Diablo Lake is undoubtedly stunning. It's most notable feature is its gorgeous turquoise color,…read morecaused by the reflection of "rock flour". We saw the lake in its full glory both on a sunny and cloudy day - and it is spectacular in any weather. We accessed the lake in two ways - once directly to the lake via campground, and then the second time (drove around it) to the vista point where you can get a full view. Enjoy!

What a beautiful place to visit in North Cascades National Park!!…read more Pictures do not do this beautiful lake justice. This water is unlike anything I have ever seen before - so green and clear and so unique to North Cascades. We just enjoyed the lake from the overlook, but we saw many more people also going down to the lake. If you don't have time to do much in North Cascades, taking the time to simply enjoy Diablo Lake is a must-stop and well-worth the time.

I never thought I would have this much to say about an electric utility's powerhouse! But this is a…read moresurprisingly neat and free visitor attraction, even if you don't manage to book one of the official tours. We passed through on Highway 20 and our curiosity was piqued. Newhalem is a tiny little Pleasantville of a company town, with rows of employee housing surrounding the main visitor area. There's a rest stop area with ample parking, a general store and deli with outdoor restrooms, a decommissioned supply train, a suspension bridge leading to a trail that takes you to the old powerhouse, picnic tables, and the new powerhouse and gardens. That's a lot! The restrooms are basic, but clean and well supplied. The general store is nicer than a typical convenience store, with fancy snacks and pretty decent prices. They have wine and Juanita's tortilla chips! They serve a minimal amount of hot food (pizza, popcorn) that didn't look very appetizing. The tour office seems to be closed (or yet to open?). It looked unfinished when we peeked in the windows, with cartons of "2015-16 Visitor Brochures" and half-built displays inside. Maybe that will open later this year. We didn't see any info about booking official tours anywhere. The historic train once conveyed supplies to the powerhouse, and the bell still works, so you should definitely yank on it and ring it. The suspension bridge is very narrow and wobbly, but it has a lovely view of the river, even if you don't follow the one-mile trail to the old powerhouse. A short distance away from the rest stop is the new powerhouse, which has a separate but small parking lot for guests. There is a small visitor center that you can go into and look down on the power plant, plus a historical display with some artifacts from the powerhouse's past that are interesting. It only takes a few minutes to go through here. You can't tell from the road, but there's also a steep set of stairs leading to a series of gardens, artificial pools and waterfalls! It sounds like they light them up at night, so that might be worth stopping for if you happen to be passing through after dark. The stairs are quite steep, muddy in places, and not recommended for anyone with mobility issues. But the waterfall is very pretty and you can get a good view from the first, lower bridge without having to climb up the entire stairway. Everything is free and open to the public, and it's more interesting than I would have guessed! Recommended if you like clean restrooms, getting out to stretch your legs, waterfalls, snacks, trains, or hiking. Which is pretty much everyone.

We were able to get reservations for the Seattle City Light Powerhouse Tour, which not only…read moreincluded guided tours of Gorge, Diablo, and Ross Powerhouses, but lunch and a boat ride. In 2013 there were only six tours (120 people total). I'll edit my review later - but this was an excellent tour.

My wife, son and I enjoyed our first family helicopter ride over Chelan (1-hr) so much I returned a…read moreweek later with our daughter for the Stehekin tour, air + land + dinner. (almost 4-hrs). My work office is driving a city bus with a million dollar view of the Cascades, Mt Rainier, the Olympics and Space Needle. Dale flies his awesome office with equally, ok sometimes better, more spectacular views. And much less traffic! Takeoffs and landings were so smooth, Dale knows the history and people in the area and always made sure we were comfortable during the flight. We were less than a minute away from our RV at Kamei Campground and took off toward toward north Lake Chelan, the mountain vistas and smaller inland lakes and trails. We landed at the Stehekin State Airport then visited Stehekin Pastry Company, Rainbow Falls and the original Stehekin School. We took off then flew over to Stehekin Valley Ranch for dinner, met some of the nice staff and guests there, then we took off for the final flight back to Manson, admiring the sights and enjoying the personal and actual history of the area from Dale. Everything was memorable - the flight, sights and stories, the people we met, the food and the unique experience of flying, taking off and landing 3 times in a helicopter. There is a 3-passenger and 500-lb max for the flight. You're given headphones to muffle the engine noise and provide communications during the flight. No reports of motion sickness from the family, ventilation was good and even a light rain was fascinating as it beaded off the bubble canopy on the return flight. Bring a camera that can take photos and videos but remember to put it down every now and then to truly admire the smoothness of the flight and in-your-face natural beauty of the area. You'll also appreciate the history that Dale tells you with pride about growing up to work, raise a family and enjoy his home space on land and in the air. A mile of road takes you a mile, a helipad can take you anywhere and generate so many smiles! We highly recommend Lake Chelan Helicopters for a truly memorable experience from Chelan to Stehekin.

Really upset. We drove two hours to be told the "mags" on the helicopter weren't working and that…read morewe wouldn't be able to fly. Paul said this doesn't ever happen, but I wish it would've been checked prior to our appointment.

Luke expertly rowed us safely down the river, often pointing the boat at the best angle for bird…read moreviewing. We saw so many eagles, we lost count. We saw them feeding along the river bank, resting and drying wings in the trees, soaring high over head, and chattering to each other. We also saw many other bird species, which Luke pointed out along the way. The float itself is a delight. We didn't see anyone else on the river. Other stuff to know : Definitely wear layers with a water proof outer shell, including pants and shoes. I also was glad to have a hat with a brim to keep the rain off my face. You're outdoors in the PNW in the winter. So plan for 40s and rain and embrace the conditions. That said, if you're a dummy like me and leave your rain coat at home, they have ponchos in the visitor center you can borrow. Not ideal but better than nothing. The drive took us 100 minutes from Seattle on a Saturday. It's a gorgeous drive but Rockport and surrounds are lovely so definitely consider making a weekend of it. If you're not from the area I highly recommend driving as far up highway 20 as you can. Quintessential Washington beauty.

We took our son and grandson on the tour January 5th, National Bird Day. Our guide, Luke, was the…read morebest. His years on the river made for an enjoyable and informative trip. This was especially helpful when explaining how the recent flooding affected the eagles ability to fish. The concern was the eagles were not getting enough food and would be going into starvation mode. We were on poop watch. If they poop, then they were eating. Fortunately we saw an eagle take a bodacious dump. Big cheers all around! The drift boat was very comfortable with individual propane heaters and padded seats with backs. The Skagit River Eagle Tour is highly recommended

Great informative adventure. Decent food and a beautiful boat ride. Reasonable prices for lunch on…read morethe return trip.

We just went parasailing this morning...EPIC! So much fun!!! The guys running the boat were very…read morefriendly, experts and most importantly we felt safe on the boat and in the air. Such a great experience! If you're thinking of doing it, just do it!!!

Such an epic time!!! Could not recommend more. Ethan was a fantastic guide, so knowledgeable,…read moreoutgoing and fun wrapped into one. And Nick took some awesome photos! We didn't realize there would be photos and we're stoked when they said they would airdrop them at the end for free. Just totally amazing overall.

As a first-time white water rafter, I wasn't sure what to expect--but Cascadia Rafting delivered an…read moreexperience that was equal parts exhilarating, safe, and genuinely fun from start to finish. Our guides, Teo and Nick, were fantastic--clearly experienced, highly professional, and excellent at balancing safety with a great sense of adventure. They gave clear instructions, made everyone feel comfortable on the water, and brought a relaxed, friendly energy to the trip that helped calm any first-time nerves. And then there's Jesse Bean, the company's resident water rescue dog. While we didn't need rescuing (thanks to our skilled guides), knowing Jesse was on standby, complete with her own life vest added a charming and unexpected highlight to the day. Every rafting company should have a dog like Jesse Bean. The Skagit River is breathtaking: cold, clean glacial water, surrounded by dense Northwest greenery and mountain views. The mix of calm stretches and exciting rapids made it ideal for beginners like us, but I imagine experienced rafters would enjoy it just as much! All in all, Cascadia Rafting offers an extremely well-run and memorable experience. Whether you're new to rafting or a seasoned paddler, I highly recommend this team. Thanks again to Teo, Nick, and, of course, Jesse Bean for an unforgettable day on the river!

Beautiful park - Please note that there are several closures as of 4/4/26 but still lots of hiking…read moreoptions before the closure! Lakes are stunning!

Amazing, breathtaking, incredible - words cannot describe the beauty of the PNW…read more How lucky are we that we get to live in a world with such wonders? Pictures are from the Maple Pass Loop during larch season :)

The best one on one, personal guided experience you'll find in Leavenworth. We rented paddle boards…read moreand floated the river. It was the most epically relaxing way to spend an afternoon in mid August. Tom Potter hooked us up with paddleboards, life preservers, and the best picnic lunch ever. He gave us some lessons on paddle boarding and sent us off. Two hours (plenty of time!) later he picked us up at a pre-designated location. He picked us up in his truck, which the inside will blow you away... It's outfitted like a limousine inside. If you have an afternoon to spend in or around Leavenworth, this is the best bang for your buck.

My uncle and I were looking for kayak lessons in Leavenworth and boy did we find the right man. For…read morethree full days Tom gave us private instruction on the river and in the pool, which included a BBQ at a beautiful home in the middle of a pear orchard! He even took the time to drive to our cabin and pick us up everyday. Tom was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and also very fun and genuine. The type of person you feel like you've known for a while shortly after meeting them. I couldn't speak more highly of him or the experience he provided for us. If you're going to the Leavenworth area and looking to be set up for an incredible weekend, look no further. This guy does it all.

My one (forced) day off, I couldn't have chosen a more diverse, fun, laughter filled, oh! (and…read moreadventurous) Skagit Valley tour. Marissa with the Crossing Guide Tours is FULL of ideas, suggestions and spontaneity! She made me feel like I was was in good hands, with her safe driving and knowledge of the area. I may sound like a commercial, but being a ham, I would do a testimonial commercial for Marissa anyday! Looking forward to the Whatcom County Tour next!

From the owner: Find the hidden treasures of Whatcom and Skagit County!…read more As locals, we know all of the great spots to shop, stroll, eat and drink. Sit back and relax in our spacious, comfortable, wide-windowed vans as our experts show you all the treasures that Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan and Island counties have to offer. Wonderful for visiting friends, clients or yourself - we will customize your trip to fit your needs. Whether you appreciate a brewery tour, historical tours, bird watching, arts, shopping, or food - it's our pleasure to show you the best our area has to offer. We have something for everyone! All tours leave from Bellingham and are set at a maximum of 8 people. Both day and overnight trips are available.

This is just a review of the location. It is beautiful with water front views. The building is…read moreeasy to locate. And the amenities for large group meetings are wonderful. I was here for a company meeting. The meeting room was large, had tech access, a full kitchen, close by restrooms, and a sweeping view of the bay. The folks who work at this location on the regular are very lucky.