Yep, back to Seattle. Here are some previous Seattle-area blog posts.

• Before COVID

  • Wide Awake in Seattle

  • Marvel Superheroes at Seattle's MoPOP

• During COVID

  • Snow and Waterfalls on The Road to Paradise in Mt Rainier National Park

As the title says, much of this trip was about the two major National Parks near Seattle.

The Route

Another “Rockstar Road Trip” (i.e. fly in, rent a car, drive, fly home!). This time in the Pacific Northwest.

Open

Olympic National Park

Open

Hurricane Ridge

On this trip, not only did I have nice views on the way up, but actually got to see the views from the top!

Even got to see the other side of the ridge AND a few deer on the hike to that vantage point.

Stopped a few times on the way down, too.

Madison Falls

Just so pretty!

Saw some more critters, too.

Sol Duc Falls

Everyone says you have to visit this spot. I missed it last time and SO HAPPY I got to see it this time.

Hoh Rain Forest

Ruby Beach

Mount Rainier National Park

Longmire

Arrived at the National Park Inn in Longmire just as the sun was going down, but got a view of the summit before heading inside.

Finally captured a photo of a woodpecker, too!!

Incredible view from the Trail of Shadows just across the street.

Waterfalls on the Road to Paradise

The waterfalls are the highlight for me on the short drive up from Longmire, but what a view halfway up!

Christine Falls

The upper falls from the bridge.

The lower section viewed underneath the bridge.

Narada Falls

It was too snowy last time I was here and only got to see the upper falls.

So happy to get down to the bottom of the trail to see the big section this trip.

Ruby Falls

Too much snow to see the lower part of Ruby Falls, but it was moving very fast when viewing it from the bridge over it.

Nisqually River

You can’t see much of the river in this picture, but cool to see where the water is coming from.

Paradise

The view of the top of the mountain from Paradise is almost always covered in clouds.

Some incredible views facing the other direction, too.

And who is this silver fox!?!?

Snoqualmie Falls

Anyone who has ever watched the original Twin Peaks series will recognize this scene is a second!

There’s that SILVER FOX, again!!

Seattle

YES, I did spend a day (just one!) hanging out in Seattle.

Seems the SILVER FOX made a new friend, too.

Deception Pass State Park

Don’t worry, I did make it up to Anacortes to visit Deception Pass again. So pretty up there.