Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington

© James Randklev/Getty Image

A different kind of rainforest. Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

Imagine spending the day hiking in a forest, soaking in the lush greenery instead of frantically checking every item off your holiday shopping list. The Hall of Mosses at Olympic National Park, in Washington's Hoh Rain Forest, is a far cry from a shopping centre. This rainforest, different from the tropical kind that most think of, contains a brief but enchanting loop trail, home to a variety of mosses that gracefully drape over majestic spruces and hemlocks. Make sure to bring a jacket though, this aptly categorised forest is the wettest in the contiguous United States with an annual rainfall of nearly 330 centimetres. No wonder it's so green!