This is the second summer all three of our boys have packed their duffel bags and headed north to Camp Koochiching in northern Minnesota.
As you might expect, when they’re gone, there’s a sense of freedom. My husband and I usually look at each other and ask, “So...what should we do?”
Last summer, we explored Mount Rainier, and on our final day, a few fellow hikers insisted we had to come back someday to explore a part of the Cascade Mountains called the Enchantments. It was too far to fit into that trip, so this summer I made it my goal.
I was craving a solo adventure.
My Camry hybrid rental car had a sunroof!
I’ve learned that traveling alone fills a bucket in me that no other kind of vacation seems to reach. There is something deeply restorative about spending several days without caring for anyone but yourself. No schedules to negotiate. No asking where someone else wants to eat. No coordinating plans. Just waking up each morning and asking one simple question:
What sounds good today?
So I rented a tiny Airbnb just outside Leavenworth, WA, packed my hiking shoes, and decided to spend five days exploring as much of Washington’s Cascade Mountains as my legs would allow.
Today's post is part travel guide, part reflection. If you've ever wanted to explore this corner of Washington, I'll share some of my favorite hikes along with a few lessons that found me over the past six days :)
