part of my brain that had n't been stimulated in years , if ever . Here I was in the good , old U.S. of A. , driving through a rain forest . Having just left Seattle , where my trip started , this was the first leg of my self-proclaimed big adventure . From the start , Olympic National Park was always a must-see . See map of my road trip '' I mean , who knew you could hike through rain forests , climb glaciers , walk beaches or hit up mineral hot springs all in one place ? The Hoh Rain Forest offered enchanting hikes , with plenty of trails to choose from . Huge ferns , endless amounts of beautiful moss , and trees -- some 500 years old -- made up much of the landscape . On my second day , as the rain started to come down hard , I decided to squeeze in a late afternoon visit to Ruby Beach , about 45 minutes east of Hoh . There 's something special about walking a beach in a virtual downpour : You 've pretty much got it all to yourself . See photos
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK , Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Taking a road trip by yourself can be good for the soul . The freedom and beauty of the open road on a recent trip in the Pacific Northwest and California brought me back to what is really important in life . Vistas along the California coast near Mendocino can be breathtaking . My road trip started in Seattle , Washington , and ended two weeks later in Sacramento , California , covering 2,277 miles with a stunning backdrop of natural beauty along the way . Living in the moment and charting my own course gave me a sense of self empowerment that extends to my path in life and what I want out of it . For those who wish to set out on their own solo road trip , I recommend research and planning -- while still leaving time to be spontaneous . Hoh Rain Forest , Olympic National Park As I drove into the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington 's Olympic National Park , the only words I could muster were Holy ... Wow ! The greenness of it all and the smell of fresh air stimulated a