Early September, 2025 in Washington was beautiful. Our three-day trip through Washington’s wild and wonderful corners was packed with so much variety: foggy mornings, hikes through lush green forests, lake dips, quirky museums, and coastal charm. Here’s how it unfolded:
Day 1: Forest Trails, Lake Dips & Nutcracker Hunts
We kicked things off with a hike along the Wallace River in Wallace Falls State Park. The trail winds through lush forest and ends at a waterfall, but our journey paused when our youngest adventurer said he was “done.” Fair enough. Our goal was to hike as much as we wanted, so we turned back to the car.
Next stop: Lake Wenatchee State Park. We traded hiking boots for paddles and kayaked across the glassy lake. The sun was shining and according to the locals it couldn’t get any better for beginning of September. And because we didn’t pack any swim clothes, S ended up dipping into the water fully clothed. No regrets 😊
In Leavenworth, after exploring the town and a long wait in line, the energy shifted to thrilling. The rollercoaster at Leavenworth Adventure Park lets you control your speed, and yes—it gets fast. Stefan was all in. I was thankful that I was in control of the speed, otherwise we may have got down too fast.
We wrapped up the day with a scavenger hunt at the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum (who knew nutcrackers came in so many forms?) and a hearty German dinner at Andreas Keller Restaurant. Schnitzel, giant pork hock, and a cozy alpine vibe—perfect end to a packed day.
Driving through farmlands at sunset on the way to the hotel was magical in itself. There were so many fruit trees. We stopped on the side of the road for an impromptu photoshoot because the light was just so yummy.
Day 2: Fruit Picking & Smoky Mountain Trails
We got up early and headed to Chelan Ranch for blueberry and apple picking. The fruit was so fresh and flavorful it made store-bought varieties feel like imposters. Stefan filled his basket with more fruit than we could eat so we had to pack the apples in our luggage.
From sweet to smoky: our next destination was North Cascades National Park, where Stefan earned his next Junior Ranger badge. Wildfires had covered the area in smoky haze. We stuck to short and easy trails (Happy Creek), as we didn’t know how far the fires were (the park was open so we assumed there was no immediate danger).
At Diablo Lake Vista Point, the smoke was so thick we couldn’t see the lake at all. Still, the smoke had its own kind of beauty.
By the time we reached Newhalem, the smoke dissipated, so we did another short trail – Trail of the Cedars.
That night, we stayed at a ranch near La Conner and had some oysters for dinner — briny and fresh. We got to the ranch in the evening and the chickens were already asleep, so in the morning S got up with the sun and went straight to the chicken coop to feed them.
Day 3: Coastal Play & Sculptural Surprises
Our final day began at Deception Pass State Park, where Stefan turned the beach into his personal playground of rocks and sticks.
We made two more beach stops: Robert Pratt Preserve at Bluff Trail and Ebey’s Prairie Ridge Trail. Both offered foggy views and more driftwood and rocks.
Next, we wandered through the Price Sculpture Forest—a trail dotted with quirky, thought-provoking art installations hidden among the trees. It definitely kept S engaged and interested.
Finally, we drove our car onto the ferry bound for Seattle, watching the shoreline fade as we sailed toward the city. A quick flight later, we were back in California—tired, happy, and already dreaming of our next adventure.
This trip was inspired by a Westways article about discovering Washington. And it proved that Pacific Northwest is more than just moody skies and evergreen forests. It’s a place where you can hike to waterfalls, ride rollercoasters through alpine towns, pick fruit straight from the branch, and discover art in unexpected places.
