Hi! I’m Meeshka
I help travelers feel confident and excited as they plan their PNW outdoor vacation.
Planning your first trip?
Sand & Elevation is the outdoor travel brand I created to make trip planning easier for people visiting Washington’s national parks and iconic outdoor places.
The name Sand & Elevation reflects the two landscapes I keep returning to: the wild Pacific coastline and the mountain ranges always within sight.
I’m a Washington Local With Firsthand Experience
I live between the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, surrounded by the Salish Sea.
Living here, I get to visit Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier in all seasons.
And I do.
My AllTrails app has tracked more than 700 miles since 2021, and that’s not counting the times I forgot to hit start!
Chances are, I’ve experienced the places you want to go.
Here’s a Taste of What I Know
✔ Where to find the heartiest breakfast in Sequim, which coffee shop is worth a stop in Port Angeles, and where in Forks you can get BBQ that Texans wait in line for
✔ Which travelers should drive the entire Highway 101 loop — and which ones shouldn’t
✔ How to answer “Ashford or Packwood?” when deciding where to stay while visiting Mount Rainier
I know all of this — and more — because I live here.
And I’ve put that knowledge to work for my own trips, for family and friends, and for dozens of clients.
How I Help First-Time Visitors Like You Explore the Pacific Northwest
My mission is to help first-time visitors plan vacations to Washington’s national parks with clarity — so you know what makes sense for your season, your timeline, and how you actually like to travel.
Most trip frustration doesn’t come from bad planning. It comes from missing seasonal context, underestimating drive times, or not knowing which stops are truly worth it.
This site offers easy-to-follow guides, photos I’ve taken myself, and local tips to help you take the trip that’s right for you — not the generic trip Reddit or AI tells you to take.
These Are Places I Know & Love
Everything I share is grounded in real trips and real conditions, in places I consider home.
Unlike travel guides written after a single visit, my guidance comes from returning to Washington’s national parks again and again.
What I learn from that repetition shapes the advice I share with you.
Ready to Plan Your Washington State Vacation?
Planning a trip to Washington’s national parks is exciting — but figuring out stops, timing, and lodging can feel overwhelming.
You don’t have to figure it out all on your own.