Of all the beautiful environments found in Washington state, I had NO CLUE that rainforests were on the list!!  Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t know that!  It is true though, the Olympic Mountains are home to the amazing Quinault Rain Forest, a mossy green paradise thriving on the foggy wonder of the Pacific Northwest.  I’m not even exaggerating when I say that just walking around the mossy trees and rushing river makes you feel healthier and more alive, like your lungs want to breathe in as much of that clean air as they can hold.  Ben and I got to explore some of the trails in the rain forest, and also the historic Quinault Lodge nearby!  Relaxing by the huge fireplace in the lodge and walking down by Lake Quinault felt like something out of a movie.  There’s just something about rainy days and cozy old lodges that makes me want to sit by a fire with a big mug of hot cocoa and a good book.

We also had the chance to visit the nearby town of Snoqualmie, only 45 minutes from Tacoma.  Snoqualmie is a charming little town with the most beautiful falls.  We took advantage of two vantage points – the scenic overlook at the top of the falls, and the hike down to the bottom of the falls for a close-up experience!  Both sights were incredible, and such a great reminder of how much bigger, how much grander our world is than we often realize.

Snoqualmie Falls