David Gladish
Floating with Friends
The benefits of sauna go beyond the physical, and Seattle’s newest wellness experience—which glides around the waters of Lake Union—equally taps into the non-tangible positives.
It only took a few minutes to settle in before I knew—these are my people. I met Emma Griffith, one of the founders of Wild Haus Floating Saunas, on a crisp, clear, late-summer morning to chat about the project she helped start last January. In simple terms, the team of eight created two saunas on…
Winter Isn’t Over Yet
Why now might be the best time to take your kids skiing.
For many avid skiers in the Pacific Northwest, this winter has been a bust. Drier-than-normal conditions and a lack of snow have put a real damper on powder days, lift operations, and access to the mountains. As an avid backcountry skier, I’ve noticed the lean conditions and have not made it a priority to get…
The Neighborhood Gym Effect
Inside Seattle Strength and Performance’s small-group training model and welcoming approach to fitness.
On a regular Seattle Wednesday morning, a little wet and dreary, I walk into a small gym feeling unsure of what I’ve gotten myself into. It’s late January, a time when many New Year’s resolutions are failing and motivation to keep exercising may be going out the window. I work out consistently—lifting weights, going to…
The Rise of the Experience Economy
REI brings back guided travel, betting that memories matter more than stuff.
In my household, with two young boys under the age of five, we often have to remind them to take things back. Did you really mean to tell dad that his dinner isn’t good? You might want to take that back. Did your brother deserve to be hit? Let’s rethink that one. Extreme analogies aside,…
Off the Grid
In winter, Alpine Lakes High Camp near Stevens Pass trades cell service for peace and quiet.
Editor’s note: Since publication, it was brought to our attention that flooding has closed Highway 2 long term, limiting access to this location. Please check current conditions before planning a visit. This is the quietest place I’ve been in a long time, I think, as I stand alone in the snow. Just off Highway 2,…
Washington’s Wild Middle Fork
Where sweeping views, beloved trails, and a major conservation effort converge.
I have a flaw in my outdoorsman résumé. I’ve been to the top of the Washington volcanoes, hiked, skied, and climbed countless mountains and trails throughout our beautiful state. But as a transplant to the area, I’m still not sure I can consider myself a Seattleite because of one thing: I haven’t been to the…
The E-Bike That Saved Our Mornings
A simple shift in the school commute turned into the best part of the day.
Ah, the dreaded school morning, when getting your kids out the door is a Herculean effort. Sometimes it feels like getting them to eat breakfast, brush teeth, and get dressed is harder than moving a rock uphill. But never—not once—since we got an e-bike have our kids not wanted to hop on and zoom off…
Surfing the Strait
Winter surfing on Washington’s northern edge means fleeting waves, icy water, and pure joy.
There are people so crazy and determined to surf, they’ll go to great lengths to do it. No matter the time of year or how cold it gets, surfers can be found anywhere there’s a wave. From surfing on rivers to tidal bore waves, wave pools, and even behind wakes created by tanker ships, surfers…
Lessons from the Land
At the Organic Farm School on Whidbey Island, the ground-to-table mindset is rooted in good intentions.
For some, it’s tough to choose between a perfectly sun-ripened summer tomato and a juicy strawberry—but not for my three-year-old. Tomatoes, always tomatoes. Especially one that he has picked directly off the vine, on a working farm filled with fresh produce, chickens, and pigs. As the juice dribbles down his chin, and the sound of…
Paddle Camping on a One-Acre Island
Posey Island in the San Juans is Washington State Parks’ smallest marine park, where seals, tide pools, and even orcas make appearances.
Stroke after stroke, we paddled further and further away from safety. Should we be here with our two precious kids, I thought as we headed out toward open water. As we rounded the corner it became clear and I let out a sigh of relief—yes, we can do this. Over Labor Day weekend, my wife…
Trail to Table
Foraging for wild food across Seattle brings the whole family together.
Mud climbs up my ankle as my feet slip deeper toward the creek. I twist and pull, and out comes a light green shoot. Its roots hang like small tentacles caked in dirt. The cattail is smooth, about the size of a scallion, its trademark brown tuft has not yet formed. Later, I’ll fry up…
A Hidden Gem in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
This rugged high route offers sweeping views and rare solitude just 75 miles from Seattle
As I traversed a steep trail, five long hours after I started, I began to feel a bit lonely. I hadn’t seen anyone for several miles, and the heat of the day was making my brain foggy. Then, around the corner, a hardy family of five—including three young kids—appeared, traipsing along like mountain goats, seemingly…
A Seaweed Sanctuary
Enjoy a soothing wrap from the sea
Deep in the wilderness, in a secluded cove off the coast of Canada’s Vancouver Island, there’s a place so magical and transformative that some have claimed it to be one of the best experiences of their life. Moon Jelly Bathhouse is a haven where mermaid dreams come true and luxury is guaranteed. What makes this…
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