Local Getaways
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…
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…
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,…
Woodinville’s Refined Escape: Wine, Relaxation, and the Perfect Score
Pair blissful Willows Lodge with the state’s finest wines for a weekend retreat just 30 minutes from Seattle.
When Chateau Ste. Michelle opened in 1976, Woodinville was little more than sleepy farmland. Nearly fifty years later the scene has exploded, with more than a hundred tasting rooms scattered across strip malls. But pull into Willows Lodge in the Hollywood District and the mood calms down considerably. Vineyards edge bustling multi-use paths, and visitors…
Gorge-ous Getaway
Luxury camping hits the Columbia River Gorge
High end camping, or glamping, has been popping up next to national parks for a while now — pretty canvas tents, real beds, bathrooms that don’t require braving the woods in the middle of the night. Now a major national brand has made it to Washington. Under Canvas, the Denver-based company known for luxury camps…
Heart of Glass: A Weekend in Tacoma
Looking for a quick getaway? The City of Destiny awaits.
Tacoma is our happy place. We have a few scattered across the state, but Tacoma is the closest, the easiest, and the most familiar. When we’re craving inspiration or a meal that knocks us sideways, when our wardrobe needs a jolt or we want to be stopped in our tracks by street art, we head…
A Stroll Through Old & New D.C.
Washington, D.C., is always full of surprises
There’s no place quite like Washington, D.C. It’s a city where the world’s fortunes shift by the hour, where history is made just blocks away, and where even the hotel lobby could double as a global chessboard. Walking down its tree-lined streets, a visitor might encounter a senator deep in thought, a foreign diplomat in…
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