Local Getaways
The Quiet Alchemy of Whidbey Island
Where to stay, eat, shop, and explore on Washington’s largest island.
Whidbey Island feels like a secret you’re allowed to keep. Celebratory and comforting at once, an instant restorative—salt air and cedar working their quiet alchemy—while still carrying the promise of surprise around every bend. In a state renowned for its islands, it is the largest: 51 miles of farmland, forest, and tide-washed shoreline suspended between…
Grange Estate Brings Modern Luxury to Dundee Hills
Foley Wines created a hidden-gem hospitality experience in Oregon’s popular vineyard region.
I have a confession. Although I have long loved Pinot Noir, it wasn’t until January of this year that I visited Oregon’s Dundee Hills, a 12,500-acre American Viticultural Area about 30 miles southwest of Portland. I’ve spent time in the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, the Columbia Gorge, and even Portland proper, but for some reason had…
Built Into the Trees
A new design-forward alpine retreat near Mount Rainier blends craft, comfort, and slow-living rituals into a year-round stay that’s hard to leave.
It was dark when we arrived. Our family of four—my husband and our tween and teen daughters—left Seattle for a weekend getaway later than planned, the kind of Friday departure that feels optimistic when you pack the car and less so once you hit the slow crawl of traffic out of the city. We cruised…
Getaways & Gifts: Valentine’s Day & Lunar New Year
Seattle staycation ideas for gals, pals, and romance.
Valentine’s Day 2026 promises to be a long, merry weekend. Celebrate with loved ones, then tack on Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, and President’s Day as well. Sounds like a staycation to us—one that accommodates gals, pals, couples, and anyone motivated by indulgent dining and late checkout. Here’s the roundup, with site-specific gift ideas. Alexis…
The Wanderer’s Guide to Portland’s Pearl District
Expect the unexpected in this consistently rewarding urban art oasis.
The first sound we hear at ILY2 gallery is not reverent silence, but astonished, contagious laughter. As we enter the room, a giggling couple bends down to grab a fish from a basket and load it into a giant cannon. The (rubber) salmon rockets through the gallery, thuds loudly against the opposite wall, and drops…
Cozy Coastal Escapes
Who says the beach is only for summertime fun? These six spots, from British Columbia to California, highlight the beauty of the West Coast, all year round.
It all began with a simple scene: a roaring fire at San Ysidro Ranch, a glass of wine within reach, and a card game unfolding on the table. A quiet evening moment that sparked the notion of a coastal winter journey, where the season’s most alluring escapes share one element: the dancing flame. Whether it’s…
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,…
Best Road Trip: Chuckanut Drive
A little less than two hours north of Seattle, depending on traffic, Chuckanut Drive (also known as WA State Highway 11) is 20 miles of postcard-worthy scenery with plenty of places to stop and things to do along the way. It’s a pretty straight shot heading along I-5 North; just take Exit 231 in Burlington…
Bernardus Lodge & Spa is a Relaxing Base for Exploring the California Coast
Whether you’re ready for adventure, or looking for hours of sun-soaked repose, this picturesque resort has the best of both worlds.
Less than four hours after signing off on Seattle magazine’s November/December issue, I was soaking in a large copper bathtub at the Bernardus Lodge & Spa, a lemongrass-scented bath bomb fizzing away the stress of press week. In a poetic wrapping-up of the issue, I’d sent the email approval of the final page proofs just as the light…
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…
1 Hotel is a Hidden Gem in South Lake Union
Tucked into a strip of businesses above Whole Foods, the new lodging offers contemporary, Scandinavian-inspired rooms, a unique wellness program, and one of the city’s best new restaurants.
A little over a decade ago, I was in a wedding at the Pan Pacific Hotel. I don’t remember much about it (the hotel, that is), except that it felt very formal, if not a touch dated, with that general “upscale hotel in any city” kind of vibe. The wedding was fun, but I didn’t…
Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel
A new chapter in the Pacific Northwest’s luxury entertainment.
Photography courtesy of Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel Nestled in the heart of the Snoqualmie Valley with sweeping views of the Cascade Mountains, Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel, formerly known as Snoqualmie Casino, has long been known as Seattle’s closest casino—offering premier gaming, dining, and entertainment. Now, with the opening of the highly anticipated hotel, guests can…
Gone Glamping
Exploring Under Canvas, Washington’s newest luxury outdoor resort.
I am what could be considered an “indoor cat.” Aside from skiing—and the occasional summer hike—much of my favored activity happens inside. But, as luck would have it, a few years ago, one of my friend groups started camping regularly. Maybe it was COVID-related boredom, or an abundance of free time, but there we were,…
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