Northwest Travel & Life

A Farmers Market Road Trip to Take This Summer

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. If your grocery list tends to include live music, mountain views and the smell of fresh peaches—or perhaps berry baskets, fresh-cut flowers, artisan bread—a farmers market is for you. Community-driven and a great way to find the freshest harvest and friendliest faces, farmers markets are found throughout the […]
2 months ago

Charming Towns, Big Summer Traditions: 4 Northwest Festivals Worth the Trip

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Sometimes the best summer festivals aren’t found in the biggest cities, but at the end of a scenic highway, a ferry crossing or a winding country road. Across the Northwest, small towns come alive each summer with beloved traditions and quirky celebrations that make a weekend visit feel […]
2 months ago

Ucluelet, British Columbia: Taming the Wild West Coast with Delicious Cuisine, Hikes, Kayaking, and a Luxury Hotel

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. The west coast of Vancouver Island is known for rugged, hazardous conditions that ships once struggled to navigate. But in summer the winds and rain retreat, and the sun is the dominant theme. Black Rock Oceanfront Resort After the relaxing ferry ride from Vancouver, B.C., and driving across […]
2 months ago

Escape to CDA National Reserve, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Located within 5,000 acres of pristine wilderness, CDA National Reserve is an ideal retreat in the spring. Having recently undergone a multi-million-dollar investment in renovations, this private golf and sporting club is now designed for adventurers seeking laid-back luxury. As the temperatures start to warm up and golf […]
2 months ago

The Rise of Willamette Valley Chardonnay

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Left Coast Estate’s (Rickreall, Oregon) early years were heavily inspired by the traditions of Burgundy, France, where chardonnay was the dominant white varietal. As Taylor Pfaff, Left Coast Estate’s CEO and Family Ownership, notes, “Chardonnay is incredibly versatile and expresses a wide range of flavors and aromatics while […]
2 months ago

5 Scenic Trails for Day Hiking Close to the City

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. I can’t think of a city in the Northwest that doesn’t have access to spectacularly scenic hiking trails within a reasonably short drive. No matter what city you live in or are visiting, you can find a nearby trail for a day hike without having to drive for […]
2 months ago

Northwest Food Traveler 2026

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. DINING GLOBALLY AT LOCAL TABLES Fortunately, when people migrate, they bring their food traditions with them. And for the culinarily curious among us, that’s a godsend. Foods from diverse culinary traditions simply add flavor and color to our communities—and our palates. Traditions like banchan from Korea, pintxos from […]
2 months ago

Montana Highway 2 Road Trip: The Best Stops Along the Hi-Line

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Updated July, 2026 U.S. Highway 2 stretches 666 miles across the entire northern half of Montana from Idaho to North Dakota. This seemingly endless line of pavement takes travelers from the deep pine forests in the west to the arid flat prairies in the east. Whether you decide […]
2 months ago

International Food Hot Spots

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. Throughout the Northwest, you don’t need a passport to take an international culinary journey (unless traveling between Canada and the U.S., of course). Many communities have become concentrated hubs of international foods from mom-and-pop eateries to fine dining establishments. Here are a few of our favorites that are […]
2 months ago

Gastronomic Cousins Oregon and Slovenia (Who Knew?)

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. As I traveled through Slovenia’s vineyard-laced hills I felt its kinship with my home, Oregon, a similarity I did not expect. At Restaurant Grič, in Šentjošt nad Horjulom, they grow wasabi on their own farm. Tillamook County, Oregon, has a wasabi farm too: Oregon Coast Wasabi. In Slovenia, […]
2 months ago

The Flavors of Okanogan Country

Originally published on Northwest Travel & Life. With scenic drives, year-round outdoor action and quaint small towns with a Western flair, North-Central Washington’s Okanogan Country is full of discoveries for the curious traveler. And while you’re traveling, you have to eat, right? Luckily, Okanagan Country offers everything from home-spun cafes, fine dining, brewers of great […]
2 months ago