Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 3

Garibaldi Lake

Hiking British Columbia: What are You Waiting For?

British Columbia, Canada

As gorgeous as British Columbia is, it should come as no surprise that the province is a hiker’s paradise. With its vast wilderness, stunning mountain ranges, and diverse landscapes, BC offers some of the best hiking trails in the world. Don’t worry if you’re not an avid hiker; both novices and experts can savor lush rainforests, while the more adventurous should not miss the more challenging climbs passing dense pine forests to the summit. So grab your hiking boots, a backpack, and hit the trails! Here are nine of the best hiking trails in British Columbia, Canada that every outdoor enthusiast should add to their must-do list. While you’re in B.C., you may as well do the full outdoor experience and do some glamping! Best Hikes in Vancouver Island West Coast Trail Location: Vancouver Island, from Port Renfrew to Bamfield Distance: 75 km (47 mi) Elevation gain: 5,000 m…

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10 Best Spots for Glamping in BC, Canada

British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia is renowned for its breathtaking mountaintop views and beachfront getaways – ideal conditions for glamping. Glamping offers the chance to enjoy nature without roughing it – often even including electricity and running water – perfect if you want a luxury camping experience without going off-grid! BC Glamping When you want to go camping in BC, look no further than the amazing glamping locations. Glamping instead of camping means you are still smack-dab in the thick of nature, but you don’t have to rough it (as much). From breathtaking forests to peaceful coastlines, British Columbia glamping sites will leave you feeling as though nature herself were your gracious host. Glamping Vancouver Island Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is an exclusive all-inclusive resort located in the heart of Clayoquot Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The resort offers a variety of glamping accommodations, including yurts, safari-style tents, and treehouses. Guests can enjoy…

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Badwater Basin - Death Valley

Road Trips from Las Vegas: Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks

Beyond the PNW

I’ve written a fair amount of content about RV living but have never driven an RV. How crazy is that? Well, when one of my clients approached me with the idea of taking one of their smaller RVs on the road, I quite literally jumped at the chance. Blacksford RV has offices in Bozeman, Montana and Las Vegas, Nevada (with more locations opening soon), so I was given a choice between the two. An RV road trip from Las Vegas seemed like a no-brainer for me – I had never been to Joshua Tree or Death Valley National Parks. They were both on my bucket list, and an easy drive from Sin City. The only tiny caveat is that our trip was scheduled for mid-June. Not ideal for the California desert! But it was still early enough in the summer where temperatures were not expected to be insane, so we…

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Below Oregon’s Edge: Places to Visit in Northern California

Beyond the PNW

Where in the world can you experience towering alps, castles seemingly hanging in mid-air, a mystical mountainous spirit, bubbling hot pots from the center of the earth, and finish off the day at a world class Mediterranean restaurant, all within a day’s drive from each other? Hugging unusual frontiers, we’re edging out excitement, we’re going down onto parts unknown, just south of the California / Oregon border. Looking a little deeper into the folds and forests of Northern California, we’re uncovering opportunities that travelers hurriedly pass over, and guessing, if Oregon and California gave birth, it would be a waterfall. Downtown Dunsmuir, photo by cswtwo (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Dunsmuir CA: From Micro to Medi Hidden in the twisty mountainous curves of the northern California stretch of I-5, Dunsmuir is a frequent fly-by, but it is definitely worth a pause. A tourist hub for the intrepid, Dunsmuir is a gateway that…

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Things to Do in Seattle at Night

Guides

Seattle offers something to fit everyone’s nighttime entertainment needs; whether that means dancing until dawn, fantastic light show, culinary adventures, or simply sipping drinks with friends. Just as an example: explore one of the city’s exquisite parks that remain open late into the night – Gas Works Park or Alki Beach offer amazing nighttime views of the Seattle city skyline. Date Night Ideas in Seattle Romantic things to do in Seattle run the gamut from energizing glitz and glam, to laid-back casual and everything in between. Explore Southeast Asian Food Hall For foodies in Seattle looking to spice up date night, why not visit this amazing Southeast Asian-inspired food hall for date night? You will instantly be transported into an Asian street market and not even leave the North American continent. The cuisine is that authentic! The Seattle Waterfront is a wonderful activity for date night in Seattle. With more…

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Hood River with Mt. Hood

6 Best Day Trips from Portland Oregon

Guides

Oregon boasts many breathtaking sights all over the state. I’ve lived here for over 20 years and taking a weekend trip from Portland is an excellent way to get out into nature, which is what the Pacific Northwest is all about. Portland day trips can be a fantastic way of experience the diversity of Oregon. Your getaway from Portland can take many forms, so whatever suits your personal style, whether it is hiking, boating, fishing, or epic sightseeing, there is something here for everyone. Personally, I am an independent traveler, so striking out on my own or with a travel buddy is my preference. However, I have included some wonderful guided tour suggestions at the bottom of this post for each destination for those of you who like to kick back and let someone else guide you on these day trips from Portland. Each of these tours are hand-picked by…

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Happy woman sitting near tent with laptop, view of mountains ,sky and sea.

Camping the Oregon Coast – the Ultimate Guide

Guides

Like many Oregonians, I’ve spent my fair share of spending the night under the stars, listening to the sounds of Oregon’s iconic craggy shoreline as the waves wash up along the shore. No matter where in the world my travels take me, nothing beats the lure of the Pacific, the intoxicating scent of fresh sea water mixed with a nearby old-growth forest. If you’re looking for an unforgettable camping experience, the Oregon coast camping is a must-do. It has everything from glamping cabins to modern yurts, to deluxe RV spots to tent sites with a view, and more. Here you’ll find some of the best RV parks on the Oregon Coast. These campgrounds are listed from north to south and I have divided them in to two sections: northern and southern Oregon coast. These campgrounds all follow the Leave No Trace principle, which is an easy way to avoid leaving…

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Scenic Drives Near Seattle

Guides

Whether you’re looking for a two-person getaway, a family-friendly day trip or a more ambitious multi-day excursion, the Pacific Northwest has plenty of options to get away from the city and enjoy nature. With so many fantastic places within driving distance from Seattle, you are sure to find something your entire road crew will love. Drive to Seattle This makes it a great excuse to have a car throughout your entire journey, because there’s nothing better than a Washington State road trip. Whether you’re coming from the Portland area, from Vancouver to Seattle, or any other direction, you’re going to have some killer views along the way. Scenic Drives Washington – Snoqualmie Pass There are plenty of things to do in Snoqualmie Pass, including hiking, fishing, and visiting the iconic Twin Peaks location. If you’re a fan of the outdoors, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is home to more than 100…

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Prineville Dark Sky Park courtesy of Shutterstock

Dark Sky Parks of the West

Guides

Enter the world of Night Parks and turn yourself over to Nyx, mythic mistress of night, and allow your imagination to be captivated by infinite possibilities. There, between the cabaret of constellations and the crenellations of mountain peaks, you can release your mind into a state of mental sublimation through the connect-the-dots sky of starry shibari. This is the otherworld of Dark Sky Parks, where you subsume your daytime struggles, and accept the darkness. As of January, 2022 the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has recently designated 37 new International Dark Sky Places, bringing the total to 196 worldwide. All Dark Sky Places are spectacular and beckon you into the ethereal specters of milky ways, shooting stars, and galaxies far, far away. The Pacific Northwest is luckily home to several nearby Night Sky Parks. Not surprisingly, all are found on the eastern side of the Cascade Range. The Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary,…

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The Best Women’s Apparel for the Pacific Northwest – Kuhl

Shopping

Scrambling up a steep trail laden with slippery rocks and muddy patches on a Pacific Northwest hike, fresh after a long drizzle, is no easy task. Yet it’s exhilarating and rewarding. A good challenging hike is made even better when you are wearing the right gear. Enter the Kuhl Kultivatr Kargo Pant. Catchy name, don’t you think? I was lucky to find these. Explorers like myself are always looking for great-looking pants that are as good on the trail as they are in the streets of Seattle. And the win for me? They look great with ankle hiking boots! They’re also the best hiking pants for hot weather. I went on a day-long hike with this pant, and it delivered all of the comfort and versatility you could hope for in a travel pant. Kuhl is a brand I have loved for years – they have a huge range of…

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5 Best Oregon Road Trips

Guides

Find the best Oregon road trip ideas here, for all reasons, for all seasons. Come discover your own Oregon!

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Florence Sand Dunes

Southern Oregon Coast: The Thrill of Fiction or Natural Facts?

Guides

This article was written by my good friend John Schoppert, who lives in Southern Oregon and intimately knows the Southern Oregon Coast. Dropping over the edge of 50 floors of a sand dune precipice onto a hair-raising incline is no laughing matter. Or is it? Outside of Florence, Oregon, on the southern Oregon coast, is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area where dune buggies, sandboarders, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) pitch over cliffs of wind-blown peaks of sand dune mountains. Not only is this other-worldly terrain an ever-changing landscape due to wind, sand, and water, but it was also an inspiration for a seminal science fiction novel and later, an engulfing David Lynch film. The Southern Oregon Coast But first, let’s start safely at the bottom. A Southern Oregon coast road trip is as varied and exciting as the much-ballyhooed middle and northern Oregon coasts. Those coasts, while spectacularly dramatic, receive…

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10 Unique Places to Stay in Washington State

Informational

**This post was updated on March 4, 2024** When I book a trip, one of the first things I research is accommodation. A place I’m going to be excited about returning to when the adventures of the day are over. So where should you go to find the best places to stay in Washington State if you’re looking for something a little different than a standard hum-drum chain hotel? So glad you asked, because we’ve got you covered. Choosing the right accommodation can make or break a trip, so why not spice it up with something more exciting? I’ve been all over this great state and have hand-picked the best places to stay in Washington State. These are all places I’ve been or that are on my bucket list. Read on! **This post contains affiliate links. When you click on my links and book, I earn a small commission at…

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The resort backdrop

One Women’s Solo Journey into the Great Bear Rainforest

British Columbia, Canada

“See those white bits in this wolf scat? Those are from deer bones.” We all looked down at the offending poo and I was overcome with a strange mixture of fascination and repulsion. Our forest guide, Ellie, proceeded to tell us in intimate detail that wolves normally eat every single part of the deer, except for the skull and other bone and cartilage areas that are too thick for them to digest. And so it was I found myself on this epic solo journey into the Great Bear Rainforest of central coastal British Columbia, Canada. For those living in a dense wilderness where more grizzly bears than humans reside, everyday life can be a tricky prospect. In remote British Columbia, large swaths of forest remain untouched by human development, and the few tiny communities that do exist refuse to install traffic lights for one simple reason: it really irritates the…

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Best Things to Do in Union Gap, Washington

Guides

When you visit the Yakima Valley, just over a 2-hour drive east from Seattle, you would be remiss to pass by the charming little town of Union Gap, just south of the city of Yakima. It should be on everyone’s list of what to do in Yakima Valley, Washington State. Often times you’ll find the most amazing things in the most unassuming of locales. Forget hidden gem – Union Gap is a sparkling diamond in the rough. I mean, where else can you visit a local tamales joint that has won a James Beard Award? This area of the Pacific Northwest lies east of the Cascade Mountain Range, and so it sees an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. The rich soil made possible by the last ice age means it’s also an agricultural mecca. Turns out, this is fertile ground for growing grapes and hops. Yakima…

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Why You Need to Come to Yakima Valley

Food & Drink

Sometimes you just don’t know what treasures await you until they literally fall into your lap. That’s the beauty of travel. There destinations that will take your breath away, yet are not in any travel guidebooks. Places you may never have heard of as being on a bucket list, and so you don’t take the time to plan for. These may only be found through word-of-mouth, or by happenstance. Yakima Valley is one of these destinations. Tucked nicely in Central Washington’s fertile vineyard and hop region, Yakima tourism has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years and developed into a playground. One for not only wine and beer lovers, but this amazing spot has become a haven for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, fly fishers, foodies, and so much more. It is here in this arid region that some of the best wine and beer in the world is…

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Solo Travel and “Scratching the Itch”

Personal Musings

As we age, a great many of us find that we have more freedom. That could mean many things… perhaps the kids are grown and out of the house. Or perhaps you have just retired, and while you have a few hobbies to keep you busy, you still have a ton a free time. Or maybe you’ve recently divorced (like me) and are single and fancy free once again. And dare I say…feeling frisky? I’ll come to this point a bit later. An even greater number of us find that we are just hitting our stride at this age. We are finally comfortable in our own skin. We’ve lived a lifetime (or three) and have lived to tell the tale. Those small lines around your mouth and eyes? Those come from wisdom. Don’t laugh…it’s true. Perhaps the travel bug has hit you dead on, but you’re wondering how you’re going…

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A Pretty Good Guide to Mount Rainier National Park

Guides

I recently went on a hiking trip to Mount Rainier. It was just….WOW. Simply put, Mount Rainier is a hiker’s paradise. And the park is HUGE, so there’s lots to explore. Choose from dozens of amazing hiking trails featuring all manner of stunning vistas and varied terrain, with hikes suitable from beginner’s to seasoned backpackers. Lovely forests surround the mountain, with subalpine meadows and a volcanic past. Come in the late Spring and immerse yourself in wildflowers in a rainbow of colors. While this post features the best hikes around the mountain, stay tuned until the end where I delve into Stuff You Need To Know about the park in general. The Basics: Mount Rainier is 14,411 feet above sea level. That’s about four thousand feet taller than Mount Hood in Oregon. About 10 thousand people attempt scale Rainer every year, and only half of them make it. Fun…

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4 Tips to Make Traveling Easy on Your Wallet

Guides

With the ongoing pandemic, the global tourism sector is still facing an uphill recovery. But fear not! There is a bright spot. In the US and Canada, tourist arrivals actually rose above 2020 levels in the first nine months of 2021. More people are also traveling domestically after a long period of limited mobility, and are not quite ready for international travel. You may also be someone eager to pursue “revenge travel” as a way of making up for lost time. But aside from safety considerations, what about the financial worries of traveling? If you’re planning to travel around the US or Canada soon, whether it’s the gorgeous Pacific Northwest or beyond, here are four budget tips to consider: Travel on points, miles, and other rewards Credit cards allow you to earn valuable points and miles that can fund your next vacation. Think of these rewards as currency to use for free…

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Kayakers on the Lake

6 Best Outdoor Vacations in the Pacific Northwest

Guides

Pacific Northwest vacations are the very definition of outdoor adventure. Here I go again, giving myself another impossible task. The outdoor adventures are never-ending in the PNW. And so I struggle with putting together this list of the best outdoor activities in Oregon in Washington, because amazing adventures are literally everywhere, covering every square mile. Exploring the diverse ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest is one of the best adventure vacations to be had on Earth. This is where your best nature vacation awaits. So whether you’re looking for a couple’s adventure vacation, a satisfying solo adventure getaway, or simply an outdoor weekend getaway, there so much to see and do here in the Pacific Northwest. For each of these outdoor destinations, I have included links to my other articles for more in-depth information on each. Be sure to check out what interests you and start planning your next adventure in…

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