Weekend Trips From Seattle That Feel Like a Real Vacation

One of the best things about living in the Seattle area is that you don't have to board a plane or take a week off work to feel like you've escaped. Some of my favorite vacations have happened less than three hours from home. The moment you step onto a ferry, watch the skyline disappear behind you, or settle into a waterfront cabin, it feels like you've traveled much farther than you actually have.

Weekend trips have become one of my favorite ways to travel. They're easy to fit into a busy schedule, they don't require months of planning, and they remind me that adventure doesn't always have to mean crossing an ocean. Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. 

Whether you're craving a relaxing spa weekend, charming coastal towns, fresh seafood, beach walks, or island hopping, these destinations offer the perfect reset. Each one has its own personality, but they all share one thing in common—they make you feel like you're on a true vacation.

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N Concourse Seattle Tacoma Airport: Where to Eat and What to Do During a Layover or Before a Flight

I spend a LOT of time at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Like a lot of time! Not only do we have three kids who live out of state, we also enjoy traveling. It's not uncommon for me to be at the SeaTac airport {or as it rebranded itself a few years ago SEA}, several times a week. We all love our local Alaska Airlines and the ease of so many direct flights to most of the places that we want to go.  If you are flying in or out of Seattle on Alaska Airlines, you might just find yourself in the N concourse. The N concourse at SEA just completed their final phase and if you’ve got some time before a flight, or heck, if you want to get a local taste after you arrive, here are some of my favorite shops, dining and entertainment in the N concourse. You might want to get to the airport early to enjoy all of them!

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How to See Whales in the Seattle Area Without Taking a Whale Watching Tour!

The Pacific Northwest, particularly around Seattle and Tacoma, offers some of the most breathtaking opportunities to witness whales in their natural habitat. While traditional whale watching tours are popular, there are numerous spots around the Puget Sound where you can catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures from the shore, or heck, even from a ferry boat on to your next destination! Whether you're interested in orcas, baleen whales, or humpbacks, this guide will help you plan your own whale watching adventure in hopes of spotting some of our favorite residents in and around the Seattle area!

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Discover the Magic of Seattle: Your Ultimate Summer Bucket List

Seattle, known for its iconic Space Needle {where we happened to get engaged nearly three decades ago!}, also has a vibrant cultural scene and everything becomes more magical and alive in the summer. After months of dark and dreary days, the sun draws everyone out, and the guests start pouring in! Especially with the incredibly busy cruise port with cruises headed to Alaska from May to September. You'll find lush greenery, stunning waterfronts, and bustling neighborhoods, with plenty of opportunities for adventure and relaxation. Whether you're a local or a visitor, here's your ultimate Seattle summer bucket list to ensure you make the most of the sunny season in the Emerald City!

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Exploring Bothell, Washington: A Charming Retreat at Anderson School Hotel

I'm going to let you in on a secret hidden gem in the Pacific Northwest that offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and urban amenities. Whether you're seeking a relaxing getaway, an adventure-packed vacation or a tucked away town that's close to Seattle, but isn't in the heart of it, Bothell has something to offer for everyone. In this blog post, I'll introduce you to the delightful Anderson School Hotel. You aren't going to want to miss visiting this historic junior high school turned hotel property! I'll even share some tips to help you make your trip to Bothell unforgettable.

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What Hotels to Stay in Around Seattle for Your Cruise

Seattle has the two busiest cruise terminals, with more than a million passengers embarking on their next adventure to Canada and Alaska. After taking a cruise to Alaska, I was flooded with people asking me where they could stay, especially if you don’t have a car handy. So, to help you out before your next cruise, here are the best hotels to stay in and around Seattle before your cruise.

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Visiting Camano and Whidbey Island Washington in the Spring

The past few years have forced some of us to stay a little closer to home than we normally would. Mild weather and close proximity to the greater Seattle area make exploring Camano and Whidbey Island a great place to visit year-round, but I especially love it in the spring. A short drive from the city can make you feel worlds away from it all. You don't need a lot of time to explore this area, but your heart will keep pulling to return again and again. Here are some reasons why you should visit Camano and Whidbey Island in the spring.

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A Locals Guide to Pike Place Market

When I first moved to the greater Seattle area, I thought I'd go to Pike Place Market once a week to pick up fresh flowers for our home. I've lived here for 20 years. Know how many times I've picked up flowers at Pike Place? Once. For years Pike Place Market overwhelmed me. It was always crowded and there were so many little spots to stop but I wasn't sure exactly which ones were the best and I felt like I spent half my time just working my way through crowds and getting from one end to the other without seeing much of anything. I became intentional about wanting to learn more about the market because there is so much history there. I think most tourists know Pike Place is iconic to Seattle, but aren't sure why and don't know more other than they are supposed to visit. This blog post has been almost five years in the making. I'll make sure you make the most of your Pike Place Market visit and I think it will make you really enjoy it that much more. So here's a locals perspective on Pike Place. Take notes my friends!

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Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is one of the largest destination events for the greater Seattle area during the spring. Mother Nature decides when the tulips bloom, but you'll likely find rows of colorful flowers in bloom during the month of April. During the tulip festival, millions of flowers come to life creating a magnificent display of color. I've got everything you need to know if you want to visit the Skagit Valley during the Tulip Festival.

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Doing Good in Downtown Seattle

This time of year gets extra busy, so why not set aside 24 hours for a couples getaway? It's also the time of giving, so why not make the most of both and book an evening at the Charter Hotel Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton and give back to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with the Hilton Legacy Package.  I love being downtown and I love giving back, and we have all been affected by cancer in some way, so why not support this amazing partnership and enjoy your time in Seattle being pampered AND doing good.

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Top Ski Resorts to Visit in BC

I grew up in Indiana where the hills on a golf course were the highest point around. We had plenty of snow, but fresh snow was made for sledding. Growing up, I would occasionally see ski tags hanging like a prize off of the zipper of a ski coat but I never thought to seek out a ski trip. It wasn't until a few years after living in the greater Seattle area, that I took from sledding the hills adjacent to several ski resorts in our area, and decided to learn how to ski. My oldest son had learned from his grandpa one winter, and the invitation to join the in-laws on a ski trip to Whistler, BC, was accepted. I signed up for ski lessons {BC ski resorts have THE BEST ski lessons for all skill levels}, and I've been skiing every winter since.
If you were to ask our kids what their favorite winter activity was, they would all say, hands down skiing. This mama wants to give them what they want, so I've started researching the best ski resorts in British Columbia {BC} Canada. Here is everything you need to know about the top 8 ski resorts that are all driving distance from the greater Seattle area.

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Take a Hike! 5 Safety Tips for the Beginning Hiker

My teen daughter has a bucket list of hikes in our area that she wants to complete. We live in the perfect place for hiking. The pacific northwest is filled with amazing hikes all around. I'm told, however, that she doesn't enjoy hiking with her family. Which puts us in a strange predicament because while she is nearly legal to vote, I'm concerned that she doesn't have all the skills she needs as a novice hiker to keep her safe. I realized many people are probably in the same situation. The PNW gets inundated with visitors to our area every spring, summer and fall and people take up hiking our trails. So I created this list of safety tips for the beginning hiker so you can be as prepared as you can be for your next hike.

image credit Stephen Matera

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Visit Paradise Mt. Rainier: A Locals Guide to Get the Most out of a Day Trip

I have lived in the shadow of Mt. Rainier for nearly 20 years. I try to make a point of visiting at least once a year because it's such a beautiful National Park literally in my backyard. Many people make it a point to visit Mt. Rainier in the summer, but they aren't quite sure how to make the most of the park. I've got some tips on how you can visit the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier and get a real taste of the beautiful National Park.

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The Best of Metropolitan Market-A Local PNW Favorite!

When I moved to the Pacific Northwest from Indiana nearly 20 years ago, one of the first grocery stores I became familiar with was Metropolitan Market. They opened a store not far from my home when my kids were small. Met Market offered these sweet little kids sized grocery carts my little ones begged to use, and seriously, what kid begs to go to a grocery store! But this wasn't any grocery store. Met Market {as it's fondly known to the locals} is the Pacific Northwest's favorite grocery store with organic, natural and locally sourced foods. After 45 years in the making, the local grocery is launching "Best of Met" items, a carefully curated collection of more than 100 items selected by the Metropolitan Market Culinary Council. That list can be overwhelming, so I'm sharing a list of my Best of Met products after shopping the store for nearly two decades. These are the tried and true top 10 Best of Met favorites that you will find me stocking up on!

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Wenatchee, WA in a Weekend

I'm a Pacific Northwest transplant and even though I've lived on the west coast for twenty years, I'm still discovering some pretty amazing locations. Western Washington is very different than Central or Eastern Washington. Growing up in the midwest, you could go from one end of the state to the other and not notice much of a difference, but Washington has the Cascade Mountain Range and a little thing called the rain shadow, which to be totally honest, I learned about while watching the Magic School Bus with my kids. 

The biggest difference between Western Washington and Eastern Washington is the climate. 

While Western Washington {including the Seattle area} is much milder and rainy, Eastern Washington has hotter summers and colder winters and to be honest, less rain all around, which makes it a major win in my book! Yeah, for 300 days of sunshine! I have a love/hate relationship with snow and since moving to Washington, I can usually scout out snow on my own terms, which I actually really love. But that usually requires a trip over the mountain pass and this year, it included a weekend in Wenatchee, Washington that our whole family enjoyed. Wenatchee makes a great side trip if you are visiting the greater Seattle area because it will give you a glimpse into how very diverse the state of Washington is. If you live in Western Washington, Wenatchee is worth a visit {especially for the weekend}, and here are my top picks of things to do when you go.

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Being a tourist in my own city

With gas prices high, I know more and more people are staying close to home. We had my parents visiting from Arizona during the Memorial Day weekend holiday and had a chance to be a tourist for a day in our own city.

I've lived in Seattle for 11 years and always wanted to Ride the Ducks. We finally got around to doing it this weekend.

We enjoyed some beautiful views on Lake Union

Saw the Sleepless in Seattle floating house .

Saw lots of sea planes taking off and landing

Spent some time snuggling with one of my favorite guys

And enjoyed some beautiful views of our city.

Fun fact: My husband proposed at the top of the Space Needle!

We also got a quick glimpse of Pike Place Market.

The Ducks were super fun for the whole family and such a great way to see the city in only 90 minutes. What's your favorite thing to do in your city?

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