For many years and during the month of July I lead our "iGnite Adventure Escape". This is an exciting getaway designed for women who want to re-iGnite their inner girl! These trips are held in some of the most beautiful and adventurous locations. This July, we embarked on our 14th Annual Summer Adventure Escape in Seattle, Washington and beyond. Our home base was the charming neighborhood of Queen Anne (in Seattle), but each day we ventured into the vast, majestic landscapes of Mother Nature, embracing a sense of wonder and play. (Scroll to bottom of post for video).
The Adventures We Had During our Summer Adventure Escape in Seattle
Our adventure began with white-water rafting in refreshingly cool waters—an exhilarating experience for everyone involved. Next, we tackled our fears with canyoneering, which included rappelling down canyons, floating through rapids, ziplining from one side of the canyon to the other, and jumping into crystal-clear, COLD swimming holes. We hiked through the whimsical Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on the Pacific Crest Trail, biked to a picturesque mountain lake, kayaked in the seal-filled Puget Sound, and went whale watching for orcas.
As with all iGnite Adventure Escapes, this trip was filled with laughter, challenges, bonding, and moments of achievement. It offered nourishment for our body, mind, and spirit, and has left us inspired, energized, empowered and connected.
Day 1 of Our Summer Adventure Escape
All flights to Seattle arrived early, so we kicked off our arrival day with white-water rafting! Washington State offers plenty of excellent white-water rafting opportunities, and the closest recommended outfitter was Chinook Expeditions, located in the small town of Index, Washington, about 60 miles from Seattle.
White Water Rafting
By late July, the rivers are running low, but that didn't stop the fun on the Skykomish River with Shane and Alex. The Class 2-3 rapids still delivered an exciting adventure. And you know, any time spent on the water makes you ravenous, so we finished our first day by devouring dinner at the and oh-so-fun and funky Sand Bar Tavern.
Day 2 of Our Summer Adventure Escape
This was our first full day in Washington and we went BIG, with a waterfall canyon rappelling adventure! About 45 minutes outside of Seattle, our canyoneering adventure was the most challenging, but in the best possible way!
Canyoneering
Our outfitter, Wild Sky Adventure Guides, was exceptional. Sam and his team were professional, kept us safe, and we had a blast! Though we were just below a busy highway, we were in our own happy and gorgeous world of waterfalls—rappelling, floating, and laughing all the way. (Read a personal account by Martha Lynn Mangum HERE or below).
Day 3 of Our Summer Adventure Escape
We headed back to the area where we went canyoneering, about 45 minutes east of Seattle, near the charming mountain town of North Bend, for a day of hiking and biking.
Kendall Katwalk Hike
Our hiking adventure was recommended by Sam of Wild Sky Adventure Guides. One thing I've learned over the years is to always take the advice of locals...especially the ones who have an affinity for the great outdoors-they never let you down! So, I took Sam's recommendation and we began our third day of adventuring with a 4-mile hike along the 14-mile long Kendall Katwalk Trail. This hike, part of the Pacific Crest Trail, is stunningly beautiful. At times, it felt as if we were wandering through a magical forest.
Franklin Falls Hike
Following our Kendall Katwalk hike, we headed to Franklin Falls on the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, near Snoqualmie Pass in King County, Washington. This hike wasn’t part of the original plan but was highly recommended by Sam (from Wild Sky Adventures Guides) during our canyoneering adventure, so we of course, had to make it happen! Just a quick ten-minute drive from the Kendall Katwalk trailhead, we hiked 2 miles round trip to see Franklin Falls. The trail was enshrouded in a thick canopy of coniferous trees, and the 2-mile hike was absolutely worth it for the impressive 70-foot waterfall.
Snoqualmie Valley Trail Bike Ride in North Bend
About 20 minutes from Franklin Falls and 40 minutes southeast of Seattle is the charming mountain town of North Bend. This is where we enjoyed our last adventure of the day: biking along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail to Rattlesnake Lake. We rented e-bikes (mostly) from The Line Bike Experience, a local, super-cool, and very friendly mountain biking company. The trail is a 14-mile round trip, peaceful, and beautiful and mostly gravel. We stopped at the half way point, Rattlesnake Lake, and took in the mountain lake views.
Day 4 of Our Summer Adventure Escape
By day 4, our bodies are always tired from the abundant adventuring, so I strive to make our final day less exerting and filled with absolute beauty. We headed 90 minutes north to Anacortes. All I can say is one day is not nearly enough to enjoy this charming town. Anacortes is known for the Washington State Ferries dock and terminal, which serves Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, and San Juan Island. And boy, do I want to go back!
Biking Guemes Island
Upon arriving in Anacortes, we rented e-bikes from Skagit Cycle Center. Michelle and her team were wonderful to work with and very accommodating! From Skagit Cycle Center, we rode our bikes along the bike path to the Guemes Island ferry, where we took a quick 8-minute ferry ride to a quiet, pristine island that felt like a time warp—and we loved it! We were so thankful for our e-bikes, as they made it easy to ride up and down the hills and enjoy the natural setting where the modern world seemed to fade away. With few people around, the island exudes serene solitude. We stopped at the Guemes Island Resort to take in the breathtaking views of Puget Sound. And, FYI, if you're a gardener, you'll love Anacortes and Guemes Island! It appears you can grow just about anything there.
Sea Kayaking
From our time on Guemes Island, we headed to back o Anacortes for a sea kayaking adventure with Anacortes Kayak Tours. Jacob was our guide and just as all of our experiences, this was beautiful and fun!
Private Whale Watching Tour
Just down from our sea kayaking adventure was Outer Island Excursions, where we boarded a private boat with Captain Phil for a whale-watching tour! We had two groups for the Adventure Escape, and unfortunately, our first group didn’t see any whales (as much as we’d love to control it, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans!). However, Captain Phil provided us with an extraordinary tour around the islands. It was a perfectly clear and sunny evening, and we were treated to views of Bald Eagles, seals, and the breathtaking beauty of God's finest creations.
For our second group, the afternoon was overcast and cloudy, reminiscent of the movie The Goonies. Despite the weather, it felt magical and we did spot a pod of whales in the distance. The sight of the whales reminded us that we, too, are magnificent and free creatures, created by God and blessed with a life meant to be lived without limits.
Wrapping Up an Epic Summer Adventure Escape in Seattle
Every Adventure Escape leaves me with a range of memories and takeaways. One constant takeaway is how much I love spending time with amazing women who not only feed my soul but also inspire me to keep pushing forward and to never stop. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do what I do and am always humbled by the trust that is put in me to lead the Escape. Additionally, being surrounded by a community of women who believe in living big, fun, healthy, and beautiful lives is vital. We become who we surround ourselves with.
Next, I always want to strive to see life through the eyes of a child. I never want to take for granted the beauty that surrounds me and nor do I want to take my strong and healthy body that allows me to enjoy the activities for granted. Instead, I want to fully experience every moment—savoring the smells, marveling at the endless sights, and feeling all the emotions... while laughing until I cry.
Finally, and most importantly, I must continually push myself to face challenges, discomfort, and fear head-on. Whether in adventure, exercise, work, marriage, parenting or life in general, growth and improvement require starting each day with a non-negotiable standard. I can't afford to fall back on fear, self-doubt, laziness, apathy or procrastination. Setting the standard of 'Yes, I can!' and 'Thank you for the opportunity', when faced with uncertainty and the unknown is essential for living a beautiful and extraordinary life!
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