!–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…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE: /strongTieton, Washington, located in sunny Yakima Valley. strongWHY: /strongFor the TIETON OPEN HOUSE (4/26, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Mighty Tieton Warehouse;a href=”http://www.mightytieton.com” target=”_blank” mightytieton.com/a). strongWHAT: /strongTieton is a tiny town with big plans. In recent years, a group of boosters has worked to turn Tieton—once an agriculturally based burg—into an incubator for artisan businesses….

!–paging_filter–pSpring is just barely upon us, but you may still need to shake out those winter chills after a long and dreary season. In our March issue, a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/where-travel-olympic-peninsula-sol-duc…” target=”_blank”we wrote about road tripping it to Sol Duc Hot Springs and Resort/a, which is nestled in a valley carved by the mighty Sol Duc River…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE:/strong Sol Duc Hot Springs near Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula (12076 Sol Duc Hot Springs Road, Port Angeles; a href=”http://www.olympicnationalparks.com” target=”_blank”olympicnationalparks.com/a). strongWHY: /strongThis forested getaway in Olympic National Park opens for the season at the end of March, just in time for a spring awakening. strongWHAT:/strong Nestled in a valley carved by the…

A horse-drawn sleigh pulls up, and the driver beckons us on board. My wife and kids and I are heading for dinner at Trail Creek Cabin, an outpost that’s a mile and a half through meadows and woods from the front door of the Sun Valley Lodge, our home for the weekend. We climb aboard…

!–paging_filter–pThe off-season is the perfect time to visit the Washington coast for several reasons: you don’t have to worry about closed passes, the weather makes for dramatic sea-watching and hotel rates are at their lowest. Try one of the cozy, scenic cabins perched above the blustery beach at Iron Springs Resort (3707 Highway 109; 360.276.4230;…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE:/strong Port Townsend, for the 10th annual Strange Brewfest (1/24–1/25 $30 for both days; 21 and older. American Legion Marvin G. Shields Post 26, 209 Monroe St.; a href=”http://www.strangebrewfestpt.com” target=”_blank”strangebrewfestpt.com/a). strongWHY:/strong This quirky and quintessentially Northwest celebration of more than 30 craft beer and cider brewers from all over the region promises a weekend of…

!–paging_filter–pstrongWHERE: /strongWhistler, British Columbia, for the WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL (12/4–12/8; a href=”http://www.whistlerfilmfestival.com” target=”_blank”whistlerfilmfestival.com/a). strongWHAT: /strongImagine Telluride’s famed movie fest with fewer Hollywood A-listers, more Canadian accents, and arguably better mountain views and skiing. This year, après-ski celeb sightings could include Jason Priestley, whose debut directorial effort, Cas Dylan, kicks off the fest. strongBONUS TRACKS: /strongTwo…