Travel

Unfurl by the bay at Bellingham's Chrysalis Inn & Spa

Brian J. Cantwell — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

BELLINGHAM — In retrospect, the opening date for the Chrysalis Inn & Spa — April 2001, just a few months before Sept. 11 — was appropriate. It ended up as a year when cocooning seemed like the best idea going.

A chrysalis, for the lepidopteran-challenged, is the pupal stage of the butterfly — the counterpart to a cocoon for other winged insects.

Seattle's lively South Lake Union neighborhood

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Get away without going away. Here are prices* for a special night for two on the town — with a sleepover.

Your room: The Silver Cloud Inn in the heart of Seattle's lively South Lake Union neighborhood, two miles from downtown via the new South Lake Union Streetcar. Doubles start at $179 (Internet special) for an August Saturday night stay. 1150 Fairview Ave. N.; 206-447-9500.

Paradise found -- and attainable

Jeff Layton — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:44:29 -0700

I bit it hard. There was no denying it. In a split second, my head was plunged into the icy Pacific Ocean and my mouth was full of sand.

The wave threw me and then flipped me a few times before shooting me out of the water ... just in time for my surfboard to hit me square in the throat.

But my smile was proof that I was having the time of my life.

What's cooking close to home? Culinary getaways

Jackie Smith — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

WOODINVILLE — Monet would have loved it here.

On a recent summer afternoon, the sun-dappled formal garden stretched from a patio where guests sipped Champagne to the distant towering trees that cocoon this five-acre estate. It was an Impressionist painting of a French garden party come to life.

Summer staycation: Hear dinos roar in Portland

Lora Shinn — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:32:21 -0700

If you're looking for a two-day trip nearby and you're the proud parent of a dino-obsessed toddler or preschooler, think about heading down to Portland. Why? Because Stegosauruses and T-Rexes are stomping around Stumptown's museums and zoos.

Savor sparkling cider on a culinary tour of Vancouver Island

Carol Pucci — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C. — Culinary tourism thrives on British Columbia's largest island, where the treasure hunt begins on family-owned farms and wineries tucked along backroads dotted with B&Bs and country bistros.

A leisurely day spent exploring rural areas less than an hour's drive from Victoria guarantees you'll come back with a trunk full of wine, home-cured meats, vinegars, jams, chutneys and cheeses.

A special night for two on the town in Bellevue

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Get away without going away. Here are real prices* for a special night for two on the town — with a sleepover.

Your room: The swank Westin Bellevue puts you in the vortex of modern shopping in Seattle's most urban suburb. Swim the lap pool, then cool off on the outdoor deck and watch for millionaires. $169 for a Saturday in mid-July.

Head east to Soap Lake for a weekend of fun in the mud

Sara Kennedy — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:37:55 -0700

The town of Soap Lake is filled with bikers. Harley bikers, decked out in leather and traveling en masse. But there's a softer side of Soap Lake -- one well worth visiting for a quick weekend getaway covered in mud.

What to do:

1. Get muddy

The main reason to visit Soap Lake is to envelop yourself in its mineral-rich, oily-feeling water and the jet-black mud that sits below it. Pre-penicillin, people with skin ailments flocked to the lake for treatment.

Sand and suds on the seashore

Barry Gibbons — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:19:02 -0700

I'm not a parent, a fan of antiques or particularly fond of having to don a wet suit in order to swim in the ocean.

So it's no surprise I've never been to the Oregon coast. That is, until I started talking with friends in Portland about the amazing microbrews, the fun of playing in the sand dunes and the fact that you can practically catch crabs with your bare hands (pretty sure that was an exaggeration).

Visit some of Washington's 33,000 farms

Karen Gaudette — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

More than 33,000 farms call Washington home, nestled in mountain valleys, sprawled across rolling hills, tucked into pockets of land between cities, sprinkled hither and thither on Puget Sound islands.

With the sun finally shining and markets bursting with fresh produce, the time is ripe to visit a farm, ranch, orchard or dairy, sample the abundance and learn more about where your food grows. Some offer scheduled tours. With an appointment, others will show you around the barnyard and fields (dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes).