With a strong U.S. dollar and sunny summer weather, now is the perfect time to travel to Canada’s west coast. Vancouver is a mere 3-hour drive north and makes an awesome day or weekend trip destination. Personally, I’d recommend staying the weekend since there are so many awesome things to do, see, and eat. Like Seattle, the city is diverse and near the water, with delicious food, friendly people, and beautiful nature to explore. In addition, we are partnering with Sea to Sky Gondola to give away a pair of round trip passes to the summit.
Category Archive: Weekend Wanderings
Updated 5/8/17.
Late spring is on its way and we’re well on our way to summer. Maybe I’ve said this every year and I’ll say it again—this year has really flown by! Here’s a guide to some of my favorite hikes in the North Bend / Snoqualmie region, about 40 minutes east on I-90 from Seattle.
Orcas Island, nicknamed “the gem of the San Juans”, had everything we needed for a relaxing weekend—a lovely downtown to shop and eat, a stunning shoreline, beautiful lakes, and walking, hiking, and biking trails. There are plenty of lodging options: you can camp, stay in a cabin, yurt, at a resort, or book an airbnb. Once on the island, you can take the ferry to visit the other islands for free, including San Juan Island (Friday Harbor), Lopez Island, and Shaw Island.
A glass act: Visiting our artsy neighbors to the south.
Just 35 miles south of Seattle, there’s an old railroad town where public art thrives, waterfront property reigns and the architectural landscape vacillates between gritty industrial and grand Victorian. Compared to Seattle (especially these days), the pace there feels significantly slower, the streets emptier, the buildings lower. (One welcomed difference? Empty parking spaces abound!)
Washington’s seaside resort is a premier lodging experience.
Located on the Semiahmoo Spit, the Semiahmoo Resort is located on the pristine shores of Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor two hours north of Seattle. It features two restaurants, numerous amenities and outdoor activities, and two challenging and highly acknowledged public golf courses (Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club and Loomis Golf Trail Club). The tide pools and estuaries provide a sanctuary for Pacific Northwest wildlife. They recently completed a multi-million dollar restoration last June inspired by its seaside location.
5 Reasons to Hightail it to Bend, Oregon.
If you live in the PNW, you’ve likely heard rave reviews about a little town in Central Oregon where the scenery is stunning, the people laid-back, the community strong, and the quality of life enviably high. After one quick visit, it’s pretty obvious why so many feel the magnetic pull toward Bend.
When Seattle city life starts feeling a little stuffy, you know it’s time to plan a weekend away from all the noise. If you’re itching to get outdoors and in need of a little change in scenery, catch a short ferry ride over to a little slice of serenity better known as Vashon Island. After 20 minutes, you’ll be docked and ready for a slow-paced weekend with all the hype of island life. Check out our suggestions below for a weekend getaway to relaxation station.
5 fun things to do while visiting Victoria this winter.
Victoria, BC is known for being a popular summer destination and it’s positively wonderful and festive during the winter months too. The holiday cheer is abound. We rode the Victoria Clipper, the most luxurious ferry we’ve ever been on with comfy reclining seats, tasty snacks, and alcohol. Upon arriving two hours and 45-minutes later, we experienced a lovely weekend of relaxation and escape from the big city.
Scroll down to the bottom for your chance to win a pair of round trip tickets on the Victoria Clipper. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 28!
Stressful holiday travel and family gatherings behind us, it’s about time to take a break from it all. Enter: the lakeside reprieve of Lake Chelan’s Winterfest only 3 hours away from the demands of city life. Check you later, Seattle. We’ve got 48 hours to make the most of the Northwest’s winterscape.
If Europe isn’t in the budget this season, try the next best thing. Head east over the pass where Washington’s “little Bavaria” bustles with merriment. Leavenworth is a hot spot for visitors year-round, but at this time of year, the fun centers around festive fare, steaming spiced drinks, sprinklings of snow and jovial tree lightings.
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