Winter backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail: a safe 5-mile section between Port Orford and Bandon, creek crossings, campsites, and a $60 sleeping pad test.

Backpacking across the Channel Islands turned into one of the wildest and most rewarding week-long adventures I’ve ever had. From long ferry transfers to remote backcountry routes, I hiked from Santa Cruz to Santa Rosa with nothing but my pack, my legs, and more water weight than I care to admit. I crossed foggy ridgelines, camped with foxes, navigated beaches filled with seals, fought through wind and clay mud, and relied on flushing toilets at exactly the right time. The C

A drizzly Friday morning turned into a spontaneous road trip around Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. From soaking in the Sol Duc Hot Springs and exploring the moss-draped trails of the Hoh Rainforest to beachcombing at Ocean Shores, this weekend adventure was a full loop of fall colors, cozy campfires, and unexpected discoveries — including a 45-year-old Japanese glass float washed ashore.

Through Seattle, Oregon, Northern California, and Nevada, and then back again, join Kristin on a scenic Pacific Northwest road trip through Crater Lake and Lassen Volcanic National Parks. Sleeping in the back of the 4Runner, fishing along the Deschutes River, and chasing quiet campsites under the stars—this is adventure and simplicity all in one.