New Zealand’s Tongariro Crossing is an epic 12.3-mile thru-hike on the North Island where you get to walk through volcanic craters and among active geothermal landscapes. I finally got to see why well over 100,000 hikers traverse this landscape every year, and man, lace up those boots cuz you don’t want to miss this. Here’s everything to know about Tongariro Crossing.

Hidden just outside of Port Angeles and totally off the radar is a glorious piece of Washington's wild charm just waiting to be explored. Salt Creek Recreation Area is a marine wildlife sanctuary, a diver's dream, and a surfer's escape with a campground, trails, beaches, tide pools, and unobstructed views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, and beyond.

If you're like me, a solid dose of nature is a necessary part of your week. I spend my nine-to-five in the city, so by the time the weekend rolls around, I'm pining for some greens and blues. Lucky for us Seattleites, there are so many exciting adventures under two hours away. From islands to alpine lakes, here are my favorite city escapes.