Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington
Kuhusu kitabu pepe hiki
- Trails specifically selected with younger hikers in mind
- Tips for family vacation destinations
- Features easy-to-access “nature fixes” throughout Western Washington
- 125 hikes—carefully selected and vetted by both parents and children
- Routes range in length from less than 2 miles (great for toddlers) to as much as 6 miles (for older kids who want to test themselves)
- Handy info blocks give a quick snapshot of each hike: best season, difficulty, length, high point, and elevation gain
- 13 “Great Getaways”—weekend or vacation destinations around the state with hiking trails and other family-fun activities
- Colorful icons indicate star attractions of the hike: splash zone, wildflowers, old-growth, dog-friendliness, stroller-accessibility, and more
- “Best of” lists make it easy for families to match hikes to their kids’ interests
- Driving directions, complete trail information, GPS trailhead coordinates, and color map included for each hike
- Tips on how to motivate kids on the trail, what’s appropriate for different ages, nature facts, and more
Kuhusu mwandishi
Susan Elderkin has been hiking since she was three years old. As a child, she explored the trails of her native Iowa, the Great Lakes, and the Rocky Mountains on day hikes with her parents. This early exposure to the outdoors galvanized a lifelong love of hiking and commitment to the environment. In 1995, while backpacking the 500-mile Colorado Trail, Susan had an epiphany: she wanted to give back to hiking trails and she wanted to write a guidebook. Susan moved to Seattle and joined the board of directors of Washington Trails Association and later the staff, where she spent seven years as website editor and communications director. It took much longer -- and some inspiration from her children -- to write the guidebook. The book was a family project that took place over 20 months when her kids were between the ages of six and eleven, but the work was informed by hiking with them as babies, toddlers and preschoolers. One or both of her children have accompanied her on more than 80 of the hikes in the books, and her husband, son, and father (as well as some friends) all contributed photographs.
