Filed Trip lists:

Resources

This page was put together to list the many web pages that I start my search from. Since I can sometimes get lost in the tangle "web" I've weaved as I've clicked my way through a web page, I thought you might also like to see where I start my searches for great places to visit and take my children.

I hate linking to "commercial" sites because I don't want to appear to endorse places, but often time they will get my juices flowing or have links to somewhere great. Please note that there are no endorsements on this web page. I only list links that I have found helpful in my search for fun things to do.

If you would like to suggest a web site or book, please send the information to waldsfe@hotmail.com. Enjoy!

United States

National Park System Want to know more about Mt. Rainer? Here is the place to start! This link will take you directly to the US Map, click on Washington. It might surprise you how many we have. It isn't just Mt. Rainier and the Olympic National Park. Link for the Junior Ranger program.

Washington State

Washington State Parks This is an excellent web page to go and find parks around the state. This isn't just for camping but for day use parks as well. This link will take you to their list of parks. This link is to their reservation page. Some of our favorites are:

Cape Disappointment (formally Fort Canby)
Deception Pass
Fort Casey
Fort Ebey
Ginkgo
Lake Cushman
Lake Sammamish
Wallace Falls
Sun Lakes
South Whidbey
Sacajawea
Old Fort Townsend
Of course we will add to this as we explore some more!

If you travel during the winter you will want to check the passes first.

Online guides for Washington State

Travel guide for Washington by Online Highways. Their Museum guide to Washington.
Pacific Northwest waterfalls. Click on a region (right hand side) and then pick from their list. They have gathered some great information on the falls, area, history etc. Even if you never hike just learning is a treat. They have falls for Washington, Idaho Oregon, and B.C.. You can't go wrong!
Geology Around Washington field trips. Before you go somewhere check this site out.
Travel in Washington State a fun site to go explore and get ideas. It is heavily "commercial" but there are great ideas and places to go that don't have to cost.
Go NorthWest. Great information.
Roadside Attractions from roadsideamerica.com

Hiking in Washington

Helaman's Academy page on hiking
Washington Trails Association A WONDERFUL resource. Don't go hiking without checking here first.
King County Trails
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Nation Forest hikes page
NWSourse for hikes and trails. You will have to click on the link that says "trail locator" about the middle of the page.
Hiker Bob's page Trail guide for Washington
VTrail online guide to trail in Washington
List of hikes in Washington, complied by the Seattle PI.
Hiking information around the Northwest. Discover a new trail or find an old one that was once lost in your memory. There also are a couple of good links to things to take camping and hiking.
Best hikes according to KIRO TV 7.
Link to Seattle PI list of hike write ups. What a list of hikes. You won't be disappointed.
“Leave No Trace” Great article to read before you head out.
Articles on things you might want to pack and do for your day hike, by LL Bean.

Counties in Washington State

Cities in Washington State

I have links to cities that are around my home or places we have visited. I include the home page because you might be able to find some great events listed there that might not appear on their parks page. Please note that http://www.ci.CITYNAME.wa.us/ will give you most any city’s web site in the state. If that doesn't work, google it.

City of Seattle Museums & Galleries and Seattle Parks
City of Bellevue Parks department Parks page List of parks
City of Redmond Parks department List of parks
City of Issaquah Parks department List of parks Trails
City of Woodinville Parks department List of parks
City of Kirkland Parks department List of parks
City of Everett
City of Tacoma Parks department
City of Carnation links are inside the windows.
City of Vancouver Parks department
City of Port Angeles
City of Ocean Shores
City of Port Townsend City guide
City of Gig Harbor
City of Leavenworth Day trip guide
City of Yakima
City of Toppenish

Other ideas

Cascade Loop
Fish hatcheries in the State of Washington.
Don't forget your local library's story hour. King County Library System is my local library and has wonderful programs.
University of Washington has education programs going constantly. Click here for a comprehensive list.
Bed and Breakfast guide to Whidbey Island. No endorsement meant, but the links to calendar and events was worth the commercial link.
Visitor's guide to the Olympic Peninsula. Worth a look so you can become familiar with what you can do. Has links to most of the communities in the upper peninsula.
Five day trip on the west Olympic Peninsula. The home page is a "lodge" trying to get you visit, but you might want to take a look at some of the links they have to get your juices flowing.
Want to do something fun? How about read about "this week in Washington State History" then go visit that place or plan an outing dealing with that story. Try this web page. There is so much information there you could get lost!

Oregon State

Oregon State Parks I can't let our neighbor to the south off easy. This link will take you to their list of parks. Here is another page for parks in Oregon.
Travel guide for Oregon by Online Highways. Oregon is just so close.

Canada

Of course do your own web search you might find some great places to play in this “beautiful world Heavenly Father created for [us.]” Please send your favorite on to waldsfe@hotmail.com and we will add them here!

Books Resources

Please check to make sure you have the latest edition of the book or guide. Nature never stays the same and the books are continually being updated, some yearly.

12 Short Hikes—Mt. Rainier Paradise
12 Short Hikes—Mt. Rainier Sunrise
100 Classic Hikes in Washington by Ira Spring and Harvey manning (The Mountaineers)
A Complete Guide to Mt. St. Helens
Accessible Trails in Washington Backcountry—A Guide to 85 Outings (recreation at one end and EASY trails)
A Falcon Guide—Best Easy Day Hikes in North Cascade
A Falcon Guide—Best Easy Day Hikes Olympics by Erik Molvar
A Falcon Guide—Best Easy Day Hikes Mt. Rainier by Heidi Schneider and Mary skjelset
A Falcon Guide—Best Easy Day Hikes Mt. St. Helens
Backpacking Washington by Douglas Lorain (Wilderness Press)
Best Hikes with Children: Western Washington & the Cascades Vol. 1&2 by Joan Burton, 1998 (vol. 1) 1999 (vol. 2) by the Mountaineers; ISBN 0-89886-564-6 (vol. 1) 0-89886-626-X (vol. 2)
Best Short Hikes in…..” (fill in the blank; there is quite a few)
Best Winter Walks and Hikes: Puget Sound by Harvey Manning
Columbia Gorge Hikes by Don and Roberta Lowe (Frank Amato)
Day Hike! Mount Rainier: the Best Trails You can Hike in a Day by Ron C. Judd: ISBN 1-57061-314-1 by Sasquatch Books. I can't say enough about this book! Mr. Judd is a wonderful writer and makes the trails come alive. Can't wait to hike them all. He is very honest in the description of the trails.
Discovering Washington's Historic Mines by Northwest Underground Explorations (vol. 1 West Central Cascade Mountains) (vol. 2 East Central Cascade Mountains & Wenatchee Mountains)
Eastside Family Hikes
Frommer’s Washington State 3^rd Ed by Karl Samson & Jane Aukshunas (Hungry Minds, 2002; ISBN 0-7645-6553-2)
Guide to Tiger Mountain 50 Hikes The Mountaineers
Hiking the Columbia River Gorge by Russ Schneider (Falcon)
Hiking Mt. Rainer National Park by Heidi Schneider and Mary Skuelset (Falcon)
Hiking Mt. Saint Helens by Fred Barstad (Falcon)
Hiking Washington by Ron Adkison ISBN 1-56044-501-7
Hiking Washington's Geology by Scott Babcock & Bob Carson
Kids Go! Seattle: A Fun Filled, Fact Packed Travel and Activity Book by Donna Bergman
Mount St. Helens by Fred Barstad (Falcon)
Nature Walks In & Around Seattle: All Season Exploring in Parks, Forests and Wetlands by Cathy M. McDonald
Out & About Seattle with Kids: The Ultimate Family Guide for Fun and Learning by Ann Bergman
Places To Go With Children Around Puget Sound by Elton Welke, 1994 by Chronicle Book; ISBN 0-8118-0635-9
REI has tons of books on camping, hiking and having fun in the Northwest. Go to their site and do a search for "camping," "hiking," biking" or whatever and see what they have for you to look through and gather ideas. A personal visit to a store and a conversation with a staff person might also get your creative juices flowing. Remember we are in REI country!
Roadside Geology of Washington by David D. Alt and Donald W. Hyndman, 1984 by Mountain Press Publishing Company; ISBN 0-87842-160-2 This book is very helpful as you travel around the state.
The Iron Goat Trail: A Guidebook by The Mountaineers
Trips and Trails 1 & 2 by E. M. Sterling, 1986 (vol. 1) 1987 (vol. 2) by the Mountaineers; ISBN 0-89886-115-2 (vol. 1) 0-89886-069-5 (vol. 2)
Walks & Hikes in the Foothills & Lowlands Around Puget Sound by Harvey Manning & Penny Manning
Walks and Hikes on the Beaches Around Puget Sound by Harvey Manning & Penny Manning
Washington Off the Beaten Path by Myrna Oakley (The Globe)
Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Marge & Ted Mueller, 1993 by the Mountaineers; ISBN 1-898863-324-4 (updated in 1999).

report any broken link to waldsfe@hotmail.com

Last update: November, 2006

Disclaimer: Though WALDSFE, Helaman's Academy and/or Doreen Blanding does its best to thoroughly screen every product, company, website and individual listed on these pages, please note that WALDSFE, Helaman's Academy and/or Doreen Blanding does not endorse any product, company, website or individual listed. If you have a problem with a page, find broken links, or companies that no longer support homeschooling please send email .