Absolutely breathtaking natural wonder, 100% worth every minute of the trip!…read moreWe visited the ice cave in June, and the ice formations inside were absolutely spectacular--far more stunning than any photos online. The whole cave drips water nonstop, which creates such a magical, serene frozen atmosphere that feels totally otherworldly. The hike leading to the cave is equally lovely. The trail winds through thick forest with full tree cover providing plenty of cool shade the entire way. Lush green trees surround the path, making the walk gentle and scenic even in warm June weather. The forest views alone made the journey enjoyable before we even reached the ice cave. Inside, massive ice walls and natural ice sculptures stretch everywhere. The constant dripping water echoes softly through the cavern, adding to the surreal vibe. Just a small tip: bring a light waterproof jacket to avoid getting splashed by all the dripping ice water. This trip balanced beautiful woodland hiking and an incredible frozen cave experience perfectly. It's easily one of the best outdoor spots I've checked out, and I'd highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

A stunning and gentle hike near Granite Falls, WA…read more Meadows, a clear blue alpine river, ice caves (to look at, not ruin), and unreal mountain scenery. The road getting these isn't even too twisty. It makes for a wonderful sunny day out.

A gorgeous lake hike during any season :) Come in the winter for some amazing snow, or the summer…read morefor an amazing shimmery lake and a backdrop. This hike is pretty moderate - so maximum reward for not much effort :D

Arrived at 8:30am on a Saturday and the parking lot was mostly empty (less than 10 cars). Bathrooms…read moredon't lock but I was still able to use it by having someone stand in front of it for me. Trail is rocky, muddy and there are many stream crossings. Crampons/micro-spikes are needed if you want to walk around the lake, the snow is compact and icy too.

Great beach especially for small kids. A 60 passenger boat ride that takes 5 minutes, the island…read moreis a pack in and pack out long beach, with the only toilets located at the dock. A nature preserve, we saw bald eagles, seals, and osprey plus clams, crabs and ghost shrimp in the tidal flats. Reserve tickets are required for thr boat ride, and you must reserve a return time. Early returns fill up fast, and winds pick up in the afternoon, so take a jacket.

This review is for my last visit this year. I've been here before and ferry was packed!…read moreFortunately, we got tickets in advanced. There was people upstairs and downstairs. Some standing up. So better be on time and make a line if this happens. This year was different. We got tickets but there was just another family. Maybe because we got there at midday. Beach was crowded. We had to walk just a little bit to get a spot and set everything. People come and go with every ferry so there's always space. Just a dew benches but everyone wants to be at the beach near the dry sand. Water will come later on, but the rest is wet. You have to walk for a few minutes to get to the water. It is pretty shallow. This year we had to run because it was shrimp season and they make sand unstable. At first everyone wants to dodge algae, but you end up stepping on it. Getting into the water was the same. It felt like quicksand. It didn't feel quite relaxing. 10 years ago it we would stay for hours in water. Kids would play easily. We'll, at least animals hace set a home! Jetty is a small island just a quarter of mile from Port of Everett. But i don't think you will be able to swim with all your stuff back and forth after a day there :D You ca always kayak if there's no more room in the Ferry. By the way, it is a small passengers only. Strollers won't move on sand so leave it in your car. Do bring everything you need like water, towels, a tent that can resist wind (it gets pretty windy and can blow umbrellas), etc. If you bring food, take all you garbage with you. Don't leave anything. I saw some kids stuff laying there waiting for the water to come over and take it to the sea. So sad. I carried most of it because there are no garbage bins in sight. Also, there is just one floating restroom. It tends to smell. Take it into consideration when drinking lots of water. We usually go to the one in the parking lot first and when coming back. It is very clean. Lots of stalls. Parking lot is big if you extend it to the grass area. There is always someone checking you paid for it.

This Arboretum is so beautifully designed and maintained! I loved it. There are so many different…read morespecimens and the trees, paths, rock gardens are just inspiring. Thanks to all who have helped create this wonderful place.

My husband and I are always looking to find family friendly and quiet parks for children to explore…read moreand safely play. We came across the Evergreen Arboretum today, and it was such a little gem. I really appreciate how intentional this arboretum felt, it's easy to tell how the community and volunteers are intentional about its upkeep and serenity. If you're in the area and looking for nice walk, or a quiet place to sit The Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens is the place; I highly recommend.

Do this hike and count how many times you say to yourself, "I wish I'd never been born." I…read moreguarantee you it will be more times than there are cars in the parking lot. Start off on a deceptively easy walk through a typical Pacific NW forest of old and second growth. After about 1.2 miles (GPS) you come to the old parking lot for the trail. The trail becomes moderate here, with some loose rocks and tree roots. The trail is also nice in that it alternates from incline to a small period of relatively level ground. The trail also switches from forested cover to full on sun. Once you get climbing, you'll see Mount Dickerman to one side and chortle at the poor souls who are agonizing their way to the top. But don't get too happy. After the waterfall which will lull you into a stupor, the climb gets interesting. On a dry August day the hike is not as challenging, but earlier in the season I can imagine all kinds of mud, wet tree roots, slippery rocks - which all make for an interesting hike. Even on this dry happy day navigating the path can be difficult. And the path climbs. More. The hike says 3000 feet gain and the majority of it comes in the last...oh...2.5-3.0 miles. Not switchbacks per se, but just endless trudging up narrow paths that are determined to trip you up. The path is nicely cleared of vegetation just recently, but there are BUGS galore. My hiking buddies only had the bugs swarming around them, but the bugs sure loved me. One drew blood that ran down my legs which attracted more bugs. Bring spray. Oh, but spray didn't work in my case. If you saw a petite Asian woman waving a stick around and shouting GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!! all the way up on the Perry Creek trail 8/7/2013, that was me talking to the bugs. The part after the creek crossing with a big log bridge is the final homestretch. It is an endless upward climb - not steep - but just full of roots and rocks. Just when you wish you were never born, you reach the top. From there it's another little bit to the meadow...which unfortunately at this time of year has already past its bloom. But I can imagine in full bloom it would be beautiful. No blooms, no problem. The view of the surround big four mountains is also pretty awesome. The elevation at the top was 5300 feet. The spot's great for camping (there was a fire pit and cleared areas for tents). We saw animal tracks in the mud of the rapidly shrinking lake/pond. Huckleberries still have a few weeks to go before they're ripe. I've never used a stick on any hike but am glad I found one on the trail. It helped a lot coming down. Would go back again, but probably earlier in the season to catch the flowers.

Absolutely beautiful park. We followed this stunning mountain range all the way from Seattle, and…read moreOld School Park ended up being the perfect place to stop and take it all in. The views were surreal--snow-dusted peaks rising behind a quiet little town, like something out of a postcard. The open green space, crisp air, and peaceful energy made it feel like a true hidden gem. It's rare to find a roadside stop that feels this grounding. Whether you're snapping photos, stretching your legs, or just soaking up the stillness--this place delivers.

Came on a Sunday late morning, arriving at the parking lot around 11AM, full, lots of cars,…read morebathroom and map at the trailhead. Shaded trail going uphill for about 3-4 miles, then into the sun for about 2 miles, took about 2 hrs 20 mins to the top. Switchbacks pretty much all the way. Not too many people, some mosquitoes, amazing 360 views at the top. Sunny, no clouds in sight! Great hike, hiking poles helped on the way down.

Challenging yet excellent hike! I came here on Memorial Day around 9 am. Not too many people on the…read moretrail. The weather wasn't that great. It was a little chilly with a some light rain and very cloudy. Elevation gain: 3950 ft Highest Point: 5760 ft Length: 8.6 miles round trip Time: 3 hours up. 2.5 hours down. Difficulty: Hard for me as a beginning hiker. I hiked with a group of friends and they have been hiking forever and they didn't find this trail difficult at all. Road: Very straight forward and easy drive. It took about 1.5-2 hours coming from Seattle. The trail is located right off Mountain Loop Highway on the left side. No pot holes and off road of any sort. Parking: Lots of parking spaces in the parking lot. There are two outhouse toilets available. Trail: The trail is in excellent condition. Very nicely maintained. The beginning of the hike was probably the hardest part for me because the switchbacks seems never ending. For the first 2.5 miles or so, it consists of mainly moderate grade incline switchbacks (I counted about 50-55) through the forest. Some are very long. I marked the half-way point of the trail at the end of the series of switchbacks. You will then pass a very large rock formation on the side of the mountain along with some stream crossings. The trail opens up past the forest with some views of the nearby peaks. This part of the trail remains somewhat flat with some rocky steps for about 1 mile or so. This part was nice having to be able to catch my breath from the beginning of the hike. Then the trail then begins to get steep again with some more short switch backs and steps. About 1/2 mile from the top, there are some snow on the trail but nothing too hard to cross. The overall trail is pretty straight forward and not that bad. If I was in better shape, I don't think it would have been so challenging. View: No view! It was so cloudy that there was no view what so ever! I was so disappointed because this was the most challenging hike that I have ever done and I couldn't see anything! I will sure be back when it's more clear. Bugs: None *Northwest Forest Pass required*

I've been here two or three times before with my daughter when she was littler, and her friends…read morewere little, too. We loved it. It's so neat to be able to touch animals that few people see, let alone pet. I have a picture of her as a small child, almost lying on top of a wallaby in the sun. So, when a friend from Seattle asked that I meet her halfway from my north end location, this was the outing I chose for the day. The tour wasn't as long as I remembered it being, and the marsupials weren't quite as snuggly. However, the variety was amazing. There were tiny baby lemurs on display, a mama wallaby with a baby in her pouch, burros, kissing alpacas, emus you could pet... it's a pretty unique experience. I only removed one star because I felt rushed through. In the past I don't recall feeling like I was being held to a tight time limit, and that was a little disappointing. Overall, it's a cool experience, and I highly recommend it-- especially for those with children.

What an incredible experience going to the Kangaroo Farm! The Farm is family run, and their pride…read morein the place is evident. They offer guided tours only, lasting about 40 minutes with ample opportunities to interact with the animals. We were able to feed wallabies, kangaroos, goats, llamas and donkeys. There were also lemurs, peacocks, chickens and more! Each animal stop came with fun facts, stories and even a trivia round. Fun for even adults looking for something new! Definitely check the farm out, Thursday to Sunday, and enjoy wildlife not usually seen in the PNW!