Rialto Beach

"By far, one of the most gorgeous beaches and coastal forests I have ever seen. It's not your typical, tropical beach with palm trees, but Rialto Beach is a gorgeous Pacific Northwest beach that is stunning to visit. Seeing a beach in the Pacific Northwest was great, coming from the East Coast. Extremely photogenic, the beach's topography is laid with smoothed gray stones and weathered, petrifying trees which fell over as a result of a storm that washed them out. Definitely, go for a walk on this beach! You will feel completely remote and detached in nature. Just north is Hole-in-the-Wall, a famous arch we totally missed!! A reason to go back... We visited this beach as we were on a road trip out of Seattle along Highway 101 around the Olympic Peninsula to tour the Hoh Rain Forest, and seeing this beach came as a high recommendation by a local friend. We visited the third week in July, and Washington's weather could not have been more amazing. However, as we drove west along the town road to the beach, the fog came in and the temperature probably dropped 20 degrees. Although it was difficult to find a lot of tourist information about Rialto Beach, it was extremely easy to find and very accessible by car. Mora is another beach just south, but we heard Rialto was the better one to visit." [AFAR]

Beach / National Park

Website: Rialto Beach

Address: Mora Rd, Forks, WA 98331, USA

 

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

"Many know the story of Lewis and Clark but are unaware that the tale involved so much more than these two pioneers. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which stretches across the north-central and northwestern part of the country toward the Pacific Ocean, beckons visitors to walk the path of many women and men alike, including servicemen, scientists, and Native Americans. The trail can be followed by car, bicycle, or boat, as many roads parallel the route and are marked accordingly." [Travel+Leisure]

National Park

Website: Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Address: County Road 37, Stanton, ND 58571

 

Olympic National Park

922,000-acre park featuring snow-covered mountains, lush rain forests & dramatic Pacific coastline.

"Acres of old growth forests, miles of rocky coastline, lush rainforests, and glacier-capped peaks all contribute to the spectacular diversity and remoteness that this park offers those willing to venture deep into it. Much of the park’s almost one million acres are only accessible by foot, which gives travelers a sense of solitude. In order to truly experience this park to its fullest potential, visitors should be willing to lace up their hiking boots and spend some time working their way into the depths of its wilderness." [Travel+Leisure]

National Park

Website: Olympic National Park

Address: 3002 Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362