“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy …” … unless you live in Seattle. Far-flung family and friends finally wise up to the notion that we live in a magical place — surrounded by water, nature, and coveted cuisine. Time for a visit! They descend in waves while we struggle to house, feed, and entertain them….

Airbnb hosts across Washington state earned on average $16,700 last year, almost 20% more than the national average. Top-earning counties are King, Pierce, Clallam, Chelan, and Whatcom. Hosts in the U.S. earned a total of $22 billion last year. Data from Airbnb also find that nearly two-thirds of hosts use the supplemental income to cover…

Chat with Seattleites in the know and they’ll tell you about Tacoma’s food and arts scene, or the out-of-this-world thrifting. They’ll say it reminds them of an earlier version of Seattle, where the locals prize creativity and a friendly, can-do attitude above all, where people still go to make things. But don’t let others’ experiences…

Blue and yellow flames burst haphazardly out of the dark, dancing like lightning bugs on a crystal-clear summer’s night. Sparks shoot over my head; the crackle and pop of the fire at my feet is a symphony orchestrated just for me. The power of fire is innate, part of our DNA since the beginning of…

THWACK-THWACK-THWACK-THWACK-THWACK. The butcher only pauses to sharpen his cleaver, because the line at HK BBQ Master never lets up. The famed BBQ joint is tucked in the parking garage in the underbelly of a Real Canadian Superstore (actual name). It feels like I’m here to meet Deep Throat. Instead, I discover something far juicier than…

Imagine a dinner party in the neighborhood. The invitation looks familiar, but when you arrive, the event is not at all what you expected. There are many rooms with different themes. The guests are intriguing and inviting. An astronomer chats with a master brewer, a ship’s captain extrapolates on weather patterns with a sommelier, and…

“Hawaii is not a state of mind but a state of grace.”- Paul Theroux Hawaii takes its responsibility as a tourist destination very seriously, and so should its millions of annual visitors. By leaving the island a better place, tourists enjoy a richer experience from their Hawaiian travels and gain a deeper appreciation for Hawaiian people…

The is the third story in our series on travel to the Hawaiian island of Oahu.  From Duke Kahanamoku holding court at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Mai Tai Bar to Don Ho singing “Tiny Bubbles” at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu is known for its legendary hotels and iconic surf culture. When you stay at…

What do forest bathing, storm watching, geocaching, fungi foraging, and razor clamming have in common? These are just a few of the multitude of outdoor activities described in Lauren Braden’s new book, 52 Ways to Nature: Washington: Your Seasonal Guide to a Wilder Year. This book, published by nonprofit outdoor community The Mountaineers last spring,…

Take a well-organized, thriving metropolis of more than 1 million people and add in hipster food joints, craft cocktails, the culture of a cosmopolitan city, and vibrant street art. Shake it up like a martini and scatter it in the Canadian prairie surrounded by mountain villages and jaw-dropping scenery. This is Calgary — and all…