Sledding at Mt Rainier Update for December 2021: The Sledding area is not open yet at Mount Rainier, but it should hopefully be opening any time – always check their website or Twitter page to see when they open & once they are open, always check before you leave to make sure there aren’t any…
Updated for 2026 Make sure to check out the current hours & road conditions for Mount Rainier before you visit thru the Nisqually entrance. ************************* The winter season is the perfect time to experience the beauty of winter at Mt Rainier from different vantage points which is most easily accessible by snowshoeing. Snowshoeing is not…
Mount Rainier Guide – Nisqually Entrance What to Do In & Near the Park, Where to Stay & Eat Whether you live locally or are visiting Western Washington from out of state, Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most popular, top destinations in the Pacific Northwest. It is such a stunning sight…
Free National Parks Day 2026 The National Parks have announced the FREE National Parks Days for 2026! On these Fee Free Days, you can get admission to National Parks and Forests or Wildlife Refuges across the US that usually charge fees to enjoy. There are many that are free all the time, but there are 63…
Free 4th Grade National Park Pass – 2025 – 2026 School Year Good news –Â The Free 4th Grade National Park Pass 2025 – 2026 School Year offer is now available! Starting on September 1st, 2025, every fourth grader in the country will get an Every Kid in a Park pass that will be good…
The 7 Best Mt Rainier Hikes Families & Beginners Will Love! One of the top activities to do when you come visit Washington or for those of us locals living in Washington is to visit Mount Rainier National Park. Whenever we have people visit us from out of town, our first place we think to…
Spruce Railroad Trail Hike – Lake Crescent at Olympic National Park We had the opportunity to visit the northern Olympic peninsula this past weekend & I have to say it’s one of my very favorite locations in Washington as it really has the best of all worlds with the beautiful beaches, gorgeous Olympic mountains, crystal…
Free National Park Passes for Veterans and Gold Star Families Wow, this is exciting news –Â the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced that US active duty military, US Military Veterans & Gold Star families will now be granted lifetime free access to national parks, wildlife refuges & other federal lands managed by the Department…
Disclosure: We received tickets to review the Polar Express to share our experience; all opinions are our own. Mount Rainier Railroad Polar Express Train – What to Know The Mount Rainier Railroad in the tiny town of Elbe, WA, less than 20 miles from the entrance of Mount Rainier National Park has a special, themed…
Guest Post: Cheryl from Camping in the Northwest Fort Flagler State Park Campground Fort Flagler State Park is a 784-acre camping park surrounded on three sides by 19,100 feet of saltwater shoreline. It’s located on Marrowstone Island in Jefferson County  The park rests on a high bluff which overlooks the Puget Sound, as well as…
12 Snowshoe Hikes in Washington My all-time favorite activity in the winter is snowshoeing – there is just something about heading out in the stillness of winter and experiencing the beauty of the area when it’s all covered in snow. It’s so peaceful and often so quiet as we don’t run into too many…
Here is a resource you will want to bookmark: Free camping Washington and Oregon sites you can stay at for free! Free Camping Sites –Â Washington and Oregon *Updated for 2025 Camping is so popular for families here in the Northwest, and generally a very affordable way to visit new places. If you are looking for…
Looking for Snow Tubing and Sledding areas near you? Here are a list of some of our favorites in Washington State! 10+ Top Areas for Sledding and Snow Tubing in Washington Are you someone who loves winter & all of the activities in the snow? Spring & summer are definitely my favorite seasons in the…
Check out some of our favorite spots to take in the beauty of Fall Foliage around the Northwest. We have some great areas to see the beauty of the leaves turning. You wont want to miss these!
Gondola Rides in the Pacific Northwest I love a great Gondola ride. Gondola rides can be a pretty amazing way to take in scenic views of so much of the beauty we have here in the Northwest. You may be surprised to learn that we actual have a number of options for jumping on an…
9 Waterfall Hikes in Seattle & Tacoma for Families With this summer focused on slowing down & staying more local, it has been the perfect opportunity for us to explore many of the awesome trails that are around the Northwest. We had a goal to work on getting healthier & spending more time outdoors together,…
Elk & Bighorn Sheep Feeding Station – Oak Creek Wildlife Area If you are looking for a truly unique experience, watching the feeding of the elk & bighorn sheep during the winter in the White Pass / Naches area of Washington is such a fun close-up view of these animals in the wild. The feeding…
Northwest Guide to Trains Stay in a Caboose, Ride Trains for FREE, Mini Steamer Rides, Dine in a Train Car & More! If you are someone who loves trains or have kids who love trains, here are some fun ideas on where you can enjoy them in the Northwest. This is our guide to All…
Welcome to Thrifty NW Mom! We are based in the greater Seattle / Tacoma area. We are a one-stop resource for ways to save money all around the Pacific Northwest! You’ll find everything from ways to save at the grocery store, online shopping deals, free or affordable family events in the Northwest, dining discounts, frugal DIY tips and much more!
Copyright © 2015 Thrifty Northwest Mom. All Rights Reserved.