Road Trip

Yakima, Kennewick & Walla Walla, Washington: Wine Country & Yakima River Canyon

August 5, 2019 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Leaving the lush evergreen forests of the Pacific Northwest behind, we traded rain for sunshine as we drove south from Kent, Washington through the Cascades toward Yakima. The landscape transformation is dramatic — within an hour, towering firs give way to rolling golden hills and wide open skies, signaling the beginning of Washington’s celebrated wine country. From there we traced a path east through Kennewick and on to Walla Walla, one of the most acclaimed wine regions in the American West.

Yakima River Canyon scenic byway, Washington — sweeping views of basalt cliffs and the Yakima River, photographed by Michael Huntley travel blogger

Anacortes, North Cascades & Snoqualmie Falls, Washington: Whidbey Island, Deception Pass & Washington Pass

July 28, 2019 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: June 20, 2026

From Olympic National Park, reaching Anacortes was a scenic journey — a ferry ride from Port Townsend across Puget Sound to Whidbey Island, then another half hour north to the RV park. We were in the front row of the ferry with a sweeping view of the Sound and the San Juan Islands beyond. Our goal was to meet up with family on Whidbey Island and then push east to explore North Cascades National Park.

Dr. Michael Huntley on a rocky overlook above a glacial lake in North Cascades National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park, Washington: Quinault Rain Forest, Hurricane Ridge, Cape Flattery & the Pacific Coast

July 21, 2019 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: June 20, 2026

Olympic National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse parks in the entire national park system, encompassing four dramatically different regions: alpine, Pacific coast, temperate rain forest, and the drier east side of the Olympic Peninsula. It was designated a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909 and elevated to National Park status by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938. Today it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.

Alpine wildflowers blooming below snowcapped peaks and summer snowfields at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington

Mount Rainier & Mount St. Helens, Washington: Glaciers, Waterfalls & Volcanic Recovery

July 13, 2019 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: June 20, 2026

Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens are two of the most iconic volcanoes in the Cascade Range — a chain of snowcapped stratovolcanoes extending from British Columbia south to Northern California, all part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Seeing both on the same trip is a study in contrasts: Rainier brooding and majestic under perpetual glaciers, St. Helens forever frozen in the aftermath of its 1980 cataclysm.

Mount St. Helens horseshoe crater and lava dome viewed from Johnston Ridge Observatory, Washington

Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls & Mount Hood, Oregon: Multnomah Falls, Hood River & Lavender Valley

July 5, 2019 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: June 20, 2026

From Bend, Oregon, we headed northwest toward Mount Hood and then on to Troutdale along the Columbia River Gorge — one of the most dramatic stretches of scenery in the entire Pacific Northwest. The gorge cuts through the Cascade Range for over 80 miles, its walls rising up to 4,000 feet, and the Oregon side alone is home to more than 70 named waterfalls. We only had time for a handful, but they were unforgettable.

Sandy Huntley with the Columbia River and Washington state cliffs in the background, Troutdale, Oregon

Crater Lake, Newberry Volcanic Monument & Bend, Oregon: Caldera, Lava Caves & Mountain Views

June 29, 2019 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: June 20, 2026

Crater Lake National Park is simply breathtaking. The north entrance and most of the hiking trails were still closed under snow, but we came anyway. We left the wineries of the Willamette Valley and headed for the mountains — and Oregon’s volcanic heart.

Snow-covered rim of Crater Lake caldera in late June with brilliant blue water below, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon