Natalie Compagno and Greg Freitas

Winter Escapes

Winter Escapes

These cold destinations are pretty hot this time of year

Winter in Seattle is a magical time for holiday lights, cool walks with hot beverages, and the occasional dusting of snowfall on our beautiful parks. Winter is also, paradoxically, the ideal time to get out of town. As the skies darken and the days get shorter, the lure of adventure tempts.
Here are some ideas for winter escapes that will ignite the bonfires of travel as soon as the temperature drops.

Around the World, Sip by Sip (Part One) 

Around the World, Sip by Sip (Part One) 

Quench your thirst for travel without leaving Seattle

Whether it’s a dry rosé that evokes the sense memory of a sunbaked afternoon in Provence, or a crisp pilsner that brings back a boisterous Prague beer hall, libations transport our minds to faraway lands. The next time you go out, bring the same sense of adventure you would to travel by sampling one of…

Missoula’s Moment

Missoula’s Moment

The city is full of amazing wilderness and a sense of adventure

The wagon trail leading from Seattle to Missoula, Mont., is well-traveled. When Missoulians crave the city slicker vibe, they pony up and head west. When Seattleites want to slow things down, they head over the pass to Zootown, as Missoula is affectionately known. There is a kinship between Seattleites and Missoulians; we love our communities…

Hidden Washington: Snohomish is Hiding in Plain Sight

Hidden Washington: Snohomish is Hiding in Plain Sight

A friendly, quaint, and engaging small town

As Scottish novelist and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson said, “I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this featherbed of civilization and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints.” What the great Stevenson might…

Healing the mind and body on Lānaʻi

Healing the mind and body on Lānaʻi

The Spiritual island remains a welcome place of refuge

Lānaʻi has always been a sacred place. Hawaiians believed that the fertile lands of Lānaʻi were blessed by Lono, the god of agriculture. Hawaiian chiefs and their families lived on Lānaʻi, bringing spirituality and rituals to the ancient “heiau” (tall rock temple) and other religious sites. Most important, Lānaʻi was considered a place of refuge,…

Beautiful British Columbia

Beautiful British Columbia

Loop your way around these natural wonders

In road trips, as in wheels, the circle is the perfect shape. Why retrace your steps when you have the wind in your hair and you’re off in search of new adventures? Mixed tapes are similar — carefully selected songs to be experienced in a certain order, over and over again. Pop in this Canadian…

Hidden Washington: Spokane Stands Out

Hidden Washington: Spokane Stands Out

Lively times in the Lilac City

Washington’s Second City, Spokane, is topping the charts these days. National Geographic named it one of the 30 best small cities in the country. In 2021, Spokane was named a top 10 hipster city in the world, somewhat comically, by MoveHub, in a ranking that counts things like thrift shops and microbreweries per capita. This…

Seattle Summer Staycation

Seattle Summer Staycation

Indulge in an luxurious escape close to home

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy …” … unless you live in Seattle. Far-flung family and friends finally wise up to the notion that we live in a magical place — surrounded by water, nature, and coveted cuisine. Time for a visit! They descend in waves while we struggle to house, feed, and entertain them….

Around the World, Bite by Bite

Around the World, Bite by Bite

Satisfy your hunger for travel without leaving Seattle

Travelers make friends and create memories seated across a table, sharing exotic flavors and sensations, around the world or at home. Here are five local restaurants that capture the essential flavors of their host countries, and transport diners to these distant lands in one delicious bite. The chefs and owners strive for cultural authenticity, providing…

Hidden Washington: Been to Tacoma Lately?

Hidden Washington: Been to Tacoma Lately?

Tacoma, Four Ways

Chat with Seattleites in the know and they’ll tell you about Tacoma’s food and arts scene, or the out-of-this-world thrifting. They’ll say it reminds them of an earlier version of Seattle, where the locals prize creativity and a friendly, can-do attitude above all, where people still go to make things. But don’t let others’ experiences…

Hidden Washington: Greetings from Bainbridge Island. Wish You Were Here!

Hidden Washington: Greetings from Bainbridge Island. Wish You Were Here!

Uncovering unique gems of the Pacific Northwest

This is the first in an ongoing series featuring Pacific Northwest experiences that shouldn’t be missed.  Like a beachcomber’s paradise — sifting sand to reveal sea glass or flipping wet rocks to find sea creatures — Bainbridge Island is filled with hidden treasures worth exploring. Here are tips, finds, and local faves for a perfect…

Oregon: The neighbor you think you know

Oregon: The neighbor you think you know

Discover Oregon's many charming quirks

Imagine a dinner party in the neighborhood. The invitation looks familiar, but when you arrive, the event is not at all what you expected. There are many rooms with different themes. The guests are intriguing and inviting. An astronomer chats with a master brewer, a ship’s captain extrapolates on weather patterns with a sommelier, and…

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