San Juan Islands

This Longtime Vacation Hotspot Has a Wine Scene Worth Slowing Down to Explore

This Longtime Vacation Hotspot Has a Wine Scene Worth Slowing Down to Explore

Cruise your way through the San Juan Islands for a taste of varietals you won’t find on the state’s dry side.

Spend an afternoon sipping a glass of Riesling at the new tasting room for Orcas Island Winery

It's No Wonder the San Juan Islands Have Become an Exploding Food Destination

It’s No Wonder the San Juan Islands Have Become an Exploding Food Destination

How our remote archipelago of the San Juan Islands fosters community and self-reliance—not to mention the freshest food anywhere.

From Hogstone’s Wood Oven: a salad of the first hen eggs and spring shoots of the season, with caramelized onions, a grilled fig leaf and berry vinegar sauce.

This stunning Decatur Island cabin is the next best thing to owning a private island

This stunning Decatur Island cabin is the next best thing to owning a private island

AIA Seattle Home of Distinction: Queen Anne couple finds the perfect retreat from their urban lifestyle.

The landscape largely dictated the footprint of the cabin, which left the surrounding madrona trees in place.

Waterfront San Juan Home Brings the Outdoors Inside

Waterfront San Juan Home Brings the Outdoors Inside

A San Juan Islands vacation home practices an open-door policy with the outside

When the doors open wide at this waterfront residence on one of the San Juan Islands, it’s hard to tell where the indoors ends and the outdoors begins. Sliding glass panels at both the north- and south-facing sides of the1,600-square-foot house retract to open up the entire living area to the sights and sounds of…

San Juan Lavender Festival: A Summer Island Adventure

San Juan Lavender Festival: A Summer Island Adventure

Summer festival showcases the delectable tastes, sites and smells of lavender

WHERE: San Juan Island, Washington’s bucolic getaway, a few hours’ drive and a ferry ride from downtown Seattle. WHY: 15th annual San Juan Island Lavender Festival & Summer Arts Fair at Pelindaba Lavender Farm in Friday Harbor (7/16–7/17; pelindabalavender.com). Hear about how lavender is farmed by going on a tour, or grab some lavender ice…

Island Inspired: Jay Blackinton, of Orcas Island's Hogstone's Wood Oven

Island Inspired: Jay Blackinton, of Orcas Island’s Hogstone’s Wood Oven

The surprising rise of chef Jay Blackinton, who channeled the spirit of Orcas Island’s rad farming and food culture to find something like stardom

Jay Blackinton, the rising star at Hogstone’s Wood Oven on Orcas Island

All the Details on the Forthcoming Willows Inn Cookbook

All the Details on the Forthcoming Willows Inn Cookbook

!–paging_filter–pWhen Joe Ray called, saying he felt like spilling some beans, I had an inkling that it might something big. a href=”http://joe-ray.com/” target=”_blank”Ray’s/a writing and photographs have been featured in The Boston Globe, the New York Times and dozens of other publications. He wrote a story on Riley Starks’a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/tackling-chicken-butchering-workshop” target=”_blank” chicken butchery workshop for…

Updated! Epic Summer Meals Worth Traveling For

Updated! Epic Summer Meals Worth Traveling For

!–paging_filter–pSummer’s a time for soaking it all in, eating every single thing at its absolute peak freshness, staying out late to watch the sun set after nine, the air still warm, cold drink in hand. To help you max out your summer supper plans, I’ve rounded up four special dinners that caught my eye. They’re…

Attack of the Foodie Tours

Attack of the Foodie Tours

Seattle Food Tours and Savor Seattle begin the season of the roving feast

Now that it’s almost summer, spring is finally here. That means a new season of food tours that incorporate walking, eating, learning stuff, eating, more walking, and more eating. I tagged along last week on Seattle Food Tours‘ revamped Belltown Restaurant Tour, which in its third season has evolved from a snacky trek through Belltown…

Orcas Island

Orcas Island

A new gourmet restaurants helmed by famous foodies

WHY: To dine at two new gourmet restaurants helmed by famous foodies. Lisa Nakamura, former chef at The Herbfarm, is taking a seasonal approach at Allium (shown above, 310 Main St.; 360.376.4904; alliumonorcas.com) in the Eastsound space formerly known as Christina’s (the magnificent waterfront view remains). Chef Madden Surbaugh, late of the acclaimed Steps Wine…

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