This article excerpt was taken from Outside Magazine

Published:  Jun 10, 2024 Updated:  Jun 10, 2024 | Author: Ryan Krogh

There are 12 glorious weekends between now and Labor Day. Our travel expert has mapped out incredible summer travel plans for every single one of them.

August 17-18: Refuge Outdoor Festival, Snoqualmie Valley, Washington

A group of people gather around an outdoor fire pit, eating and enjoying a sunny day at the Refuge Outdoor Festival in Washington. Behind them is a red barn and several tents set up with vendors and a crowd.

This three-day campout, which begins August 16, is one of a few gatherings entirely devoted to celebrating the diverse outdoor experiences and contributions of the BIPOC community. This year marks seven years since the event first kicked off, and it’s since grown into a full-fledged festival, with DJs, workshops, art, and recreational activities.

You can take morning walks, sign up for sessions on survival skills, and relax with an hour or two of forest bathing. All allies of the BIPOC community are welcome, and specific functions have been created to support LGBTQ+ attendees. Refuge Outdoor Festival happens just 30 miles east of downtown Seattle at the 575-acre Tolt-MacDonald Park and Campground in the town of Carnation, and tickets start at $125 for adults.

Where to Stay: On-site accommodations are the way to go. A camping permit can be had for $20, and REI has partnered with festival organizers to loan out a tent, two cots, chairs, and a table for organizing your stuff for $150. Alternatively, a park yurt with bunk beds for up to six people and an outdoor fire ring runs for $400 for all three nights.

Don’t Miss: The stunning Snoqualmie Valley. Driving up the valley from Carnation will give you a better sense of its impressiveness, and hiking to 270-foot high Snoqualmie Falls offers an eye-opening sense of the eponymous river’s strength. For a more rigorous trek, check out the 9.7-mile Mailbox Peak Trail Loop.