Columbia City Bakery: a Neighborhood Sweet Spot
Where will you find Seattle’s flakiest croissant, most perfect baguette or tastiest gingersnap? Many of Seattle’s best artisan bakeries are in its far-flung neighborhoods–removed from the hustle and bustle of Seattle’s downtown core and nowhere near Pike Place Market. To find them, head to tucked-away hoods like West Seattle, Wallingford or Columbia City–neighborhoods where out-of-town travelers rarely tread. […]
NEWS: Washington Coast Getaway, Haunted Hikes
Are we there yet? We’ve just begun planning our annual fall roadtrip, which we do the week of Thanksgiving. The impending wrath of another La Nina has got us feeling less than ambitious, though. Our old rear-wheel Volvo wagon is our only set of wheels. About once a month, my Mom emails me a […]
HIKE: Sunshine Coast Trail
When I was told about British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast Trail, I was stunned. I work for a hiking organization in Washington state — how had I never heard of this incredible trek before, just a few hours to the north of the U.S. border? And so of course, I want to make sure you know all […]
Riding the Rails in Snoqualmie
A friend of mine named JG used to ride the rails. JG finished up his college years in a sleepy Midwestern town, then wondered what was next. His fellow students were settling into new lives in Chicago and Minneapolis, starting their climb from the bottom of the corporate ladder. But that wasn’t the life for JG. He had […]
Corn Mazes, Pumpkins and Hot Cider
Psst…. get our premier guide to fall travel – Autumn Escapes in the Pacific Northwest. Get inspired to spend your fall weekends combing rocky beaches, savoring the harvest, and hiking scenic mountain trails of Washington and Oregon. Get it here. Updated Fall 2014 It is officially my favorite month, in the kitchen and in the outdoors. Let’s […]
NEWS: Fall Hikes, Rainy Rainforest
Psst…. get our premier guide to fall travel – Autumn Escapes in the Pacific Northwest. Get inspired to spend your fall weekends combing rocky beaches, savoring the harvest, and hiking scenic mountain trails of Washington and Oregon. Get it here. Are your vine maple leaves turning color yet? My calendar says that tomorrow is October 1. Autumn will […]
Cortes Island Beach Walk
Sometimes you really don’t know how much you need a respite until you’re there. I just needed a break—from routine, from traffic, from problems, from life. On a remote island off the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, I slowed down. Way down. When the tide is out, even if it is 6am, you have to […]
Finding Peace in Washington’s Backcountry
This post was published on the 10-year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The last time I owned a television was 1998, and there has been exactly one time I wished I had one since– the early morning of September 11th. I was in the shower when my Mom called as she watched the attack […]
Sechelt Marsh is a Birding Hotspot on the Sunshine Coast
Sechelt Marsh is a brackish oasis for wildlife that live on and migrate along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Common birds like woodpeckers and red-winged blackbirds are frequently seen and heard, but many rarities have turned up here as well. It’s a must-stop for birding enthusiasts traveling along Hwy 101 on the Sunshine Coast. Getting There: […]
NEWS: Cascadia Hot Springs, New Ferry to Port Townsend
Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah of vacation travel for some, but not for me. I spent most of my summer weekends closer to home in Seattle this year–in my garden, on hiking trails in nearby parks, or on day trips to nearby small towns. Now, I’m ready to get out a little further […]
