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What Does 25,000 Miles Look Like?

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25,000 miles. Twenty five thousand miles.

That’s a lot of driving. We’ve been called crazy. And inspiring. We’ve visited some amazing destinations on our year-long road trip, but you gotta get there somehow. So, we’ve done a LOT of driving. We paused to think about all the states we’ve driven through (THIRTY!!! Scroll all the way to the bottom to check out the map!) and all the landscapes we’ve seen along the way when our odometer recently read 25,000 miles.

We’ve taken plenty of great pictures of a hard earned view from a tough hike, or from an isolated mountain top, but there’s no denying we’ve seen some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country without the need to even step outside our vehicle. The miles and moments in between the destinations have filled the pages of our journey.

Are you ready for a view from the front seat? Great. Here’s what 25,000 miles looks like.

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Calm, tranquil, peaceful heaven. Lake Abanakee, Adirondack Park, New York
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Out the passenger window, I-91, Vermont. They don’t call it the Green Mountain State for nothin’.
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One of the many bays on the coast of Maine.
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A storm rolling in across the corn fields in Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg.
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Sometimes the clouds, architecture, and angle at which you hang out the side window, make for the perfect shot. Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, St. Louis, MO
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Early sunrise on the road in South Dakota.
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Near Mount Rushmore we drove through this sweet, little tunnel…can’t go around, can’t go over, so let’s go right through. The trees on top don’t even mind.
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As far as the eye can see in Wyoming…
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After an endless flat horizon through most of Wyoming, it makes Devil’s Tower even more of a mystery in the middle of this flat land…and this stunning sunset as we drove away closed out a beautiful day.
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The winding, scenic road weaving through the National Bison Range, wildlife refuge, Missoula, MT
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The incomparable Glacier National Park, MT.
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It was a quick pass through Idaho as we had our eyes set on the Pacific Northwest. Hi and Bye!
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Driving along Upper Hoh Road, towards Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, WA
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Along the same road, we sited several Elk across the Hoh River!
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We witnessed very sobering sights as well. Logging is a big industry and while there are controls in place and re-plantings, it is still sad to see the remains. Olympic Peninsula, WA.
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Witness every sunset you possibly can. Especially over the water. Olympic National Park, WA.
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We called Oregon home for seven weeks and while the rain provided some challenges, we NEVER got tired of this coastline.
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This is one of the reasons Oregon is so special…the mist, the fog, the coastline, and then when the sun comes out it shines magical rays right through the trees.
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We feature lots of famous, mammoth Redwoods of Northern California in other posts, but not too far away is the surprising Lost Coast, where cows graze alongside the Pacific Ocean!
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Mountains, palm trees and orange trees, all in the same shot. Only in California!
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Winding our way up the mountains of Sequoia National Park.
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The indescribable winter wonderland of snowy King’s Canyon National Park.
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Harnessing the power of the wind in California, and seriously the most wind turbines we’ve ever seen. It felt like a weird dream as they went on for miles and miles.
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Dusk and dawn in Joshua Tree National Park are an otherworldly experience.
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We loved the beauty and peace within the red rocks of Sedona, AZ.
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Along the Apache Trail in Arizona…scenic and smooth to start, and then an awesome off-road adventure (with scenery as the second priority behind safe driving).
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A refreshing sight to see a body of water along the dry, cacti covered Apache Trail in Arizona.
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Arriving at Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, TX.


We hope you enjoyed a brief highlight tour capturing a glimpse of 25,000 miles on the road. Check out more of our life on the road via our blog or Instagram and stay tuned for more sights and adventures.

Cheers!
Kristin

Below is a map of all the states (in brown) that we’ve been through so far…still more to go!

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Desert Drifters

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Drifters. Gypsies. Adventurers. Roaming Entrepreneurs.

Call us what you want, but full-time life on the road is pretty awesome, regardless of semantics. We have each other, our two crazy pups, our tiny home, our growing business, and an endless horizon of new places to explore and share.

We checked off a lot of “bucket list” destinations like Napa, Yosemite and Sequoia on the last segment of our trip. However, we were looking forward to warmer temperatures as we continued on and prepared for a drastic change in scenery. Good-bye, Giant Sequoias. Hello, Southwest Saguaros.

We were a little worried to leave giant trees and forests, turns out we just traded them for giant cacti. Matt's always useful for showing scale, since he's 6'6", this is obviously a big Saguaro.
We were a little sad to leave giant trees and forests, turns out we just traded them for giant cacti. Matt’s always useful for showing scale, since he’s 6’6″, this is obviously a gi-nor-mous Saguaro.

Joshua Tree National Park

First up, Joshua Tree National Park. I’m going to come right out and say that just because it’s not one of the most hyped, or well-known national parks, doesn’t mean it’s not spectacular. I’m ashamed to admit we probably wouldn’t have planned a visit here if we hadn’t already been on a road trip through the area with a strong interest in visiting as many national parks along our way as possible. It would have been our loss. Each of our national parks are preserved and protected for very good reason, and Joshua Tree is no exception.

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Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park…the chollas spanned as far as you could see in this area. And with zero self control, (look don’t touch!) I proved they’re pokey and not fuzzy.

Three Reasons to Love Joshua Tree National Park

REASON 1 – SUNRISES. Let’s be real, sunrises are pretty hard to mess up. Whether your horizon is the coast, forest, mountains or desert, chances are the sunrise will be beautiful. However, sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park were extra special. Now, I’m not the kind of gal who pops outta bed when it’s still dark outside with an eager smile and instant go-get-em attitude. Not even when the reward is a stunningly beautiful sunrise to kick start the day. I usually require at least 30 minutes and 2 ½ cups of coffee to really admit I’m ready to kick ass and take names. So, if I of all people recommend getting up in the pre-dawn hours to experience a desert sunrise, trust me, you should do it.

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See?! I told you it was worth it. The low clouds, pitch black mountains and Joshua Tree silhouette make for a stunning sunrise canvas.
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As the sun continues to rise, the desert changes from dark to pastel colors and all the Cholla Cacti and Joshua Trees seem to glow in soft light. (P.S. Don’t touch that Cholla.)
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Get that sunrise shot! I promise, we did put down the cameras and actually sit and enjoy the sunrise each day. We were just a little camera-happy the first morning.

REASON 2 – ROCKS. Yes, rocks. I wasn’t overly excited either, until I saw them in person. Unless you’re an avid rock climber, you’re probably like me and wonder what all the fuss is about. Just wait ’til you see them. Mounds of rocks all around the park beckon to be explored. Walk around them, scramble up them, play king of the mountain and enjoy the view.

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I’m not sure why I’m dressed like a ninja, but it’s rather fitting considering I’m holding up Split Rock with one finger. Such a badass. Or a dork. Take your pick.
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Once again Matt does a spectacular job providing scale to demonstrate how huge these boulders are! We can’t claim to have the gear or skills to call ourselves rock climbers, but it’s fun as hell to scramble up and around and then enjoy the view.
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This is a rock scramblin’ sunrise selfie. Say that ten times fast.

REASON 3 – JOSHUA TREES. Pretty obvious, as the park’s namesake, but really they are amazing. Each one a different shape, size and configuration. Oh, and the apt comparison to a Dr. Seuss creation is 100% accurate.

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Joshua meet Matt. Matt meet Joshua.

Our drifting continued as we moved on to Arizona…

Falling in Love With Red Rocks

Matt had always wanted to go to Sedona. However, I didn’t know much about it. I must have been living under a rock. A red rock. Of course, as soon as I started researching, I had a lengthy list of all the must-do sights and hikes and couldn’t wait to go. Sedona is gorgeous. I can understand why Native Americans and many others consider it a spiritual and healing place. We were in awe as soon as we saw the red striped giant formations dotted with green pines and shrubbery set against the blue backdrop of the Arizona sky.

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Oh, you know, just a little snapshot out of the truck window.

We couldn’t wait to hit the trails and started with a 4 mile round trip hike to Devil’s Bridge, the largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona. What started as a fairly flat desert hike soon gained in elevation and our terrain transitioned from red dirt, to red mud, to red snow to icy red rocks.

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Lucy got a first class ticket across this small stream in an effort to keep her paws, legs and belly white instead of red. Fairly funny considering I gave her a makeshift bath in this stream on the way back to wash red mud off her entire underside. Dogs, paws and boots all got up close and personal with Sedona Red Soil. (Totally worth it, mind you).
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This is where the transition started…our red dirt trail slowly turned into red mud..
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…and some red mud/ice/snow mix which took a little extra time to navigate while staying upright..especially while staring at the surrounding stunning views.
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The snow as we gained elevation…and no solid explanation why I decided to strike a post like that. The ninja is long gone.
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That’s it! Devil’s Bridge, the largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona.
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I immediately regretted telling Matt to go stand on the bridge so I could take a picture. That’s a sheet of ice to his right, and a several hundred foot drop below. Not my proudest moment.

Doe Mountain trail was another favorite hike with a series of switchbacks up the side of the mountain to the flat top mesa with some of the most spectacular panoramic views.

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Matt was starting to get a little tired here…and almost ten-year-old Dobie proved to be part mountain goat as he deftly hiked and hopped his way up the side of this mountain. Age is just a number, baby! And they are both quite handsome, if I do say so myself.
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Moutain-top selfie with panoramic views! Hope you’re not too tired of our close up mugs.
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This was a much safer lookout than Devil’s Bridge. And seriously, the top of Doe Mountain has the best 360 degree views of Sedona. We didn’t actually compare it to every other mountain, so the claim is limited but seems accurate.
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Tired of looking at the gorgeous views of Sedona? Good, me either.
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We added a topper to this little trail marker before heading back down. Helluva good hike.

If you make it to Sedona, you won’t be disappointed…hike, bike or hop a jeep tour to experience this stunning, red striped piece of heaven.

History Lessons

It can’t be ALL hiking and beautiful scenery, right? So, we hit up some historic and educational Arizona destinations along the way including The Apache Trail (which you can experience first-hand with Matt), Tombstone, Bisbee, Pima Air & Space Museum and Kartchner Caverns State Park. (No pictures of Karchner Caverns because they don’t allow photography, but if you find yourself near Tucson, Arizona these beautifully preserved caverns are ABSOLUTELY worth a visit).

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Hold out for Matt’s next paranormal blog to hear about any spookiness in Tombstone. As for recommendations, the town is pretty touristy, but the Tombstone Courthouse turned museum is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the area. Now, whaddya want on your Tombstone?!
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The Bisbee Queen Mine tour was SO MUCH FUN! We got gear, helmets, lights and hopped on the train into the mine. The guides were retired miners and full of great knowledge. A Bisbee Must.
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With over three hundred aircraft in hangars and on the grounds, Matt was in heaven at the Pima Air and Space Museum. I thought it was pretty cool too, but was more impressed it was pet friendly and included soaking up some sunshine.

Our desert drifting continues to Texas next…so stay tuned, and Don’t Mess With Texas!

Cheers,

Kristin

Our Route Across the Country – Part 6

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We’ve reached the half way point…SIX months into our year long adventure traversing the country. We’re full-time RV-er’s with our truck, travel trailer and mobile business, creating and shipping driftwood artwork everywhere we go. We’re up to Part 6 of our route map now, but feel free to check out previous segments. Here’s a breakdown of each leg of our journey:

And now…

Part VI
January 15 – February 8, 2016

We had a harrowing experience on our way from Southern California towards Twenty Nine Palms, CA. I hate to tease and not elaborate, but I’ll leave the details to an upcoming blog post from Matt. Just know that some SEVERE winds threatened to blow us away, and through the kindness of a Good Samaritan, we found a safe spot to wait out better driving conditions.

Despite that delay, we made it safely to Twenty Nine Palms, CA which was our base for exploring Joshua Tree National Park.  Predawn sunrises and early morning hikes (before the heat of midday) were our favorite times of day to experience the park. The Joshua Trees, cholla cacti and huge rocks are the icons of this park and gave us a true appreciation for the desert.

From there we continued on to Arizona. We soaked in the beauty and peace of the red rocks in Sedona, 4×4’d the Apache Trail outside of Phoenix, and took several day trips exploring extended areas around Tucson, including Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, Bisbee, Pima Air & Space Museum and Chiricahua National Monument.

Any worries about leaving the coastline and forests behind were unnecessary…the cacti and mountains proved themselves worthy of admiration.

This is just the route overview, so check out our next blog post with highlights and pictures from Joshua Tree National Park and Arizona. Thanks for following along!

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

Those Things You’ve Always Wanted to Do

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You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them.

I love this saying for so many reasons, but two especially. 1) Because if you delay your dreams, you may never have a chance to make them a reality. And 2) Well, I guess you could say that this has been an overarching theme of our year-long road trip since we’re following two big dreams…growing our business and traveling the country and it’s many National and State Parks.

Coffee shop inspiration...and Matt, the guy that helps inspire me to tackle our dreams together.
Coffee shop inspiration…and Matt, the guy that helps inspire me to tackle our dreams together.

So, it was especially appropriate to see this coffee shop quote as we re-initiated our travels again after our mind blowing, busy holiday season for Destination Tree. We had stationed ourselves in Oregon for the holidays, and the day after Christmas we were ready to find some sunny California skies and to check off some big destinations on our “always wanted to do” list.

Napa Valley

First up, Napa Valley. I can’t say I’m a wine connoisseur, but I do know I like to drink it, and that’s what’s important right?! Anyhow, Napa’s been on my bucket list for a while, and especially after seeing the movie “Bottle Shock”, I wanted to visit Chateau Montelena and explore this legendary wine growing region (although you don’t “grow” wine, so technically, shouldn’t it be the world famous GRAPE growing region?!).

I personally think you can't visit Napa Valley without getting a picture by this sign. Touristy or not. It's a must.
I personally think you can’t visit Napa Valley without getting a picture by this sign. Touristy or not. It’s a must.
Chateau Montelena! I was so excited!! And if you haven't seen the movie Bottle Shock, go watch it right now. Then you'll want to come here too.
Chateau Montelena! I was so excited!! And if you haven’t seen the movie Bottle Shock, go watch it right now. Then you’ll want to come here too.

After recommendations from several friends, we decided on a self-guided bike tour through the grape-growing countryside to do some wine tasting. It was perfect because we set our own pace and got some exercise while we went from tasting to tasting to tasting. I’d say that we, at the very least, broke even on calories burned vs calories consumed. Maybe. Well, at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Just getting the hang of my bike in Calistoga before we take off.
Just getting the hang of my bike in Calistoga before we take off.

Anyhow, some might say late December is not the best time to visit Napa because the vines are bare and the temps are chilly.

The vines in Napa are beautiful no matter what...acres and acres, row after row...they even sparkled with frost one morning.
The vines in Napa are beautiful no matter what…acres and acres, row after row…they even sparkled with frost one morning.

Hogwash. (I don’t know why I just used that particular word, but I did, so there.) Yes, the vines are bare. And yes the temps are chilly, BUT the rows and rows of vines are beautiful even when bare. And we bundled up against the cold and pedaled to stay warm. We breathed the fresh air and gazed at the blue skies skimming acres and acres of California vines. Napa in December is perfect. I highly recommend it.

Purple teeth kind of go with the territory. Along with winter hats, bike helmets, and our trusty Vinnebago, which carried water on this particular day. (Thanks cuz KG!)
Purple teeth kind of go with the territory. Along with winter hats, bike helmets, and our trusty Vinnebago, which carried water on this particular day. (Thanks cuz KG!)

And perhaps the best reason of all…minimal crowds. We weren’t jammed shoulder to shoulder in tasting rooms, we didn’t battle traffic on the roads with our bikes and it felt like a stroll through the country. Probably not the case in peak season.

We enjoyed a leisurely game of Bocce Ball during one of our tastings. I think Matt won. He always wins.
We enjoyed a leisurely game of Bocce Ball during one of our tastings.

Family Time

There was not a chance I was going to pass up the opportunity to spend time with my cousins while in California. I love my cousins! So, why haven’t I seen my California cousins in TWO YEARS?! Great question. No good answer. And no time like the present. The highlights? Uphill hikes, waterfalls, FOOD (duh), Skip-Bo, hugs, and endless laughs with Heads Up and Charades on NYE. Ringing in the New Year with west coast family and laughter = Perfection.

Top: 2 Years ago when I last saw these smiling faces! Left: Karla & Kristin on an uphill hike. Right: Throwback pic of Kristin & Kali because we talked so much and for so long we didn't even snap one picture!
Top: 2 Years ago when I last saw these smiling faces! Left: Karla & Kristin on an uphill hike. Right: Throwback pic of Kristin & Kali because we talked so much and for so long we didn’t even snap one picture!

Winchester Mystery House

I have to be honest, this was on Matt’s “always wanted to do” list. I had never even heard of it before. However, as usual, I ended up enjoying yet another one of his paranormal picks.

I didn't even know this place existed. And Matt was thrilled beyond belief to visit.
I didn’t even know this place existed. And Matt was thrilled beyond belief to visit.

I’ll leave the detailed description to Matt’s next paranormal blog post, however I will say, if you are ever in the Bay Area, stop and check this place out. Disregard the super touristy gift shop and walk the impeccably maintained grounds, along with a guided mansion tour through over 110 of the 160 rooms.

The Winchester Mystery House: A weird, cool, unusual, historical must-see. With a tour group? Excellent. By myself? No way.

The old widow maintained constant construction for 38 years as an attempt to keep the millions of souls killed by Winchester guns at bay. Staircases to nowhere, windows in the floor, and secret one-way doors…it’s the most bizarre mansion you’ll ever experience.

Yosemite National Park

One of the most beautiful places on earth…Yosemite National Park.

The famous Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome
The famous Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome
Snow and ice draped the tunnel that led to Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome.
Snow and ice draped the tunnel that led to Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome.

Famous for jaw dropping scenery, there is no denying this is true. While I would have loved to hike back-country trails, and gotten an up-close view of Half Dome, we were somewhat limited to the main thoroughfares and shorter hiking options due to the winter weather. However, a recurring theme here is the minimal crowds.

En route to Yosemite Falls...a little icy but definitely beautiful.
En route to Yosemite Falls…a little icy but definitely beautiful.

Yosemite has a bad rep for being overcrowded in the summer. Solution? Go in the winter. There were definitely tourists in the Yosemite Valley, but not bumper to bumper by any means. We had winter waterfalls almost to ourselves and admired the snow and ice draping El Capitan and Half Dome.

Just a little selfie on the hike to Yosemite Falls.
Just a little selfie on the hike to Yosemite Falls.
All the snow, and all the rain, that travels from the mountains and gathers to create a pounding watefall. Gets me every time.
All the snow, and all the rain, that travels from the mountains and gathers to create a pounding watefall. Gets me every time.

Winter in Yosemite? Check.

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park

Matt likes the mantra, “Do something every day that scares you.” He likes it more than I do, mostly because I can be a big fat scairdy cat. I was the one who lost a bit of logic and did the egging on when we climbed higher and higher in elevation driving to King’s Canyon National Park. We had purchased snow chains for the truck, which were required in the park (Up to $5,000 citation if caught without them…or the more likely result, dropping thousands of feet to your death off the side of the cliff because you have no traction. No, thank you.)

The snow was coming down RELENTLESSLY. Remember all that rain in Oregon? Turns out it followed us to California. (We were kind of happy to help out the drought ridden farmers by providing some much needed rain). However, rain in California, means snow in the mountains. LOTS of snow! Already covered in snow, with more coming down, Matt suggested it might be better to come back another time. But I was insistent. We have snow chains! We can do this! So, after a self-tutorial on installation of our new chains, we continued on.

Tire chains (or tire cables, I really don't know the difference) installation in-progress. Matt smiled for the camera, but I'm pretty sure he was silently cursing me.
Tire chains (or tire cables, I really don’t know the difference) installation in-progress. Matt smiled for the camera, but I’m pretty sure he was silently cursing me.
We arrived! This is where I said, "I told you so", snow chains and increasing ice and snow will be worth it when we get there!
We arrived! This is where I said, “I told you so”, snow chains and increasing ice and snow will be worth it when we get there! By the way, this was only a few more miles further from where we installed the chains. But obviously, much higher elevation.

Our white knuckles matched the white snow, but it was absolutely worth it.

I’ve been asked several times, what my favorite place has been on our road trip across the country. It’s impossible to pick just one favorite. And there’s different reasons for loving all the different places we’ve been. King’s Canyon however, will always stand out in my mind as one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. The weather had a lot to do with it, because the snow covered every tiny branch and needle in glistening white.

It truly felt like a dream. A winter wonderland dream of white.
King’s Canyon truly felt like a dream. A winter wonderland dream of white.

And there was a soul stirring silence standing in the midst of Giant (absolutely GIANT) Sequoias with the snow blanketing everything around us.

Sometimes you just need a moment to praise the beauty of nature and majesty of Giant Sequoias.
Sometimes you just need a moment to praise the beauty of nature and majesty of Giant Sequoias.

There were only a few other brave souls who ventured into the park in this weather and we were all rewarded.

The snow covered Sequoia's towered over us at Grant's Grove.
The snow covered Sequoia’s towered over us at Grant’s Grove. P.S. This photo might look like it was distorted disproportionately, but I promise it is completely unaltered. It is not stretched to look taller or color enhanced. The sky is physically that blue, and those trees are TRULY that TALL!! Yowzer.

My words fail me to truly describe the scenery here, so instead of rambling on, go ahead and scroll through about a hundred pictures. Okay, maybe not a hundred, but far too many for a blog post because I just couldn’t narrow them down. And probably not surprising, this is only a fraction of the photos we took.

Another picture of King's Canyon, as we tried not to drive off the road. It was so pretty. And slippery.
Another view of King’s Canyon, as we tried not to drive off the road it was so pretty. And slippery.
National Park Snow Plower. I'm not sure if this falls under one of the world's best or worst jobs in the world. I'm leaning towards best. Especially if you like snow and have no fear.
National Park Snow Plower. I’m not sure if this falls under one of the world’s best or worst jobs in the world. I’m leaning towards best. Especially if you like snow and have no fear.
Lucy was in heaven. Actually, I think she thought she was back in Chardon, OH. She bounded and bounced through the snow like a little bunny. Only faster. Much faster.
Lucy was in heaven. Actually, I think she thought she was back in Chardon, OH. She bounded and bounced through the snow like a little bunny. Only faster. Much faster.
Sometimes you need a picture to remind you just how deep the snow actually was.
Sometimes you need a picture to remind you just how deep the snow actually was.
Walking in a winter wonderland...never felt more true.
Walking in a winter wonderland…never felt more true.

We checked off some big destinations. And created some unforgettable memories. So, whether we call it a “bucket list” or the pursuit of our “destination tree” destinations, or just following our passions, I hope our adventures inspire you to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Or at the very least, I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

And, in the wise words of a coffee shop sign:

“You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them.”

Cheers!
Kristin

Our Route Across the Country – Part 5

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Our cross country adventure continues!  We’re detailing the route of our cross country adventure into multiple segments. Here’s a breakdown of each leg of our journey:

Next up…

Part V
December 26, 2015 – January 14, 2016

After weeks of hard work and rain in Oregon, we were ready to hit the road again. The day after Christmas, with all of our holiday orders complete, we packed up. The sun was shining. I repeat, the sun was shining. It ALMOST made us hesitate to stay longer, but we knew the rain would return, and a sunny day was a beautiful way to say good-bye. So, south to California we drove, with a magnificent coastal sunset and then some treacherously icy mountain roads, we bee-lined for Napa Valley.

With a self-guided bicycle tour, we tasted our way through Calistoga vineyards and enjoyed sunshine, chilly winds and blue skies. Next up was New Year’s with family in San Jose, and a stop at the Winchester Mystery House. From there we based ourselves in Fresno for trips into Yosemite, King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. UNBELIEVABLE. Each national park we’ve been to has immeasurable beauty, and these parks were no exception.

We continued to Southern California to visit more family and did some exploring in the San Bernardino National Forest. Click here for the blog post with pictures and highlights of our California adventures.

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

The Oregon Coast…Sunsets, Driftwood and Rain

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A Home Base for the Holidays.

We’ve been traveling the country with our truck and travel trailer, visiting as many national parks as possible on our year-long adventure. BUT, we’ve also been balancing all that adventure with the pursuit of managing and growing our small business, Destination Tree. It hasn’t been without challenges, but we’ve adapted, innovated and managed to create and ship custom artwork from wherever we are to anywhere in the world. Continuing to provide exceptional customer service, and managing a significant increase in order volume for the holiday season would require some serious focus though. So, we decided to stay in one location and spent just over seven weeks in Gold Beach, Oregon. We chose this locale as our “home base” for several reasons.

  • We love the Pacific Northwest! The mossy forests, sea stack lined coast, and driftwood beaches speak to us. There is something magical about a west coast sunset. A foggy beach walk. Misty sea stacks. It really is a special place.
  • Driftwood! We’ve been creating driftwood artwork while we travel the country, but we knew access to LOTS of driftwood would be imperative as we anticipated an increase in order volume for holiday gift givers.
  • Mild temps! We’re living in a travel trailer which comes with some unavoidable practicalities. We can’t let our pipes freeze, so above freezing temperatures are critical to our adventure, and it doesn’t freeze on the coast of Oregon.
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Matt photographs the sunset, driftwood, and sea stacks on Gold Beach.

Before the Storm

We relished the beauty of the Pacific Northwest our first few weeks. Our eyes couldn’t get enough west coast sunsets.

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A purple-y, pink-y, blue-ish sunset makes my heart happy. Those two dogs running down the beach make me pretty darn happy too.

We walked the beach every day, collecting sun bleached driftwood for the upcoming holiday season. It takes a keen eye to spot a piece of driftwood that is the right size, shape, weight, sturdiness, quality and beauty. It can be time consuming, but to get the right pieces it’s worth it. And it turns out we have two crazy beach dogs who love chasing each other and the surf.

We also took some time to get our bearings and do some coastal exploring. We hiked portions of the Oregon Coastal Trail and drove up and down the coast checking out beaches, sea stacks and driftwood canvases.

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Matt and Dobie, along with driftwood and sea stacks as far as the eye can see.
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The coast constantly changed with the tides, covering and uncovering sea stacks. Makes for good scenery…probably not good swimming.
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Arch Rock, visible at low tide is just one of the unique sea stack shapes along the Oregon coast.
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This hidden little beach had no trails to access it, and I’m pretty sure I talked Matt out of rappelling down the side of the cliff to get to it.

Most of our hiking was on the beach and along the Oregon Coastal Trail, but we did take a day to hike up Humbug Mountain.

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Humbug Mountain…a towering coastal beauty that felt like a personal rain forest. For some perspective, look at the tiny car on the road leading to the base!

We felt like we were back in the rain forests of Washington with moss covered trees and rushing waterfalls. In total, it was a 6 mile round trip hike, and a summit of over 1,700 feet. It felt like a real accomplishment to make it to the top, but the real beauty was in the scenery all along the trail, and a few spots that peaked through to the coastline.

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A mix of moss covered trees, lush ferns and fall leaves…plus a few tarzan vines for fun. I promise, I did NOT swing from those.

In between our coastal adventures, we created and shipped orders and continued preparations for the holiday rush.

The Unexpected

Rain. Rain? Yes, rain. And of course we know the Pacific Northwest is rainy. Especially in the winter. And we had some rainy days mixed in our first few weeks, but then we hit a turning point. Torrential rains. Monsoon rains!!! I suppose the best way to describe it is to quote Forrest Gump, “One day it started raining, and it didn’t quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin’ rain… and big ol’ fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot, it even rained at night…”

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Gettin’ silly on one of my post office trips…I swear people laughed and pointed when they saw me running through rain with armloads of boxes, the nice ones held open the door.

We experienced an unrelenting Pineapple Express for weeks. We watched the beach change drastically from one high tide to the next. While it might be normal to locals, we were surprised when we saw sections of the highway, erode down the mountainside – fortunately their road crews were on the spot every time it occurred to shore it up.

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Normal high tide (above) and Storm high tide (beneath). We watched the beach disappear and the waves pound the coast a few feet from the highway!

The beautiful river alongside our campsite surged with water, even setting off loud, flashing, red-light alarms when the levels were close to overflowing. Were we worried? No, of course not. Well, that’s a lie. We had an overnight bag and an emergency evacuation route planned out if the river level and tides truly threatened to sweep us away! On one occasion, Matt walked down to the bridge at night and watched bales of hay and branches build up on the side of the bridge because the water was no longer just going UNDER the bridge, but actually all around it. Fortunately, we never used the emergency bags or the evacuation route. Whew.

Anyhow, to put it mildly, all this rain was not what we expected! We have all our driftwood, packaging materials, tools and supplies in a very tiny space. Prior to Oregon, we were used to expanding our space by setting up shop outside. While Matt engraved, drilled and assembled orders, I simultaneously photographed, packaged and shipped.

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With sunshine, our space expands to the outdoors, with the rain we relocated to the 8×8 “garage” in the back of our RV.

But with the rain, we now had to store everything and do everything in a 8′ x 8′ space. Challenging is an understatement. But we adapted once again. We utilized every square inch of space we had and worked in “shifts” using our back space to do each of our tasks in batches.

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Matt was in driftwood heaven the day he engraved a sign on a piece of lemon tree driftwood. It smelled like a fresh grove of ripe lemons!

Gratitude

Oh, but we have so much to be grateful for. The rain made our lives more difficult, but the coast was still breathtakingly beautiful. Also, we knew the rain benefited the area, the mountains, rivers and land needed the winter rain.

Also, when it rains every day, you gain a new appreciation for a break in the rain. If the skies cleared for five minutes or an hour, we were outside immediately. We caught some of the most beautiful sunsets after the rain, and captured some of our best product photography between the storms.

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Post-storm sunset. Yep, this was worth the rain. And yes, that sea stack is in almost every picture I took at Gold Beach. It’s such a lovely little sea stack.
I take a photograph of every single piece of driftwood artwork we make. Not all of them are GOOD photographs, however, this one taken on the beach, between the storms (with my favorite little sea stack) is my absolute favorite. And the custom coordinate sign was our most popular order this holiday season!
I take a photograph of every single piece of driftwood artwork we make. Not all of them are GOOD photographs, however, this one taken on the beach, between the storms is my absolute favorite. And the custom coordinate sign was our most popular order this holiday season!
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I almost never had a good weather day for photographing Destination Tree’s, but this day was an exception. And yes, yes, that is my favorite little sea stack, AGAIN. It adds DEPTH! But seriously, this is an excellent list of destinations on this custom Destination Tree!

And truthfully, when it comes down to it, you just adapt. Whether it’s raining or not, we had two dogs that needed to be walked. And, we had two humans (me and Matt!) who would get cabin fever in our tiny abode without some leg stretching. So, this is what rain jackets are for! And towels. Lots of towels.

More Gratitude

Our coastal day trips were over, but we were too busy to care. While the rain poured down, our orders poured in. Every time our phone chimed with another order we high fived. After days and days of chiming, we started to worry more about filling all our orders and less about when the rain would stop. We were giddy with excitement, all our hard work and prep for the holiday season was paying off! This is what we love to do! We created custom, driftwood artwork non-stop, every day and enjoyed every freaking second of it. The Gold Beach post office got to know us VERY well, as we dropped off stacks of boxes several times a day, every day. The holiday season more than exceeded our expectations.

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Just a typical morning, with boxes packed to the ceiling and printing off shipping labels. Merrrrrry Christmas!!! Driftwood signs and Destination Tree’s shipping ’round the world!
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Good thing the post office was just a few miles away…I’m pretty sure I broke a few laws stacking boxes to the roof and creating new blind spots…

There’s a giddy excitement that goes with creating and sending special gifts all over the country and the world, but it’s a bit open ended, because we don’t get to see the recipient open their package. We don’t get to see their face when they unwrap their hand-crafted, personalized gift. But we DO get the next best thing. FEEDBACK. We’ve had emails and shop feedback that left us smiling for DAYS. To know that we’ve created something that will be cherished for years, something that made someone cry it was so meaningful, or something that “made the best Christmas gift ever” is indescribable. And it reaffirms why we left our “perfect” life for an “imperfect” future.

We’re following our dreams. We’re traveling the country. We’re growing a business that we love. We’re making artwork that is meaningful to people all over the world. And we’re doing it together. It’s not perfect, sometimes it’s really freakin’ hard, but there’s no doubt about it…life is good. We’ll take the storms along with the sunshine, and use them to help us learn, grow and be better, each and every day.

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My partner in crime, in adventure, in storms and smooth sailing.

Good-bye for now, Coastal Oregon. It was an unforgettable, extended stop on our adventure and a momentous step in the journey of Destination Tree.

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Family selfie, Christmas morning on the Oregon Coast. Sunshine! And two dogs who refuse to look at the camera. It was our first Christmas away from our families back home, but we felt their love and support across the miles.

Next up…a little inspiration…you know those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them. That was our mantra as we continued our adventure in January throughout California in Napa Valley, Yosemite, King’s Canyon, Sequoia and Joshua Tree National Park!

Cheers!

Kristin

From the Deepest Lake to the Tallest Trees

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Our year-long road trip has taken us from coast to coast and national park to national park. After our adventures along the Pacific Northwest coast and in the rain forests of Washington state, we headed south through Oregon with the goal of getting to the Redwoods in California. We overnighted in Eugene, Oregon and did a self-guided mini-tour of a few breweries in downtown Eugene. (In case you’re wondering, Ninkasi Brewery was our favorite with amazing IPA’s for Matt and smooth, delicious stouts for Kristin. Honorable mention also goes to Oakshire Brewing and Hop Valley Brewing.)

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

As we determined our route from Eugene, we were originally going to continue straight south. But decided to alter our route to visit Crater Lake National Park.

Not sure why we even considered passing up this gem. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Not sure why we even considered passing up this gem. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Weather has been the primary driver of our travel and we’re very aware of overnight temperatures to prevent any issues with our RV pipes freezing. We did a lot of checking, researched our route to get there and decided it was worth the detour to make it happen and the temperatures would be ok. We’re VERY glad we did not bypass this stunning park, as it is an absolutely breathtaking place to witness in person. Nearly 2,000 feet deep, and made up of only rain and snow melt, it is the deepest lake in the U.S.

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Thousands of years ago a volcano collapsed to create an enormous crater over 2,000 feet deep which is filled with rain and snow melt, creating Crater Lake.

The beauty of the brilliant blue water is beyond description. With towering pines, picturesque cliffs, and a calmness that feels transcendental, it’s entirely possible to sit or stand along the crater edge for hours.

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Crater Lake was so beautiful and so inspiring to witness. In fact, this shot with Matt encompassed the vision of our brand so much that it is now on our new business cards!

We did minimal hiking here, just a short jaunt along the crater edge for more picture taking, partly because of the chilly air, and secondly because there weren’t a lot of dog friendly trails (and we had the pups in the truck!).

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On our hike along the cliffs of the crater’s edge…the blue is so vibrant it looks photoshopped, in real life and in our photographs, but it’s completely unaltered!

We did do a beautiful loop trail with the dogs, and saw more of the surrounding landscape, including deep ledges in the area.

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There were many deep ledges within the park and along our dog-friendly loop trail. We appreciated the beauty of the landscape, and I think Dobie and Lucy did too…well, maybe not, but they were glad to come along with us 🙂

This national park wasn’t actually on our radar or “bucket list” of destinations, but we are so very grateful we made a detour to this majestic place. An added bonus…while the temps were chilly, it was the “off” season visiting in October. This place definitely gets packed with visitors in the summer, but we felt like we had it all to ourselves in the Fall.

Redwood National and State Parks, California

We continued south to Crescent City which was our base for exploring our first Redwood Park. Something we learned as we researched the Redwoods was that there is not only Redwood National Park, but several Redwood State Parks as well. All are equal in their beauty and preservation of giant coastal Redwoods. We got our first taste of the Redwoods as we drove across Route 199 through Jebediah Smith Redwood State Park. Our jaws were on the floor as the road curved around Redwood giant after Redwood giant.

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The truck is no match for these road side Redwoods…

From Crescent City we took day trips into the park to drive Howland Road through the heart of the Redwoods, and several hikes, including our favorite the Boy Scout Tree Trail, a 5.6 mile hike round trip, through ENORMOUS Redwoods.

When you witness the tallest trees on earth, you can’t help but feel like a tiny, but grateful, human to witness their magnificent glory.

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I spent a good portion of the hike looking up, exactly like this. It’s a good thing I didn’t trip along the trail, because I’m not sure I ever looked down or in front of me.

The highlight of the trail was Boy Scout Tree, which was actually three Redwoods that have grown together and tower over 300 feet high.

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The Boy Scout Tree

Several times on this hike we stopped just to BE. Just to LISTEN. And just to WATCH. Softly fluttering ferns. Huge towering Redwoods. And sunlight streaming through the upper branches, like a heavenly fog from above. Occasionally, we heard a little chipmunk or bird chirping, but overall it was a peaceful, quiet sanctuary.

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6’6″ tall Matt is a tiny human next to these towering giants, which are too tall to capture in the picture!

A couple other Crescent City highlights were the beautiful driftwood mermaid at the marina (yes, yes, we have a weakness for driftwood artwork!), the barking sea lions in the marina, and some absolutely stunning sunsets.

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Hello, Driftwood Mermaid!
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When we think of Crescent City, we’ll always remember the sound of barking sea lions in the marina!
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Truth be told, there was a busy street and power lines directly under the treeline of this sunset, but it doesn’t make the clouds any less beautiful.

Our Redwood adventures continued as we journeyed south to take day trips to the Prairie Creek Redwood State Park and the Redwood National Park. Our favorite hike at the national park was the Tall Trees Grove. First, we had to go to the visitors center, to get a special day pass, and gate code. Then we drove several miles through a windy mountainous stretch, unlocked the gate to a narrow path which took us deeper into the Redwoods and to our trail head. We felt pretty special getting access to this limited trail. Were the trees tall? Yes.

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Sometimes ya just gotta stop and hug a Redwood.

Throw us in the woods with huge trees and we’re like Buddy the Elf in New York City…look at THIS one, look at THIS one, THIS one is even BIGGER! We took so many pictures, and you can get an idea of how huge they are from some of the pictures, but you must see the in person. Look up. Give them a hug. Heck, you might even walk through one if it falls over your trail.

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A fallen Redwood is an important part of the forest, becoming a “nurse log” to future forest growth, and eventually decaying into the earth. And sometimes becoming a trail obstacle turned tunnel.

We left Crescent City to head further south and stationed ourselves in Redcrest, CA. For three weeks, the Avenue of the Giants was our driveway and the Humboldt Redwoods State Park our back yard. We loved the trails in this area, which (no surprise), continued to have HUGE Redwoods, green ferns and purple clover covered forests.

The Lost Coast

One of the best day trips we had from our Redcrest, CA base was a trip through the heart of Humboldt Redwood State Park and up and around the “Lost Coast”. Imagine driving down narrow roads, around towering Redwoods, up and into curvy mountain roads, and then descending down again to a coast completely undeveloped. The only thing in sight were a few farms and hundreds of acres of grazing cows…grazing right next to the beach!

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These cows scored some beachfront grazing.

We looped our way to this beautifully desolate beach along the Lost Coast as well as the small Victorian village of Ferndale.

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No driftwood for us here, but we did find miles and miles of coastal beauty.

We took another day trip out to Redding, CA which included some old California ghost towns which Matt featured in his “paranormal” blog post, and we got some practice driving on some crazy mountain roads! But the majority of our adventures were hiking, exploring and gawking at the Redwoods. Don’t be deceived, we fit in a fair amount of work as well. Custom orders for Destination Tree rolled in regularly, so we balanced our hiking with artwork creation, customer service and driftwood acquisition. There’s an art to finding the right driftwood for our work, and we combed the Lost Coast and California beaches to find new pieces.

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A “Home Base” for the Holidays

As November neared, we knew we needed to settle in one place that provided mild weather, access to driftwood and a home “base” to really focus on the business and fill the expected increase in holiday orders. And so, we continued our journey by moving a few hours north to Gold Beach, Oregon to prepare for what we hoped would be a very busy holiday season for our growing business…

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Time to exchange the California coast for the Oregon coast.

Click Here for highlights from our time in Oregon and how we managed to survive torrential rain and a holiday season that more than exceeded our expectations for our Destination Tree shop.

 

Our Route Across the Country – Part 4

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It’s the latest installment detailing the route of our cross country adventure! If you missed any of our other segments you can catch up with these links:

Next up…Crater Lake National Park in Oregon and Redwood National and State Parks in California.

Part IV
October 6, 2015 – November 5, 2015

After we finished our Olympic Peninsula loop, we drove south toward Oregon. We drove in the middle of the night to avoid the traffic and congestion around Portland, OR (confused why we would do that? Learn more about the hazards of towing a travel trailer here). We had visited downtown Portland and the Columbia River Gorge on a previous trip to the PNW, so we bypassed that this time. (However, we HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend the Columbia River Gorge to anyone who loves waterfalls, hiking and lush, green forests).

Eugene was an overnight stop where we made a point to visit some tasty Oregon craft breweries. We originally planned to head straight south to California toward the Redwoods, but decided we couldn’t pass up Crater Lake National Park, and we’re grateful we didn’t. It wasn’t too long before we made it to Northern California, and spent four weeks along the coast and in the Redwood National and State Parks. Click here for our blog post with more details and pictures on our Redwood adventures!

Part IV – Continued
November 6, 2015 – December 26, 2015

On the last leg of this route, we relocated a few hours north in Gold Beach, OR to settle down for a “home base” to handle the expected increase in orders for the holiday season. Click Here to check out our pictures and highlights from our Oregon coast adventures.

Click Here to view Part V of our journey.

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

Olympic Peninsula Adventures

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Montana to Washington

Our year-long road trip continues! As you may have read, Montana exceeded our expectations, and we easily could have spent more time in Glacier National Park. So why didn’t we? Well, by the end of September, we were experiencing some cold nights dropping into the 30s, and while we do have a furnace in our travel trailer, our pipes and the trailer itself are not equipped for freezing temperatures. Plus, we still had some mountains and distance to traverse to head further west and we didn’t want to risk waiting any longer and possibly encountering snowy or icy road conditions. It’s already a challenge pulling a travel trailer in ideal conditions, (in case you missed it, Matt covered the challenges of towing here) so icy mountain roads were not on our adventure list.

It felt like Washington was welcoming us with open arms as we drove along a stretch of 90 called Mountains to Sound Greenway (East of Seattle). The mountains were foggy and rainy (but not snowy!) when we saw an enormous, full double rainbow. We pulled over with our huge rig like lunatics to gawk at it and snap some pictures. Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

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An impossibly beautiful double rainbow

We continued onward, to the Pacific Northwest, to the Olympic Peninsula. There’s easily something exciting about going somewhere new, but there can be just as much anticipation in returning to someplace you’ve been before. Which is exactly how we were feeling about Olympic National Park. Now, shame on us for bypassing two parks (North Cascades & Mount Rainier) we’ve never been to. I’ll partially blame the weather, and partially blame our love for Olympic. Why do we love it so much? Well, I have wonderful memories visiting here with my aunt, uncle and cousin as part of a trip celebrating our high school graduation, and Matt and I had also been here before and can’t help but love the green, canopied, magical trails. And if you happen to be a Twilight fan (I plead the fifth) this is where it’s based! Forks, the Quileute Tribe, the Vampires and the love triangle. And more importantly, the rain forest and coastline.

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Re-visiting Olympic National Park…feels like coming home

Our first stop and home base while we explore? Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rain Forest. Didn’t know there were rain forests in the US? I didn’t either before I came here for the first time.

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You don’t need to travel to the far corners of the world to visit a rain forest…they’re right here in the Pacific Northwest!

The best way to describe it? GREEN. And if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, our pictures do not do it justice! But you get the idea…lush green trees, green ferns, green moss, green lichens…and slugs. Huge slugs. Banana slugs to be specific. And while I wouldn’t consider myself a “slug person”, if there is such a thing, you can’t resist being intrigued by the Pacific Banana Slug, the second largest slug in the world. Pretty fancy title.

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All smiles on an early morning trail hike in the Hoh Rain Forest
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No dogs on the National Park trails, but we did find some state forest trails that were dog friendly. Dobie & Lucy were quite grateful.
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A green wonderland of trees, moss and ferns…and a tiny Matt.
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A Pacific Banana Slug…we’re not exaggerating…they’re huge!

Big Tree This Way

We did lots of hiking as usual, and like a couple of chumps, we can’t resist a sign that says “Big Tree This Way!” Ok, that’s not actually what the sign said, but we did follow the two track trail (grateful for 4×4) to visit a pretty huge, Western Red Cedar. Pictures give it a little perspective, but I couldn’t even fit the entire tree in one frame. And the diameter? Well, it is almost three times Matt’s height!

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The Stats of the Mighty Duncan Cedar
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Matt’s 6’6″ and this is only a tiny part of the tree…
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…and here’s the rest of it!

Beaches, Driftwood & Coastline

In addition to an awesome rain forest, the other huge draw of Olympic National Park is the coast. This is what you envision when you think of the Pacific Northwest coastline. Not just driftwood. Driftwood TREES. Cliffs. Tide pools. Sea stacks. Rugged, iconic and absolutely breathtaking. We never get tired of walking the beaches, climbing over driftwood, exploring at low tide, picnic-ing seaside and feeling gratitude watching a glorious sunset.

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Matt is determined to make a super sized piece of Destination Tree driftwood art.
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Ruby Beach is beautiful at high and low tide
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I’m either doing some deep thinking, or pretending to model for a sportswear catalog. Columbia? Merrell? Life is Good? I’m open to sponsorships. I’d make a great spokeswoman.
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Occasionally we remember to bust out the “good” camera, and Matt is usually framing up those shots, like with these beach side cairns.
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And here’s the shot. Pretty good! Who doesn’t love a cairn?!
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Literally. Driftwood. Trees. – At Rialto Beach
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Hey little starfish! Hold on tight! High tide will be back soon.
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Snuggle-y isn’t the right word for a starfish, but it seems fitting for this squished little guy at low tide.
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“I live in an-an-an-anemone” – Nemo. But seriously, sea anemone at low tide are awesome.
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Low tide at Ruby beach
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A little picnic at Rialto Beach.
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I never get tired of sunsets. Ever. They bring a kind of peace inside me I can’t explain. – at Ruby Beach

We’ve been calling our travels, a “cross-country” adventure. So, after visiting the easternmost point in West Quoddy Head, Maine just a few weeks earlier, we HAD to also visit Cape Flattery, WA the north-westernmost point in the United States. That officially made it a coast to coast road trip. And the icing on the cake? We saw a whale! And not just a whale miles off shore. Literally, a whale at the base of the cliff we were standing on. It is quite honestly, an astonishing and humbling creature to witness in person.

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Cape Flattery, WA – The north-westernmost point in the US.
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Selfie at Cape Flattery!

Destination Tree Channels Destination Truth (Relevant to any Sci-Fi Channel / Joshua Gates Fans)

Anyone who knows Matt well also knows that he loves the mystery of the unexplained and supernatural. Ghosts, aliens, Bigfoot, you name it. I’ll admit to the possibility as well, but mostly he talks me into things I would never do on my own and I let him scare the crap out of me. So, we did a little ghost hunting at dusk at Battery Kinzie in Fort Worden State Park and also some Bigfoot speculating on our hike up to Wynoochee Falls.

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Matt in front of Battery Kinzie in Fort Worden State Park at dusk…soon after this is got VERY creepy!
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Our Wynoochee Bigfoot Hike uncovered zero Bigfoot. Is Dobie scared? Tired? Lazy? Nah, just enjoying a snuggle with his dad, and making Lucy jealous.

“Let Me Sum Up” (Quote, Inigo Montoya, Princess Bride)

This rounds out the highlights of our Olympic Peninsula 10-day tour. And only constitutes a sampling of all the sights in the area. If you plan a visit here, a few must-see beach recommendations: Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, First Beach & Second Beach. If you’re an avid hiker, the hike to Shishi beach is terrific and you’ll likely have the unspoiled beach completely to yourself. Warning: Don’t plan a trip here with this limited overview! Be sure to also check out Lake Quinault, Sol Duc Hot Springs, Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge Road and like a billion (I never exaggerate) other must-see sights.

Where to next? Heading a little further south. Check out the next leg of our route here.

 

 

Our Route Across the Country – Part 3

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As we travel cross country on our year-long road trip, we’ve broken our adventure and our route into multiple sections.

And then our journey continued to the Pacific Northwest…

Part III
September 25, 2015 – October 5, 2015

Departing Montana, we made a beeline for Washington. We took a circular route in and around the Olympic peninsula focusing our time in Olympic National Park, both in the Hoh Rainforest and along the rugged iconic Pacific Coast with sea stacks, driftwood trees and tide pools.

Since we had visited the easternmost point in West Quoddy Head, Maine earlier on our trip, we thought it was fitting to also visit Cape Flattery, WA the northwesternmost point in the United States. We did a little ghost hunting and bigfoot chasing before we completed our peninsula loop and continued south toward Oregon.

Check out our blog post with more details and pictures on our Washington adventures.

And check our Part 4 of our route here.

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

About Us

At Destination Tree we create handcrafted driftwood signs, collages and centerpieces. Each piece of artwork is completely unique and inspired by your story.

Our Mission

To create handcrafted, meaningful artwork that helps tell the story of your journey, one destination at a time.

Connect With Us

PO Box 156, Petoskey, MI 49770
info@destinationtree.com