Washington

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 120
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $118 ($38 camp, $30 gas, $50 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 1: drive to Gold Basin Campground located in Mt. Baker-Snoqalmie National Forest, Washington (60 mi); hike Lake 22 trail
  • Day 2: relax at the campground, drive back home

Continue reading

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: ~300
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $202 ($62 camp, $50 gas, $90 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 1: drive to Ocean City State Park Campground, Washington (140 mi); settle and spend time on the beach
  • Day 2: explore Olympic National Park, hike, spend more time in camp and drive back home

Continue reading

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 220
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $174 ($64 camp, $40 gas, $70 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 0: drive to Silver Springs Campground, Mount Rainier NP, Washington (80 mi); settle in
  • Day 1: explore the park and hike Naches Peak Loop trail
  • Day 2: explore Sunrise area of the park, drive back home

Continue reading

Duration: 2 days
Mileage: 280
Starting point: Seattle, WA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $142 ($32 camp, $40 gas, $70 food, we had our $80 NP annual pass that we purchased earlier this year)

  • Day 0: drive to Newhalem Campground, North Cascades NP, Washington (115 mi); settle in
  • Day 1: explore the park and hike Blue Lake trail
  • Day 2: relax in the campground, drive back home

Continue reading

Duration: 8 days
Mileage: 2000
Starting point: Mountain View, CA
Countries: USA
Budget for 2 people: $800 ($180* hotel, $360 food, $200 gas, $60 other)

  • Day 0: Drive from work to Red Bluff (220 mi)
  • Day 1: Explore Southern Oregon wine cities, drive to Crescent City (300 mi)
  • Day 2: Drive along Oregon coast to Tillamook (300 mi)
  • Day 3: Drive to Seattle (250 mi)
  • Days 4-6: Work from Seattle and explore the city, drive to Portland (180 mi)
  • Day 7: Visit Oregon's waterfalls, drive to Eugene (160 mi)
  • Day 8: Drive home (600 mi)

* We used points for our hotels on the way to Seattle, and hotel in Seattle was covered by the employer.

Continue reading

Flight: Orange County, SNA –> Seattle, SEA –> Orange County, SNA
Mileage: ~500
Starting point: Irvine, CA
States: WA
Budget for 2 people: $1530 ($613 flight, $57 car; $330 hotel, $80 gas, $250 food, $200 other)

  • Day 0: late flight from the Orange County, SNA to Seattle, SEA; sleep close to the airport to pick up a rental car next morning
  • Day 1: drive to Olympic National Park, WA; see Port Angeles, Clallam Bay (200 mi, 5 h); stay at Port Angeles
  • Day 2: continue exploring Olympic National Park, WA; see La Push, Hoh Rainforest and get lost taking a wrong road (400 mi, 8 h)
  • Day 3: explore Seattle; see Space Needle, Science Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pike Place Market
  • Day 4: see Waterfront Park, Olympic Sculpture Park, downtown, Gum Wall; take a ferry to Bainbridge Island (35 min)
  • Day 5: walk to and take pictures from Kerry Park; fly back home

Continue reading