OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

You want mountain food? I found the best breakfast in Leavenworth at Louie's Cafe—biscuits and gravy, big enough to paddle down the Wenatchee. Did the Icicle Ridge Trail with a local who only hikes in lederhosen, not making this up.


PS: Where's the best place for live music?


PPS: If you ...

the bread at Doxie Slush is worth the carbs. Got sunburned at the wineries, not even mad.

My group tried to do Grinnell Glacier trail in June and, shocker, there was still snow halfway up. Slid down part of it on my butt and called it “glacier surfing.”


We never saw a bear, but my cousin swears she heard one snoring outside the tent. Bring an eye mask—the sun rises EARLY up there.

Spent a week exploring the Black Hills and still feel like I only scratched the surface. Everyone comes for Mt. Rushmore (and yes, it's impressive), but Custer State Park was my surprise highlight—wild buffalo herds, jaw-dropping drives, and Needles Highway's epic tunnels. Ate fry bread in Keystone ...