Travel
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…
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…
Getaway Idea: Escape to Hot Spring Heaven
Relax at some of the Northwest's prime soaking destinations
Warm soaking pools, better known as hot springs, have become highly sought-after travel destinations. These natural thermal features are produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater, and larger springs are the result of cracks in sedimentary rock. Water in the pools surpasses outside temperatures, which makes them a unique natural element. While travelers seek…
The Must List: Folklife Festival, ‘Motown’ and Memorial Day Travel Spots
What to do this weekend in Seattle
Must FestNorthwest Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center(5/27 to 5/30, times vary) Memorial Day weekend brings Northwest Folklife to Seattle Center for its 45th year. The region’s demographics have changed over the years, and the festival has evolved accordingly, embracing a wider, more diverse spectrum of world music, dance and other performances, making it a…
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…
Create Your Perfect Travel Itinerary with New Seattle-based Site
A new Seattle-based website helps you create an unforgettable trip
Seeing iconic landmarks and historical sites is part of the allure of travel, but often it’s the little things—the hidden gems that don’t appear in guidebooks or brochures—that make a trip unforgettable. Sharing those lucky finds and personal experiences is the inspiration behind Jrrny (jrrny.com), a website launched in February by local entrepreneur (and former…
Seattle-based Luxury Jets Take Travel to new Heights
Get ready for takeoff with these private plane experiences for any budget
» Up…Now celebrating its 70th anniversary, Kenmore Air (kenmoreair.com), based at the north end of Lake Washington, has long been the area’s go-to for seaplane transport and tours around the Pacific Northwest. The services have expanded over the years to include group whale-watching and adventure-sport day trips as well as private floatplane picnics, but Kenmore’s…
What Seattle’s Density Problem is Doing to Your Summer Plans
Our state’s population is growing, but not the number of our state campsites
On a sunny summer weekend last year, I loaded my car with a tent, camping stove and border collie and hit the road, in hopes of finding a spot in a state campground near Deception Pass. As I drove, I was reminded of the trips with my family in our VW camper van in the…
5 Things to Do While You’re in Phoenix for the Mariners’ Spring Training
Head to the desert for some Seattle Mariners baseball in the Phoenix sun
Sponsored by Visit Phoenix Spring is almost here and that means it’s almost time for the start of another baseball season. Every March, Cactus League Spring Training, a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular baseball season, roars to life in Phoenix with crowds of cheering fans and shouts for concessions….