‘Patently absurd’: KIRO hosts debate WA ranking 3rd most romantic Valentine’s Day destination
Jan 17, 2026, 5:00 AM
In a new survey, Washington was ranked as the third most romantic destination for Valentine’s Day, highlighting the Pacific Northwest as a region home to countless natural wonders that make for perfect proposal backgrounds.
KIRO host Ursula Reutin and KIRO fill-in host Angela Poe Russell both praised the rankings, confirming that whether it’s Washington’s lush nature hotspots or the vibrant restaurant scene in the city, the Evergreen State is the pinnacle of romantic getaways in the West.
“You know not to be just a constant cheerleader, but you don’t get much better views than what you have here. I mean, I think about one of my favorite places on earth, Lake Chelan, and I think there are plenty of places there that you can make it a very romantic getaway. Winthrop, now, I haven’t rented the cozy yurt that I have seen some pictures of, and I was thinking, ‘ That would be a fun, romantic place.’ Leavenworth, Mount Rainier. Port Townsend,” Ursula said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio.
“I mean, just the view, if you’re in front of Pike Place Market and throwing fish in the background, I mean, I’m with you, Ursula, you can go see a waterfall,” Angela responded. “I think it’s the nature that really makes it when it comes to being romantic. We also have some wonderful restaurants like Pink Door, and Pike Place Market is really nice.”
KIRO producer Andrew Lanier sternly disagreed with Washington’s superior ranking, claiming that cold and wet temperatures are a massive deterrent for the state being a romantic travel destination.
“You know what’s romantic is having excellent service, yes, and having somebody take care of you and pamper you, so I can get that. However, the idea that Washington is the third most romantic destination for Valentine’s Day is patently absurd,” Andrew said.
“It is February in Washington State. I love this state. I love the natural beauty of Washington. There’s nowhere in the world, nowhere else in the world I would live,” Andrew continued. “But unless you’re going to a cabin in the snow, do you really want to be in a yurt in 42-degree temperatures where it’s wet outside all the time? No, they’re recommending the whole rain forest in February. These people are insane.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
