Speaker 1: 0:00

Hi, I'm Alexa and I'm Rory, and together we are the Romies. We are married.

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To each other.

Speaker 1: 0:08

Right, we are a touring musical duo.

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And our music has taken us to all kinds of places all around the world and keeps us always on the go.

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So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while running around working to keep all your plates spinning.

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And we hope, to facilitate your busy lifestyle and feed your inner travel bug Hi everybody, hi everyone.

Speaker 1: 0:31

Welcome to this episode. We're keeping the adventures rolling with Larissa's Kitchen, riding along as our official sponsor all month.

Speaker 2: 0:39

All month, Alright y'all. Larissa's Kitchen creates real meat snacks that are certified allergen-free. Zero sugar yes, and they're built for an on-the-go life and that's why we are sharing this with you, because we like to share on-the-go hacks with you.

Speaker 1: 0:55

Yeah, check this out. They use only grass-fed finished beef and free-range poultry.

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So you're getting top-quality protein with no junk.

Speaker 1: 1:03

No junk. This month's hikes, road trips and travel days are powered by the paleo-friendly and non-GMO options.

Speaker 2: 1:11

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:12

This episode we're highlighting their jalapeno beef stick, which I've also had, which is fantastic. You might think jalapeno beef stick it's going to burn my mouth off. It's not that way. It's just really flavorful, maybe a little bit of warmth To this Cajun guy, though there was no burn at all Just really good meat stick. It's their jalapeno beef stick.

Speaker 2: 1:33

And you can find Larissa's Kitchen at Walmart now and you want to go to the gluten-free section when you are looking for those for your on-the-go adventures. Speaking of on-the-go adventures, we are still diving in to the Olympic Peninsula and if y'all caught our episode on Port Angeles, which is in the Olympic Peninsula, if you haven't, please check that one out next We'll put that in the show notes. But I started out our whole adventure in the Olympic Peninsula visiting the Port Angeles Visitor Center and I took with me this fun looking brochure about waterfalls. Okay, so, when I saw that brochure highlighting all the waterfalls that are scattered across the Olympic Peninsula, yeah, yeah yeah, I was like okay, yeah, we have to go visit every single one, because I totally love waterfalls.

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I've said this before, I think, but the very first time I ever truly lost my breath, like it actually, I lost my breath.

Speaker 1: 2:34

It was when she first saw me. Yes, I'm sure that's where that was going Of course, yes, yes, yes, yes.

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Then my second, first time to really lose my breath was we were hiking down this trail in Switzerland because, of course, switzerland, right. We turned this corner and suddenly, there it was. Yeah, I remember that day, a waterfall appearing out of nowhere.

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We were hiking down the mountain from, I think it was from Wangen or Muren. We were hiking down the mountain, an eight-hour hike. It was awesome.

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We just turned the corner and there it is, so you ride the gondola up and then you just hike down, so super cool.

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Anyway completely caught me off guard. I was shocked and awed and overwhelmed by its beauty, like all at the same time. So for me, there is just something about waterfalls. I love everything about them the sound, the way they look, the contrast of rough rocks with smooth flowing water. Some are like powerful and thunderous, some are gentle and soothing, some are wide and sprawling, others are narrow and tall. So each one seems to have like its own personality. So I totally love discovering what makes each one special. So, of course, while exploring the Olympic Peninsula, I had to make some waterfall visits and I had. You know, this brochure was kind of like our checklist it count off as many as I could, and we saw some really cool things.

Speaker 1: 3:56

And I think I know the reason that you love waterfalls so much is because when you first saw me, baby, I made you a waterfall. I don't even know what that means, but yeah, we started near Port Angeles, where two stunning falls are tucked into the forest. Madison Falls is a short, sweet stop, just a quick walk from the parking lot. It's about 60 feet tall and set in this peaceful mossy grove, it's the kind of place where you could just sit and listen to the water for hours, hours.

Speaker 2: 4:25

Yes, then that's when you wish your trip was like way longer than a few days, much longer, yeah. Okay, then there's also Merry Mirror Falls, and that felt like walking into a fairy tale, because it's a waterfall, it's a 90-foot drop, and the hike to get there like winds, through this dense forest along the edge of Lake Crescent. And the way to get there, like winds, through this dense forest along the edge of Lake Crescent, and the way the water just spills down the rock face framed by giant trees, it's just, you know, perfection.

Speaker 1: 4:51

And that region alone is home to even more watery wonders like Stripe Peak Falls. That's a small seasonal cascade, best seen in the rainy months.

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Or Salt Duke Falls. Wait, aren't all months in the Olympic Peninsula rainy?

Speaker 1: 5:04

Yeah, it's kind of a rainforest. I guess they have their.

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Even they have their seasons.

Speaker 1: 5:08

Rainy months in quotes Right Rainy months you can see me making the air quotes.

Speaker 2: 5:12

Yes, I see them, I see them Okay.

Speaker 1: 5:14

But there's also the. I guess they say Salt Duke Falls, salt Duck, salt Duck. Okay, though we didn't get to make it this time yeah.

Speaker 2: 5:33

It is high on our list. It was close while we were there.

Speaker 1: 5:34

Yeah, it's high on our list for our next trip. We went waterfall to waterfall to waterfall. We were chasing waterfalls, we love waterfalls. We were driving around just to see them. The water on this Seau d'Oc falls. The water splits into three separate streams and crashes dramatically through a narrow canyon. So how cool would that be. Viewed from a footbridge above, it's especially cool to see an intense during spring runoff.

Speaker 2: 5:59

Yes, and Solduk also has a hot springs, and that was closed.

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It's not a waterfall, but it's definitely a must see.

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So if you we again we went in February, but if you go later you'll catch all of that spring fun stuff. The runoff. All right. Another waterfall we saw was when we headed into the heart of the Ho Rainforest. That's H-O-H rainforest.

Speaker 1: 6:19

Did you feel like home there, baby?

Speaker 2: 6:21

Oh yeah Now, which already feels like another world. So everything is like green jungle, green right. The air is thick with moisture, the moss hangs from the trees like curtains, and along the Ho River Trail we found a waterfall flowing off of Mineral Creek. And it's just one of those quiet, hidden beauties tucked deep in the woods. It's not huge, but it's wild, and it's surrounded by the greenest forest floor.

Speaker 1: 6:47

And if you keep hiking along that trail, especially after the rain, you see these little cascades appear all over the place. Some are just a trickle. It's like the forest is weeping. Yeah, that was good, thank you. It's pretty magical, and while we didn't raft to it, there's Maple Creek Falls nearby too, which is only accessible by water. Thus, I said we didn't raft to it right Right right. Rafting trips take you right to the base of this picturesque hidden fall.

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So after that we explored the Quinault Rainforest, which honestly feels like it's straight out of a dream. We stopped at a few waterfall spots just off the South Shore Road.

Speaker 1: 7:23

I just so want to sing that song.

Speaker 2: 7:25

What song? Don't go chasing waterfalls, all right.

Speaker 1: 7:29

Yeah, but I do want to go chasing waterfalls, and you did just sing that Right.

Speaker 2: 7:33

Yes, all right, so but I do want to go chasing waterfalls and you did just sing that Right, yes, all right. So there, where I was talking about in the Quinault Rainforest, you got Merriman Falls, and it's especially easy to reach. It's just steps from the road, so as you are road tripping, you can just stop and check it out. Its 40-foot drop makes it a perfect photo op, especially during the wetter months.

Speaker 1: 7:57

Further along, near Bunch Canyon, we found a wilder cascade. That would be the Bunch Creek Falls. It's nearly 60 feet tall. How cool is that, with water rushing over rocky ledges and spraying the air. So it's a nice place to get cold in February, I'm just saying. And tucked in nearby are even more gems. There's Willoughby Creek Falls, which you can see along a short interpretive loop trail, and Gatton Creek Falls, a tiered fall with a series of these wonderful graceful drops, and each of the falls feels unique in its own right.

Speaker 2: 8:27

Now, maybe the most magical place in the entire Quinault area is deep in the backcountry. It's Enchanted Valley. It's also known as the Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls. It is a 13-mile trek to get there, so we did not hike for 13 miles to go see it, so we missed out on that one, but it is legendary. In spring, the snow melt sends the water just tumbling from cliffs on both sides of the valley and it's super unreal. So that is a bucket list item. And when you are hiking all these trails and chasing waterfalls, you got to stay energized, you got to have your protein, and having Larissa's Kitchen in your backpack is going to be the way to go to keep you fueled.

Speaker 1: 9:14

Oh yeah, yeah, there are more waterfalls scattered throughout the peninsula that we didn't get to see as well, but they're still worth knowing about. So here are a couple of them, like Hoko Falls, where a short drop leads to a scenic little canyon how cool, we love canyons. Or Beaver Falls it's what they call a block-type cascade that spans about 70 feet of Beaver Creek and hi that's what it's called Quit. Yeah, I'm not telling you to stop. High, high, quit is what it looks like.

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A-W-I-T-H-T.

Speaker 1: 9:44

Yep, it is a low volume. Falls near Cape Flattery and you'll need a boat to see that one too.

Speaker 2: 9:51

Along the Pacific coast. Waterfalls meet the sea and Strawberry Bay Falls is this horsetail style fall that you can view from the trail, and at a low tide you can walk the beach and get even closer. Further south Fall Creek Falls lies along a remote coastal trail, great for backpackers looking for that perfect wilderness moment.

Speaker 1: 10:12

The Southern Loop holds some true hidden treasures too. There's Spoon Creek Falls. It's a double-tiered cascade with a plunge pool Movie like a movie but it's one of the least visited and most underrated. And there's Wainoochee Falls. Did you give me these names on purpose? Yeah, wainoochee, w-y-n-o-o-c-h-e-e, so I'm going to say Wainoochee Falls. It's got a punch bowl kind of form. It's got a dreamy swimming hole and when the river's right, that's a good place to be and swim.

Speaker 2: 10:49

We didn't get there this trip, but the descriptions about them make me want to go there on our plan on a return in the summertime, so we can swim, yes. And finally, on the eastern slopes by Hood Canal, you'll find Merhut Falls, two gorgeous drops surrounded by forest. Or you can also see Rocky Brook Falls just a short walk from the road, with a year-round strong flow. Even Ludlow Falls is tucked into a private community. It has a maintained interpretive trail for public access. So these are the kinds of places where you turn a corner and then, like, the forest, surprises you. Each of these waterfalls feels totally different, but every single one left me a little more in love with the world.

Speaker 1: 11:28

Yeah, if you ever find yourself in the Olympic Peninsula, chase the waterfalls. Yeah, we love to do that. Every turn in the trail might lead to something. Well, I'm going to say every turn in the trail does lead to something amazing and beautiful. It's really wonderful there and, trust me, you'll never forget the way it makes you feel being there.

Speaker 2: 11:49

So plan your visit. We will put some links in the show notes to help you find and navigate these waterfalls so you can prep and plan for your own visit. And we want to thank again Larissa's Kitchen. Thank you thank you For sponsoring this episode.

Speaker 1: 12:03

Thank you very much, baby.

Speaker 2: 12:04

Larissa's Kitchen offers clean, grass-fed protein snacks made for real life. Now, these waterfalls we've been talking about today are going to metaphorically help you cool that tongue of yours when you try today's spotlight flavor, which Rory mentioned.

Speaker 1: 12:20

It's the Heat Seeker which Rory mentioned, jalapeno beef stick. It's the Heat Seeker. Yes, the Heat Seeker Jalapeno beef stick that brings just the right amount of kick, with eight grams of protein and no sugar added.

Speaker 2: 12:32

Y'all, none of their beef sticks or meat sticks have sugar added.

Speaker 1: 12:36

It's so cool, I got a sugar mama. Why do I need sugar in my meat stick? Come on, so that is Rory approved.

Speaker 2: 12:43

Yes, so check it out. We will see you on the next one.

Speaker 1: 12:48

Bye-bye. Now, when you're chasing waterfalls, take your Larissa's Kitchen Meat Sticks oh there you go.

Speaker 2: 12:56

Yeah, there you go.

Speaker 1: 12:57

Come on, girl, it's my song. Okay, get off my song.

Speaker 2: 13:04

Yeah, because you're the Cajun that eats this. Alright, I'm sorry, it's all you. We hope we've inspired you this episode, so join us next time. Please subscribe to rate and share our podcast with your friends or you know whomever? And please like and follow us on Instagram, youtube and Facebook.

Speaker 1: 13:16

We're also on X and on all social platforms. We are at TheRomies, that's T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S, and our main hub is our website.

Speaker 2: 13:28

At wwwTheRomiescom, that's right, that's. T-h-e-r-o-a-m-i-e-scom. We'll be there until next time. Yeah, thanks for listening, bye.