Paddleboarding To The Bottom Of Snoqualmie Falls

Looking for once-in-a-lifetime experiences and adventures while visiting Seattle ?

Seattle offers amazing outdoor opportunities for adventure seekers, and outdoor lovers year round ! But fall through spring, they're limited to mostly snow related activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Yet, even most Seattleites don't know that there are outdoor activities, that are normally considered to be "summer watersports", could be done year round.

When it comes to watersports, one can enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding,  kiteboarding, surfing, scuba diving, and sailing 365 days a year.

Indoor Skydiving At iFly In Tukwila, WA

Being ExtraHyperActive, we're always on a lookout for new adventures and experiences ! And in Washington state, there is never shortage of awesome and exciting things to do ! All year round ! Indoors and outdoors !

And recently, we added another epic adventure to our Bucket List - indoor skydiving !

After doing my first tandem skydiving jump, and trying out tandem BASE jumping, I didn't think that indoor skydiving would be that exciting for me. But I thought, for my 9 year old, it would be a great memorable experience !

Exploring And Hiking In Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA

As I wrote in my previous post, Tacoma’s waterfront, from Schuster pkwy to Ruston Way is considered to be Tacoma’s version of Seattle’s Alki Beach. This place is very popular among fitness and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you enjoy jogging, biking, longboarding, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, parasailing, boating, or just want to go on a nice sunny motorcycle ride, Tacoma waterfront is the place to go all year round!

Cross Country Skiing : Hyak Sno-Park At Snoqualmie Pass

I went cross country skiing at Summit East ( former Hyak ) several times last year , and had no idea that there was a perfectly groomed, nearly level, 7 1/2 mile xc ( cross country ) trail right across the street !

Hyak Sno-Park is an old Milwaukee railroad stop within the Iron Horse State Park. In the winter it is a very popular Sno-Park with easy access, sledding hill, groomed ski trail (with marked snowshoe route) , and heated bathrooms !

The railroad grade provides an almost level tour with a double set of groomed ski tracks ( perfect for beginners ), while the open area between the tracks is mostly used by "serious fast-paced skaters ". Off the groomed trails , you will sometimes see snowshoers along the way. In the Snow Park's parking lot, there is a nice little sledding hill for the whole family to enjoy.

Though, the trail is flat , don't let it fool you. I went almost 13 miles ( round trip ) to the intersection with the Lost Lake trail ( if I am not mistaken ) and it felt like a great work out ! Make sure you know when to turn around, as the trail goes as far as Easton ( cause for a moment I was wondering how far I could push myself).

Dogs are not allowed on the "main" trail, but there is a section of the trail ( past "Lost Lake road") that allows dog sledding ( I actually saw a few dog owners "skijoring" . Looked like fun ! )

I wouldn't call this trail particularly scenic , but there are sections of the trail where you can catch the views of frozen Keechelus Lake.

Note: If you decide to use Hyak Sno-Park, you will need a permit !
Permit Requirements: Daily Sno-Park Permit and Daily or Annual Discover Pass; OR a Seasonal Sno Park Permit plus Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker, without Discover Pass.

Tip: If you want to save $$$, you can park at Hyak ski area ( FREE ), and walk to the trail...
But, personally, I pay the park fees to support the great job they're doing to provide us with this amazing opportunity to enjoy this beautiful surroundings !

Tip: Don't have your own gear ? You can rent full cross country setup at Hyak ski area ( BUT they only allow the use of their rentals on the ski area... BUT... nobody will know if you use them on Iron Horse trail 😉 😜)

Another option ?

Buy your own gear ! 

👇👇👇

Ziptrekking In Whistler, BC

Ziplining in Whistler, B.C. is a year-round high-flying adventure. While ziplining is in Whistler is awesome at any time of year, I think it’s particularly special in winter. 

When the rivers are frozen and the trees dusted in snow, soaring above the silent valley in an experience like no other. So here’s my guide to everything you need to know to choose the perfect winter Whistler zipline adventure :

See the wildlife

Take a treetop tour

Zip above  the he old-growth rainforest

Experience the breathtaking Fitzsimmons Creek in winter

A truly heart-pounding adventure !

Two tour guides will accompany guests

7,000 feet of pure eco-exhilaration!

Whistler, B.C. is home to the longest zipline in USA, and Canada !

Ziptrek Ecotours hosts a selection of breathtaking tours. There are 4 distinct zipline tours, and the TreeTrek canopy walk. Their wilderness area is located directly above Whistler Village, in the spectacular temperate rainforest valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

Breathtaking tree-top adventures and an award winning ecological curriculum have earned Ziptrek Ecotours the international reputation as Whistler's year-round, must-do outdoor activity.

The company offers 4 different tours, that vary in length and the amount of adrenaline. The breathtaking Eagle Tour ( my choice ) features five different ziplines, including a 2000-foot, awe-inspiring monster that drops 20 stories.

But for me, actually, it wasn't the tour itself that was fun. The tour guides - Greg and Kristine made the experience fun, informational and educational.

Other features I liked about the tour were: the ability to book the tour on the same day; the option to book it online, directly through the company or at the Visitors Information Center; and the proximity to the Whistler Village.

Before you book your winter zipline with Ziptrek, here are a few things to bear in mind:

• Ziptrek zipline prices start at $99 for children and $119 for adults ( as of 2019 )
• All guests must be between 65 lbs and 275 lbs to take part in the Bear Tour. For all the other tours, minimum weight is 75 lbs There is a chance for smaller children to fly tandem with a guide on the Bear Tour, just ask your guide.
• Kids must be at least 6 years old to take part, and anyone under 15 will need to be with an adult
• All tours do include some physical exertion – walking, climbing stairs, and being outside in the cold for a couple of hours.
• Tours run from around 9am every day – you can check on the website or call guest service for exact times.
• Most tours take between 2 – 4 hours, so prepared to be outside for a while!

Ziplining in winter is a pretty memorable experience. Even if you’re not a ski bum or an adrenaline junkie, you’ll sure be glad you took to the treetops and found out what it feels like to fly like a bird. Just beware: you might get hooked !

Check out this blog post in case, later on, you'll want to go ziplining somewhere else - "10 Amazing Places Around the World To Go Ziplining"

For more ziplining posts click here...