Where: Skwachàys Lodge in Vancouver, B.C. Why: This new boutique hotel (rooms start at $225, 31 W Pender St.; 604.687.3589; skwachays.com) near the historic Chinatown neighborhood is awash in art and culture from the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Each floor is assigned an animal spirit, and each of the 18 rooms features a…

For coastal camaraderie, nothing beats a beach fire. Follow these steps and spark a blaze to create a cozy mood—and cook a few marshmallows, too! For coastal getaway ideas, read our Best of the Northwest Coast story here. Here’s How:1. Check regulations. Fires are permitted on most beaches in Washington and Oregon, as long as…

For oenophiles: The recently renovated Hotel Vintage downtown (1100 Fifth Ave.; 206.624.8000; hotelvintage-seattle.com. $269–$549 per night) offers an immersion into Washington wine, starting in the lobby/tasting room, with wine racks stocked with the good stuff and nightly pours—arranged with wineries such as DeLille Cellars, Kestrel Vintners and Chateau Ste. Michelle. The guest rooms feature custom…

Where: Jetty Island, just off the Everett waterfront. Why: This kid and kiteboarder paradise promises real sand, warm shallows and all manner of adventures. What: Two miles long and narrow, Jetty Island sits low in Puget Sound, its wide shores and driftwood piles perfect for picnics, sandcastles and protected wildlife. Built in the late 1800s…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWhere: /strongThe Hood River Valley, in Oregon.strong Why:/strong The Hood River County “Fruit Loop” Cherry Celebration (7/19–7/20; a href=”http://www.hoodriverfruitloop.com” target=”_blank”hoodriverfruitloop.com/a). strongWhat:/strong A self-guided, 35-mile driving tour with stops at farms, wineries and craft fairs, the Fruit Loop is bursting with more than a dozen varieties of locally grown cherries—including Bing, Rainier and Stella—this month, the…

!–paging_filter–pemstrongLocation: /strong/emDowntown, 1101 Fourth Ave.; 206.621.1770;a href=”http://www.monaco-seattle.com” target=”_blank” monaco-seattle.com/a/ppemstrongNumber of rooms: /strong/em189 rooms, including 45 suites/ppemstrongRates (ranges):/strong/em From $189 to $529 for a standard room/ppemstrongPool: /strong/emNo/ppemstrongFitness center:/strong/em Small, serviceable 24-hour fitness center./ppemstrongSpa: /strong/emNo spa but in-room spa services (facials, massage, wraps) using Kerstin Florian products are available./ppemstrongRestaurant/hotel bar:/strong/em Sazerac, a New Orleans-influenced restaurant, anchors the…

!–paging_filter–pemstrongLocation:/strong/em Downtown, 1007 First Ave.; 866.850.1155; a href=”http://www.alexishotel.com” target=”_blank”alexishotel.com/abrbremstrongNumber of rooms: /strong/em121 guestrooms, including eight specialty suites (including one suite with a wood-burning fireplace)brbremstrongRates (ranges):/strong/em $195 to $595 for a standard room/ppemstrongPool:/strong/em No/ppemstrongFitness center: /strong/emSmall 24-hour on-site fitness center; private steam room also available/ppemstrongSpa:/strong/em Chroma Salon.Spa, full-service salon using Aveda products/ppemstrongRestaurant/room service/Hotel bar:/strong/em The recently…

A shout from the foredeck shatters the foggy stillness: “Dallies on the bow!” I look to the captain, Greg Shea. We are in the wheelhouse of the tall ship Maple Leaf, during a four-day cruise around British Columbia’s Gulf Islands. He switches the motoring boat over to autopilot, and we clamber up front for a…

!–paging_filter–pemstrongLocation: /strong/emSeaTac, 18525 36th Ave. S; a href=”http://www.cedarbrooklodge.com” target=”_blank”cedarbrooklodge.com/a/ppstrongemNumber of Rooms/em/strongem: /em104 guest rooms and suites/ppstrongemRates/em/strongem: /emFrom $129 to $299 depending on season and day of the week/ppstrongemPool:/em/strong No/ppstrongemFitness center/em/strongem: /emYes/ppstrongemSpa/em/strongem: /emNo (opening in September 2014)/ppstrongemRestaurant/room service/em/strongem: Yes/em/ppstrongemHotel bar/em/strongem: Yes/em/ppstrongemParking/em/strongem (cost per night):/em Overnight Guest Parking – Self $20; Valet $23; Meeting/Event Guest Parking –…

!–paging_filter–h3img src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/large_0514_roadtrip_eastern-washington_0.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”180″ width=”180″1. a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/real-road-trips-eastern-washington” target=”_blank”Power through Eastern Washington/a/h3pby Pipo Bui Sebastian Simsch brbrbrbrbrbrbrbr/ph3img src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/large_0514_roadtrip_ore.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”180″ width=”180″2. a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/real-road-trips-discover-oregons-outback” target=”_blank”Explore Oregon’s Outback/a/h3pby Jenny Cunninghambrbrbr/ph3brbrbrbrimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/large_0514_roadtrip_olympic.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”180″ width=”180″3. a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/real-road-trips-weekend-jaunt-olympic-…” target=”_blank”Lodge-hop on the Olympic Peninsula/a/h3pby Kristen Russellbrbrbr/ph3brbrbrbrimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/large_0514_roadtrip_heritage.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”180″…

!–paging_filter–pWhether it’s the bird-watcher in me or the delusion of leaving little to chance, I have always gravitated toward detailed itineraries when I travel. And when I say detailed, I mean reserved hotels for every night, minute-by-minute estimates for destination arrivals, driving directions, daily mileage counters, weather predictions and, of course, Dairy Queen locators by…