I was staying in Quinault Valley and was finishing up my week exploring Olympic National Park. I…read moredid a few hikes earlier in the day and went for a walk around Lake Quinault. I came across a sign that pointed to a trail that leads to a giant Sitka spruce tree. I had some time to spare and enjoyed the short walk to it. A couple years ago, I spent some time in Redwoods National Park and got to see some of the tallest trees in the world. Quinault Valley is also home to some very tall trees because of the average rainfall that this region gets. Lake Quinault is nicknamed the "Valley of the Rain Forest Giants" and this Big Spruce Tree is one of them. The sign in front of the spruce tree boasts that this is the largest spruce tree in the world. It stands 191 feet tall and measures more than 55 feet in circumference. It is quite a sight to see in person. If you are in this area and have some time, take 30 minutes and check this tree out. It is over a thousand years old. The trail is located across the street from Rain Forest Resort Village.

Easy walk from road, including a cool bridge over the wetland near Lake Quinault. The photos don't…read moregive you a sense of size. You've got to see it for yourself.

Gorgeous 300 year-old tree, and if you're a hugger like me...well then it's a must see. Ok,…read moreenough Seuss. It's an easy walk to see Cathedral. You could get to it via the column, but we opted to take the trailhead below. The trailhead is easy to find and signed well, with parking for a few cars. It's a slight uphill on your way to the tree, and although it's a short walk, with a partially icy trail and an ice packed boardwalk, it took a bit longer on Jan 1st than we'd expected. There are a couple of benches around the tree should you desire to take rest. The Cathedral Tree is gorgeous. Although it doesn't really stand out in height or girth amongst PNW trees, it's special to see for a tree lover and neat to read its history. You can squeeze right under and through in to the other side...which I did a few times. We didn't opt to continue on the trail up to the column, but it's a pretty and quick walk up to see the tree nonetheless. Stop by and give it some love!

It's a beautiful hike!! I didn't necessarily see the cathedral tree though, I don't even know if…read moreit's labeled or not. But that's the only issue. I wouldn't recommend bringing younger children because it is extremely muddy and slick. A beautiful experience for adventure seekers!!!

Stopped by when it wasn't icy and dangerous to work your way down. The falls were rushing nicely,…read morewith a fabulous long-reaching cool spray. Short, easy trail down...although it could be a tad steep for some. Otherwise there's a decent amount of parking, and it's such a short walk to see the falls, definitely worth checking out.

We were looking for a quick little getaway of a hike and this certainly fit the bill. Clickity…read moreclack on the interwebs, a plug into the GPS, and we were off. It's not too far off of the main road at all, and the hike down to the water is short and sweet, and only steep in one tiny section. This looks like it gets plenty of traffic in warmer months and there are lots of pools where you could take a dip. I wouldn't be surprised if the teen crowd parties here (read: I saw a few beer cans) but on my later spring visit it was cool and only one other group--a family-- was there at the falls. The falls are gorgeous, misty, and pretty straightforward in mass. We turned it into an impromptu photo shoot which was about my favorite part of the trip, and they made a nice backdrop. There's not much else here, and not much nearby. So bring your picnics, park, and come down to the pools or water and spend an hour watching the hypnotic tumbling.

So many cute gift shops, small and quaint and everybody looks out for each other and the best…read morebeaches for bonfires and sunsets I love it here

Awesome place! I'm currently here on a mini vacation with my friend and his family. The have…read moreamazing beaches and state parks around the area. I recently visited the Twin Harbor State Park, and that's perfect for setting up tents, walking your dogs, and having a nice campfire. Haven't explored much else of Grayland but I'm sure looking forward to it. Check this place out!

I was passing through Aberdeen and was doing a mini Nirvana/Kurt Cobain pilgrimage and came across…read morethis mural in the downtown area. "Nirvana and Aberdeen" is located on the corner of South K & West Wishkah, facing Wishkah Street. Erik Sandgren was the lead artist for this mural. This mural was a project that started in 2013 and showcases the history of Nirvana and the town that Kurt grew up in. It has a little of everything from all of the band members in Nirvana's short stint in the music world. It also showcases Kurt's tragic life. Cool art piece to check out if you are a fan and in the area.

Stretching 68' in length and completed by five artists over approximately 720 hours, this mural was…read moreoriginally dedicated in 2014. Krist Novoselic (co-founder of Nirvana) and drummer Aaron Burkhard (first drummer until Dec 1987) were present at the original dedication. The mural has been moved and is now located on the Side One building at the corner of South K and West Wishkah streets in Aberdeen. There's a lot going on in this mural. Unless you're a super fan, you're probably not going to grasp the meaning of all of the elements that were incorporated. If you're interested in learning more and a complete explanation of the artistic elements found in this mural, I suggest that you go to: https://www.ouraberdeen.com/nirvana-outdoor Lead artist statement: "The mural is not an apology. It is not fan art; it is not a justification; it is not hero worship; it is not Seattle. It is not about Kurt Cobain alone, though it acknowledges his tragic arc; rather, it memorializes Nirvana as a group - to some extent its present state and mostly references the Harbor here where it all began. It recognizes our All Stars, alludes to the price paid for their success, and asks us to "Think of Me." - Erik Sandgren For the complete artist statement, go to: https://www.ouraberdeen.com/nirvana-outdoor Artists: Erik Sandgren (lead artist) with Anthony James Cotham, Dominic Senibaldi, Jason Sobottka, and David Wall Come as you are, as you were As I want you to be...

Olympia buildings are covered in murals which makes the buildings entertaining to look at…read more The Star Wars mural is located on a building, in a lot, with three food trucks. The lot has a picnic table for those interested in ordering from the food trucks. Paid street parking is available. While I enjoyed the Star Wars mural, I liked the superhero mural much better. Keep up the artsy work Olympia!

"Honey, let's go check out the Star Wars mural."…read more (silence) There are many times when I suspect that Mr. K rolls his eyes on our little road trips. We are going where? To see what? I came across this local gem when browsing the highest rated spots in Olympia. It was an easy stroll from the center of town and just a couple blocks from the Olympia Coffee Roasting Company. When asking a local for directions to the mural, he informed me that his friend created the mural and although it is a caricature, all characters are truthful in their representation. He was dead serious when describing the artist's motivation. This is when I turn to Mr. K and nod knowingly. Just stick with me, kid. The mural is painted on the side of an apartment building and is in good condition. Someone actually has their apartment in the Death Star. **jealous** The grassy area alongside the building appears to be home to the only food cart in town, so it was a fun little journey of discovery. Not to say all my wanderings are successful. But in this case, the Force was with me.

Had an awesome time on the Hawaiian Chieftain in Westport, WA. The crew members were very…read moreknowledgable and entertained us with sailing songs. We saw gray whales, seals, and lots of birds. Great time!

Stars aren't just found on the Hollywood Boulevard walk of fame. In downtown Aberdeen Washington,…read moreyou'll find 91 Stars embedded in the downtown sidewalks. They are on Heron and Wishkah (parallel one way streets, one block apart) between F and K Steets. The stars embedded in the concrete here aren't as large (physically) as those found down in La-La Land, but they still reveal an interesting roster of individuals from Aberdeen. I was specifically looking for Kurt Cobain's (of Nirvana) star. I found it in front of the former location of Rosevear's Music Center at 210 E Wishkah St. This is where Cobain received his first electric guitar at the age of 14. Like Cobain, the music store is unfortunately long gone...the closest open business is currently a behavioral health center. Sadly coincidental considering Cobain's musical rise to stardom and unfortunate end. Some other notable stars here include NFL Hall of Famers, John Elway and John Madden, Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers, William "Bill" Boeing, the founder of Boeing Airplane Company, Congressional Medal of Honor Winners, an astrophysicist, a Nobel Prize winner, the creator of the first cable television system...the list goes on and on. If you are interested, click on the link for this listing to read more. If you find yourself in Aberdeen, grab a cup of coffee from the Nirvana Coffee Co (located right around the corner from Cobain's star) and spend some time finding all the stars!

Perhaps it's just me being sentimental because I'm currently reading a fantastic book series about…read moresailors, but visiting the grave of this unknown soul moved me with its simplicity and sincerity. Whomever this lost spirit once was, "known only to God" as the epitath states, I hope that he himself, as well as his family, friends and relatives, have all found peace in the wake of his passing. Rest in peace, sailor.