Every year I try to come here in the spring and stay in the retreat house for a few nights. It has…read morebecome a special thing for me to do, and I even drive here from Oregon to do it. The retreat house itself is perfect for those doing meditation and Buddhist practices. Every day I can walk in the woods, to the pond, and visit all the special places here, like the driftwood ley line sculpture or the fen pond. Every year things are a little different and there are new things to see and explore in addition to visiting "old friends" like the various stone circles. You can also come just for a brief walk or long walk, there are multiple parking lots. I recommend a change of shoes and socks if your footwear is not water proof.

Plan. Plan. Plan…read more The Earth Sanctuary is a fantastic retreat of walking paths, stone circles, places to sit, think, draw, meditate, remember, and much more. It's only $7 to spend as much daylight as you want while there. You can power walk your way through, but you'll miss the nature and time for self-reflection and teachable moments. Decide why you are going there, even if it is your first exploration. You could spend a whole day by the water writing, drawing, and doing things that fill your soul. Plan to do that. If you have younglings, decide what teaching about Nature you'd like to do. The trails are natural, and this is a place to take it slow for those with mobility challenges. I strongly suggest developing a theme of why you are going and using that as a guideline for a great day. There are porta potties by the parking sites. Bring your water and snacks if you must, but mind the wildlife who get sick from your leaving. A rule of thumb is to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.

This park has come a long way the last few years. Great parking, waterfront views, dog walking and…read morea children's playground and riding apparatus! The park is well maintained and most people follow the rules.

Nice little beach access. Clean picnic tables and easy parking. Everyone was observing the dogs…read moremust be on leash sign. Last time I was here there was a building for the restroom, now only portable toilets available. Other than that, me and my dog enjoyed ourselves.

Great place to walk the dog along the beach and on trails. Wide open beach that goes on for a long…read moreways!

Level ground walking trails. Shaded (mostly) trails. Rest room, water. Coastal views, beach access…read moreand wildlife. Great opportunity for pictures & photography. Parking in two areas. Requires Discovery Pass. Easy access to the park off Crosby Road and coast road. Kyack launch area just outside the park. Try it you'll like it.

A national preserve well worth preserving…read more Stunning views of the Olympic Peninsula, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Cascade Mountains. Easily spend the day just marveling the views. This hike can be visited multiple times and never gets old. Time it right ~ when the tide is out the lower beach section is a beauty on its own. Careful to watch the tide coming back in otherwise a very difficult hike back for many. Pup friendly and please pick up after your pooch. *Parking is very limited so come early.

I loved the beach here! Probably my favorite ever in Washington state because there are these tiny…read morestick huts that maybe the three little piggies made. Very quiet here with mini hiking trails around because the small hills full of green foliage. It was such a nice and peaceful time for me during my Whidbey island solo day trip. Be good at parallel parking because no lots to park at.

Short half-mile loop walk through a beautiful forest with rushing falls on the river. While the…read morefalls themselves are not spectacular like other waterfalls along Hood Canal, the walk gets five stars from me because it's so impeccably maintained by the community (presumably volunteers). There are lots of interesting signposts along the route and you can tell this place is lovingly looked after by the community. It's a pretty easy walk -- my parents are in their 70s and had zero problems. (There's a flight of stairs near the waterfall but other than that, it's an easy stroll.) To get to the walk, drive toward Port Ludlow but don't go all the way to the water's edge where all the touristy stuff is -- instead, turn right on Breaker Lane where the RV park is, and then turn right again into the Port Ludlow & Associates building parking lot. (Put "Port Ludlow & Associates" into your Google maps for the best driving directions.) Drive all the way to the end of the parking lot and you'll find a little community patch of lawn with planted trees that leads up to the trailhead at the edge of the forest. Turn left at the trailhead sign (for a better walk experience) and follow the loop around to the falls. Again, don't expect any spectacular waterfalls, but this is a great easy "back to nature" walk that leaves you with a nice feeling because of how the community looks after it.

This review is for Ludlow Falls Interpretive Trail. If you're looking for a short to medium walk…read morethat gives you a lot of scenery and information without a huge commitment, this is definitely worth a stop. It's only about a half a mile but it feels longer and not in the bad way. You walk through a lush Forest alongside a creek with lots of ferns, moss and trees. Maybe I was going at a slower pace and that's why it felt like longer than a half a mile, but it was still super enjoyable the whole way through. It's an easy trail for the most part, but there were some stairs and elevation change, so just know that it's not completely flat and there were some wet spots that got a little muddy. There are lots of signs along the hike that discuss the areas history, plants, and geology. If you're interested, you can definitely stop and learn quite a bit about the area. They also have a few stumps or seating areas along the trail and I utilized the one near the waterfall area for a bit. I didn't like the chain link fence around the area but I understand that they have to keep everybody safe. I was still able to enjoy the sounds of the waterfall even if the view was slightly obscureed. This was definitely a simple little trail to do and I bought my dog along. There were also people picnicking at the entrance so it's a lovely spot to spend a late morning or early afternoon.

This is a gem of a campground! We had a big Olympic NP trip planned and needed a campground…read moresomewhat close to SeaTac airport to start our journey. This campground was small and quiet, and matched with the beautiful views it was really enjoyable. There are only around 30 sites here, squished between the coast and the main road. Each one has a bunch of space, though, and some privacy behind trees and bushes. There's a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit at each site, although we were there during a fire ban. There was a nice bathroom that's an easy walk from any site, and a couple picnic pavilions as well. You can head to the Olympic trail from this campground, which stretches for a few hundred miles. You can also walk down to a boat launch and take in the view by the water. We were really pleased with this beautiful quiet campground and it was a great way to start our trip.

This park has a really small area to access the very rocky beach. I only saw this area and learned…read morelater that it's much larger than that. Based on what I saw and did there with a friend, I wouldn't go back, as my main goal is to be and appreciate the beach. This park has tennis courts, basketball court, and ball fields, along with 3 rec areas for rent for a group. You will have to pay to camp/RV here and showers. There's a paved trail. Dogs are allowed but have to remain on leash.

This is a medium-sized park with gardens, a gazebo, a trail down to the ocean, playground, picnic…read moretables, BBQ's, firepit and a kitchen shelter. Big lawn for relaxing or get togethers. My friend and I walked around to enjoy the flowers and take a walk to the beach. I was not fit for the trek down to the beach though, so my friend went and reported it's really beautiful. There were swallows flying at a crazy fast speed and zooming around us. Felt like Snow White. There are bathrooms here that are the standard expected for a park, but the one I was in didn't have a light at all so I'd avoid it after dark.

This is a really pretty park right along the water. They have play areas for kids, walking paths,…read moreflowers, a dog park, and really nice houses in the surrounding neighborhood. If I lived here, I'd be in this park often.

I LOVE this trail. If I ever move, I am taking it with me!…read more The only time it really gets crowded is on the weekends in the summer. If any events pop up, there are always signs posted ahead of time. Runners, walkers, bikes, strollers, dogs, horses and even deer share the trail. For the most part, the regulars are friendly and the trail is safe. Parking tip: Try to park in Snohomish at the head of the trail. There are shops, coffee and even beer & wine nearby.

We went here for a race starting at the sno brewery. It is quite refreshing in summer and beautiful…read morein spring. Paved means an easy run but hard on yhe knees. We didn't get to go to the end of the trail but we went all along the neighborhood and then beyond were there are only trees. I believe it was a railway before? There are benches at the beginning. Love the arch also at the beginning!