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Epic 8-Day Pacific Northwest Itinerary: Part 2 Olympic National Park

Destinations, Outdoors

Welcome to part two of our Epic 8-day Pacific Northwest Itinerary: Part 2 Olympic National Park! We saw some of the most insanely beautiful sights, laughed at all the nods to the movie Twilight, and just enjoyed connecting with nature and exploring a new part of the country we’ve never been to.

Before we get going, be sure to check out the first leg of our epic Pacific Northwest trip starting in Seattle here!

Day 1: Port Angeles, A Waterfall & Mountain Top

9:00 am
Checked out of our awesome hotel, W Seattle, and made our way to the rental car shop to finally pick up a car. We had decided to walk and/or take a Lyft everywhere in town to save some money on parking and renting the car.

10:30 am
We made it down to Tacoma, Washington, and stopped for a late breakfast at an adorable cafe called Red Elm Cafe. We had yummy breakfast sandwiches and shared a Belgium waffle.

Breakfast at Red Elm Cafe
The Tacoma Narrows

11:00 am
Continuing our drive to Port Angeles, we crossed over the Tacoma Narrows, twin seafoam green suspension bridges over Puget Sound.

1:15 pm
Arrived in Port Angeles and checked into our hotel the Olympic Lodge, a quaint and rustic spot near the park. We grabbed some fast food before heading to our first destination.

Lake Crescent

Crystal blue waters against rocks in Crescent Lake, Olympic National Park | Local Love and Wanderlust

2:30 pm
We finally made it to Olympic National Park and we found a stop along Lake Crescent. A beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and forests with crystal clear blue and turquoise water. It was such a peaceful scene.

Unique tree at Crescent Lake, Olympic National Park | Local Love and Wanderlust

Read more about our trip to Lake Crescent here.

Marymere Falls

2:45 pm
After visiting the lake, we decided to do a small hike to Marymere Falls nestled deep in the thick forest near Lake Crescent. This was a fairly easy hike, mostly level surface surrounded by amazing trees, lush ferns, and other vegetation. When you get closer to the falls, you hear the rushing of Falls Creek and soon see a staircase that elevates you for the perfect views of the falls.

Marymere Falls in Olympic National Park
Bridge to Marymere Falls in Olympic National Park | Local Love and Wanderlust

On the way back we spontaneously decided to try the Mount Storm King hike. Sadly, we were not prepared for the dozens of switchbacks, and not even halfway up we pass some hikers coming downhill who let us know we weren’t even close to the top and we decided to head back down and spend the time in some other destinations. It was exhausting!

Creek flowing through Olympic National Park

Read more about our trip to Marymere Falls here.

4:45 pm
On our drive to our next destination, we stopped by the shore of the Elwha River – it had such a beautiful shade of seafoam green and was a serene stop.

Hurricane Ridge

5:30 pm
We make it to our next destination, Hurricane Ridge, and pay the entrance fee to get in. We spent about 2 hours driving up the mountain, taking in the views, and driving back down. Surprised by the almost 20 feet of snow at the top, we took our time observing all the hills and valleys we could see.

7:45 pm
Back in Port Angeles, we stopped for dinner at a local pizza shop called Gordy’s Pizza & Pasta. After dinner, we made it back to our hotel and had just enough time to soak in the hot tub before the pool hours ended for the evening.

Day 2: A Rainforest, A Beach, & Twilight

9:45 am
Began our drive back to Olympic National Park with a quick visit to Lake Crescent once again. We were driving by our destination and the whole day felt different so we decided to check it out.

Rialto Beach

10:30 am
We stop at a gas station and convenience store along our way to Rialto Beach to get gas and drinks and were surprised to find so much Twilight (movie) related signage. There was a vampire threat sign, a huge billboard with painted wood cut-outs of the movie’s two lead male characters, and there was even a treaty line. If you’re a Twilight nerd, you’d find this entertaining. Apparently, this is also a resort called Three Rivers Resort.

11:00 am
We arrive at Rialto Beach and find a parking space. The sky is very grey on our visit giving us the eerie Pacific Northwest vibes we didn’t get in Seattle with the sunshine and blue skies that were around on our visit. We walk along the coast, see tide pools, eagles, and beautiful scenes.

1:15 pm
We decided it was time to get lunch and we found a restaurant in the city of Forks. For those of you who are into Twilight, you’ll know this is the city they all live in. We may or may not have driven by Forks High School only to be disappointed that all they did was use the sign and the school looks completely different. We stopped for lunch at a little local bar & grill called Blakeslee before we made our way to the next stop.

The Hoh Rainforest

The Hall of Mosses

3:30 pm
We make it to the Hoh Rainforest and decide to take the Hall of Mosses trail and it was incredible. The trees, the moss, the ferns everywhere were such a sight to see. It was so peaceful and beautiful.

Cape Flattery

5:30 pm
It was close to dinner time and we had to decide whether we wanted to eat dinner at the same Italian restaurant Edward & Bella ate at in Twilight (come on, it’s the novelty of it all!) or go on one more adventure. We chose adventure and decided to drive up to Cape Flattery, the Northwesternmost tip of the United States, instead.

This trip required us to get a different park pass as this land belongs to the Makah Tribe. We found one of the stops to get a pass in a general store and made our way up to the top of the cape. Once we got to the top, we can see we were 2 of the few people up there. To get to the cape, you had to hike through .75 miles of a mix of dirt, boardwalks, and stairs along the trail. Once we got to the point we were rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views. Our phones thought we were in Canada we were so far north.

The walk back to the car was eerie as we knew we were all alone. Our drive back to the hotel was on a pitch-black country road so it was a little spooky. We got back to Port Angeles around 10 pm and all the restaurants were closed since it was a Sunday night so we settled for fast food. Did we make the right decision to do this trip last minute? Absolutely.

That sums up our two days in Olympic National Park! Two days is nowhere near enough time to truly experience the splendor and beauty of this National Park, however, we were packing a lot into this trip so this was just a taste. I dream about visiting the park again in the future.

Check out the final part of our epic Pacific Northwest trip in Portland, Oregon here!

Find more content like this under: Destinations, Outdoors, Hiking, Itinerary, National Parks, Washington

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Hey there, I'm Jen - a photographer and designer on a mission to explore Cleveland, Ohio, and beyond, one adventure at a time! I share plenty of hiking and outdoor content, as well as thoughtful travel guides to postcard-worthy destinations, features on amazing local businesses, and insider tips for uncovering hidden gems and the best experiences in Cleveland. So glad you're here!

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@localloveandwanderlust

🍕Slice, Slice, baby🍕 Have you checked out Cl 🍕Slice, Slice, baby🍕 Have you checked out Cleveland's newest slice shop, @geracissliceshop in Downtown?

I was out of town when they opened so I was excited to finally check them out. 

Here's what you'll find when you visit: 
🔸Tasty pizza by the slice or pie, salads, garlic pillows, meatball flights, and more.
🔸A short walk away from concert venues and sports arenas, a perfect place to grab a slice after a show or game
🔸Family Owned for 65 years 
🔸Cute outdoor patio space
🔸Retro Vibes, fun decor, and photo-ops galore
🔸Caesar Marie, your next favorite Caesar (if you know me, you know I'm always on the lookout for good Caesars)

If you've been, tell me your favorite thing on the menu in the comments ⤵️

📍603 Prospect Ave E, Cleveland, OH

#downtowncleveland #cleveland #thisiscle #clevelandfoodie #clevelandblogger 
#travelblogger #clevelandpizza #familyownedbiz #crustyourinstincts #geracissliceshop Pizza Shops in Cleveland
🔹Now Open🔹Patron Saint, a new Italian-inspir 🔹Now Open🔹Patron Saint, a new Italian-inspired all-day café + aperitivo bar in Cleveland’s Ohio City!

✨Tag a friend you’d love to visit with✨

I was so excited for the opening of this lovely cafe. The former Vitrolite Tile showroom had such unique elements you’ll see blended into the modern cafe and the food was quite good! 

This all day cafe has Italian-inspired cafe dishes paired with coffee and spritz beverages and includes an aperitivo hour at 4pm that includes some bar snacks that switch up every couple days, a perfect start to your evening or an after work treat.

Check out their website for more details on parking and menu items.

📍Located in the Hingetown part of Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood at 2915 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 

🕑 Mon-Fri 7a-8p and Sat 8a-2p
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POV: You visit Downtown Cleveland on a Friday nigh POV: You visit Downtown Cleveland on a Friday night 
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#thisiscle #e4thcle #geracisliceshop #cleclothingco #downtowncleveland #ohiotheheartofitall #cleveland #ohio #clevelandblogger #traveldestination #hellofrom #beautiful_destinations #travelblogger #locallove 
@thisiscle @ohiotheheartofitall @e4thst @geracissliceshop @cleclothingco
6 epic and easy views you can see in Rocky Mountai 6 epic and easy views you can see in Rocky Mountain National Park!

✨Save for future visit✨

These epic views deliver with minimal effort because sometimes you don’t want to hike a few miles to be rewarded with breathtaking scenes.

📍Alluvial Fan: this spot has a very interesting history you can read about on site, it’s also very relaxing to listen to the rushing waters.

📍Hiking Bear Lake to Nymph Lake & beyond. It’s an easy hike depending on the season. We had partial snow so we rented spikes and poles. The views on the way up are dreamy. You can continue past Nymph to several other lakes if you’re up for it.

📍Sprague Lake is just a 30 minute drive from the park entrance and one of our favorite spots. Epic sunrises nature, and mountains-reflecting-in-water views.

📍Moraine Park is huge and within the National Park boundaries. The views are vast.

📍Driving Trail Ridge Road will take you as far as 12,000 feet above sea level 😳 with many stops along the way, this is a great way to enjoy the park. During winter it’s closed and opens gradually through mid- May once the snow melts enough. 

Intro screen: Many Parks Curve seen from Trail Ridge Road

Closing scene: View #6: 📍Glacier Creek at Prospect Canyon

Do you have a favorite view in RMNP?
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#rockymountainnationalpark #rockymountain #rmnps #nationalparks #hikingtrails #abovesealevel #colorado #visitcolorado #estespark #estesparkcolorado #clevelandblogger #clevelandtravelblogger #clevelandphotographer #optoutside #exploremore #easyhikes
WEEKEND IN CLEVELAND Memorial Day Weekend Saturday WEEKEND IN CLEVELAND
Memorial Day Weekend Saturday Itinerary

{✨SAVE THIS FOR YOUR WEEKEND PLANS✨}

Heyyy It’s Memorial Day weekend so just about everything you do is going to be busy and full of people so keep that in mind as you plan. Here’s a fun Saturday itinerary to make the most of the lovely weekend in Cleveland! Let me know if this inspires your weekend 🫶

🥪 Start off with a yummy breakfast sandwich at Martha on the Fly (Sat 9a -3p) you can order yours online first for quick pickup. @marthaonthefly 

Hop in your car and drive down to Cuyahoga Valley National Park and surrounding area. @cuyahogavalleynps & @clevemetroparks Hinckley Reservation

🥾Put on your hiking boots and hike some incredible Ledges at:
➖ Virginia Kendal Ledges at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
➖ Wordens Ledges Hinckley Reservation 
➖ Whipps Ledges Hinckley Reservation 

🍪 Stop at Trail Mix Peninsula to grab a light snack and beverage while exploring the outdoors.
📍1600 West Mill Street, Peninsula, OH 44264

🌊 Head back to Cleveland and visit Edgewater Beach to enjoy some sunshine and our mini ocean Lake Erie. Grab an ice cream treat at the Beach House.
📍Edgewater Beach, Cleveland, OH 44102

Spend the evening in Ohio City: @ohiocityinc @hingetown 

🍽️ Grab dinner in the Hingetown area, a few suggestions: 
@amba_cle (4p-11p)
@saucybrewworks (11a-12a)
@bananablossomthaicuisine_cle (4p-10p)

While in the area be sure to catch Station Hope: a celebration of hope and a dialog for change performed by @cptcle . We’ve been attending for years and I highly recommend checking it out. 

⏰ 7pm-10pm
📍St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ohio City & the surrounding area - 2600 Church Ave., Cleveland, OH. 44113

Unwind after your day of adventure and experience with a tasty beverage - all these spots are nearby and offer both alcohol and non-alcohol based cocktails for everyone to enjoy 🍹
@thehangarcle (2p-12a)
@bookhousebrewing (12p-12a)
@bar_amba (4p-11p)
@jukeboxcle (11:30a-1a)

BONUS: squeeze in some shopping at City Market at @citygoodscle, the 2nd & 4th Saturday through September 11am-4pm
📍 1442 West 28th Street, Cleveland Ohio, 44113

Have fun! ✌️🫶

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