I recently spent ten unforgettable days exploring the Pacific Northwest’s breathtaking beauty! My trip took me through Washington State’s three stunning national parks — Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades — where I hiked through misty mountain peaks and crystal-clear alpine lakes.
After hiking and showering daily, I kept my hair healthy and hydrated with my travel-sized Davines and Kitsch essentials. Read on to see my favorite products that kept up with every adventure, travel recommendations, and highlights from each incredible stop on our PNW trip!
This is my boyfriend, Ben, and I’s second vacation together! Last year, we went on a Royal Caribbean Cruise to Mexico, Honduras, and Belize.
My Travel Essentials
Olympic Peninsula
One product I packed in my luggage for my trip was Davines’ This is an Invisible Dry Shampoo. (Its travel-size version is coming back to Tyler Mason soon!) Not only do I love how this dry shampoo absorbs oil without leaving any white cast in my hair, but I also enjoy its citrusy vanilla scent, which lasts all day.
We had an early start to our trip, arriving at the Indianapolis International Airport at 4 AM on two hours of sleep. After five hours of flying and then a two-hour drive to our Airbnb in Washington, my boyfriend and I immediately crashed up on the couch for some much-needed sleep.
I had skipped dinner and a shower that night, so the next morning I refreshed my hair with my dry shampoo before starting our sightseeing at Lake Crescent. We took in the lake’s stunning clear blue water and hiked the Marymere Falls Trail, pausing to read markers that shared stories about the Indigenous people who had lived in the area for generations.
Because of the low nitrogen levels in Lake Crescent, this keeps algae from growing, so the lake stays such a clear blue. We enjoyed sitting on a bench near the shore looking out at the peaceful water and surrounding Olympic Mountains.
Other essentials I brought with me were my shampoo and conditioner bars. I first tried them last year on my Royal Caribbean cruise, and I really appreciated how much space they saved in my carry-on. My go-to is Davines’ Momo Shampoo Bar, which lathers into a rich, creamy foam that leaves my hair so soft. After spending a day along the Pacific Ocean’s chilly coastline watching waves crash against the rugged cliffs at Cape Flattery, that evening shower felt very luxurious thanks to this shampoo bar.
Cape Flattery is the northern westmost point of the contiguous U.S. This was my most favorite view of the entire trip!
I also packed with me Kitsch’s Rice Water Conditioner Bar. Unlike my shampoo bar that I lather in my hands and apply the foam to my hair, I “paint” the conditioner bar directly onto my hair’s length and ends. Then, I comb through my hair to evenly apply the strengthening conditioner that helps prevent split ends.
I especially love this conditioner’s refreshing white tea and Mandarin orange scent. It lingered all night whenever my boyfriend and I would cozy up on the couch at our tiny house Airbnb to watch Spider-Man 3 after a long day of hiking.
To wrap up our time in the Olympic Peninsula, we hiked Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. We got super lucky with the weather. It was supposed to rain, but it ended up being such a beautiful sunny day. The trail was steep and windy, but the towering coniferous trees and the endless mountain views made it completely worth it!
Victoria, Canada
After our time in the Olympic Peninsula, we took a Black Ball ferry from Port Angeles, Washington over to Victoria, Canada. Once we checked in at the Hotel Grand Pacific and dropped off our luggage, we explored Victoria and wandered into its Chinatown. It was a rainy day, so we warmed up with coffee at Bean Around the World. Later that afternoon, on our double-decker bus tour, I learned that Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco.
During the tour, I also learned that September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honoring the survivors of residential schools and raising awareness about the lasting impact these schools had on Indigenous children, families, and communities. Canadians wear orange on this day to honor residential school survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day of school, symbolizing how the school system stripped Indigenous children of their culture and identity.
I had actually packed an orange sweater to wear during our trip, so the next morning I wore it, curled my hair, and used Davines’ This Is A Medium Hairspray to hold my style while we hopped back on a bus to visit the beautiful Butchart Gardens. I’ve been using this hairspray since this summer and love how it keeps my fine hair in place without weighing it down or leaving it sticky. It was perfect for a long day of sightseeing, a ferry ride back to Washington, and a three-hour drive to our next destination.
I felt like I was in a Dr. Seuss book wandering through Butchart Gardens and its 900 varieties of flowers! Ben and I’s favorite garden was its Japanese Garden with its Japanese Maples, footbridges, and fountains.
Mount Rainier National Park & Leavenworth, Washington
Our next hiking adventure took us to Mount Rainier National Park. It was a rainy day, so we didn’t get the clear view of Mount Rainier’s peak that we had hoped for. However, we still enjoyed walking next to the beautiful wildflower fields and spotting a cute family of deer along our short hike. By the time we set out on our next five-hour drive, the rain had let up, and we arrived in Leavenworth, Washington, a charming Bavarian-inspired town.
My boyfriend connected with his German heritage, enjoying lots of ciders, schnitzels, and potato salads, while I indulged in Bavarian pretzels and beer cheese. During our two days in town, we also explored the charming Alpine-style shops and visited the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, where we fed reindeer willow branches.
The one on the right’s name is Tinkerbell! On the farm, I learned that reindeers’ antlers are covered in a fuzzy skin called velvet, which is full of nutrients to help the bone grow quickly. Once their antlers are fully grown, reindeers shed the velvet by rubbing against trees, revealing the hard, bony antlers underneath.
North Cascades National Park & Seattle
After Leavenworth, our final national park stop was North Cascades National Park. On the drive to its visitor center, we stopped at a windy lookout to admire the striking turquoise waters of Diablo Lake. We then hiked the Skagit River Loop Trail, spotting salmon making their way upstream, before continuing on to Ladder Creek Falls, where the cascading water tumbled over moss-covered rocks in the lush forest.
By this point in the trip, all the steep trails were catching up to me, so I was grateful I had also packed FarmHouse Fresh’s Cool Revival Balm. Each night, I would glide the stick along my shins, calves, and thighs before bed. It instantly melted for a crisp, cooling sensation that soothed and relieved my aching muscles.
Diablo Lake’s turquoise color comes from glacial flour (finely ground rock from glaciers) suspended in the water that reflects sunlight.
Seattle was our trip’s final stop. We visited the iconic Space Needle to admire the city skyline and spent nearly an hour exploring its massive gift shop. We picked out a Seattle magnet and a fun piece of artwork featuring Bigfoot watching over the city that’s now hanging in our bathroom.
Later the afternoon, we toured the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, which I especially loved. It brought back memories of my first-grade field trip to see Fireworks of Glass at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.
On our last day, we traveled back home to Indianapolis, arriving around 12:30 AM. Other than almost missing our connecting flight in Chicago, my airport curse has finally been broken! I was so thankful this trip didn’t involve canceled flights or an overnight stay in an airport. (If you ever travel with me, we will avoid flying into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport at all costs!)
This 100-foot-long artwork is one of Dave Chihuly’s largest suspended sculptures.
My Travel Recommendations
Book a Waxing Appointment Before Your Trip
One of my biggest takeaways from my cruise vacation last year was to book a waxing appointment before traveling. Since we stayed in tiny houses throughout our Pacific Northwest trip, I worried the showers might be as small as our cruise stateroom’s — shaving in cramped spaces is not fun!
This summer I decided to try underarm waxing a few months before our trip. Because I have sensitive skin, I wanted to see how my skin would react and how long the smoothness would last. Now, I’m hooked! It also helped me pack one less thing in my checked bag. (I’m a chronic over-packer.)
If silky-smooth skin all vacation long is a must for you too, I recommend booking a waxing appointment with our estheticians before your next getaway. You’ll avoid the hassle of shaving in tight spaces or realizing you forgot your razor altogether.
Prep Your Skin for Changing Climates
While I kept my hair nourished through frequent showers using my gentle, hydrating shampoo and conditioner bars, my skin needed some extra love too. The Pacific Northwest’s weather can be unpredictable. One minute it’s misty and windy, and the next, the sun’s out.
One skincare product I regretted leaving behind was my FarmHouse Fresh One Fine Day Flawless Face Polish. I’ve been using this shea sugar scrub since this summer and love how it exfoliates and cleanses my sensitive skin while leaving my complexion soft, smooth, and non-irritated. I know it would have kept my skin feeling moisturized no matter the forecast.
Pack Multi-Use Products
Not those 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, and body wash kind, but rather the haircare products that actually multitask to save space in your packing cubes.
I packed my Davines Oi Soufflé to style my hair on our trip. It’s like a hair protectant, leave-in conditioner, and mousse all in one. I first started using it during my winter weekend getaway to Chicago last December, and I’ve used it ever since. It leaves my fine hair silky-soft with body and movement without feeling weighed down or oily.
I definitely missed incredible mountain views like this when we got back home to Brownsburg!
Overall, I had an amazing time in the Pacific Northwest, and I already can’t wait for my next mountain getaway. While our next vacation isn’t set in stone yet, we are playing around with the idea of traveling to Spain next fall. Stay tuned to see which Davines, Kitsch, and FarmHouse Fresh products I recommend to keep your hair and skin healthy overseas!
Nicole Thomas is the marketing manager for Tyler Mason Salon & Spa. She is also a passionate writer and digital marketer for several Indiana-based publications. When she isn’t at TM, she loves cozying up with a book and cup of coffee or crocheting a new cardigan for her wardrobe.