New York, NY, USA

My Travel Bucket List

I offer USA guides available for quick purchase in each of these cities! 

I also offer more cities or regions - these are the specific guides that I can send you fast. If you're interested in other cities or routes, let's talk!  

Want something more tailored to your time or interests? Reach out and let me know at emma@teaspoonofnose.com or on Instagram @teaspoonofnose! 

United States Guides

Snoqualmie

Redmond

Edmonds

Renton

Seattle

North Bend

Bellevue

Forks

Tacoma

seattle 

What's included in this guide: A detailed guide, with activities for multiple days, key details, over 50 recommendations and much more:
- Places to visit
- Where to eat
- Spend the night out in town
- Best hikes to explore

For the ultimate WA National Park road trip, I would recommend spending 2-3 days in each park to fully experience their beauty and maximize your trip. Depending on your exact goals, plans can be adjusted to still enjoy 1-2 days in each as well. 

Please recreate responsibly. 

*Please note multiple wildfires are currently active and burning within North Cascades NP. No stopping or pullouts are allowed on SR 20 between mile markers 148-157. This information changes rapidly and should be monitored online if you are traveling to the area soon. 

Seattle, WA, USA

Mt Rainier National Park, Washington, USA

Leavenworth, WA, USA

North Cascades National Park, Washington, USA

Olympic National Park, Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA, USA

Ultimate Washington State National Park Road Trip

Friday Harbor

San Francisco

United States

South Dakota

Spokane

Washington

San Diego

California

Montana

Dallas

Gold Beach

Nashville

New Mexico

Portland

Memphis

Chicago

Laguna Niguel

US Road Trip 

Ever contemplated a new method of travel? A way to break up all of the traffic-filled roadtrips or miserable treks to the airport, only to wait 2-3 hours for a flight? Fed up with the same old highway views (or lack of views from the plane)?

If so, this guide is for you! From the very first time I boarded an Amtrak Long Distance (LD) train in 2016 in Oakland, CA, I was immediately overcome with excitement, which quickly morphed into a passion. I have yet to go on a trip and not catch myself in a trance staring out the window on multiple occasions, failing to read/watch all of the books/shows I thought I would need or having a deep conversation with a complete stranger in the observation car. These experiences are the reason why I write this guide, to share and hopefully inform prospective travelers.

If you are not familiar with Amtrak’s LD services, fear not! I intend to offer as much information about the train options, destinations, schedules and anything else I can think of to lead your potential adventure. If for some reason, I don’t cover something, feel free to reach out!

This is just part one of a three-part guide and will cover the intro as well as the first five long-distance trains (numerically). Be sure to check out the other two sections, the individual more in-depth route guides, as well as 20 Questions for an Amtrak LD First Timer (all coming soon!).

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Milwaukee, WI, USA

St Paul, MN, USA

Reno, NV, USA

New Orleans, LA, USA

Houston, TX, USA

Portland, OR, USA

Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Chicago, IL, USA

Denver, CO, USA

San Antonio, TX, USA

Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Amtrak Long Distance Trains: Welcome Aboard! 
(Part 1 of 3)

The Wonderland Trail is an epic 150-kilometer (93-mile) loop that encircles Mount Rainier, offering a diverse and rewarding experience perfect for hikers of all skill levels. With an elevation gain of over 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), this trail provides stunning vistas, alpine meadows, glacier views, and serene old growth forest paths, making it a journey of breathtaking beauty. Designed for flexibility, the trail has numerous trailheads and resupply options, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned trekkers. While the recommended time to complete the Wonderland Trail is 7-12 days, the trail can be adapted to suit different timeframes and difficulty preferences. Key highlights include Klapatche Lake, Indian Bar, Panhandle Gap, Summerland, Spray Park, and Sunrise - each offering its own unique scenery and unforgettable experiences.

What this guide includes:
- A flexible itinerary for different lengths and difficulty levels;
- Detailed information on distances, the best overnight camping options, how to obtain permits, how to resupply, and other useful waypoints;
- Custom Google Maps featuring important locations like campsites, grocery stores, trails, and viewpoints;
- Downloadable GPX-tracks of all the routes for GPS navigation;
- Practical information on how to get there, how to navigate the trail, the best time to go, trail conditions, weather, and geography;
- Comprehensive route descriptions that detail landmarks, terrain, and elevation changes.

This guide will provide you with everything you need to plan and complete your hike on the Wonderland Trail, ensuring you have an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.​

Get an impression of this route on YouTube.com/HarmenHoek

Mystic Lake, WA, USA

Summerland Camp, Ashford, WA, USA

Moraine Park, WA, USA

North Puyallup River, Washington, USA

South Mowich River, Washington, USA

Carbon River, Washington, USA

White River Campground, Washington, USA

Berkeley Park, WA, USA

Mowich Lake, Washington, USA

Panhandle Gap, Washington, USA

Spray Park, WA, USA

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA, USA

Sunrise, WA, USA

South Puyallup River Camp, South Puyallup Trail, Ashford, WA, USA

Tahoma Creek Suspension Bridge, Ashford, WA, USA

Carbon Glacier, Washington, USA

South Puyallup River, Washington, USA

Washington, USA

Dick Creek, WA, USA

Golden Lakes, WA, USA

Devil's Dream Camp, Ashford, WA, USA

Cougar Rock Campground, Ashford, WA, USA

Pyramid Creek, Washington, USA

Longmire Wilderness Information Center, Longmire Road, Packwood, WA, USA

Reflection Lakes, Washington, USA

Klapatche Park, Ashford, WA, USA

Wonderland Trail, Ashford, WA, USA

Granite Creek, Washington, USA

Indian Bar, Washington, USA

Winthrop Glacier, Washington, USA

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA

Tolmie Peak Trail, Ashford, WA, USA

Paradise River, Washington, USA

Nickel Creek, Washington, USA

Spray Falls, WA, USA

Snow Lake, Washington, USA

Emmons Glacier, Washington, USA

Little Tahoma Peak, Washington, USA

Narada Falls, Washington, USA

Fryingpan Creek, Washington, USA

Eunice Lake, WA, USA

Aurora Lake, WA, USA

Burroughs Mountain, Washington, USA

Ohanapecosh Campground, Ohanapecosh Road, Randle, WA, USA

Stevens Canyon, Washington, USA

Cowlitz Divide, Washington, USA

Sunrise Visitor Center, Sunrise Park Road, Ashford, WA, USA

Maplecreek, WA, USA

Saint Andrews Lake, WA, USA

Martha Falls, Washington, USA

Nisqually River, Washington, USA

Backpacking the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier

Vida

San Luis Obispo

Places To Visit (Again)

Victoria is the capital city of beautiful British Columbia! And is one of the more beautiful cities I have been too. Reminiscent of England but with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest! 

Here is a guide on what to do with 3 days in this harbor front city! 

Victoria, BC, Canada

3 days in Victoria, BC 

Departing Spokane around 3:20 a.m. PT, the Empire Builder continues west toward Seattle, crossing the Cascade Mountains on the way. Arriving at a final destination of King Street Station at 11:30 a.m., passengers are directly in the heart of Seattle.

The station is located a mere five minute walk from Lumen Field (Seattle Seahawks & Sounders) and T-Mobile Park (Seattle Mariners) and a short ride on the light rail from the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the University of Washington among other attractions.

Seattle

About Seattle

What people say

Mentioned in these guides