Hike and Yurt – Our Favorite Four-Letter Words!

Yurt at Mount Vernon RV Campground, Bow, WAWe’ve detailed the benefits of camping in our yurts many times – spacious yet comfortable, close to nature yet shielded from the elements, and, they are ready and waiting so you can get camping the minute you arrive at your destination!

We’ve also detailed the benefits of hiking many times – regularly hiking lowers your risk of heart diseases, lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, boosts bone density, strengthens your core and elevates your mood.

Combine all those benefits and it’s no wonder Hike and Yurt are some our favorite four-letter words. Toss in our Washington yurt accommodations and the benefits multiply as the state is home to five different locations that offer yurt lodging and all offer proximity to hiking trails that can’t be beat.

Grandy Creek RV Campground (Concrete): The Cascade Trail Head is an easily-accessible, 22.5-mile trail that runs along the Skagit River Valley with farmland and wildlife views. It is crushed stone and gravel and fairly level and there are some benches along the way for resting. A highlight is the historic Henry Thompson Bridge at trails’ end in Concrete. At the time it was completed in 1918, it was the largest single span cement bridge in the world. The bridge is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Long Beach RV & Camping Resort, Seaview, WA

Long Beach RV Campground (Seaview): AllTrails.com lists 11 hiking trails in Cape Disappointment State Park, which is just a five-minute drive from the campground, or a 15-minute bike ride via the Discovery Trail. Most of 11 trails listed with AllTrails are rated easy to moderate so everyone can enjoy the hike. The Bells’ View Overlooks Trail (0.5 miles) is rated for all hikers and offers beautiful views of the wildflowers and the bay. The Discovery Trail itself is 14 miles roundtrip, and takes hikers over the sand dunes via the boardwalk, provides views of the ocean and even a sculpture of William Clark, for whom the trail is named, along with his travel companion, Meriwether Lewis!

Mount Vernon RV Campground (Bow): The Padilla Bay Shore Trail takes you along the bay where the Skagit River meets the Salish Sea and makes it one of the most diverse and biologically productive of the major estuaries on the Puget Sound. It is a 2.25-mile trail that can be easily trekked. Binoculars are a must!

Paradise RV Campground (Silver Creek): One of the stars here is the Skagit River Valley – an opportunity to explore the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the largest temperature rain forests in the US, via a hike along the Hoh River Trail. Mt. St. Helens National Monument is another opportunity for hiking as it offers more than 200 miles of trails that offers views of wildflowers, mountains, lakes and even the devastation caused by the 1980 eruption.

Yurt at Tall Chief RV & Camping Resort, Fall City, WA

Tall Chief RV Campground (Fall City): April to October is the best time to take a hike and view the beauty of Snoqualmie Falls, which is less than four miles from the campground.  Of course, the highlight here is the 268-foot waterfall and good to note, it’s an easy hike for everyone. Sit on the rocks near the base of the falls and take in another great show from Mother Nature.  Take a longer drive (about 40 miles) and explore a more difficult trail at the Lake Lilian Trail, an 8-mile trail that is a favorite of birders!

Book your Hike/Yurt summer adventure today – go to the petiteretreats.com/accomodations_yurts and get moving!

A Bit of Bavaria Stateside!

Leavenworth Tiny House Village
Leavenworth Tiny House Village

Cold-weather playground, unique holiday destination, plenty of ways to experience nature…these are phrases that describe Bavaria, a state in southwestern Germany, which is roughly 4,000-5,000-plus miles across the Atlantic. Definitely a charming destination with its snow-capped mountains, quaint villages, cultural offerings, and generous hospitality.

But if you don’t have the time (or the funds) to make a trek across the pond this winter season, why not check out the USA’s own little bit of Bavaria, otherwise known as Leavenworth, Washington. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is a Bavarian-styled village that is all about doing things Alpine-style. And once the winter season begins, the town explodes with more snow-filled activities and holiday events than you can imagine. There’s cross-country skiing, sledding, downhill skiing, ice fishing, snow tubing, sleigh rides, a Christkindlmarkt, a Christmas Lighting Festival, a cookie crawl, and more, all set among the most beautiful little Bavarian-style backdrop you can imagine this side of the Atlantic!  

To make your visit to Leavenworth even more enchanting, stay at the Leavenworth Tiny House Village in your choice of five uniquely Bavarian-styled tiny houses. Combine a Tiny House stay with all the charm of Leavenworth and you’ll be guaranteed a Bavarian-styled experience without even needing your passport!

Belle
Belle

What can we see about Belle? Of course, she’s the belle of the ball at 307 square feet with a full bathroom, kitchen, first-floor bedroom and the cozy loft with a queen and twin bed! She’s perfectly appointed with stylish décor and furnishings, including linens and kitchenware. Belle sleeps 4-5 and has a TV with basic cable.

Adeline
Adeline

Adeline, sweet Adeline will be decked out for the holidays and welcoming the lucky four guests who can call her home during a stay at Leavenworth. With 287 square feet of charming space, Adeline has a first-floor twin bedroom, full bathroom, and kitchen. Plus there’s the cozy loft with its queen and twin beds. Linens, kitchenware, and TV with basic cable complete the sweet tiny house that is Adeline.

With an exterior as blue as the Alpine skies, Hanna is perfect for any duo that wants to experience the seasonal offerings of Leavenworth and bunk in each night in 181-square feet of cozy. There is a loft bedroom with a queen bed, a full bathroom, kitchen and TV with basic cable. Linens and kitchenware are included. Hanna has it all for a pair of winter adventure-seekers!

Rudolf
Rudolf

Of course, Rudolf is a red tiny house, what other colors would he be!  Step inside Rudolf and you’ll find 250 feet of space that sleep 4-5 thanks to a loft with queen bed and twin bed, and a pullout couch on the first floor.  Rudolf also features a full bath and kitchen, with linens and kitchenware included. TV with basic cable round’s out Rudolf’s amenities. He’s too cute!

Otto
Otto

Otto is the big guy on the Leavenworth RV Campground campus with his robust 287 square feet that sleeps 4-5. This hardy tiny house has a loft with queen bed and twin bed, pullout couch on the first floor, full bathroom and kitchen and comes with linens and kitchenware.  All that, plus TV with cable and a pet-friendly attitude makes Otto one popular fellow!

Leavenworth Tiny House Village
Leavenworth Tiny House Village

Check out leavenworth.org to see the events scheduled in the town of Leavenworth and what else there is to see and do in this charming little Washington gem!

For more information on the Leavenworth Tiny House Village, visit leavenworthtinyhouse.com.