Travel & Outdoors
Paddle Camping on a One-Acre Island
Posey Island in the San Juans is Washington State Parks’ smallest marine park, where seals, tide pools, and even orcas make appearances.
Stroke after stroke, we paddled further and further away from safety. Should we be here with our two precious kids, I thought as we headed out toward open water. As we rounded the corner it became clear and I let out a sigh of relief—yes, we can do this. Over Labor Day weekend, my wife…
Kayaking the Bioluminescent Waters of San Juan Island
Sea sparkles and glowing jellyfish turn a nighttime paddle into an unforgettable adventure.
Under the cover of darkness, our small pod of explorers expanded into the waters of Griffin Bay in search of glow-in-the-dark marine life. Home to noctiluca scintillans, or “sea sparkles,” the waters of the Salish Sea around San Juan Island were named in Lonely Planet’s 2024 list of best places for bioluminescent viewing in the…
Dispatches from Greenland, Part One: Touching Down on the Edge of the Arctic
United Airlines offers the first new commercial flight from the U.S. to Greenland in nearly 20 years.
Icebergs drift past in improbable forms: a crouching sphinx, a Viking ship, a chess game abandoned by giants. Fog and midnight sun blur together until hours lose their meaning. From the deck of the MS Fridtjof Nansen, time hangs suspended—a mesmerizing, shifting stage set for whatever happens next. Suddenly, the voice of our expedition leader…
All Aboard the Price Hike
Two rounds of fare hikes, a bigger summer surcharge, and new credit card fees are on the way for Washington State Ferries riders
A trip on a Washington state ferry will get more expensive this fall. The Washington State Transportation Commission recently approved fare hikes of 3% on Oct. 1 and another 3% on May 1, 2026. It’s also raising the summer season surcharge to 35% on all routes next year and, on a trial basis, extending the…
A Hidden Gem in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
This rugged high route offers sweeping views and rare solitude just 75 miles from Seattle
As I traversed a steep trail, five long hours after I started, I began to feel a bit lonely. I hadn’t seen anyone for several miles, and the heat of the day was making my brain foggy. Then, around the corner, a hardy family of five—including three young kids—appeared, traipsing along like mountain goats, seemingly…
The Perks of Seattle’s Parks
The city’s parks offer lush green spaces and easy access to nature, ranking it among the nation’s top park systems
Seattle’s parks are not just green spaces — they’re integral to the city’s identity. With nearly 500 parks and natural areas spanning 6,500 acres, Seattle is home to lush urban sanctuaries, offering everything from towering evergreens to scenic lakes and mountain views. These parks provide residents with plenty of opportunities to connect with nature, whether…
Summiting Mount Adams
Seattle magazine’s social media manager tackles a climb that tests both body and mind
Emma Smith, Seattle magazine’s social media manager, decided to climb Mount Adams in July, giving herself just a few weeks to prepare for an early August summit. Mount Adams is a 12,276-foot stratovolcano in the Cascade Range, the second-highest peak in Washington, with sprawling glaciers and a broad, sloping summit. After her roommate mentioned the…
Resilience by the Sea: Return to Lahaina
As West Maui rebuilds, beauty and connection remain
West Maui has always held a magnetic allure — the scent of plumeria backlit by torches under a pale moon, or the way the sea breeze fills the lungs with total relaxation. But a visit now, in the wake of the 2023 wildfires, carries added meaning. Not out of obligation, but appreciation. The ocean views…
Urban Paddle
Canoeing the Green River from Kent to Tukwila offers solitude and a sense of adventure
The giant bridge ahead and the distant roar of loud car engines were telltale signs that we were arriving at I-405 in Southcenter. Though instead of zooming toward an onramp at 70 miles per hour, we were floating lazily down a river at approximately two miles per hour. Over the Fourth of July weekend, my…
Just Do the Camp
It’s not about loving it. It’s about showing up.
At piano camp they practice for three hours a day. That’s the part my 14-year-old daughter remembers when she’s getting ready to go again this year. She puts off packing for the week-long overnight camp because she’s nervous. She tries not to be, because it’s her second year, and you’re not supposed to be nervous…
Why I’m Letting a Shuttle Drive Me to the Mountains
Trailhead Direct makes summer hiking easier, greener, and a lot less stressful
I used to think driving to the mountains was just part of the deal. Weekend hikes meant leaving early, hoping to beat the crowds, and then, more often than not, spending half the morning circling a gravel lot because I didn’t leave early enough. And that’s after dealing with narrow mountain roads and the stress…
No Cuts to Summer Fun at State Parks
Despite a leaner budget, Washington State Parks says services and access will stay the same
The agency might be tightening its belt, but summer fun is still on. Like other parts of state government, Washington State Parks took a hit in the latest legislative session, but visitors shouldn’t notice any changes to staffing or services this season. “We were fairly fortunate in that we were able to make mostly non-staffing…
Ooh La La! Tahiti Is Closer Than You Think
Tahiti is a tropical paradise that combines natural beauty, rich culture, and luxurious experiences
From the Bounty to Brando, French Polynesia stirs our most primal escapism. Lush, verdant peaks teetering above gin-clear lagoons, filled with a brilliant, sapphire menagerie — it only begins to describe the allure, as does the scent of gardenias drifting through the air like a persistent opiate. With the same ancient Polynesian culture firmly rooted…
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