Travel & Outdoors
Road Trip to Winthrop
Winthrop welcomes all comers—from fiddlers to insect wranglers.
WHERE: Winthrop, Washington, in the Methow Valley. WHY: For the BIG NORTH CASCADES OLDTIME FIDDLERS CONTEST (8/27. $15; kids younger than 12 are free. Spring Creek Ranch, 22 Belsby Road; 509.996.2111; winthropfiddle.org), where you’ll celebrate American folk music via hardcore fiddling competitions for all age divisions, from Pee-Wee to Senior. BRING: Your own insect or…
Road Trip: Winthrop
Celebrate American folk music via hardcore fiddling.
WHERE: Winthrop, Washington, in the Methow Valley. WHY: For the BIG NORTH CASCADES OLDTIME FIDDLERS CONTEST (8/27. $15; kids younger than 12 are free. Spring Creek Ranch, 22 Belsby Road; 509.996.2111; winthropfiddle.org), where you’ll celebrate American folk music via hardcore fiddling competitions for all age divisions, from Pee-Wee to Senior. BRING: Your own insect or…
Summer Guide 2011: the Water Issue
Like the mountains that frame our city, water gives Seattle its identity. Life here is a life aquati
From the briny smell of Elliott Bay wafting over downtown to the sight of sunlight sparkling on Lake Washington during a summer morning commute; from the lapping sound of waves against docks and kayaks to the taste of our drinking water—some of the purest in the world. And—we’ll say it—the feeling of warm rain splattering…
Best Camping Spots in Washington
Whether you prefer authentic camping or luxury "glamping," our camping guide has you covered.
Roughing ItThe Northwest offers plenty of ways to commune with nature, but nothing quite surpasses the getting-back-to-the-land feeling of hiking, sleeping and cooking outdoors—especially when s’mores await at the end of a day spent entirely free of walls. Not-so-Roughing ItIf sleeping on the ground—even on a pad in a warm sleeping bag and tent—is more…
Travel to the Valley Village of Tieton
Big-city ambition meets small-town charm in the Yakima Valley village of Tieton.
About two and a half hours east of Seattle, Tieton (pronounced TY-uh-tun) was once a prosperous apple town with a railroad link, a bowling alley, a dance hall, a billiards parlor and a soda fountain where folks gathered to shoot the breeze. Even aliens from outer space are said to have visited Tieton. But since…
The North Cascades Institute’s Learning Center Is for the Birds
Head to the woods and bring your binocs for a weekend of migration and song.
WHERE: The North Cascades Institute’s Learning Center, which offers a plethora of educational and inspiring nature programs amid the mountains, glaciers and rivers of the North Cascades. WHY: To partake in the migration and song: spring birding weekend (6/3–6/5; $215–$455, lodging included; ncascades.org), featuring local avian experts who teach visiting bird enthusiasts about Clark’s nutcrackers,…
Warning: May Cause Daydreaming. Our ‘Mountain Guide’
OK, so you can't actually see the mountains today, but just knowing they're there keeps us grounded
Days like today remind me of how easy it is to take our mountains for granted. Just yesterday, driving across the lake, I got a great big mountain in my eye; Mount Rainier in all its glory, sun glancing off of glaciers, etc. etc. Today, no sign of it…except on the cover of our May…
The Ultimate Guide to Washington’s Mountains: The Name Game
Washington’s got great mountains, and some of the stories about how they got their names are just a
OLYMPIC MOUNTAINSThe Brothers, 6,565 feet; Mount Constance, 7,743 feet; Mount Ellinor, 5,952 feet In the 1850s, during his survey of Northwest mountains for the U.S. Coast Survey, Lieutenant George Davidson found the perfect way to impress his future in-laws when he named several peaks after members of the family of his soon-to-be bride, Ellinor Fauntleroy….
What to Do When Pac NW Animals Attack
From grizzly bears to cougars, we have the scoop on what to do when faced by a wild animal.
When Animals AttackWhen an experienced hiker was killed by an aggressive mountain goat last fall on a trail near Hurricane Ridge, it brought home to anyone who appreciates the great outdoors the fact that our abundant geographical blessings come with a sobering dose of reality. The wilderness can be a dangerous place, and while human…
Central Oregon Coast
Now presenting the full ultimate guide to the Central Oregon Coast.
Return to the Ultimate Coast GuideGo here if: family-friendly amenities and attractions are tops on your list. With Newport as the central hub of this central coastal area, you’ll have easy access to such things as the city’s world-class aquarium. Travel time: about five to six hours from Seattle Newport A world-class aquarium makes this…
Ultimate Coast Guide: Long Beach Peninsula
The full scoop on places to go on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Return to the Ultimate Coast GuideGo here if: you love a dose of history with your beach. Along with the tiny historic settlement of Oysterville, the peninsula is home to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Travel time: approximately 3.5 hours from Seattle Soak up some historyThe Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center (248 Robert Gray…
Ultimate Coast Guide: Grays Harbor Coast
From Seabrook to Ocean City State Park, the best spots to kick back and relax on the Grays Harbor Co
Return to the Ultimate Coast GuideGo here if: you’re looking for a quick trip to the beach with plenty of amenities—from quirky restaurants to kitschy B&Bs and entertaining festivals. These are among the most accessible of Washington’s beaches. Go for the day, rent a house for a week or spend a quick weekend. Travel time:…
Ultimate Coast Guide: Southern Oregon Coast
As promised, the complete guide to ultimate coastal destinations in Southern Oregon.
Return to the Ultimate Coast GuideGo here if: you enjoy dune buggies and antiquing—and don’t mind a bit of a trek. Travel time: about six to seven hours from Seattle Feed Seymour at Darlingtonia Botanical WaysideA roadside preservation five miles north of Florence showcases one of southern Oregon’s rarest curiosities: the native carnivorous (it just…
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