Though I've passed through Seattle many times, I'd never actually gotten out and properly explored any of the nearby national parks. One of my closest photo-friends Peter packed up and headed to the Pacific Northwest from Brooklyn a few years ago and it’s been a joy following his work and the adventures he and his wife Emily have with their dog Aldo in the mountains.

After extending a work trip into a long weekend and intercepting one of my travel partners in crime (Alaska, Portugal), we decided to head for the hills and explore!

We took the ferry across to Bainbridge Island for an early brunch at Cafe Nola and headed into the National Park. We stopped at the lovely visitor's center at Hurricane Ridge which informed us that unexpected early-season snow (and a lack of on-duty plows) prevented us from making the drive up to see the ridge. Instead, we drove through the dramatic mist and fog to check in at one of the few hotels inside the national park - the Lake Crescent Lodge.

We decided to start the next day with a short rainforest walk near the lodge, and then make the long drive down the bay roads to the lesser-visited southeastern part of the park. Along the way, we stopped at lots of little state parks and bay beaches like Pleasant Harbor, Seal Rock and Triton Cove to enjoy the scenery. Lunch included a stop for some delicious Mexican at a tiny spot with an incredible view called El Puerto de Angeles. After fueling up, we drove back into the park at the Staircase entrance and laced up our hiking boots. We explored the North Fork of the Skokomish River for a few hours and saw waterfalls, rapids, suspension bridges, old cedar forests; it was such a great reminder of the rejuvenating power of nature.

After getting our hike in, we drove back along the beautiful Lake Cushman at sunset, and as the light slowly faded, our last treat was to see incredible colors on our way back into the city.

All photographs shot with one of my crazy vintage cameras and expired film. Just kidding. IPHONE 6, BABY!