!–paging_filter–pA well-concealed (OK, probably entirely unknown) perk of being married to a historic preservationist is that the opportunity to travel off the beaten path to fascinating places under the guise of work comes up often. It also brings a new appreciation for places that aren’t so exotic or far-flung but are nonetheless fascinating. For his…

!–paging_filter–pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/0514_roadtrip_olymap.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”450″ width=”358″Day 1: Peninsula Bound/strongbrFrom time to time, even the most true-blue Seattleite will weary of the ceaseless lowering clouds and head for sunny climes—but that’s just not us. Seeking stormy beaches for a weekend getaway, my boyfriend and I headed out for weekend sulk in Olympic National Park…

!–paging_filter–pI’ve been on board a Palomino named Daisy for so long, I’m afraid to get down, because I won’t be able to get back up again. I haven’t peed in nine hours and I share that information with Kara, the gal riding next to me. She says, “Yeah, I know how you feel,” then energetically…

!–paging_filter–pWe’d lived for several years in Seattle, but barely been outside the city—and never east—and we’d heard things were “different” over yonder. So during our sons’ spring break, we lit out for our first-ever road trip as a family, with a loose agenda, an old-fashioned atlas, a willingness to take Yelp advice and plenty of…

!–paging_filter–pemstrongLocation: /strong/emDowntown, 99 Union St.; 206.749.7000; a href=”http://www.fourseasons.com/seattle/” target=”_blank”fourseasons.com/seattle/a/ppemstrongNumber of Rooms: /strong/em147 guest rooms including 13 luxury suites, many with reproductions of art by local artists/ppstrongemRates: /em/strongFrom $395 for a city view to $445 for a deluxe bay room and up to $5,000 for the Presidential Suite/ppemstrongPool: /strong/emYes, an outdoor rooftop infinity pool with spectacular…

!–paging_filter–pAs emSeattle /emMagazine’s editor at large, I get to do the dirty jobs sometimes. Like this week, I’m up in the Canadian Rockies. We came up from Seattle to Vancouver then on to Banff via a Canadian a href=”http://www.rockymountaineer.com/en_CA_BC/routes_and_packages?gclid=CNfT3…” target=”_blank”sightseeing train called the Rocky Mountaineer/a: think domes, cars and gourmet food while cruising on rails…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE:/strong The John Wayne Pioneer Trail. strongWHY:/strong To bike the more than 100-mile section of the trail running from the trailheads at Cedar Falls (near North Bend) and Army East (part of the U.S. Army’s Yakima Training Center, near Vantage, on the Columbia River). strongWHAT: /strongThe longest Rails-to-Trails conversion in the country—the full length stretches…

!–paging_filter–pstrongemLocation: /em/strongBallard, 5216 Ballard Ave NW; 206.789.5012; a href=”http://www.hotelballardseattle.com” target=”_blank”hotelballardseattle.com/a/ppemstrongNumber of Rooms:/strong/em 18 standard rooms and 11 suites (8 are rooftop suites)/ppstrongemRates:/em/strong $189 for standard room $299 peak season); $299 for rooftop suite, and up depending on season ($499 peak season)/ppstrongemPool:/em/strong Yes/ppemstrongFitness center: /strong/emYes/ppstrongemSpa:/em/strong None/ppemstrongRestaurant:/strong/em Yes, a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/ballards-stoneburner-shows-promise“Stoneburner/a/ppemstrongRoom service: /strong/emYes/ppemstrongHotel bar:/strong/em Yes, also Stoneburner/ppemstrongParking (cost…

!–paging_filter–pemstrongLocation:/strong /emDowntown, 411 University Street, 206.621.1700, a href=”http://www.fairmont.com/seattle” target=”_blank”Fairmont.com/seattle/a/ppstrongemNumber of Rooms/em/strongem: /emWith 450 rooms, this hotel, which opened in 1924, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places./ppstrongemRates/em/strongem:/em Average of $299 for a Fairmont room; $329 for a deluxe room with sitting area,em /emand upem /emdepending on seasonembr/em/ppstrongemPool/em/strongem:/emstrong /strongYes/ppstrongemFitness center/em/strongem:/em Yes/ppstrongemSpa/em/strongem: /emYes, Penelope The…

I just boarded the BoltBus for my 24-hour media road trip to Vancouver, courtesy of Tourism Vancouver. On tap for this whirlwind tour is a local beer flight tasting at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (I’ve never been and am told my usual footwear choices will not be acceptable for that trek), dinner atop Grouse…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE: /strongThe historic port city of Astoria, Oregon, the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies. strongWHY:/strong For the kickoff of the seasonal Sunday Market (5/11–10/12; a href=”http://www.astoriasundaymarket.com” target=”_blank”astoriasundaymarket.com/a). strongWHAT: /strongMore than 100 rotating local vendors offer everything from handmade goat’s milk soaps to guitars made out of cigar boxes to mountains of delicious local…

Rachel Hart’s shorthand-style, iPhone travelogue highlights from her summer 2013 road trip with her family. (Expect exteme brevity, perhaps more than a few inaccuracies and omissions due to dozing off in the car). Our trip was abridged and modified from Tom Uniack’s amazing itinerary from Seattle to San Diego. Find his itinerary and several others…

!–paging_filter–pstrongLANGDON COOK/strongbrForager, a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/langdon-cooks-mushroom-hunters-among-amazons-b…“author of emThe Mushroom Hunters/em/a and a href=”http://fat-of-the-land.blogspot.com/” target=”_blank”Fat of the Land/a, and a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/cooks-adventures-searching-chanterelles“Cook’s Adventures/a columnist for emSeattle /emmagazinebrstrongbrHow frequently are you on the road?/strongbrLately, it seems like all the time. brbrstrongRegular copilot:/strongbrUsually it’s just me and my strange thoughts.brbrstrongYour vehicle of choice:/strongbrWhen it’s running, my ’68 Mustang ragtop. Ford calls…