I stopped at Bowman Bay one day on my way to Oak Harbor to visit my grandma. I had packed a lunch…read moresince I was traveling in the morning to midday and traffic was starting to pick up. My sister had recently come here to go kayaking and recommended it as a spot to visit. So, I decided to give it a try as a lunch spot. Discovery passes were required for parking, fortunately I had thought ahead and it was in the glove compartment of my car. I arrived towards the morning side of noon on 1 September 2021 and parking was abundant. The weather was sunny with a slight wind. So I decided to park, grab my lunch and eat on a piece of driftwood on the beach. A group of kayakers were just heading out as I ate and a few dog walkers made their way up and down the shore. Just up from the beach there were picnic tables and a large grassy expanse. A trail led off into a wooded area. The restroom building not far from the parking lot was kept cleanly.

This is one of those perfect little bays where time passes you by. Clean bathrooms. Easy parking,…read moremore spots down the road where they rent kayaks if it's full. An absolute lovely hike to Rosario Beach and Rosario Head, about a mile and hugs the coastline.

It was yet another glorious sunny weekend in the PNW, so we grabbed our buckets and headed to…read moreWhidbey Island for some beachcombing - discovering this beautiful beach along the way. It's a small, but mighty, little strip of land that's bordered on three sides by private property, so while it might not be a great place to hang out with 1000 of your closest friends, you can't beat the vibe here for a small romantic picnic or playtime with the kid. The beach is pretty typical PNW: driftwood, rocks, mud, and lots of stinky seaweed to give the place atmosphere. We were there at low tide, so it definitely had wading potential (if you're into cold, Puget Sound water). The thing I liked most, besides the stunning views out to the Olympics, was that there were only two other people on the beach. This would also be a great place for some sea kayaking on a calm day. There is a port-a-potty in the small parking lot, but other than that there are few amenities here, so bring along your own water, shade, and seating. But if you're looking to cross yet another gorgeous PNW beach off your list, this one is definitely worth a visit.

Nice mostly easy hike close to Bellingham, just off the samish lake Nulle rd exit. Has a small…read moreparking lot that fits maybe 8 cars. There was one spot left on a weekday afternoon. Has a porta potty but it has not been kept clean I would rather do my business in the bushes. The first part of the hike is steep uphill switchbacks before you get to the actual loop around the lake. Then it is mostly flat and easy and has a couple benches to stop at. Has some other trails that branch off, but there are signposts to tell you where to go. Nice dog friendly hike.

I really liked it there the frogs look very happy in their home jumping on the leaves. the long…read morehike was so worth it. it's also really pretty when you take pictures of all the trees. The dog that we brought with us couldn't help but jump in the water and the mud and get all dirty. There are so many slugs but they won't bother you. I love it how you start and and end in the same place. The small bridge is a cute design too. I really loved it:)

Underwhelming views, tbh, but I like that there is a hiking spot and an elevated platform to have a…read moremini picnic. Only one table, but at least there is something. Enough parking for visitors, but I came on the lesser busy type of days, which was the weekday on an overcast day. I like that you can see Mount Vernon landscape a bit, but idk...Washington state def has more to offer than just what this place has. I also bought lemonade, blackberry jam, and cookies from a stand run by neighborhood kids, which was cute. They are very enthusiastic and where you make a right turn to go into the road that leads into this hiking trail. That is if they still set up at the same spot, haha! In Southern California, insane view, but Washington state got sooooo much more. Promise!

Great thinking experience! Very near to my parents' place at big Lake we could run there if we…read morewanted to, but we did take the car for this.

We were exploring Deception Pass State Park and stumbled onto this county park and hopped out to…read morecheck it out. We didn't hike too far, but enjoyed a nice walk down the path and back. I left me phone charging in the car after too many pictures earlier- so no pictures from this run- just memories of brisk, forest air & lush, dense fauna. The meadow at the entrance of the park would be fun for a picnic!

A hidden gem in Anacortes! This hike is right near Deception Pass State Park, but still part of the…read moreSkagit county park system. The parking lot is not huge but good sized and has a pit toilet. Day use only and dogs are permitted on a leash. This trail has a lot of different trails on it. You can get a map at the kiosk but I recommend downloading the Avenza Maps app and getting the map for this trail. It has markers on the trails but I still would have got lost without the app. It works offline and shows exactly where you are on the map. If you just want to see some spectacular views, then take the easy route down the Sares head trail to the Sares head overlook. The views are just breathtaking. I did some other trails in the park but some were really tough and climbing over rocks and branches and going up some hills. And at one point it was a very sketchy spot that dropped off right by the water. Next time I will make sure I look up the difficulty of the trail before attempting all of it. But it is definitely worth it just for that main viewpoint. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area.

First time on Ancacortes. Beautiful area! The hike was moderate, a few short inclines, but nothing…read morekiller, it was great to be out, after some much needed rain, which according to the one other hiker I encountered, usually doesn't include here, because it's in the 'rain shadow' but it was awesome to hear and see babbling brooks, amazing small waterfalls, and listening to the wind howling through the trees. Add in the sun.. Wonderful! I did the hike clockwise, it can be done either way, it's about the same inclines and descends, I guess it all depends how quickly you want to get to the lake? Clockwise, then is faster. Great swimming opportunities all around Whistle lake, definitely will be back in the summer. It must be a popular swim area, because anywhere it looked like people had used it for swimming, it was posted NO ALCOHOL, yea, cliffs, water, and alcohol may not mix. lol Lots of wildlife, bald eagles, ducks, swans, bushtits, and a few woodpeckers. All the leaves on the trails definitely marked fall weather, along with the mossy branches and fallen trees. Like most trails I've been on, come early to get parking, no permit needed here, but it was almost full and more cars coming in when I left. Trail was a little longer than AllTrails indicated, no problem, but it definitely helps to have a trail app, quite a few forks in the trails, with just numbers, not much direction. Beautiful views of a few surrounding lakes, farmland, and the bays. Definitely one to be done, multiple times throughout the year, as some of my other favorites will be under snow... time for some snowshoes? Possibly:-) After a fun cool hike a fire in the fireplace is going to feel good. Happy hiking and yelping! God bless and Cheers!

Great little hike. Good fer bird watching and lots of driftwood. Feels like you are away from it…read moreall!

New trail with signage and parking. Half mile loop with two trails going through the loop. A few…read moretight areas at the moment but rest of the trail is a leisure walk. Recommend it for those who like shorter trails.