Mount Rainier National Park is one of Washington’s gems! It’s ~2 hours from Seattle and makes for a good day trip or a longer weekend trip. LOGISTICS If you only have 1 spare day, I would recommend coming to Rainier early, spending the day here and then heading back to Seattle! Here are a few important things to know: Car: You will need a car to get here and to get around! National Park Pass: The entrance fee is $30, but you can also get an annual pass for $80. You do not need to buy this ahead of time and can pay at the entrance stations! Sunrise Visitor Center: There are multiple entra ..read more

Biking the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is a really fun and relaxing activity while in the Monterey Bay Area WHERE The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail extends from Pacific Grove to Castroville. The trail is completely cut off from cars which makes it safe for kids and beginning cyclists! I personally love it when I find trails like this because I trust myself but I don’t trust bad drivers :) I would recommend starting South to North so you can be in the main hustle and bustle of the Monterey area. I like staying in the Pacific Grove area because it’s a little more relaxed. Mont ..read more

Yosemite’s Eagle Peak is a classic 24 hour backpacking trip that passes the famous Upper Yosemite Falls. Wake up to views of Half Dome on this epic trip! QUICK HIKE STATS Distance (total): 14.5 miles, 6000 ft elevation gain Time: In 100 degree heat, it took us 5.5 hours up. On the way down in the morning, 2.5 hours Trail: Well trafficked and well-marked Trailhead: Upper Yosemite Falls / Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley Permits: Overnight permits required but this is one of the easiest permits to obtain! PERMITS & OTHER PREPARATION PermitsTo prepare for this hike, you’ll need to acquire a backcoun ..read more

Yosemite National Park is a beloved area for many Californians, and it’s easy to see why! The park has beautiful waterfalls, deep valleys, and dramatic granite formations. For a first-timer, it can be a little overwhelming but I’ve rounded up a quick guide below This is the general layout of yosemite provided by the nps. The most popular area is yosemite valley, highlighted above. There are definitely really fun hikes outside of the valley, but for the first timer i think it’s the best base. When to Go Yosemite is great year-round, but summer between May - September is the most accessible tim ..read more

Kayaking at Elkhorn Slough is a super fun (and dog-friendly!) 2 hour activity in the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area I’ve driven by Elkhorn Slough (in Moss Landing) on the way to Monterey so many times but never stopped by to check it out. A couple weeks ago, we decided to rent kayaks and check out the wildlife. We rented our kayaks from Monterey Bay Kayaks. A double kayak was $35 for the entire day. It was kind of windy that day so unfortunately, we could only kayak in the smaller channel area, but that was plenty of ground for us to see wildlife. Even though we only kayaked for a little over a ..read more

Let’s Take a Hike is a fun, family friendly hiking book for anyone planning an adventure to Nantucket (one of my favorite places to visit year round, but especially in the summer) Let’s Take a Hike I recently got a copy of Let’s Take a Hike by Leslie Bains. With COVID19 lockdowns and Shelter in Place, there hasn’t been much to do other than picnic, read, and more recently spending time in the outdoors. This book was a great inspiration and got me daydreaming of heading back to the east coast soon. The book covers 7 family-friendly trails in Nantucket and is complemented with fun illustrations ..read more

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is full of dog-friendly hiking opportunities. One of my favorites is Mori Point because of its accessibility and ocean views Trail Distance: 2.5 miles Elevation Gain: ~400 ft. Terrain Rating: Moderate - mostly dirt and loose rocks but some of the descents are a bit tricky because of all the loose rock Hike Time: 1 hour Dog Friendly: Yes Recommended Seasons: All Trailhead: There are a few ways to enter along Highway 1 but Mori Point Parking Lot is a popular one. A couple weeks ago, we headed out to Mori Point as trails finally st ..read more

Mount Tam Watershed is the perfect place for a short afternoon hike with your pups! The views are beautiful along the water, and the dogs will love the shade! Trail Distance: 5.3 miles Elevation Gain: ~800 ft. Terrain Rating: Easy - dirt but moderate grade throughout Hike Time: 2.5 hours Dog Friendly: Yes but watch out for ticks Recommended Seasons: All Trailhead: Bon Tempe Lake Trailhead near Fairfax, CA here We headed out to Mount Tam Watershed early on a Saturday morning but we were surprised to find the parking lot already full! We waited for a bit before finding ..read more

Sweeney Ridge is a paved, dog-friendly trail that leads to 360 degree views and a beautiful lookout towards the ocean Trail Distance: 7.7 miles Elevation Gain: ~1600 ft. Terrain Rating: Easy - paved, wide trail Hike Time: 3.5 hours Dog Friendly: Yes Recommended Seasons: All Trailhead: In Pacifica here The trails opened up this weekend after shutting down for COVID19. We were super excited to go out and try out some new dog-friendly trails. The parking lot at Sweeney Ridge was pretty full so I was a bit worried, but the trail is actually wide enough to fit everyone with social distancing guide ..read more

Lake Merced is an urban lake close to Daly City and the SF Zoo. The 4.5 mi paved trail is popular for cyclists, bikers, and runners. It’s also dog friendly. Trail Distance: 4.5 miles Elevation Gain: Flat Terrain Rating: Easy - paved/concrete Hike Time: 1.5-2 hours Dog Friendly: Yes Recommended Seasons: All Hike Rating: 3.0/5 Trailhead: In the Southern SF area here I went out to Lake Merced on a weekday afternoon and was surprised at how crowded it was. There are a few parking lots surrounding the lake and they were all full! The lake itself is not very pretty - you can’t swim in it, it’s kind ..read more