The morning mist hangs low in the Hoh Rain Forest, a quintessential cover for this corner of Olympic National Park. My boots crunch on the damp gravel of the parking lot, and I make my way toward the trailhead for the Trail of Mosses. It’s a popular loop for good reason. 

It’s like stepping into a fairytale, a place where western hemlock and spruce trees reach for the sky, their branches draped in so much lichen and moss they form dripping arches. It’s a short walk, just over a mile, but it packs a magical punch every time. It is places like this that are worth preserving for generations to come.

Approaching from the west, as those traveling from Portland often do, the journey along what is referred to as the Waterfall Corridor begins with a step back into history. Built more than a century ago, the Historic Columbia River Highway was planned as the first scenic roadway in the United States. This narrow ribbon of pavement was engineered specifically to showcase the Gorge’s vertical splendor, and stands today much as it did in the early 1900s.

Puffs of steam pour out of an evaporator, through several chrome columns and into the cold winter air as I enter the sugar barn, where Neil McLeod is hunched over a vat of boiling tree sap. This barn is where the magic happens: the team at Neil’s Bigleaf Maple Syrup collects and cooks down this year’s harvest of Washington-grown maple syrup. Yes, you heard that right.‍ ‍Read more…

We could spend 'Eight Days a Week' at The Edgewater's famed Beatles Suite

Trade highway traffic for a laid-back train journey for the chance to truly soak in the scenery during your Washington State travels. Train rides in Washington are the perfect car-free travel experience, taking you past snow-capped mountains and along pristine coastlines. Three primary Amtrak routes crisscross the state—the north-south Amtrak Cascades and Coast Starlight and the east-west Empire Builder—connecting major cities, charming towns, and stunning natural landscapes.