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. It’s probably safe to wager that most people reading this story retired from the act of climbing trees long ago. That said, there’s a unique outfitter in Oregon that might be able to coax a few of you out of retirement. They did me. Leo Rosen-Fischer fell in […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. The wine country tour begins as the hired driver silently steers his Cadillac Escalade toward wineries northwest of Washington’s Tri-Cities. He “reads the room,” listening as his passengers chat. “I can’t intentionally force myself into the conversation,” he explains later. “I try to respect their space. When the […]
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 […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Sandwiched between the northern end of Vancouver Island and remote mainland British Columbia lies an undeveloped archipelago of spectacular beauty, abundant wildlife and a network of bays and channels perfect for waterborne exploration. I’ve come to the Broughton Archipelago to spend six days paddling these pristine waters with […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. By day, it’s a region long known for vineyard-covered hillsides, rushing rivers and Gold Rush history. But as the sun sets over pear orchards and wine country, another scene is emerging by night, and that’s speakeasies. Across Southern Oregon, a new wave of lounges is blending craft mixology […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Walking into O’Neil’s Confectionery & Soda Fountain on La Conner’s 1st street is like stepping into a living museum. Stan O’Neil opened the candy shop, which sells an assortment of food including house-made fudge, chocolate, sea foam and peanut brittle, in May 2024. A longtime collector of antique […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Ski season may be over, but that doesn’t stop travelers from boarding the iconic aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. In fact, summer may be the most popular time to ride, because of the views, and the things that await. Climbing more than 4,000 feet to the […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Just five miles south of the Canadian border, Lynden, Washington, sits amid decorative windmills while scents from a century-old bakery linger in the air. Around every corner, the town feels like a page from a European storybook, with history and stories waiting to be discovered. In the late […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Walk along a narrow, crushed gravel trail that leads to a platformed safari-style tent. Now climb 10 wooden steps, cross a small front porch, pull back the zippered entry to discover a tastefully appointed hotel room. There’s a comfortable, king-size bed, hot and cold running water, a shower, […]
Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. If you didn’t have summer plans, you certainly do now. July in the Northwest comes with rodeos, music and art festival in plenty, meaning there is something to do near you—or a quick weekend getaway calling your name. Here’s what July looks like in the Northwest: WASHINGTON Alki […]
