Washington State’s national parks are accessible and family friendly. Explore Mount St. Helens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and the North Cascades National Park.
North Cascades National Park is a wilderness stronghold that protects the most rugged alpine wild lands outside Alaska. The park’s spectacular scenery along North Cascades Highway (SR 20) are spotted with roadside towns all equipped with espresso. Stop in Newhalem at the Visitor Center for impressive exhibits on park eco-systems and chances to see mountain goats. Farther along is Washington Pass Overlook with picnic areas and nature trails. A hike along Thunder Creek Trail takes you past a fabulous whitewater stream, running full spate with bank-to-bank rapids in May. (360-856-5700 or www.nps.gov/noca)
Take older kids to the south side of Mount St. Helens and explore the Ape Caves, one of the longest continuous lava tubes in the U.S. The lower cave is a fairly easy one-hour round trip. Lantern rentals are available at Apes headquarters on the south side. For interpretive centers along the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (SR 504), go to www.fs.fed.us/gpnf.
Olympic National Park (360-452-8552 or www.northolympic.com) on the Pacific ocean couldn’t project a bigger pulse of nature. Youngsters could spend a whole summer here searching for elk, mountain goats, and deer, riding the rivers through lush rain forests, or playing on wild coastal beaches. Try LaPush, or head to Rialto Beach north of LaPush or try Ruby Beach and the Kalaloch vicinity. Families with the right skills, fitness, and equipment (rentable locally) can try surfing on the beaches around LaPush on the Olympic Peninsula. Trained teenagers scuba dive at Sekiu. (888-305-2437 or www.puffinadventures.com
Youngsters can see the most accessible network of glaciers in the country, 26 of them at Mount Rainier National Park (about two hour’s drive southeast of Seattle). Drive to overlooks or walk view trails: Glacier Vista from the Paradise Visitor Center and Emmons Vista from Sunrise Visitor Center. (360-569-2211 x3314 or www.nps.gov/mora
The National Park Service offers a Junior Ranger program for kids aged 6-11. Rangers give “Juniors” a certification booklet loaded with questions and act as guides on hour long scavenger hunts to help with answer discovery. (360-569-2211 x3314 or www.nps.gov