I go I’ll probably go to Roozengaarde so I can report on both! Their hours are a little different, but everything else is pretty similar so feel free to check out the info below to make your decision!

Roozengaarde

https://www.tulips.com

Admission: $15/person, kids under 2 free

8am-7pm 7 days a week

Free parking

Tulip Town

https://tuliptown.com

Admission: $10/person, kids 6-11 $5, kids under 5 free

Hours: 8am-7pm 7/days a week

Free parking

Bring Cash

As someone who doesn’t carry cash much these days, this would be a time to make sure you have some on hand. Tulip Town only takes cash at their entrance gate (they do accept cards inside though) so my recommendation is to get some before heading there. Plus, often at events like this it can just be easier to have on hand in case places don’t take cards. FYI, they also don’t sell tickets online in advance — you’ll buy them at the gardens.

Pack the Rain Boots

It’s April in Washington… I think we’re one of the states that invented the phrase, “April showers, brings May flowers”. While we definitely get some solid sun in April, remember you’re visiting farms so when it rains during the week, it can still be pretty muddy days after. So I definitely recommend packing rain boots if you have them. I didn’t actually end up needing them when we visited, but I’m glad I had them on hand just in case because there were definitely a lot of spots that were super muddy. I’d double-down on this advice if you have kids too because.. well… kids!

Respect the Fields

Now, don’t worry you’re going to get all of the picture-perfect Instagram pictures you want… but remember to also respect the fields. There are signs everywhere to not walk down the rows, buttttt let’s just say a lot of people ignored that and being a true 1 on the Enneagram scale, you know I had to bring some attention to that! So here’s the deal, stay out of the rows! They say you can step 1-2 feet into them to get your photos, but any further than that you risk stepping on other bulbs and damaging future crops. Just don’t do it. RoozenGaarde did a great post on their Facebook page with more info and tips for getting the pics you want while protecting the fields.

Make a Day Trip out of your Visit

After you take in all the views at the fields, I recommend sticking around for a bit! Living south, I don’t get up north that often and in our experience, the traffic was a lot worse heading south than getting to the fields — so if you have the time make your adventure a day trip! Growing up in a farm town, I appreciate the slower pace that some of these towns offer so they were fun to explore. The tulip festival website is a great resource to find something that fits your fancy!

Evan had won a raffle at one of our local restaurant/bars of goodies from a brewery called Chuckanut Brewery that happened to be really close to the fields so we opted to check them out! We visited their South Nut tap room and it was great! Loved the farm vibes and the beer was solid!

There were quite a few winery or tap rooms in the area so if that’s you’re kind of thing you are in luck! You’re also only about 20 minutes for Anacortes or Deception Pass (or both) if you’re looking for some more options. Which, of course we were ready to check out alllll of the places!

Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island and is such a cute little coastal town with gorgeous views! There’s also a lot of local restaurants , fun little shops, and outdoor activities. We kind of just poked around the downtown area and drove through some of the neighborhoods which were so adorbs!

We also decided to stop by Deception Pass because it was so close! It’s about 15 minutes from Anacortes and 20 straight from the tulip farms. The pass is most notorious for its bridge which connects Fidalgo and Whibey Islands and apparently is one of the most photographed locations in the state. For good reason too, it’s gorgeous! We drove over the bridge and then made a pit stop at Deception Pass State Park where you can park and walk along the beaches under the bridge and just take it all in. Because it’s a state park, you will need a Discover Pass unless you visit on one of the free days — they are two in April so check their calendar!

Then our last stop of the day was to the Shrimp Shack. By this point in the day, we were getting hungry and had passed it on our way to Deception Pass so we decided to stop on the way back. We weren’t the only ones either, the place was hopping! We went for a basket of shrimp, but if you’re into oysters they’re known for their Oyster burger. They have a ton of options that are all local too so definitely worth a stop if seafood is your thing.

I hope these tops have been helpful! The tulips are truly gorgeous so I highly recommend checking them out if you get the chance. Plus, the area up there in general is just such a breath of fresh air so it’s worth a visit even outside of tulip season. These days, I’m such a sucker for exploring smaller adorable towns and just taking in all that Washington has to offer and this adventure definitely fit the bill.

P.S. If you like keeping up with my PNW adventures, Evan and I started an Instagram account focused on just that! Follow along at @TheHicksintheSticks

I love being back in the PNW for mannyyy reasons that's for sure, but one of my favs is being able to hop in my car and drive whereverrrr the road may take me. Now don't get me, weekend getaways are totally possible in NYC and something I did take advantage of quite a bit, but being able to hop in your own car and just drive?! That feels dang near magical to me after so many years without a car -- 7 to be exact. So now that I'm back on the west coast I'm basically a born-again 16-year-old who just got her license and I'm still loving every second of it even a year later.

One of my favorite places to adventure to over the years has always been Portland, and now that it's a mere 2.5 hours away (traffic cooperating) you will certainly find me roaming my old hood quite a bit more. And can I please tell you... I swear every time I visit, the city gets a little cooler. Now I know some of the lifers might disagree with all of the growth Portland has had in the last decade, but personally, I love it. So much so, that if I didn't promise my Mom that I'd never move out of state again that I def wouldn't rule out moving south again. 😜#realtalk

So what is it about Portland that is so great? To me, it's a great sized city that has the amenities of big-city living, while still not feeling overwhelming and not being totally terrifying to drive in if you don't know where you're going. Plus it has an amazing food scene (you know me!), arts, culture, and it's still very walkable and accessible. I also happen to know some super awesome people down there so it always gets some extra bonus points for that too! The vibe in Portland is just really great and I only think it has gotten better with time. So that being said, what the heck are my fav places to visit when I'm there? Well today I'm sharing some of my must-visit spots no matter how short of a trip I'm on, which this weekend was less than 36 hours. 

Pine State Biscuits

If there is one place I pretty much always visit when I'm in town (and take everyone I'm visiting with to) it's Pine State Biscuits. Truly this place is heaven on a biscuit and the onlyyyy place around that I would wait an hour in the rain for. And trust me, when I lived in NYC we didn't wait on places and I've liked to stick to that mentality, but Pine State.. Oh I'll wait. Kathy originally introduced me to Pine State at least 10 years ago after seeing it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives when they just had a little hole in the wall spot off of SE Belmont and I've been ordering everything off the menu ever since at their now 3 larger locations + their spot at the Farmers Market. At this point I have a few go-tos, although occasionally I'll branch out, or let's be real, someone I'm with will order something else and I'll sneak a bite or two. It's hard to venture from my favs though because they're just THAT good. So what are my go-to's? I'm talking about the McIsley, the Pine State Fried Club and the Reggie Deluxe when I'm feeling real indulgent.

Powell's Books

Is it even a Portland trip if you don't stop by Powell's? Not in my books. Get it?! I'm a funny one... I, along with a million other people, have such a soft spot for this bookstore. It hails that it is the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world and even if it wasn't I'd still love it. The bookshelves in here just go on and on and on and I love everything about it. One of my favorite things to do when I lived in Portland (and now when I visit) is to wander the halls and find a little corner in the astrology section and check out alllll of the books. Seriously.. I used to spend hours here. It doesn't matter what kind of book you're looking for either, they're going to have it and the best selection at that. Plus they have some really awesome events take place there and all and all it's just a rad place to spend an afternoon.

Voodoo Doughnuts

Now back to food, because, well you know who's writing this right!? Another one of my favorite places to stop when I'm in Portland (or Eugene if I'm catching a Ducks game) is VooDoo Doughnuts. You can find a lot of good donuts on the west coast, sorry east coast but we win at this... and VooDoo sits at the top of my list. If you're interested in some of the other great options locally as well, Little Duck did an awesome Portland Donut Crawl blog post that's worth a read too! Personally though, if I had to only pick one, VooDoo it is. I just love the novelty and the just delicious, fun and not overly fancy flavored donuts. Solid deliciousness. Insider tip too, if you want to stand in line foreves hit up the location downtown, but if you want to get in and out with a box full of your favs and a cute Instagrammable wall then you need to hit up their NE Davis VooDoo Doughnut Too location.

NW 23rd Ave in the Alphabet District

Awww my old neighborhood! I mean I don't want to brag, actually yes I will brag for a sec, I've been pretty darn lucky to live in some of the best neighborhoods in the cities I've lived in. NW Portland, The Upper East Side in NYC, and the Stadium District in Tacoma. Heck yes! And this neighborhood, well it's truly one of my favs because it is just so stinking cute! I lived off of NW 23rd Avenue in the Alphabet District and it's one of my favorite places to spend an afternoon. When I moved there my mom called it her "happy place" and it's def still makes my list as well. Adorable shops, delicious food, and bars galore.. like what more do you need?

NW 21st Ave is a close second too being just a few avenues over too. A greattt option for nightlife too. So many fun memories and truly something for everyone! Some places I definitely always love to stop at are Saint Cupcake -- their mini cupcakes are to die for! One of the McMenamins locations for some cajun tots and Ruby beer and maybe even an extra stop at their bottle shop that's now open at the end of the ave to grab some Ruby to go too! Pssttt, we're actually getting our own McMenamins in Tacoma in 2019 and this girl is PUMPED to have one of my favorite Oregon spots so close! Wherever you go over here you really can't go wrong!

Pearl District

Last but not least, another one of my favorite neighborhoods to wander is the Pearl District. After a trip to Powell's of course! (It's nearby) I'm such a sucker for repurposed factories and industrial vibes mixed with new construction and the Pearl combines all of that. Pair that with great options for Happy Hour, art galleries and some seriously amazing food and it has me feeling a little fancy! I worked at the neighborhood Safeway while finishing up college and just fell in love with the neighborhood from day 1 and it has only expanded and grown since. So many fun places to visit and it's just a cool pocket of the city.

Now of course, there are SO many more incredible things to do, see and eat in Portland that I could write for dayssss about but these are just a few of my favs that I always try to make it to. If you have some other recs or places you think I'd like definitely drop a comment below!