OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, Washington (CNN) -- 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 part of my brain that hadn'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 from my trip »



Sol Duc Hot Springs



After two days in the rain, accidentally stepping on a couple of mammoth-sized banana slugs outside my tent, and looking a bit like Chewbacca, I decided to treat myself to the popular Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, about 30 minutes north of the Hoh Rain Forest in Port Angeles, Washington.



Named by American Indians, Sol Duc, which means sparkling water, is also thought to have healing values, something I was in desperate need of by this point.



Three pools are heated by the nearby hot springs and there's one freshwater pool if you need to cool off.



I threw on my suit, quickly showered and then headed straight for the hot spring.



Aaaaaah, this was perfect. The pools were crowded and the smell of the minerals in the water was obvious. With a backdrop of tree-lined hills, it's easy to sit, relax and soothe your bones for hours.



Oregon Caves



Oregon is a beautiful state from top to bottom.



It seems to have it all, the ocean, rivers, cool towns and caves! Oregon Caves National Monument is located outside Junction Caves, Oregon.



To get to the cave's entrance you have to drive 20 miles along a very windy -- but beautiful -- two-lane road, deep in the Siskiyous Mountains.



I arrived just in time for the last tour which ran about 90 minutes. Bring a jacket since the temperature inside the cave is around 44 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) year-round.



Our group had just started the tour when one woman traveling with her daughter announced she couldn't do it.



She wasn't comfortable walking within confined spaces. Our guide was very helpful and mentioned to all of us this was the right time to speak up if you didn't think you could do the tour.



Moments later our group, minus two, made its way through the inside of
Which has rain forests, glaciers, beaches? What state is Mendocino in?
Olympic National Park California
question: Which has rain forests, glaciers, beaches?, answer: Olympic National Park | question: What state is Mendocino in?, answer: California