Our 10 Day Trip to Washington State

Olympic National Park is massive with four different regions it was originally designated Mount Olympus National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909 and redesignated a National Park by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938.  It includes 60 Miles of rugged, sandy beach.  For you Twilight fans (yes, I'm team Edward) it includes La Push Beach and the Quilete River.  The beaches are so different from those on the New England Coast.  The first thing I had to get used to was directionally the coast is west.  I have lived with the ocean being east my whole life, so I had to keep reminding myself of that.  The next surprise was all the huge piles of driftwood.  There is only a beach during low tide, so we had to plan things around the tides, this includes how far you walk on the beach.  Low tide is also the best time to go tide-pooling.  We visited Ruby and Rialto Beach. There are a few numbered beaches as well, but we only had time for those two.  Rialto is the easiest to get to.  There is a parking area and a walkway.  The others have lots to park in and then you have to hike/climb down to get to the beach.  At Ruby we had to climb over the giant wood piles (I read that they have since made it more accessible).  We visited the Hoh & Quinault Rainforests they get on average 150 inches of rain a year making them close to the wettest places in the lower 48 states although we were told it does not rain much in July and August.  Not sure if that is true but I can attest it did not rain the three days we were there. These are temperate rain forests as opposed to the tropical rainforests throughout the southern hemisphere. The moss growing on the trees and the size of the trees is just so different than what I am used to seeing.  It was an amazing journey.  (NPS for the facts)

 After visiting Olympic National Park, we headed to Mount St. Helens National Monument. This is where we learned an important lesson: always plan your hike ahead of time. We started with a short, guided hike on the Hummocks Trail with a park ranger, then decided to continue on our own—no map, no supplies, and no idea where we were going. Eventually, we reached a trail junction where the sign was missing. Left or straight? We guessed—and fortunately, we guessed right. Later, we found out that if we had gone the other way, we would’ve ended up on a 15-mile trail… in the wrong direction, far from our car. That was the last time we ever hiked without a plan in place! 

Mount St Helens in an active volcano in Washington state  

most famous for its major eruption May 18, 1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history.  Fifty-seven people were killed; 200 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles (24 km) of railways, and 185 miles (298 km) of highway were destroyed. A massive debris avalanche, triggered by an earthquake of magnitude 5.1, caused a lateral eruption that reduced the elevation of the mountain's summit from 9,677 ft (2,950 m) to 8,363 ft (2,549 m), leaving a 1 mile (1.6 km) wide horseshoe-shaped crater. The debris avalanche was 0.6 cubic miles (2.5 km3) in volume.  Ever since its main eruption, it had continuous volcanic activity until 2008. Despite this, geologists predict that future eruptions will be more destructive, since the configuration of the lava domes there require more pressure to erupt.  

 It was deemed a National Monument in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan

•  Source: Wikipedia

After Mount St. Helens, we spent the next morning and afternoon exploring Mount Rainier National Park. Even the drive—with its scenic pullouts and sweeping views—was absolutely breathtaking. We managed to fit in a short, easy, and very popular hike: the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail, where ancient trees towered overhead like living giants. After soaking in the beauty of Rainier, we made our way back to Seattle to wrap up our Pacific Northwest journey. 

 Like Mount St Helens, Mount Rainier is also a Stratovolcano in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest.  It is the highest mountain in the state of Washington.   Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, Due to its high probability of eruption in the near future.  In 1899 it became the fifth US National Park thanks to President William Mckinley.  (Source NPS)

After our one day at Mount Rainier National Park, we spent three full days exploring Seattle. We stayed in a great two-bedroom apartment in Kirkland that we rented through Airbnb—comfortable, convenient, and a perfect home base. One of our first stops was Snoqualmie Falls, and since we love nature hikes and waterfalls, we absolutely loved this spot.

You can view the falls from both the top and the bottom, and there's the option to hike or drive between the two—we chose to drive. We started at the base, where there's a peaceful picnic area, and enjoyed a relaxing lunch while taking in the view. Then we drove up to the top for a completely different perspective. It was the perfect combination of nature, accessibility, and serenity.This beautiful waterfall is also a functioning power plant.  The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant is at Snoqualmie Falls, currently operated by Puget Sound Energy. It is made of two power houses, Plant 1 and Plant 2. Plant 1 was built in 1899 and operates at the base of the falls embedded in the rock 270 feet (82 m) below the surface. It was the world's first completely underground power plant. Plant 2 was built in 1910 and further expanded in 1957, and is located a short distance downstream of the falls. Approximately 1% of Puget Sound Energy sales comes from the plant. 

Source: Wikipedia 

 We love wine tours and have visited vineyards in several states, but this time, we decided to skip the usual multi-vineyard route and make just one special stop: Chateau St. Michelle. It’s one of my favorite wines, so I was especially excited. Although the actual vineyard is located in another part of Washington, this is where the wine is made and bottled—and it did not disappoint. The tour and tasting were excellent. One standout? The Ethos Reserve Muscat 2016—yum, yum, yum!

Chateau St. Michelle is one of Washington’s oldest and most acclaimed wineries. While their award-winning Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling are easy to find in stores, the truly special bottles are only available directly from the winery. We really enjoyed our visit and did not leave empty handed.  

We also took a full-day tour of Seattle—something we like to do whenever we’re in a major city. It’s such a great way to get a feel for the place and learn about its history. Seattle has a fascinating and checkered past. Did you know the entire city burned to the ground in 1889? Our tour guide told us that when they rebuilt it, they raised the streets 20 feet above the original level! So much of early Seattle’s story is full of oddities, corruption, and reinvention.

We also saw the Fremont Troll (pictured above), which was actually created to drive out illegal activity in that area. Today, it’s a quirky, beloved tourist attraction. The view of the skyline from Kerry Park was absolutely stunning, and one surprise highlight? The Salmon Fish Ladder viewing area—something I didn’t even know I wanted to see, but I’m so glad I did.

Wow, wow, wow—this place is worth every penny! My mom still talks about it, full of ooohs and ahhhs. Honestly, it was way better than the Space Needle—and it's right next door! The only downside? You’re not allowed to touch anything, even though everything in the exhibit practically begs to be touched. If you ever make it to Seattle, do not miss this place. It’s unforgettable. 

 From Wikipedia

Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit in the Seattle Center directly next to the Space Needle, showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. It opened in May 2012.

The project features three primary components: the Garden, the Glasshouse, and the Interior Exhibits.  The 100-foot-long installation inside of the Glasshouse is one of Chihuly's largest suspended sculptures.