Hi guys!
For my birthday trip this year, I decided to go to Washington State and see Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Leavenworth, Walla Walla and other parts of the eastern portion. I have toured Seattle before and I wanted to see some other parts of the state.
Price Breakdown
American Airlines flight: $321
Turo (this was the best deal I could find on a rental car…it took a couple hours!): $641 for a 2012 Toyota Prius
Airbnbs (between Seattle, Leavenworth and Walla Walla): $750
America the Beautiful Pass (3 national parks): $80. I only had the rangers check my pass twice, once at Olympic National Park to a waterfall and the other at the main entrance to Mount Rainier National Park!
Side note: You can get cell phone reception in the parks but it is sketchy.
Instagram and TikTok
As always, don’t forget to check out my Instagram highlights and TikToks for each day!
Alright, let’s fly! 🙂
Day 1 – Friday, June 28
My flight out of LAX was at 2:30pm and I had a a Lager and BLT ($31) at Fords Filling Station before I boarded.
When I arrived in Seattle at 5:15pm, I took an Uber all the way down to Federal Way to pick-up the Turo rental. I loved the Mr. Rogers sign at Sea-Tac!
My Airbnb was in the Bryn Mawr-Skyway area and it was literally the only Airbnb I could find for a good price with a private bathroom. My Airbnb host is also originally from LA and we had a lot in common!
For dinner, I decided to DoorDash a Pear and Gorgonzola Salad ($14) from a place my Airbnb host recommended called Pizzeria Pulcinella. I love anything gorgonzola. I was so tired from traveling that I just didn’t have the strength to go out!
Afterwards, I took a shower and went to bed. I had to get up at 6am the next day.
Day 2 – Saturday June, 29
My first national park was North Cascades, which is 2 hours north of Seattle and is 89 miles of pure beauty with glaciers, mountains, waterfalls and lakes. The park was dedicated in 1968 and the good news is there is no entrance fee!
The weather is also wild, one minute it’s freezing on one side of the part and the next minute it was hot on the other side. Dress accordingly!
But first, a Vanilla Latte and Bacon Parmesan Biscuit ($12) at Caffe Vita!
Of course, the first stop was the North Cascades National Park official sign.
Not too far from the sign was Visitor Center to learn more about the park, buy souvenirs (I got a magnet) and take in a view of the Picket Range out back.
Next I drove to the Gorge Powerhouse, which has been producing power since 1924 and is the first electric power from the Skagit Hydroproject to Seattle. It was really neat to see!
I then crossed the suspension bridge to Ladder Creek Falls. It is super simple to access and is a 1/2 mile loop that took 15 minutes to complete.
I went through a tunnel and then pulled over to see Gorge Creek Falls from the main road.
Next I drove to the Diablo Lake Vista Point where glacier streams flow into the water. I was also able to drive over the dam to the base of the lake. It was so relaxing and pretty!
The longest trail I completed was Rainy Lake Falls Trail, which is is 2 miles and took 40 minutes to complete. It is small but there are two cascading waterfalls flowing into the lake and it’s completely gorgeous. This is an absolute must see!
The last stop in the park was at the Washington Pass Observation Site that overlooks Liberty Bell Mountain. The trail is less than 1/2 a mile and took about 15 minutes to complete. This was also one of my favorite highlights in the park looking at the spires covered with snow!
I was very hungry and thirsty at this point, so I headed over to Mount Vernon on the way back to Seattle to a brewery called District Brewing for a Beer Sampler (Lager, Amber and two Ciders) and Boneless Chicken with a mix of sauces ($31). It was very filling and my favorite beer was this Dragonberry Ginger flavor!
On the way out, I snapped a photo of these tulip and beaver sculptures before heading home.
Day 3 – Sunday, June 30
I woke up at 630am to get ready to drive the 2 1/2 trip from Seattle to Olympic National Park. The park was established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Little did I know how massive this park really is! According to the NPS website, the park is almost 1 million acres that encompasses rain forests, glacier-capped mountains and coastline. There is no main entrance unlike other national parks I have been to and at times it could take me 1 hour and 30 minutes just to see my next site. All I can say is plan ahead!
But first, coffee…again! I ordered a Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Latte with a Bacon, Egg and Cheddar Sandwich ($16) at Cutters Point Coffee in Tacoma. The latte was amazing and not too sweet, I love cinnamon! Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the sandwich, it just tasted too bland!
I decided to narrow it down to four sites to see due to the amount of driving. My first stop was at the Welcome Sign and the Visitor Center near Hurricane Ridge Road. This is a must stop and also to learn information about the park or buy souvenirs (I bought another magnet)!
My second stop was at Lake Crescent and the Marymere Falls Trail. The lake is 624 feet deep and 12 miles long while the falls are 90 feet high and just breathtaking! The trail is 1 1/2 miles and took 45 minutes to complete.
My third stop was to the Hole in the Wall via Rialto Beach. This was gorgeous! I saw some driftwood and many different rock formations. The trail had a combo of hard sand, pebbles and loss gravel and at times was difficult to walk on. I highly recommend seeing this! It was 3 miles and took 1 hour to complete. I would also suggest getting there earlier in the day to have a parking spot!
My final stop was at Sol Duc Falls, which serves as a key highway for coho salmon. The trail has a ton of steps and it was a bit wet and slippery toward the waterfall. But the falls were just stunning! The trail was 1.6 miles and took 40 minutes to complete.
I had a lot of fun but I was also very tired. I didn’t get back to my Airbnb until almost 830pm! I then DoorDashed a Margherita Pizza and Mineral Water (31) from Pizzeria Pulcinella (I forgot to take a photo, that’s how tired I was, but it was delicious!) before heading to bed.
Missed Spots
Something I didn’t have time to see was the Hall of Mosses, which is one of the most popular spots in a lush rainforest (I still saw other Moss trees in the park), and Hurricane Ridge with a viewpoint of the mountains.
Source: Olympic National Park
Day 4 – Monday, July 1
Happy first day of July!
I got up at 6am – again – and got ready for my last national park on the trip: Mount Rainier. The park was established in 1889 and has more than 236,00 acres of wilderness. It also has an active volcano and has the most glaciated peak in the U.S. It was pretty cold when I was there, dress warm!
But first, as always, coffee! This time I headed to Boon Boona Coffee in Downtown Renton for a Vanilla Latte and Dill Scone ($12). The scone tasted just like a Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit!
It took 1 hour and 45 minutes from Seattle and I got through the park entrance at 9:15am. For this particular park, I needed a timed reservation for Paradise Corridor (South End), which is famous for its meadowlands and wildflowers. I was lucky that I didn’t need one for Sunrise Corridor (North End) because it began on July 4. I also later learned that most of the North End was still covered in snow and ice and that part of the road was still closed.
The line was very long and I am so happy I got there when I did! It took me 45 minutes to get through and my first stop was at the Paradise River. I almost went to a waterfall but the trail looked a bit sketchy.
Next I stopped at Christine Falls, a 60 foot waterfall with a picturesque view with the stone bridge. It was so pretty!
Up the road was another waterfall called Narada Falls. The falls were 168 feet high and I was in so much awe!
A short time later, I finally arrived at the Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, which is the main visitor center in the park. It was huge and full of park information, food and gifts for purchase (as always, I got another magnet)!
Next I stopped at Reflection Lakes, where you can see Mount Rainier and the trees reflect off the water. Unfortunately, it was cloudy the day I went and I didn’t have the best reflection of the volcano.
Along the road, I stopped and took photos of many creeks throughout the Paradise Corridor and Stevens Canyon. I just have a thing for flowing water!
Along the road I also stopped at many viewpoints. The shots below were throughout the Paradise Corridor and Stevens Canyon. I even went through some cool tunnels and saw a deer!
When I returned back to my Airbnb, I did some laundry and then headed over to Dubtown Brewing in Downtown Renton. I ordered a Beer Sampler (Lager, Cider, Pilsner and Raspberry Pineapple Cider) for $16. All of them were light and crisp and not too overpowering, it was perfect!
Afterwards, I walked a short distance to a Thai restaurant called O Cha Thai for a Thai Iced Tea and Massaman Curry with pineapple, onions, carrots, potatoes, chicken and coconut milk ($28). This was some of the best curry I have ever had in my life! It was tangy and slightly sweet. I highly recommend eating here!
Day 5 – Tuesday, July 2
I left at about 8am and headed toward Leavenworth. The village was founded in 1890 and was turned into a Bavarian-style experience for tourists in the 1960s, according to the tourism website.
As always…coffee first! This time I went to River Trail Coffee in Redmond for a Cardamon and Vanilla Latte and an Egg Sandwich with Parmesan and Pesto ($13). The latte was good but I wish it had a bit more flavor to it. The sandwich was savory!
My first scenic stop was at Deception Falls near Stevens Pass. The water was flowing and roaring! The trail was 1/2 a mile and took 15 minutes to complete.
The drive to Leavenworth was gorgeous. The elevation was almost 1,200 feet with so much greenery!
Once I arrived in the village, I walked to Front Park with a Welcome Sign, totem pole, gazebo and trees.
The best part about Leavenworth is seeing all of the architecture and sculptures. I took so many pictures!
Next I went to the world famous Nutcracker Museum ($5) with over 9,000 nutcrackers from 50 countries. I have never seen anything like it in my life, there were so many different nutcrackers from over the years. I highly recommend checking this out!
As I kept walking, I noticed a tasting room called House of Champagne. I have never been to a wine tasting that was strictly champagne! I ordered the Sparkling Rose Flight ($30) with three varietals. The atmosphere is also amazing and relaxing. This is a must stop if you love sparkling wines or champagne!
After having champagne, I came across The Gingerbread Factory with tons of different gingerbread desserts! I ordered a Gingersnap and a Gingerbread Woman ($8). They were so chewy and spicy!
A few doors down was Kris Kringl, a Christmas Shop with ornaments, house displays and other items for sale. It’s Christmas all year long and was so festive!
For dinner, I stopped at Leavenworth Sausage Garten for a Hot Sausage with Italian spices, German Potato Salad and a German Beer ($26). The sausage was amazing, I love spicy food! The beer was also light and refreshing and the Potato Salad was a bit different for my taste with vinegar.
My last stop was at Leavenworth Adventure Park to ride the 2,700 foot long, 4 minute Alpine Coaster ($20). I wish I could’ve filmed the experience but I needed both hands on the handles in case I needed to brake. This is a must if you love rollercoaster rides!
Prior to entering my Airbnb in Wenatchee, I pulled over and took a quick photo of the pinnacle rocks at Peshastin Pinnacles State Park.
Day 6 – Wednesday, July 3
I woke up at 6am and headed east to the to the Palouse Scenic Byway, which is 208 miles of scenic roadway and lush greenery. From barns and waterfalls to buttes and historic towns, there is something to see every step of the way!
I only made it to a few areas since I was also on my way to the Walla Walla wine region…but first, coffee yet again! This time I went to Mela Coffee Roasters in Downtown Wenatchee for a Vanilla Latte and a Broccoli Egg Bite and a Bacon Cheddar Egg Bite ($14). The latte tasted strong while my favorite egg bite was the broccoli one, it tasted a bit spicy!
My first stop along the Palouse Scenic Byway was at Steptoe Butte State Park in Colfax, which is “a thimble-shaped, 3,612 foot tall quartzite butte where you can overlook the green and mauve hills. In the distance about 200 miles, you can view Idaho and Oregon and the Blue and Bitterroot Mountains,” according to the website.
Prior to driving toward the Palouse Falls, I came across this abandoned bus from the 1970s called That NW Bus in Washtucna. The bus has a lot of graffiti on the outside and inside of it and is known for being very Instagram worthy.
Afterwards, I headed toward the Palouse Falls in LaCrosse, where “the Palouse River runs through a narrow cataract and drops 200 feet at Palouse Falls into a churning bowl. From there, the water current moves through a winding gorge of columnar basalt and to its southern end at the Snake River,” according to the website. You can watch the falls from three viewpoints!
Along the Palouse Scenic Byway, I came across a ton of cool active and abandoned barns.
I ended the day by driving to Walla Walla, where I would be spending the next day at. I quickly stopped by The Walls Vineyard for a glass of Rose ($10, I had gotten there too late for a final tasting of the day) before heading to TMACS in Downtown Walla Walla for their famous Lobster Mac n Cheese and another class of Rose ($37).
This was probably some of the best Mac n Cheese I have had in a long time, OMG! It had a whole lobster tail and Cavatappi pasta with smoked gouda, smoked fontina, lemon dill Gremolata and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses!
Since I was already going crazy with calories and splurging (LOL!), I decided to end the night with Mint Chocolate and Strawberry Ice Cream from Pine Cone Creamery ($8). It tasted very good and creamy but at times was hard to scoop into the spoon!
Day 7 – Thursday, July 4
Happy 248th Birthday America! On this day, I explored Walla Walla a bit more and went wine tasting. I was also able to sleep in late for a change!
My first stop of the day was breakfast at Bacon & Eggs in Downtown Walla Walla, where I ordered French Toast with Sourdough Bread and Blueberries, an Over Hard Egg and Bacon ($25). This was some of the best French Toast I have ever had, it was so soft and tasty! The bacon and egg was also cooked to perfection.
Next I headed to my first winery based on recommendation from locals I sat with at the breakfast bar: Kinhaven Winery ($25 for a tasting) with gorgeous views of the mountains.
This is when I learned that all wines in the Walla Walla region are dry or “bone dry” as some of the pourers told me. There is very little sugar in them – which is great – but I realized as I went to a few of them that I am so used to having fruit forward wines like California produces. Wines in Walla Walla are not that way.
Popular wines in the region include Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot and Bordeaux – but they were incredibly dry for my palate and they just didn’t have enough flavor for me! Most of the wineries also gave me a complimentary pour (usually Rosé wine) before a tasting and the Rosé varietal was probably the most tolerable and likable one IMO, there were a lot of grapefruit flavors though! It is definitely the most interesting wine region I have ever been to.
After speaking with the pourer at Kinhaven Winery, I decided to try a winery that had Sparkling Wine and a Late Harvest called Patterson Cellars ($12). It was right down the road and the Sparkling Wine tasted drier than a brut, OMG! The Late Harvest IMO was slightly sweet but I have had sweeter (I forgot to take a photo of it). This was probably my favorite winery on the trip.
I heard there were bands and vendors at a 4th of July celebration in Pioneer Park, so I headed over to enjoy some live music. The band was playing old school jams such as “My Girl” and I also enjoyed the ducks around the park.
Finding dinner on the 4th of July was hard due to most of the restaurants being closed. However, I was able to find food at Henry Earl Estate Wines in Downtown Walla Walla! I ordered a Red Sangria and a Charcuterie Board ($47). The Sangria was a perfect blend of red wine and juices while the Charcuterie Board was super fresh. My favorites were the Gouda Cheese and Salami!
In the evening, I headed toward Walla Walla Community College for their annual Fireworks Show. The show lasted 20 minutes and was spectacular!
Photos From Around the Region
During my time in Walla Walla, I got some shots around the region, which ranges from artwork and historic buildings to farm animals and scenic views.
Day 8 – Friday, July 5
I had a 4 1/2 hour drive back to Seattle and I wanted to make sure I was on the road early. There were also a couple spots I wanted to stop at along the way.
But first…you guessed it…coffee! I stopped by Mileu Coffeeworks in Richland near the Columbia River for a Vanilla Latte ($6). It was very strong but I needed it to wake me up for the long drive!
About 10 minutes away was the USS Trinton Sail Park in Richland, which was operational from 1959 – 1969 and served “as the first vessel to complete a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth in 1960,” according to the website. It was really neat to see! I also took some more photos of the Columbia River.
My last stop was at the Teapot Dome Service Station in Zillah, which was operational from 1922 – 2006. It was handcrafted by Jack Ainsworth and was inspired by the Harding Administration Teapot Dome Scandal. The teapot station now serves as the Visitor Center since 2012.
Next to the service station was the Zillah Fallen Firefighter Memorial honoring those who served the Zillah Fire Department.
On the drive back, I shot some scenic photos of the North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Pass. I wanted to go on the ski lift but I learned it was going to open the next day!
Once I arrived back in Seattle, I did more laundry then stopped by Machine House Brewery to have a pint of their beers. I didn’t like any of them! I finally settled on their Guest Cider called Yonder Mazama ($8). OMG this was one of the best ciders I have ever had! It had a fennel and orange taste to it and it just really added a lot of flavor!
For dinner, I went back to O Cha Thai in Renton but this time for Pad Thai with Chicken, a side of Jasmine Rice and a Thai Iced Tea ($27). The noodles were spaghetti noodles and not the typical flat kind. It tasted good but it was also slightly too sweet. I definitely liked the curry I had last time!
Day 9 – Saturday, July 6
Happy 44th Birthday to me! I can’t believe how time flies by!
I just want to say that I have toured Seattle before, so I have seen Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Original Starbucks, the Great Wheel at Pier 57 and where Kurt Cobain lived and died. This day was just to see other attractions I might have missed in the past.
My first stop was of course, to get coffee! This time it was at the Starbucks Reserve in Capitol Hill. Unlike a regular Starbucks, the reserve locations (only in Chicago, New York and Seattle), offer unique coffee creations, signature cocktails and artisan food. I ordered a Trio Sampler (Cold Brew, Nitro and Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew), a Hot Honey Affogato and a Smoked Salmon Sandwich ($36). I didn’t go to the Arriviamo Bar only because I didn’t feel like drinking liquor at 7:30am, LOL!
You can also check this out my Koffee with Kateri series on TikTok to see how I rated everything!
Not too far down the road, I stopped at Lake View Cemetery to see the gravesites of Brandon Lee and Bruce Lee. As many people know, Brandon was accidentally killed on the set of “The Crow” in 1993 while his father, Bruce, died from cerebral edema in 1973.
Something I was really looking forward to was the Boeing Future of Flight in Everett ($39.95) to see the factory where 777 aircrafts are built along with special exhibits. It was a spectacular and unique experience!
The factory was established in 1967 and is the largest production facility in the Western U.S. It is also larger than the size of Disneyland! I also learned that Boeing plans on producing more 737 Dreamliners and they are green to help prevent corrosion before being painted.
Afterwards, I was craving that Yonder Cider I had the night before, so I went to the official Taproom in Ballard ($18), where I ordered a flight that consisted of the Mazama (fennel and other herbs), Dry, Phinneywood (lemon and strawberry) and Thunderpussy (ginger, lime and black cherry). The Mazama was still my favorite! I wish I they sold them in California but the bartender told me they aren’t in distribution.
Next I drove to the Seattle Spheres (free during the first and third Saturdays of the month), which is home to not just the headquarters of Amazon, but also to more than 40,000 plants from the cloud forest regions of over 30 countries. It was relaxing and pretty!
It’s time for “The Last Meal” part of the blog. Since it was my birthday, I decided I wanted oysters, so I went to the best rated place in town: Elliotts Oyster House at Pier 56. I couldn’t decide what oysters I wanted (all I know was that I didn’t want them to be salty or briny, there were 30 options!), so I had my waitress decide on the top 6. I also ordered a side Caesar Salad, Clam Chowder and a Lager ($100). I highly recommend coming here if you love oysters!
I also got a complimentary dessert (I choose Strawberry Shortcake) because it was my special day!
On the way back to drop off my Turo, I took a gorgeous shot of Mount Rainier in the distance.
Day 10 – Sunday, July 7
My flight home to LAX was at 830am. I am so happy I got to Sea-Tac early because it was packed! I ordered a Vanilla Latte and Egg and Cheese Croissant at Neighborhood Cafe ($14).
Overall Thoughts
This was a very heavy driving trip and I outdid myself, LOL! Summer is the best time to visit Washington State and the sun rises around 4am and sets at 10pm!
I would say my favorite national park was North Cascades. It was easy to drive and access the sites. I feel like this park is also underrated but it has so much beautiful scenery and activities!
Eastern Washington is full of more gorgeous scenery and countryside. I highly recommend this if you are looking to escape the city for a relaxing time.
Seattle is a fun city but I am not going to lie: I cannot stand driving it, LOL! Not so much the freeway but the backroads. The GPS kept recalculating because it couldn’t read the environment correctly (I recommend just going to first course it tells you, it will eventually revert back) and I am not a fan of driving a ton of up and down hills, otherwise what I call Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
Thanks for reading! 🙂
