Travel
5 Washington State Parks Less Than an Hour Away
Take a trip into nature with one of these five convenient locales
Sponsored by Washington State Parks With a busy summer schedule, it might seem hard to escape the city for anything, let alone a serene nature getaway. However, these five Washington State Parks—all conveniently less than an hour drive from Seattle—provide the perfect opportunity for a quick summertime adventure. Whether you’re in the mood for a…
Getaway Idea: Road Trip Around the Hood Canal
Enjoy a peaceful weekend of beach-combing, site seeing and tasty treats
For as long as I can remember, my family and I have spent a significant chunk of our summer in and around the Hood Canal area. The short drive, or ferry ride is well worth it for the outdoor adventures and uniquely historical experiences. Here are a few tips for how to maximize your time…
Road Trip: Kite Festival at Long Beach
Get ready for a colorful, small-town getaway
WHERE: Long Beach, a small town in the southern coastal corner of Washington, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Seattle. WHY: The Long Beach–based World Kite Museum’s annual Washington State International Kite Festival (8/15–8/21, kitefestival.com). The seaside skies will be ablaze with colorful kites during this weeklong celebration and competition, which attracts professional kite flyers from…
Chatting with a PCT ‘Trail Angel’
These volunteers are heaven-sent
Andrea and Jerry Dinsmore planned to run a tiny truck stop when they retired from their jobs as a truck driver and mechanic, respectively. Instead, they became volunteers, running a “human stop” as trail angels—people who help thru-hikers (those who hike long-distance trails from end to end) with small acts of kindness—welcoming more than 500…
6 Top Biking Trails in the PNW
These trails pave the way for cycling amongst walkers and runners—but not cars
With Haley Durslag, Cassie Gruber and Jake Laycock 1. The Sammamish River TrailThis is the country cousin of Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail. It starts in Bothell where the Burke-Gilman ends and continues for 11 miles to Redmond’s Marymoor Park. It is dead flat for almost its entire length. And while it’s almost as popular as the…
The 14 Best Places to Hike in the PNW
The days are long, the sun is shining— it’s time to get outside
With Haley Durslag, Cassie Gruber and Jake Laycock The days are long, the sun is shining—it’s time to get outside. Our guide to 14 of the region’s best hikes and six bike rides that will help you celebrate the season by enjoying iconic trails and urban adventures. Half-Day HikesYou can take these hikes in the…
8 Perfect Small Town Getaways
As Seattle continues its boom, the relaxed charm of small towns seems all the more attractive
As Seattle continues its boom, the relaxed charm of small towns seems all the more attractive. These Northwest hamlets, brimming with character, friendly locals, fantastic food and scenic views, are some of our favorite places to get away from it all. 1. Dayton, WashingtonA sleepy wine country town with a wide thoroughfare—and an annual event…
A Vacation Home in Lynden is Filled with Memories
The lush grounds of a northern Washington retreat remind us that to everything there is a season
Rows of raspberry canes, their curling tendrils climbing up posts—the result of countless seasons of planting and picking—line the quarter-mile drive up to Estergreen, the 19th-century cabin owned by Vancouver, British Columbia, architect Robert Lemon. The bittersweet berry is a fitting symbol for Lemon’s current state of mind. This summer, he’s embarking on a poignant…
Blast From the Past: Old-School Activities in Seattle
Turn back time by taking advantage of Seattle's old-school pastimes
It seems that in terms of technology hubs, Seattle has got it all: Microsoft (of course), Amazon’s expansive urban campus, and now, the shiny sheen of a new Facebook office. The high-tech gizmos of Back to the Future-fame have all but become our reality. And while the city seems to be approaching a Jetsons-esque landscape at…
Travel Easy With New In-Home Health Service
TravelRx service eliminates trips to the office
Typhoid, dengue fever, measles. These aren’t diseases most of us worry about—until we start planning that trip abroad to countries where these diseases are problematic. Helping you learn what vaccines or medications you need to protect yourself, and having them conveniently administered, is the mission of TravelRx (progressivetravelrx.com), a new Tacoma-based company. The Centers for…
What You Need to Know About Zika
Disease-carrying mosquito not found in Washington, will likely reach U.S. this summer
Seattle may not be a hot spot for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, but the number of local cases could swell during the summer travel season. First identified in 1947 in Uganda, Zika—often a symptomless virus—is now a household name because it has been linked to several debilitating conditions, including microcephaly, in which babies are born…
Road Trip: To Bend, Oregon, and Back
Welcoming summer with a weekend of food, brews and exploring the outdoors
This past Memorial Day weekend, my partner and I packed our bags for a getaway. We opted to hop the state line and head to Bend, Oregon, since it’s a short drive from Seattle and on that particular weekend, was forecasted to be rain free. While there, we indulged, imbibed and made our way to…
Stratospheric Growth at Sea-Tac Warrants Possible Expansions
Sea-Tac growth continues to exceed expectations. How will our airport be able to handle the crowds?
As crowds surge in the security line at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on a recent day, a uniformed man and woman—until that moment standing quietly by the side of the line—suddenly swoop in and open a new security lane. These low-key personnel are called “pathfinders.” Their only job? To rejigger the security lanes leading to passenger…
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