Urban Bed and Breakfasts in Seattle and Portland
Try to find a place to stay in Seattle or Portland, besides a hostel, for under $100 a night. Just try. The good news is, city cheap sleeps are out there. The bad news? There are literally only a handful of them. There’s the White Eagle in Portland. Seattle’s College Inn. The Ace Hotel in […]
Mount Rainier North – A Cheap Sleep and Three Day Hikes
Not everyone digs sleeping in a tent under the stars. And even those who do dig it might want a break from it every once in awhile. I recently got an email from Caroline, an avid hiker on her way to Washington state from Arizona who is looking for an inexpensive “basecamp” around lots of […]
Vashon Island Trip Guide
The price of gas, pushing $4.50 a gallon, is now officially impacting our vacation travel. I imagine it is yours, too. We’re brainstorming places we can go for relaxing weekend excursions that require minimal mileage. As residents of West Seattle, the closest getaway we could come up with is only a short ferry ride away […]
The McMenamins Edgefield is Offbeat and Fun
Have you heard about the McMenamins Edgefield, just east of Portland in Troutdale? Hardly just a place to crash for the night, Edgefield is quite a destination in itself. A 15-minute drive from Portland, Edgefield is a bit far for city lodging, but the setting makes up for the distance pretty quickly. Set on a […]
New Cabins on Camano Island
First, the really great news. On Camano Island, just 90 miles from Seattle and not requiring transport by ferry, sits a wonderful new waterfront Washington State Park set to make its debut June 21. And, it features the most charming waterfront cedar cabins. AND, they are one of the cheapest sleeps going! Practical Tips for […]
Shakespeare and Wine in the Siskiyous
Going to see Our Town, Othello or Fences this summer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival? That’s the eight-month season of eleven plays in three theaters that happens each year down in Ashland, Oregon. A handful of the festival’s plays are always Shakespeare, with classics by playwrights like Arthur Miller and Thornton Wilder making up the […]
Finding Cheap Sleeps: Advice for Travelers on a Budget
$280 a night. Really? I’ve been looking for an inexpensive room on Orcas Island for a weekend trip this June. In-room Jacuzzis and balconies overlooking the water are great! Sure, I’d love to stay in a room like that. But I’m just not on a budget for that kind of lodging. When we travel, we […]
Heading to the North Cascades?
The North Cascades Highway is expected to open on May 1, a pleasant surprise given the incredible snowpack in the Cascades this winter. The Upper Skagit Valley, the gateway to North Cascades National Park, is a great destination in any season, and especially when Highway 20 is open so that day trips can be made […]
Where to Sleep in Vancouver on a Budget
(Updated 2012) Vancouver isn’t the cheapest city for Americans to visit, especially with the decline in value of the US dollar over the past decade. Still, there are accommodations to fit every type of traveler and every type of budget, especially if you go outside of prime summer tourist season. The Sylvia Hotel (West End) […]
A Little Slice of Haven in Yachats
Our eco-friendly roadtrip begins on the central Oregon coast near the picturesque town of Yachats (pronounced YAH-hots), where dramatic seaside bluffs of basalt loom over beaches and tidepools waiting to be explored. There’s perhaps no better base from which to explore this wondrous nature than a beautiful and comfortable room at Ocean Haven. If you […]
