Travel
How to start the perfect fire
Make a deeper connection with nature by building a beautiful blaze
Blue and yellow flames burst haphazardly out of the dark, dancing like lightning bugs on a crystal-clear summer’s night. Sparks shoot over my head; the crackle and pop of the fire at my feet is a symphony orchestrated just for me. The power of fire is innate, part of our DNA since the beginning of…
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…
How to do Richmond, B.C., like a local
Famed for its authentic dim sum, also home to the wildest playground and poshest pool you’ve ever seen
THWACK-THWACK-THWACK-THWACK-THWACK. The butcher only pauses to sharpen his cleaver, because the line at HK BBQ Master never lets up. The famed BBQ joint is tucked in the parking garage in the underbelly of a Real Canadian Superstore (actual name). It feels like I’m here to meet Deep Throat. Instead, I discover something far juicier than…
Sip, Swirl, and Stay
Exploring the Santa Ynez Valley 20 years after Sideways uncorked its charm
As Maya Randall from Sideways says, “I started to appreciate the life of wine, that it’s a living thing, that it connects you more to life.” Sideways turns 20 this month — the cult classic that won an Oscar, grossed $100 million, and transformed the American wine industry. The Sideways Effect is real, turning pinot…
A Magical Ferry Tale
Explore Victoria car free with a speedy trip from Seattle via the Victoria Clipper
Located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is accessible by seaplane or by car ferry, from Port Angeles or the B.C. mainland. But thanks to the Victoria Clipper, leaving the car at home to reach the picturesque provincial capital is not only convenient but enjoyable…
Seattle & Iceland Enjoy Deep Roots
Hot springs are nice, but Iceland’s new creative class is among the top reasons to visit Reykjavík, Seattle’s longtime sister city
One unusually warm afternoon this past April, I found myself in a long line outside a building in downtown Reykjavík, Iceland. Ostensibly, I was waiting for pizza…
Hidden Washington: Welcome to Bothell
Small-town charm and quirky fun meet riverside relaxation just outside Seattle
Seattleites traveling on State Route 522 would recognize the famous motto on a road sign: “Welcome to Bothell…for a day or a lifetime.” That is, if the local jokesters haven’t covered up the first three letters of the town name. After decades the signage disappeared, due to accidents and construction. Finally with the backing of local merchants, the markers returned in 2018…
Nashville Beneath the Surface
Take advantage of an easy direct flight between Seattle and Music City
To a certain extent, the traveler knows what to expect when taking the direct flight from Seattle to Nashville for a long weekend. The throngs on Lower Broadway at the honky tonks, the bachelor/ette parties, the face-melting hot chicken, the Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline museums, the Grand Ole Opry. All of it is fun, and none of it is unexpected. But on a recent visit we found quiet, intimate moments of discovery in loud, rambunctious Music City…
A Flatlander Finds Inspiration
Rookie climber discovers beauty, challenge in the mountains
Sprinting down the steep slope as fast as my snowshoes would allow, I called out to a pair of fellow climbers, “Do you have any ibuprofen?” Suffering, scared, and with two aching knees, my brother-in-law, Turner, slowly made his way down to Colchuck Lake, head held high, tail between his legs…
A Seattle Architecture Weekend
A staycation for the design-inclined
Hidden among the thicket of cranes and spheres, Seattle contains an array of architectural marvels that deserve exploration. From historic treasures to contemporary masterpieces, here’s a curated itinerary to immerse yourself in Seattle’s fine design.
