April 2008

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 […]

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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 […]

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South Whidbey Weekend

Island life. A pace or two behind the city, of course, but isn’t that why you go there?

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Destinations and Distractions – May in Washington

Looking to squeeze in a May getaway in Washington? Bad news for outdoor enthusiasts – you probably won’t be hiking in the Cascades just yet. Record winter snowfall has put a real damper on spring hiking and campground accessibility. You could head east and get in some great desert hiking, or hit the Olympic coast […]

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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) […]

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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 […]

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An Auto Club with Values

Traveling often requires a car. And when you drive to the Oregon Coast or to go camping at Mount Rainier, you’re hoping your car doesn’t break down on the way, right? Maybe you’re already a member of an auto club, such as AAA, who will come and change your flat tire, give you discounts on […]

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Tulips Turn Twenty-five

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is celebrating its 25th year, and runs April 1 – April 30. So, why go? I mean, we’re talking about tulips. The thing is, I always have a good time. After a long, dreary Northwest winter, there is something about rows and rows of tulips tinted pink, yellow, red, white […]

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Local Travel is Greener Travel

This past weekend I attended Green Festival in Seattle, a huge environmental expo featuring authors and educators, how-to workshops, and eco-friendly businesses and resources. The organic food was fabulous, I learned all about compact fluorescent bulbs, and was inspired to try a hemp chocolate shake. Yum! It also got me to thinking about travel and […]

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Idle a While in Twisp

It’s one of the most beautiful places in the Northwest all twelve months of the year, but springtime is our favorite season to visit Washington’s Methow Valley. That’s before the summer crowds descend and people start to outnumber the ponderosa pine.  The only problem, though, is getting there. Highway 20 (the scenic North Cascades Highway) […]

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