Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. The best way to experience Alaska’s mind-bending glaciers is from the water, close enough to hear the crack of shifting ice and feel the cold air rolling off the fjords. This summer, explore the icy wilderness from Seward aboard a cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours, where routes venture […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. On a visit to the Lewis Clark Valley that straddles Washington and Idaho, the northern gateway to North America’s deepest river gorge, we booked a Snake River jet boat tour with Beamers Hells Canyon Tours. And this wasn’t just any tour—it was a wine-tasting tour. We imagined pounding […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. There is little debate of Yellowstone’s dominance within the national park system. Established in 1872, Yellowstone is America’s first national park and one of the largest in the lower 48 states covering 2.2 million acres across northwest Wyoming and small slivers of Montana and Idaho. Each year, over […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. In the Cascades of Oregon is one of the purest lakes on the planet, formed by ancient glaciers and filled solely from snow melt and springs. There are no gas-powered or electric boats above 10 mph allowed here, making for a serene paddling experience. Perhaps what makes this […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. I love the Canadian Rockies and, like most folks who have experienced outdoors pursuits in this magnificent corner of the world, I’ve spent time in Alberta’s Banff National Park. But on my last trip to the region, I did the unthinkable. I drove right through Banff, no-stops, no […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Some things just pair well together like summer sunshine and forest boardwalks, or history and wildlife, and that’s exactly what you’ll find hiking West Hylebos Wetlands Park. As you park in a quiet, unassuming area just off a main road in busy Federal Way, you might be surprised […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. The Browne Forest Project started as a deeply personal mission, as the Browne Family watched forest fires and climate change devastate the ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest that made their winemaking possible, according to Andrew Browne, co-proprietor of Browne Family Vineyards. “The accelerating effects of climate change on […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Our technological ineptitude is unrivaled. So, this is what the video—describing our upcoming CanaDream RV rental’s technical systems—sounded like to us: Attach the Schadenfreude circuit breakers to the Heffalump condenser. Honk the Flugelhorn. Then, unbraid the high-voltage Litz wires and connect them inversely to their counterparts. Failure to […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Wildlife is part of the magic of Yellowstone National Park. Bison often roam open valleys, wolves move through forests and grizzly bears wander the backcountry. For a closer look at the animals that define the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, head to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. Much more […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Summer brings small-town celebrations, where livestock barns, carnival rides, hometown rodeos and plenty of fair food offer one more excuse for a summer road trip. From Washington to Montana, these four fairs pair classic Americana with destinations worth exploring beyond the fairgrounds. Southwest Washington County Fair August 11-16, […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Every Labor Day Weekend, Portland likes to celebrate with art. It comes with 140 artists, tree-lined park blocks and a very good excuse to bring home something you probably did not plan on buying. Art in the Pearl takes place in perhaps the most fitting spot Portland could […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. The list of things to do in August in the Northwest is packed with one more big round of fairs, festivals, food, music and outdoor adventures. From blueberry celebrations in Alaska and dahlia fields in Oregon to rodeos in Washington and mountain biking and brews in Wyoming, there’s […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Wyoming is home to some of the West’s most underrated protected places—where a sacred volcanic tower rises from the plains, fossils preserve a 52-million-year-old lake ecosystem, and a deep-blue reservoir cuts through canyon country. Long before America’s national parks became go-to road-trip destinations, the federal government began protecting […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Out in the dunes of southern Idaho is a designated Dark Sky Park where the Milky Way shines bright. By day, you can adventure on some of the tallest single-structured sand dunes in the country. in the country. When night falls, the fun doesn’t stop. Join a stargazing […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Along the sun-dappled Oregon Coast, Lincoln City is a quieter favorite getaway, and that’s exactly where its charm lies. A family weekend here is filled with educational escapes and sensory experiences, thanks not only to its tide pools and beaches, but also to its parks and family-friendly activities. […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Montana is not known for fresh fruit. Vast fields of wheat and barley and some vegetable farms, yes, but not much in terms of fruit. Which is why every year I look forward to that first bite into a juicy Flathead Lake cherry. As the name suggests, Flathead […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Besides the scenery, the joys of a road trip include the stops along the way—roadside curiosities, a small town or city, historic markers, the best burger in the state. You can map out your itinerary in advance or let spontaneity reign. I chose the free-and-easy spontaneity method on […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. On a warm spring evening, still under bluebird skies, six of us piled into a vessel piloted by Scott Heesacker, owner and operator of NW Jet Boat Charter, for a trip down the Willamette River. Within a few minutes of leaving the dock outside Newberg, Oregon, we’d left […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. If you’ve ever wished for a culinary trail dedicated to desserts, Nanaimo is the summer getaway for you. This coastal city on Vancouver Island is a place to enjoy the sweeter things in life while soaking up Indigenous culture and art. Start with a taste (literally) on the […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Across Washington, Oregon and Idaho, skin-contact whites are redefining spring drinking with texture, tension and just enough grip to keep things interesting. Rosé may still dominate spring patios, but across the Pacific Northwest, another hue is steadily rising in the glass. Orange wine: white grapes fermented on their […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. History and mystery abound in southwest Montana where spirits of the past float through small towns and for centuries steaming waters have attracted travelers seeking healing and refuge. Day One Start your weekend exploration of Montana’s southwestern landscape with a morning soak at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. With […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Garlic grows exceptionally well in the Northwest. Maybe it’s nature’s defense of keeping the vampires at bay but either way, garlic simply loves it here, thanks to the region’s cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Planted in the fall, bulbs spend the winter developing strong roots before […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Summer isn’t over yet. In fact, August might be one of the Northwest’s best months to hit the road. County fairs, rodeos and Scottish games fill small towns with local traditions, while mural festivals, air shows and maritime celebrations bring big energy to city streets. Whether you’re planning […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. As winter’s snowbanks finally retreat from the mountains of southern Oregon, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most breathtaking drives reopens. Each summer, Crater Lake National Park’s Rim Drive offers revealing cinematic views of the impossibly blue lake below. This season, skip the driver’s seat and experience the volcanic […]
