Arriving at Ruby Beach on the Washington coast is simply jaw dropping. I wasn’t quite expecting how incredible it would be. With piles of giant driftwood, jagged rocks towering in the sand, and intense waves, it was nothing like the beaches back home.

Having grown up on the east coast where the beaches are just flat soft slopes with small waves, where you can see down the coast line for endless miles, Ruby Beach was altogether a different experience. When we arrived there were low clouds that obscured the sunlight adding to a grey somber mood but I lingered a bit after our session and the clouds disappeared for a most epic sunset that changed drastically every few minutes as it reflected off the water and rocks. I was infatuated with how much character this little beach held. And really, I had become entranced by all of the magic within Olympic National Park - nothing about it was familiar. If you’re an east coast native, trust me, you need to put Olympic National Park on your bucket list.

It also felt extra special getting to explore the beach for the first time with a dear friend, Chloe. And ironically, though Chloe is a Washington native, it was her first time too! Chloe and I acutally met studying abroad in Florence during college. Years later she came to my own wedding in Maryland and now finally, I was visiting her side of the world as I traveled around North Cascades and Olympic National Park. Chloe is an incredible professional dancer and embroidery artist - check out her work here!

Want to know more about some of my favorite spots in Olympic National Park?

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