Category: pnw

hiking, Mt.Rainier National Park, pnw, Review, travel

Snowshoeing Mt. Rainier With Kids: Myrtle Falls Trail Guide

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Mt.Rainier

We planned a family snowshoe day at Mt. Rainier not knowing what the snow levels would be—but we decided to show up anyway.

And wow… we were rewarded with a bluebird day, empty parking lots, and one of the most peaceful winter hikes we’ve done as a family.

Starting our Adventure

We chose the Myrtle Falls trail—mostly flat, kid-friendly, and absolutely stunning in the snow. The bridge crossing was the trickiest part (snow covered with a drop off ), but we went slow and took our time which made all the difference.

The view from one side of Myrtle Falls
Slowly crossing the waterfall

We veered off to a steep up hill side trail for panoramic views of Mt. Rainier, we soaked it all in, and snapped way too many photos 📸

Approaching Myrtle Falls and the bridge
Look at this beautiful Mountain and the beauty all around

The kids were happiest just playing in the snow every chance they got—and after burning all those calories, everyone was very ready for pizza 🍕

Heading back
On our way back to Paradise parking lot. One of my favorite views

Hot Cocoa for Littles and Coffee for Mom

Are you ready for your adventure at Mt.Rainier Snowshoeing? If so check out my Snowshoeing Guide below ⬇️

❄️ Family Snowshoeing Guide: Myrtle Falls at Mt. Rainier

Snowshoeing at Mt. Rainier can feel intimidating with kids—but with the right trail and prep, it can be one of the most magical winter adventures. Here’s our experience snowshoeing the Myrtle Falls Trail and everything you need to know before you go.

📍 Trail Overview

Location: Paradise Area, Mt. Rainier National Park

Myrtle Falls (winter route)

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Distance: ~1 mile round trip (can be extended)

Elevation Gain: Minimal around 160 elevation gain

Best For: Families, beginners, kids, first-time snowshoers

This trail is mostly flat with gentle inclines, making it ideal for little legs and families new to snowshoeing.

❄️ What to Expect on the Trail

Snow-covered paths with stunning Mountain Views

Quiet winter scenery (especially on weekdays)

A magical waterfall at Myrtle Falls

Open areas perfect for kids to stop, play, and explore

⚠️ Important note:

The bridge near Myrtle Falls can be snow-covered. We crossed carefully by stepping slowly on packed snow. Take your time, assess conditions, and don’t hesitate to turn back if it feels unsafe.Do not try to go around the bridge. You could be on snow that is not safe and fall through .

🥾 What We Wore & Brought

❄️Gear:

Snowshoes (rentals work great!)

Waterproof boots

Trekking poles

❄️Clothing:

Waterproof snow pants

Insulated jackets

Warm gloves + hats

Extra layers (kids get wet fast!)

❄️Extras:

Snacks & water

Camera 📸

Hand warmers

Backpack for shedding layers

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tips for Snowshoeing With Kids

Go slow and keep expectations flexible

Stop often—snow play is half the fun

Snacks are a game changer

Turn back before everyone is exhausted

Motivate with a warm beverage waiting back at car ( hot cocoa ,tea or coffee )

Snowshoeing burns a lot of calories, so plan for food after—trust me 😉

🍕 Where We Ate After

After heading off the mountain, we stopped in Eatonville at a local pizzeria to refuel. Warm food + tired kids = happy ending to the day.

🌲 Why We Loved This Trail

Beginner-friendly

Incredible views with minimal effort

Peaceful winter experience

Perfect mix of adventure + play

A great introduction to winter hiking with kids

🏔️Final Thoughts

You don’t need perfect conditions or expert skills to enjoy snowshoeing at Mt. Rainier. Showing up prepared, moving slowly, and embracing the adventure makes all the difference.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly winter trail, Myrtle Falls is a beautiful place to start.

Would you try snowshoeing with your kids?

hiking, pnw, Review, travel

The Ultimate Family Stop After Exploring the Gorge ~ Thunder Island Brewing Co

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Mountain View from the patio

Looking for the perfect post-hike stop in the Columbia River Gorge? Thunder Island Brewing Co in Cascade Locks offers Mountain View’s, craft beer brewed with adventure in mind, and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Whether you’re coming off the trails near Bridge of the Gods or just exploring the Gorge with your kids, this spot is the ideal place to unwind, refuel, and take in those incredible river views.

Brewery is on the first floor


This is one of our favorite stops when we are hiking in the Columbia Gorge area. The restaurant/ Brewery is beautiful and who can resist a staircase that reminds you of Dog Mountain? Love it!

Always the more difficult ! Love this reference to Dog Mountain



They offer a great mix of food .. burgers to tofu ! We were pleased with the many choices and having such a large group it really was great we could all order something we liked.


Thunder Mountain Brewery Co perfectly captures what we love most about the Pacific Northwest: community, craftsmanship, and the great outdoors. Whether you’re winding down after a family hike or planning your next mountain adventure, this cozy brewery is the perfect place to raise a glass to good trails and great company.

Restaurant is upstairs .. view down to brewery
coffee, pnw, Review, travel

Roost Café & Bakery: A Cozy Coffee & Bakery Gem in Pullman, Washington

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Nestled in the historic BellTower building in downtown Pullman, Roost Café & Bakery blends a neighborhood feel with honest, carefully made food and coffee. The café’s large windows, warm wood tones, and friendly staff make it an inviting spot whether you’re on a quick coffee run or lingering with a laptop to work or study.

A few things we really loved about Roost was the many house-made elements they offered: syrups, pastries, and rotating seasonal flavors. Their attention to simple, fresh ingredients is what keeps locals coming back.

Roost Café & Bakery is more than a quick pit stop — it’s a warm, community-minded cafe that captures the best of Pullman’s small-town charm. Whether you’re grabbing a breakfast sandwich or lingering over a latte, Roost gives you a little taste of PNW hospitality.

     

   

cascade mountains, family adventures, hiking, pnw

Chasing the Golden Larches ~North Cascade Mountains

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October in Washington State is one of the most beautiful seasons and the perfect time to visit .

Look at all the beautiful fall colors that are so vibrant and welcoming🍁

Heading up to Heather Pass

The Golden Larches were on full display and we were lucky enough to catch them..they turn the bright golden color for such a short time before they lose their needles .It was interesting to touch them .. they were so soft .

Look closely you will see a beautifully hidden lake (Lewis Lake ) just past the larches .. thanks to my friend who spotted it!
Viewpoint at Heather Pass

We also talked with another hiker .. Keith from Ohio who recommended a short trail off of the Maple Pass Loop …the Wing Lake Trail ..where he captured the most beautiful hike through the larches .

The weather in the North Cascades is a little of everything …sunshine,rain and even some snow and the mountains are basking in the final streams of sunshine as they prepare to welcome winter.

Heading to Maple Pass

We experienced all their weather including the snow and enjoyed all the beauty of fall. The pics look so unreal but the actual views were so much better! The camera never captures the full experience .So thankful to be able to experience all this beauty!
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“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Descending Maple Pass is so beautiful! You see the path as it zigzags along the mountainside and everywhere you look you see mountains. If you look closely you will see other hikers who look like little specks .

Look to the left of the picture .. do you see the path through the trees? We hiked all the way around and could see the other side from where we were.. so cool!
That zigzag is our path down

Views of Rainy Lake as we were descending back to where we parked.

Here are our stats⬇️

📍Maple Pass Loop

🧭 Winthrop, Wa

🥾 6.5 miles RT ( we came in at 7.9 miles)

🏔️ 2162 ft elevation gain ( we gained 2254 )

⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple 

The Larches in all their beauty this past week at Maple Pass Loop in the North Cascade Mountains was such a blessing to experience. So thankful we were able to catch them during this magical transformation.

Maple Pass Loop also connects to Rainy Pass with the PCT Trail and we had the privilege of catching up with one of the PCT hikers,Daniel and his dad who was there to provide refueling snacks for those on the trail. Daniel started hiking in April from Mexico and had it had been 179 days since starting and he had just a few more to finish the PCT ! So impressive! He looked great and by the time we finished the hike he was already on the trail again but his dad was still there to cheer on the PCT hikers and us! What a nice guy! You can follow all his adventures on his YouTube channel I linked below ⬇️

https://youtube.com/@mountainhearthikes?si=bAXXtT3K2Q1OiBRi

Here is a reel of our full day and all the views! Enjoy and don’t forget to subscribe to see more of our adventures!

pnw, Review, travel

Village Books and Paper Dreams Bookstore ~Fairhaven ,Wa

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Village Books and Paper Dreams Bookstore in Fairhaven located in Bellingham,Wa, is a great place to visit and grab an espresso ,visit with a friend and pick up a new book.
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They offer new and used books as well as stationary,cards and lots of fun gifts for the book lover in your life.


The cafe is a great place to meet with a friend in a cozy setting with a living wall . Such a fun atmosphere!

Hotel, pnw, Review, travel

Hotel Leavenworth ~ Cascade Mountain Lodging

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Hotel Leavenworth is the perfect place to soak in some relaxation vibes . We planned to stay here after hiking in the Cascade Mountain Range and it was such a blessing! It is on the Main Street in Leavenworth , has parking that is included, and is convenient to so many restaurants! One of our favs .. Gustav’s , is located directly across the street.


The hotel could be described modern ski lodge . We loved the common area in the hallway between rooms. There were places to read or grab a drink and just hang out.


The room was so spacious! We had a jet tub in the room ,but in a seperate area, a huge walk in space to unload our gear , and a beautiful sitting area with a fireplace. It was the perfect room after a long day of hiking.Check out our full video tour of our room below ⬇️


There is also a beautiful patio area that was one of our favorite places to hang out.


And if that’s not enough reasons to stay here , they also offer a romance package with wine, flowers and chocolate so perfect for a getaway ❤️

history, pnw, Review, travel

Charm of Historic Fairhaven ~Bellingham , Wa

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Visiting Fairhaven feels like you have just stepped into a hallmark movie. Unique shops and twinkle lights everywhere pulls you into the magic of this beautiful town.
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With its charm also comes history .Fairhaven was settled in 1853, and started out as a booming manufacturing hub , it has since been designated as a National Historic District.


It is also host to the annual Ski to Sea race which takes place on Memorial Day weekend. The Ski to Sea race is accompanied by the Historic Fairhaven Festival, a street festival in Fairhaven to celebrate participants completing the relay race.

If you find yourself in Washington State , this is definitely a stop to add to your itinerary⭐️

pnw, reading, Review, travel

Powell’s city of Books ~Bookstore

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Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland has just about any kind of book you are looking for. There are so many floors of books! You could stay there for a whole day and still want to go back the next day to see more.
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Located in downtown Portland ,the store pretty much fills up a city block . That’s kinda cool to think about….a city block of multiple floors of books. Wow! A book lovers dream.
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So grab your list of books you are looking for and go.. you are sure to mark a few off your list .If you have been there , let me know what you love in the comments ⭐️

Goals, hiking, pnw, travel

Colchuck Lake ~Gateway to the Enchantments ~Hiking in the Cascade Mountains

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Colchuck Lake has easily become a yearly favorite . The first time I ever had the privilege of doing this hike it turned into a crazy day . We had an injury in our group, we experienced bouldering for the first time , many of us ran out of water , it took us way longer then we planned  , and we met our first skinny dippers at the lake 😂 Since then, we have had so many laughs looking back at that first time. 

Here is some of the first boulders we experienced.. but stay to the right and you will find a path that makes it easy to get through.

This hike is so captivating that when you first get the glimpses of the water you are in awe that you have just stumbled on this hidden gem . It is surrounded by two of Washington’s tallest peaks ,Dragontail and Colchuck Peak. Literally, I could stay there all day ! So beautiful and the water is so clear . 

Colchuck Lake is one of the two gateways to the Enchantments. It’s an iconic hike in itself but if you want to challenge yourself more ,you can continue on to Aasgard Pass, the door to the Enchantment Core. Makes me think of a portal to another world , which now after doing Aasgards ,it actually does seem like a whole different world you step into . Look for that post later! 

Here are our stats⬇️

📍Colchuck Lake

🧭 Leavenworth, Wa

🥾 8.7 miles RT ( we came in at 10.55)

🏔️ 2342ft elevation gain ( we gained 2491)

⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple 

And now for coffee ☕️

Check out the full reel of our adventure ⬇️

And check out our post of the cutest Bavarian Starbucks we went to after our hike

Unique Starbucks in Bavarian Town of Leavenworth ~ Review
family adventures, pnw, travel

Jakob Two Trees ~Northwest Trolls : Way of the Bird King

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“A thousand circle suns, not old
Time will stretch and loop and fold
So stop, breathe out, breathe in, behold
The trees have sung a story told”
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Jakob is located in Issaquah and stands around 14-ft. tall, looking as future friends come to find him . You will find him paused between two trees as if to say peek a boo to all who pass by. He is fashioned entirely out of recycled materials, and wears a necklace of birdhouses.

One of the unique things about Jakob,is he is the first troll who has a ponytail with the ponytail holder and bracelet he is wearing made by the Snoqualmie Tribe.I love how this connects and weaves Coast Salish tribal communities with Danish and Scandinavian traditions, all through the beauty of environmental art.

Jakob Two Trees is one of the six trolls that are part of the Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King created by Thomas Dambo .The other trolls are on Bainbridge Island; Ballard, Seattle; Portland, Vashon Island and West Seattle. Check out our post below of the other trolls:)

Frankie Feetsplinters ~ Thomas Dambo Northwest Troll

Bruun Idun, One of Thomas Dambo’s Northwest Trolls ~West Seattle

And here is the link for the Troll Map to find them all ⬇️

https://trollmap.com/#/jakobtwotrees

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