Browsing: travel

You don’t need a passport to experience Germany – in fact, you don’t even need to leave Washington at all. We have our own slice of Bavaria right here in the Pacific Northwest. Hidden among the Cascades, Leavenworth is a charming little village with German roots celebrated everywhere from the architecture to the authentic food and events. It’s a popular destination all year, but the area gets especially busy in the fall and winter, thanks to Oktoberfest and the Christmas Lighting Festival. It’s a hot spot for outdoor recreation, and luckily there are tons of cabins, bed & breakfasts, and…

Oregon has plenty of cabin retreats to choose from: you can stay in secluded rentals in the middle of the woods, just steps from the Pacific coastline, or in remote mountain cabins high up in the Cascades. You can’t go wrong with any of them, really – or going any time of year. But there’s something especially relaxing about renting out a log cabin for the weekend in the middle of the winter – when the weather’s cold, and you just want to curl up by the fireplace, in a cabin far away from the chaos of everyday life. If…

If you’re in need of trip ideas for 2017, consider driving up the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. It’s renowned as one of the most scenic road trips in America, and of course there are dozens of fun places to stop and check out along the way. These are just ten of the many places off Highway 1 that you’ll want to experience. 1. Solvang Wish you could explore Europe, but don’t want to pay for a flight and hotel? Solvang, California has everything you need and more, just outside of Santa Barbara in Santa Ynez Valley. The charming little town…

A road trip down Route 66 never gets old. This iconic route (known as America’s “Mother Road”) runs from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California for about 2,448 miles. Over the years it’s been renamed in various segments, but you can still follow the same historic route across the country today. It passes through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and lastly, the beautiful Golden State – with lodging options, classic restaurants, roadside attractions, and bright neon signs lining the way. These are five of the many unique stops you won’t want to miss along the stretch through…

Seattle may be the biggest city in Washington, but Olympia has its own fair share of unique attractions, local restaurants, and relaxing parks to offer. The city’s population is just under 50,000, but somehow it still maintains a vibrant small-town feel. It’s only about 30 miles south of Tacoma – and a short drive away from Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park – but you don’t even need to leave the city to find trails to hike and places to camp. These eight spots are some of our favorites to explore around our quirky state capital. 1. Mima…