Hi! I’m Meeshka Brand
An outdoor adventurer who returned to the PNW after receiving my BA in Media & Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.
I live between the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, surrounded by the Salish Sea. Seeing Mount Rainier reigning over the landscape never gets old.
I love escaping into nature to melt away the stress of being a small business owner, and I do it every chance I get.
My husband, Colby, and I have been visiting Olympic Peninsula beaches and Washington State parks for over a decade (Salt Creek and La Push are at the top of our list!).
But in 2021, something shifted.
I was already a hiker, but that year, I wholeheartedly knew I needed to climb mountains and reach higher elevations. So I did, completing bucket list hikes such as Camp Muir, Mt Ellinor, The Enchantments, and many other adventures.
Since then, I’ve developed a (mostly) healthy obsession with Cascade volcanoes.
The mountains are where I feel most alive, but some of my most cherished memories are of beach hikes to this region’s world-class coastline destinations, like Point of Arches and Cape Flattery.
Trips & Hikes
Check out my national park adventures and places I’ve visited over the last few years.
Why Trust Me?
I live twenty minutes from the Olympic Peninsula and one-and-a-half hours from the Cascade Mountains.
I visit Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier in all seasons. In the Cascades, I’ve summited Mount St Helens and Mount Adams and have climbed Mount Baker and Mount Rainier.
Chances are, I’ve experienced the places you want to go. (My AllTrails app has tracked 555 miles and 125,374 feet of elevation since 2021, and that’s not counting the times I forgot to hit start!)
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 accommodations near Olympic National Park are the coziest and most comfortable because I’ve stayed in them myself
- How to answer “Ashford or Packwood?” when deciding where to stay while visiting Mount Rainier National Park
I know all of this – and more – because I live here! And I’ve done countless hours of research for my own trips. (Nerd alert: planning is my pastime!)
Want insider advice?
Download my free guide, which includes 20 valuable tips covering everything from destination strategies to packing advice to help you manage the summer crowds at Mount Rainier.
What You Can Expect
I’m committed to using my in-depth knowledge of this region to help you craft the ultimate Pacific Northwest adventure.
This site offers comprehensive guides, easy-to-follow itineraries with maps, photos I’ve taken myself, and tried-and-true tips—everything you need to make the most of your trip to this inspiring region—all written by a local with first-hand experience.
Let’s Go!
If you’re looking for a guide with insider knowledge about the places you want to visit, you’re in the right place.
It’s my absolute pleasure to be that planner friend you didn’t even know you needed, helping you discover the magic of the Pacific Northwest.
So glad you’re here.
xo, Meeshka
TRIBAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I acknowledge that the land on which I live on the Kitsap Peninsula is the ancestral homeland of the Suquamish Tribe and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. I thank the people of these tribes for their care and stewardship of our shared lands and waterways.
Skip the guesswork, stress, and hours of research—plan the trip of a lifetime with a local travel expert!