Warm Hospitality in the Methow Valley
Below is a trip report from Seattle reader Chad Lewis. I like to think of myself as a spontaneous weekend traveler, though it’s probably more accurate to think of myself as a procrastinator. Regardless of the terminology, sometimes a planned-the-day-before weekend trip can be even more satisfying than an elaborately scheduled one. The trip my […]
Grape Lakes in Canada’s Okanagan Valley
The region is stunning, and so are the wines. So why do American wine lovers have so few bottles from BC’s Okanagan Valley in their wine cellars? Sunset magazine covered the challenges of crossing the U.S. Canadian border with alcoholic goods in hand after a visit to British Columbia’s Okanagan wine region. Here’s the deal. If […]
Autumn Cheap Sleeps
I’ve saved some vacation days. I hope you have, too. Because really–this is when the fun begins. The crowds have dwindled, and the weather is still perfectly pleasant. Many great places to stay in the Pacific Northwest that are cost-prohibitive in the tourist-heavy summer months drop their rates after Labor Day. Looking ahead a little, […]
The Longest Beach
A reader asked for a recommendation for an affordable place to stay in Long Beach, Washington. I remember my first visit to Long Beach many years ago. As a hiker and nature lover, I like my coastal visits to be wild and scenic. The Long Beach Peninsula has plenty of those characteristics, from Cape Disappointment […]
No Cabbages B&B – a Harborside Retreat for Nature Lovers
It happened. Brian and I finally had a weekend getaway. Without the baby. I should preface this with fair warning that there may be a number of posts in the coming months about great places to sleep on the Kitsap Peninsula. Because you see, that’s where grandma and grandpa live! And we could get used […]
Travels with Terry
There is a Northwest travel blog that you must check out. Really. In fact, you should bookmark it right now. Terry Richard is an outdoors and travel writer for the Oregonian newspaper, and writes a regular blog called Travels with Terry. From fly-fishing to wine tasting to spa-hopping, Terry knows where the best red is, […]
A Studio Stay in the Rose City
Newsflash! There is more to budget lodging in PDX than the Ace Hotel Portland! Matt Gross, the frugal travel writer for the New York Times, published his ode to the rose city in May (Frugal Portland). Where to stay? The Ace Hotel. Sunset magazine’s travel blog dishes on bargain digs. Where to stay in PDX? […]
Need a Beach? Try Manzanita
The Seattle Times last week featured the charming Oregon coast town of Manzanita as a laid-back, “family-friendly” destination. Always being on the lookout for those two words that I’d frankly never even noticed before last September, I decided to look into Manzanita lodging. After all, the article unequivocally states: “Manzanita turns out to be a […]
Lake Chelan is Calling
I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus lately. My goal is to post once a week, and it’s been three since I last posted. And although I would love to say it’s because I’ve been chillaxin in some remote corner of the Pacific Northwest with no internet access in site, that would be a […]
Road Trip! Get Your Free Trip Planner for Washington
I think Washington state is probably the best place for a weeklong road trip in the whole United States. Seriously. Imagine taking a week off of work this June or July, renting a fuel-efficient car and hitting the open road, from the Olympic coast to the Walla Walla wine country. Experience Washington wants to help […]
