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4 Gorgeous Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is delightfully dog-friendly, and the gorgeous hiking trails are no exception. We love dog-friendly hikes with our pups in the mountains and lakes around Seattle, Portland, and Bend. We’re thrilled to share a few of our favorite dog-friendly hikes with you here. All the ones I’ve listed here are pretty short, at 4 miles or less roundtrip, with great views along the way. If you haven’t met them yet, we have two pups: Juliet and Rascal. They’ve been on multiple cross-country road trips, and they’ve hiked so many dog-friendly trails all over the country. Rattlesnake Ledge, Seattle This popular out and back 5-mile roundtrip hike in the…
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Your Essential Packing List for Car Camping
Your first time camping can be a bit overwhelming, especially when it comes to knowing what to bring. Even regular camping veterans are still improving and adding to their packing list each time! It’s also easy to forget a basic necessity if you don’t have a list ready. So, I thought it would be helpful to make a list of what we have stashed away in our plastic camping bin. We keep most of this this stored in our garage and ready to go, so we’re not running around trying pull together scattered items for each trip. We’re still working on a better kitchen pack, but if you’re just starting…
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The Ultimate Guide for Banff and Jasper National Parks in 7 Days
Banff and Jasper National Parks offer the perfect adventure through the Canadian Rockies. Get ready for lakes of the brightest blues and emeralds, filled with wildlife of all shapes and sizes, and set against a backdrop of towering icy mountains and glaciers. It’s a bucket-list trip for anyone who loves the outdoors. Here’s the perfect 7-day itinerary for you to road trip through our favorite Canadian national parks! First, a few logistics. When to go: We went in early summer (mid-June), before the crowds got too hectic, and after most of the snow on the roads had melted. I’m sure Banff and Jasper are stunning in every season, but I was…
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5 Must-See Spots in Death Valley
Death Valley National Park is a study in extremes: the weather, the solitude, and the unbelievably varied landscapes are such a fun challenge to explore. I’ve pulled together a few of our favorite stops from our last trip here; some of these view points are easily accessible, and others require a little bit of a hike, but nothing strenuous. Driving into Death Valley, you might feel that you’re on an eerily desolate and alien planet sometimes. But that’s part of this park’s charm, the otherworldly emptiness. The rugged mountains, colorful canyons, and rolling sand dunes come out of nowhere while you’re driving in, and it’s hard to decide where to go…
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The Perfect 7 Day Road Trip through Utah and Arizona’s Parks
You wanted to squeeze Valley of Fire State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Zion National Park all into one road trip? You’ve come to the right place. This road trip through Utah and Arizona was the perfect mix of desert reds, forest greens, and ice cold blue streams. Every landscape is stunning in its own way, and totally unforgettable. You’ll never get bored staring out the car window on the drives between parks. Here’s how we did it. If you have a week, this is the perfect itinerary for you to drive out from LA or Vegas and road trip through Utah and Arizona. Day…
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Camping on Orcas Island
On my solo road trip up the West Coast with my dog Juliet, we got a tip to check out Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands in Washington north of Seattle. I was able to snag a last minute campsite at the quiet, low-key Mountain Lake Campground, and off we went. How to get there: You have to take a ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. The timeline and availability are here. You can drive your car onto the ferry, but they recommend reserving a spot in advance. If you’re walking on, there’s usually more space to jump on at the last minute. Where to stay: I highly recommend…
Road trips, outdoor adventures, and dog-friendly travel.
