Twilight Getaway in Forks

They are coming in droves! I haven’t read the books. Nor have I seen the movies. But if there’s one thing about the Twilight saga that makes me really happy, it’s that the masses are descending on Forks. This town needed a New Moon, no? Washington state’s coastal communities are backdropped by some of the […]

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 […]

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 […]

Doe Bay on Orcas Island Fits Every Budget

What can I possibly say about Orcas Island that hasn’t already been said? This pastoral island is patchworked with swatches of farmland and small island villages. The largest of the San Juan Islands, Orcas is about 60 square miles, but you can cover the main roads by car in just a few hours. That is, […]

Wine, Hops, and a Baby in Yakima

When I had a baby last year, there were a few revelations that went through my head about how our life as a carefree traveling couple had suddenly changed. For example, those lazy days of tasting our way through wine country were probably over. Not so! Meet Jodie and James, an Australian couple living in […]

Gig Harbor’s Snug Harbor Hideaway

I dig “The Gig.” As in, Gig Harbor, Washington. It’s a quaint seaside village on the Kitsap Peninsula that hugs a tiny harbor on three sides, and faces Mount Rainier which looms as a beautiful backdrop to this picturesque town. First off, I was married there, in my parents’ backyard. And because my parents live […]

It’s Tulip Time!

April is next week! Behold, Tulipa gesneriana. Tulips are fortunate to have many fine associations, such as early Spring and Easter. You’ve likely started to see them for sale at your local farmer’s market. They earned a black mark in history, however, when they were popularized during Tulip mania in Holland in the 1630s, resulting […]

Sleep for Cheap at National Parks Lodges

Olympic National Park is looking like a pretty great destination right now. I’m wild about National Park Lodges, and my two favorites have some steeply cheap specials going on right now. Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge on the Washington coast are offering rooms starting at $79 a night. I’ve never seen them so cheap […]

Road Food

Road food. When you’re on the road, it’s what’s for dinner. Traveling in the Northwest isn’t just about yurts, inns, cabins and B&Bs. One must appreciate the many wonderful, one-of-a-kind cafes, taverns, taco carts and ice-cream parlors to enjoy along the way to your destination. The wide variety of food establishments benefits from the cornucopia […]