Same view of #MountRanier at two different times of day. 🌤🗻 #goatrockswilderness #goatrocks #mountains #mountainscape #landscape #landscapephotography #naturephotography #washingtonstate #sunset #sunsetphotography (at Goat Rocks Wilderness) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWsG98lgA6a/?utm_medium=tumblr

Leaving Seattle always has such great views. Then Welcome to Tucson for a week of fun and hanging out! #VRBO #NoExcuses #VacationVibes #PositiveVibes #Tucson #AZ #Views #MountRanier #MountHood (at Tucson International Airport - TUS) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRP-fD9M0SZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Early spring in Box Canyon on Washington State’s Mount Rainier – May 26th, 2013. . #JaspasJourney #thejourneycontinues #enjoythejourney #JoinTheAdventure #dreamtodayjourneytomorrow #mountranier (at Mount Rainier National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPVXgtxLhh6/?utm_medium=tumblr

-Night Hikers- Groups of hikers trek up Mount Rainier at night to get to the peak by sunrise 🌅 #nikon #milkyway #milkywaychasers #milkywaygalaxy #nightscaper #nightscape #travel #nikonusa #washingtonstate #washington #mountranier #mtrainier #nighthiker #nighthike (at Washington State, USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMU_JGNApDv/?igshid=1bic22bifb5it

Planning My West Coast Dream Trip

SO this is the year I FINALLY make it to the West Coast. I’m an Ohio gal - born & raised - and the farthest west I’ve ever been is Idaho & Las Vegas, so this upcoming trip is going to be life-changing for multiple reasons.

As my blog name notes, I’m a lover of all things Haunted, Lighthouse, & History-related, so this trip will incorporate as much of those things as humanly possible!

Here is my current plan.

Fly into Seattle early- around 9:00 A.M. Spend a good portion of my day there. Then start heading south down I-5 towards Portland. I’d LOVE to detour over to Mt. Hood, Mt. Ranier, Mt. St. Helens & Multnomah Falls, but I’m so worried at this point whether I will have the time to designate to everything I want to see! I’m planning on this being a 9-day trip, so here’s a general itinerary. Seattle and Portland will more than likely be day trips each, as I really want to spend the majority of my time in nature or on the coast.

I’d like to see the Space Needle & Pike Place Market in Seattle, but then head to Mt. Hood/Mt. Ranier/Mt. St. Helens/Multnomah Falls or any feasible combination of that group. I then would spend a day in Portland seeing Powell’s City of Books, VooDoo Donuts, The International Rose Test Garden & take a Shanghai Tunnels/Portland Underground Tour! I then want to drive South through Salem and Eugene and then make my way down to Crater Lake! I then would like to stop over into Ashland OR to see the Allen Elizabethan Theatre before dipping into California to see the northern-most Coastal Redwoods National Park. After that, I plan to stick to the coast and head all the way up Oregon: From Brookings to Astoria, (stopping at all the lighthouses along the way) which, according to Google Maps, is roughly a 7-1/2 hour drive straight through (& 11 lighthouse)! 

The ONLY thing I have booked so far is a one-night stay at The Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast Between Florence & Yachats (The Central-most area of the state) on the Tuesday of my trip. It is my FAVORITE lighthouse and the main reason I’m making this trip, so the fact that I solidified one night there (the room rates were upwards of $300/night with taxes and fees... YIKES!) but I will have the only room in the B&B with a direct view of the lighthouse! Makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it. <3  What I need some help with at this point is honest opinions. Anything I shouldn’t miss? Anything that is touristy and easy to skip? I REALLY want to spend some time in Florence, and would love to make a few stops in Tillamook, Newport, Ecola Beach, Cannon Beach & Astoria, so is this trip feasible?! Am I going to be running myself ragged in order to see everything on my list?

If you happen across this, and can give me some suggestions, I’d be endlessly appreciative. 

Heceta Head Lighthouse Photo Credit

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Elk at Crystal Mountain

A year ago today, I was strolling along in this alpine garden. • • • • • • #beautiful #scenic #mountranier #nationalpark #washington #pnw #pacificnorthwest #pacificwonderland #hike #hiking #hikingadventures #outdoors #outside #naturephotography #naturelovers #nature #wilderness #wildernessculture #mountains #mountain #view #beauty #tbt #throwbackthursday #throwback @mountrainiernps @nationalparkservice (at Mount Rainier National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BohqbaeBHtv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sy221vtp88he

Mount Rainer 💖😍 #mountranier #mountran #beautiful #wow #mountaintop #mountrainernationalpark

今年もお祝いできます(*´ω｀*)♪ #kiyoharu #birthday #mountranier #elegy

#love #vegan #pilot #Shaijahwolf #seattle #Washington #MountRanier

What up mount doom. #mountranier #mountdoom

Windy Gap, Mt Ranier National Park. Winter has already started in the mountains of Washington. After being wet for 24 hours we were surprised to find this winter scene after we packed up camp and climbed a couple of miles. @emslifeinthewild climbing to the top of the pass #wildamerica #americanroadtrip #ontheroad #mountranier #nationalpark #neverstopexploring #adventure #wildandfree #mountainlife #travel

True majesty #mountranier #mountain #washington #pacificnorthwest

#July4th #Sunset #Sky in #Seattle, in the shadow of #MountRanier.

#clouds #mountranier (at Mount Rainier National Park)