One of the best things about the Pacific Northwest is the wide spectrum of outdoor locales that will take your breath away. While some of these places are in and around urban areas, some of them require a bit more effort to enjoy them…But the travel is well worth it. The Olympic National Park falls squarely in this category. The Park encompasses a major part of the Olympic Peninsula and consists of a variety of locales from old-growth forest to driftwood strewn beaches. Nestled along the coast amidst the massive trees is Kalaloch Campground. The campground is reflective of the National Park itself with the deepest campsites surrounded by massive, majestic trees which slowly transitions to sites on beachside cliffs with spectacular views of the ocean. A short walk from any of the sites takes you down to the long, smooth, sands of Kalaloch Beach. For a more rugged beach experience we drove a few miles north to explore the ever changing expanse of Ruby Beach. A visit to Ruby beach requires a check of the tide charts to get the full experience; luckily we found it posted at the beginning of the trail to the beach. Ruby Beach is beautiful regardless of when you visit, but low tide gives you a chance to explore areas that are normally unreachable. As the tide goes out, the rocks that were previously jutting out of the surf are slowly transformed into an exploratory playground of tide pools and secluded coves. After devoting a few hours to exploring, the rest of the afternoon is best spent watching the tide roll in as the sun goes down. http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/exploring-the-coast.htm
