In the hustle and bustle of today’s busy world, we are often expected — even rewarded — for doing more than what feels humanly possible. Sometimes it seems as if we’re required to always be “on.” The glowing screens of our laptops and phones beckon us to respond faster, connect more and document every move along the way.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons my family and I constantly seek the solitude of the mountains and the boundaries of our national parks, where WiFi service is iffy at best and cell towers are few and far between. As part of our quest to visit all 59 national parks across the United States, we recently took a roadtrip to visit the three located in Washington state — North Cascades, Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks. I felt awake and alive. There were moments where I was transported to another period in our history — where time moved slower and human interaction was everything. Families were playing games, kids were roasting s’mores, people were talking around the dinner table and the great outdoors served as the entertainment.

Being fully present is a powerful thing, and that’s one of the greatest gifts our national parks give us with the people we love most.

So with two overstuffed suitcases, a car seat, pack-n-play, stroller, hiking pack and an 18-month-old baby in tow, we ventured as far across the continental United States we could possibly go for an unforgetable adventure in the evergreen state.

Our Washington Road Trip by the Numbers

• 14 days
• 186 pounds of checked luggage
• 7 hotels/lodges stayed in
• 1,057 miles driven in a minivan
• 7 different animals seen (deer, mountain goats, bald eagle, orca whales, humpback whales, chipmunks and pacific slugs)
• 4 Washington state ferries traveled on (twice with our car on the boats)
• 3 U.S. National Parks visited
• 2 islands visisted
• 24.63 miles run
• 17.14 miles hiked carring a 23-pound baby on our back
• … and a partridge in a pear tree

Below you will find the details of our 14-day itinerary across Washington, chockful of tips and ideas for travelers who want to experience what we did (and all of you should!). Or, skip the deets and see all the highlights in this video:

Our Washington National Park Itinerary: 14 Days

Days 1-3: Seattle

Our trip began in Seattle where I spent the first weekend with Brooks Running as part of a special Run Happy retreat. We ran and ate our way around the city and attended the Special Olympics USA Games. You can read all about my time in Seattle here. While I was enjoying Seattle with my Brooks Running family, Mr. rUnladylike and Baby rUnladylike had some daddy-daughter time. They walked around the city, went to a Mariner’s game, explored Pike Place Market, ran around Lake Union, ventured to the top of the Space Needle, visited playgrounds and spent time at PlayDate SEA. I was lucky enough to see them during down time.

We stayed at the EVEN Hotel and adjoining Staybridge Suites South Union location, and I would highly recommend them. In addition to a great gym and free breakfast, the hotel property is just steps away from Lake Union, scenic running routes, a nice playground and waterfront restaurants. We enjoyed the White Swan Public House for drinks and apps and Duke’s Chowder House and Westward for dinner. To find great places to run, check out this post and pictures.

Day 4: North Cascades National Park

After a fun few days in Seattle, it was time to reuinte as a family and head to North Cascades National Park. We drove the 2+ hours to the visitor center and made it with one minute to spare before closing to get our passport stamped and make the visit official (whew!).

North Cascades only sees about 25,000 visitors per year and is one of the least visited of all the parks. Unlike most of the parks, it is open 24 hours and has no entry fee. This had us seriously scratching our heads as we took in the phenomenal beauty of this special place.

To stretch our legs after time in the car, we walked the short Sterling Munro Trail that was connected to the visitor center. This was Baby rUnladylike’s first hike on two legs and not in our hiking backpack. It was all of 300 yards with 5 feet of elevation gain. We also stopped at the River Loop Trails so she could enjoy some more hiking on her own.

Next, we drove a good portion of the North Cascades Highway, stopping at Gorge Creek Falls and the Diablo Lake Overlook. Both of these are must-visit stops. Diablo Lake was simply stunning. I never want to forget the views of this river-carved valley with moutain-capped peaks.

With a big adventure ahead of us and certainly not nearly enough time in this beautiful park, we departed North Cascades for the San Juan Islands. We stayed at a Hampton Inn in Burlington, less than 40 minutes from Anacortes, where we’d be taking a ferry to Orcas Island the following day.

Pro Tip: North Cascades National Park really deserves more than just a day trip. I would recommend staying one night. There are very few amenities in the park other than a general store, so be sure to have adequate food and snacks. If possible, make time to stop at the Cascadian Farm Organic stand before the park’s entrance for delicious berries and ice cream.

Day 5: Orcas Island

I’ve traveled a lot during my lifetime, but I’d never traveled with my car on a boat until now. We started the fifth day of our Washington adventure driving our minivan onto a boat (aka the Washington Ferry) in Anacortes. We took an hour boat ride to Orcas Island where we drove off the boat and onto the picturesque island. We stopped in the quaint town of Eastsound for lunch at The Kitchen, which was extremely healthy and tasty but required a very long wait which is not ideal with a hungry one-year-old.

Just 15 minutes from town we found the cabin where we’d be staying for the next three nights at West Beach Resort.

We spent the evening exploring the beach and surrounding area before putting Baby rUnladylike to bed. Once asleep, we read and ate dinner on the adirondacks in our back sitting area while watching the gorgeous sunset. There are no TVs here, and nature was better than any Netflix series.

Pro Tips:

• You must make an advanced reservation for the ferry ride if you plan to bring your car. Reservations open two months in advance and then again two weeks and two days in advance. There are stand-by opportunities, but without a reservation you may not get on the boat.
• West Beach Resort has a full kitchen as well as washer and dryer so it is a great mid-point stop to do laundry to reduce the number of clothes you need to pack and allows you an opportunity to cook. If you have a child with you, the cabins have large outdoor spaces with chairs and fire pits to provide you a place to relax and enjoy yourself while your child is sleeping. Be sure to book very early and request a beach-front cabin. Also, there are VERY limited supplies and food here, so be sure to get everything you need in town at Island Market.

Day 6: San Juan Island

We took the interisland ferry from Orcas to San Juan Island for the day. We docked in Friday Harbor and ate a fabulous lunch at Downriggers.

After filling our bellies with oysters, crab cakes and more, we walked aroud the quaint town, exploring the shops.

We learned about orcas at The Whale Museum …

Pro Tip: Go to The Whale Museum before booking a whale watching tour in Washington, because you will learn so much about whales that will enhance your time on the water.

… and drank delicious beer and played on the lawn at San Juan brewing …

… before finally taking the ferry back to Orcas to catch the sunset after a long and fun day.

Day 7: Orcas Island

Since it was the Fourth of July, we had a patriotic day in store. It started with a family 5K and a trip to the top of Mount Constitution, which you can read all about here.

Later that afternoon, we went whale watching with Outdoor Island Expedition. We learned the hard way that it is not a good idea to take a toddler who wants to be in constant motion on a boat where she is trapped for three hours without being able to walk. We saw lots of orcas on the water, while simultaneously ruining 15 other people’s trip with our fussy baby. For the cherry on top, we had purchased some diapers that were different than her normal ones while on the trip and she peed through them right onto me on the boat. Everywhere. Happy Independence Day. Time to exit stage left for our next national park.

Days 8-9: The Northern Part of Olympic National Park

After loading our car on a boat for the final time (first on a ferry from Orcas Island to Anacortes and then from Coopeville to Port Townsend), we were off and headed to Olympic National Park. Olympic is one of the most diverse parks we’ve visited so far. You have snow capped peaks, lush forests and pristine lakes on one side and gorgeous beaches lining the Pacific Ocean on the other. It’s heavenly.

As we made our way from the Port Townsend Ferry Station to Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park, we stopped at The Dockside Grill in Sequim which was a quaint and delicious spot on the water.

Next, we arrived at our home for the next two nights: Lake Crescent Lodge. We’ve stayed at many lodges within the national parks, but this one tops the list. Not only are you perched right on the lake with killer views, the lodge itself is so cozy and beautiful, and the restaurant is delicious. We had some of our best meals of the trip at Lake Crescent Lodge’s dining room. Additionally, there are two trails that connect to the lodge and are very kid/family friendly which makes it very convenient.

Upon arriving to the lodge, we hiked the three-mile round trip to Marymere falls and back, followed by dinner at the lodge and wine and reading after Baby rUnladylike went to bed. The rooms are great if you have children who go to sleep earlier because you can sit outside on your little patio and enjoy the views while they fall asleep and not have to tip-toe in the dark.

The next day, we drove to Hurricane Ridge, which gets its name from the strong winds you encounter at the visitor center and on the trails. It was about 15 degrees colder up there and incredibly windy. We made sure to get our park passport stamp before hiking the three-mile Hurricane Ridge Trail, one of the most beauitful hikes I’ve been on. There was still a lot of snow everywhere, which made for some fun photos. We ordered chili from little cafe at the visitor’s center for lunch.

After Hurricane Ridge, we drove back to Sol Duc and hiked to Sol Duc Falls. Sol Duc has natural hot springs which are open to the public. Don’t forget your bathing suit and a little extra cash as a nice way to relax after a long day of hiking.

We ended the day back at Lake Crescent Lodge, eating dinner in the sun room and watching the sunset.

Pro Tips:

• When heading to Hurricane Ridge, be sure to pack extra layers and even gloves in case you get a very windy and cold day. This is especially important for smaller children who are riding in a pack and aren’t exerting the physical effort that will warm you up.
• When dining at Lake Crescent Lodge, consider ordering from the bar and eating in the sun room. The experience is faster and is really fun and easy with the same delicious menu, especially if you are traveling with kids. There are also plenty of games and toys to keep the whole family engaged and entertained in the lodge.

Days 10-11: The Coast in Olympic National Park

Before departing Lake Crescent Lodge for the coast, we ran a four-mile family run around Lake Crescent and the Moments in Time Trail.

We then made the rather long drive to the Hoh Rainforest and hiked the Spruce Nature Trail and the Hall of Mosses Trail for a total of about two miles. While this is a beautiful area and we enjoyed the hikes and our family picnic beforehand, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to do this portion of the park.

After the Hoh Rainforest, we made our way to the coast where we would be staying at the Kalaloch Lodge for two nights. Of everywhere we stayed, this is probably the most memorable. The views of the Pacific Ocean were stunning, and having two bedrooms and a full kitchen was so convenient. While dining at the restaurant our first evening, we even saw a whale out in the distance spraying water from his blowhole.

The next morning, I ran three miles on the beach and did a little strength training workout in the grass in our backyard. I used a piece of driftwood we found as a stand-in for a dumbell. Kalaloch beach is the perfect place for a run because the tide is far out, creating flat, hard-packed sand for miles without any banked surfaces.

We then set out to explore the nearby beaches, including Ruby Beach and Beach #4 (yes, that is its name).

Because there is no food or restaurants for miles, we ate both lunch and dinner at the Kalaloch Lodge, opting to take our dinner to go for a picnic in our backyard that night.

Day 12-13: Mount Rainier National Park

We finally set off for the last leg of our trip, arriving at Mount Rainier in the late afternoon.

We caught some glimpses of the mighty peak before heading to dinner at the Copper Creek Inn & Restaurant. This little cafe on the side of the road was amazing. We had the best blackberry pie of our lives there, and the service was exceptional. That night we stayed at the Nisqually Lodge which was perfect for our needs.

The next morning, we made our way to Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park bright and early. We walked around the lodge there waiting for the visitor center to open and trying to stay out of the cold rain. The weather was dreadful.

The hike we were planning to do was cloaked in fog and was not likely going to open or provide any of the views that made it famous. We decided to drive further north to Sunrise to see if our luck was any better. We caught a glimpse of the peaks for a few moments before the fog rolled in and stayed there. We decided to hike the nearly 6-mile round trip to Freemont Lookout anyway. While the hike was nice, the weather hung a white tarp in front of all the stunning vistas and gorgeous mountain views so we couldn’t see a thing. It was definitely a bummer, but we made the most of it.

We made our way back to Seattle, checked into a Hilton hotel and had dinner before departing home in the morning.

Day 14: Travel Home

All good things must come to an end, and so did this trip. With all our luggage and a million amazing memories to take home with us, we relunctantly said farewell to Washington and headed home. Watch all the highlights from the trip here.

If you’ve been to Washington or any of the national parks there, tell us about your favorite part. If you have recommendations on where we should go next, let us know!