Plan A Spring Break Get Away
March 15, 2016
Looking for a last-minute Spring Break getaway with the kids, or maybe you just need to make a break for it?
If a day trip is a better fit for your family then pack the car and grab the kids for a spectacular spring drive. Two great options are:
- Washington State‘s Skagit Valley is deservedly famous for its tulips. The annual tulip festival is held throughout the entire month of April.
- Another stunning drive is State Highway 504 to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The best way to experience the mountain is to spend a full day, or more, driving east on Highway 504, stopping at visitor centers, trails, and viewpoints along the way. If you only have a short time to spend on your Mount St. Helens visit, then make sure to stop at the visitor center at Silver Lake which is located just off Interstate 5 and offers excellent exhibits and a moving film. If you have time to drive all the way in, but can only stop at one single visitor center, then choose the Johnston Ridge Observatory.
Did you know that the National Park Service turns 100 in 2016? To celebrate for 16 days during 2016 all National Park Service sites are offering free admission to everyone. The Free Entrance Days in the National Parks are: April 16 through 24, August 25th through 28, September 24th, and November 11th.
Maybe you can take advantage of the National Park Week and take a couple of days to visit one of the National Parks in our beautiful state while your children are out of school.
-
Mount Rainier National Park Mount Rainier stands as an icon in our Washington landscape and ascends 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A. Its melting snow spawns six major rivers. Spring is a beautiful time to view the sub-alpine wildflower meadows that ring this active volcano.
-
North Cascades. This alpine landscape is less than three hours from Seattle. A landscape of jagged peaks that are crowned by more than 300 glaciers. The cascading rivers reach gorgeous lakes. Discover the nature walks, hikes, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.
-
Olympic. This park covers nearly one million acres and contains several distinctly different ecosystems. Rivers flow from glacier-capped peaks through valleys of towering ancient forests, to the rugged and beautiful beaches and coastline of the Pacific. Visit Ruby or Kalaloch beaches for amazing views. Hike the trails that traverse the vast interior of this breathtaking wilderness.
- If you have a few more days to spend and can venture a little farther then consider one of my favorite places to visit Yellowstone National Park. Spring is easily the best time for wildlife viewing. Because the annual baby boom brings in adorable bison calves, gangly baby elk, and bear cubs. Yellowstone our nation’s first National Park is a treasure and the core of one of the last, nearly intact ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone.
Worried that a road trip will mean lots of back seat squabbling? Then plan ahead to fight off any boredom and keep the kids engaged with games and snacks.