Canadian + American Travel: an Interview with Nomadic Matt
I’ve always documented my travels and love looking back to see what I thought and experienced. Believe it or not, I have travel journals from 10 year-old Sam! However, blogging never crossed my mind as a way to share these adventures until I stumbled upon…
Hike Lava Canyon at Mt St Helens
If you’re visiting the Pacific Northwest, you’ll definitely want to explore Lava Canyon at Mt St Helens. Nestled in the southeastern hills of Mt St Helens, the trail is accessible for all skills levels and is a fun “choose-your-own-adventure” half-day hike. You’ll explore the beautiful…
Hike to Klahhane Ridge via the Hurricane Ridge to Switchback Trail
Reaching the top of a mountain is one of the most empowering moments of hiking. After sweating and pushing yourself for hours, it’s sheer joy knowing that nothing more than your own two feet brought you to such a beautiful place. Hiking to Klahhane Ridge…
Oregon’s Tallest Lighthouse: Yaquina Head Lighthouse
I’ve always found lighthouses extremely romantic. They’re always in the most stunning, breathtaking locations, places you almost can’t believe actually exist. Yaquina Head Lighthouse is no different. It stands on an exposed spit of land on the edge of the Oregon Coast and soars into…
Oceanside Camping at Second Beach on the Olympic Peninsula
Wild camping on the ocean is a great experience and lets you reconnect with nature while leaving behind overcrowded noisy campgrounds. Thankfully, you don’t need to be an experienced backpacker to enjoy a night on Second Beach. You just need a sense of adventure! You’ll…
Hiking at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge is one of those places where you don’t just feel like you’re at the top of the world, you actually are – or almost at least! At 5,242 feet above sea level, you’re truly in the sky. The mountains disappear into the distance…
Sand Dollar Heaven at Fort Stevens State Park
We watched a white gull unceremoniously rip apart its breakfast as our toes went numb and the waves bit at our ankles. The beach was littered with the shells of recently discarded crab and the shrill cry of seagulls echoed in our ears. But our…
Historical Battery Russell at Fort Stevens State Park
If you’re a history buff or love checking out old places, Battery Russell at Fort Stevens is a must when you’re in the Oregon area. While this battery is no longer active, it once played an important role in the defense of the Oregon coast…
100-Year-Old Peter Iredale Shipwreck at Fort Stevens State Park
The Wreck of the Peter Iredale has laid exposed on Oregon’s coast since 1906. For more than a hundred years it has drawn tourists and is one of the most accessible shipwrecks on the Oregon Coast. Its rusted steel skeleton stands proudly as a testament…
Mt St Helens & Spirit Lake from Windy Ridge Viewpoint
Standing amongst the devastation of Mt St Helens’ 1980 eruption, it’s hard to imagine what the area used to look like. Windy Ridge, which is aptly named, offers stunning, panoramic views of the blast zone, Spirit Lake, and Mt St Helens herself. The toothpick-like trees…
Ape Cave Lava Tube at Mt St Helens
Imagine being engulfed in darkness with tonnes of hardened lava pressing down from above and losing all sense of direction. Your eyes search desperately for something to cling to but the darkness is overwhelming. You raise your hand and bring it to your nose but…