1 | Watch Big Storms Smash Stuff on the Oregon Coast
The Oregon coast gets truly freaky when big Pacific storms roll in and the waves grow to nearly 30 feet, sand blows in sheets, and big logs are tossed around. The best action takes place over the 158-mile stretch of coast from Cannon Beach to Florence. Just north of Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park (oregonstateparks.org) occupies a headland overlooking Indian Beach, where the waves and wind get vicious during a storm. When the weather clears, gray whales can be seen from the park during their winter and spring migrations. Spouting Horn (541-765-2261) specializes in steaks, seafood, and homemade pies. The Stephanie Inn (800-633-3466; stephanie-inn.com) at Cannon Beach always gets high marks for its Jacuzzi suites that offer views of the 235-foot Haystack Rock monolith.
Drive time 3 hours, 55 minutes
When to go November through March
2 | Think of Whistler While You Work
Go ahead. Sit at your desk. Finish whatever mindless task you must. But leave some head space for visions of this weekend’s expedition to Whistler, BC—a better destination in the summer than winter, for our money. The drive alone, up the mountain-hugging Sea to Sky Highway, is enough to require that your daydreams come equipped with a seat belt. And once you’re actually in the village, hang on even tighter. Rent a bike and rocket down Whistler Mountain Bike Park (604-904-8134; whistlerbike.com). Then dine hard on Vancouver Island octopus at Araxi (604-932-4540; araxi.com) and sleep deep at the Pinnacle International Hotel (604-983-3218; whistlerpinnacle.com), which just so happens to be a few steps away from Village Square’s trove of rowdy bars.
Drive time 4 hours, 20 minutes
When to go June through September
3 | Take a Nonstop Flight to Calgary for Skiing in Banff
Time it right and you can be skiing in Banff National Park about four hours after you sneak away from the office in Seattle. You’ll thank yourself after the eight-passenger gondolas at the Sunshine Village ski area (skibanff.com) arrive at the 7,082-foot-elevation base camp, where an amazing 3,358 acres of skiing spread out before you. There are three mountains encompassing 107 runs to explore. Crisp and cold and laden with snow, this is Rockies skiing at its finest, from the beginner runs at the 7,875-foot Mount Standish to the off-piste Delirium Dive—which requires carrying an avalanche transceiver and a shovel. The Lake Louise Mountain Resort (skilouise.com) has a beginner’s area that’s great for kids and skiing newbies. Back in town, dodge the elk while exploring Banff Avenue’s shops and restaurants. The castlelike Fairmont Banff Springs (866-540-4406; fairmont.com) is one of the grandest hotels in Canada.
Travel time 1 hour, 30 minutes by plane, plus 1 hour, 30 minutes by car from the Calgary airport
When to go November through March
4 | Crash an Artist Enclave
The cultural renaissance in La Conner began in 1937, when internationally renowned painter Morris Graves settled in a burned-out house and equipped it with beach sand and driftwood furniture. Other artists followed, transforming the fishing and farming town into a bohemian colony and igniting the Northwest School art movement, which interweaves Asian art with the nature of the Puget Sound region. View original works from Northwest School masters and their successors at the Museum of Northwest Art (360-466-4446; museumofnwart.com). Sleep a few feet away from the museum at the elegantly rustic La Conner Country Inn (360-466-3101; laconnerlodging.com), which is attached to the Nell Thorn Restaurant and Pub (360-466-4261; nellthorn.com), where the menu is teeming with fresh, local, organic dishes.
Drive time 1 hour, 30 minutes
When to go 24th Annual Arts Alive! Festival and Invitational Art Show is in November
5 | Go all in at the Northwest’s own Casino Royale
Until recently, you had to really like gambling to venture off to a smoky, clanging, dimly lit tribal casino, where that fantasy of dressing up like James Bond and Felicity Shagwell for a coolly elegant night of gaming and cocktailing was quickly swallowed by the dreary crowds, decor, and cafeteria food. The scene is changing at the Tulalip Resort Casino (866-716-7162; tulalipcasino.com) in Marysville. Already one of the more handsome casinos in this part of the world, the resort recently added a high-rise hotel and new restaurants. The Tulalip Bay Dining Room (360-716-1500) offers a vast wine selection and a private dining room with a Chihuly sculpture. The Blackfish (360-716-1100) restaurant specializes in fresh Northwest seafood like cedar-planked salmon. Your round, Mr. Bond.
Drive time 45 minutes
When to go Year-round
6 | Poetry Slam Fisherman in Astoria
Things are looking up in seaside Astoria. It’s certainly nicer now than when Lewis and Clark froze their rumps off there in 1805. Visit the explorers’ reconstructed and shockingly primitive camp (Hey, Meriwether, do you really wonder why you were so cold and wet?) at Fort Clatsop National Memorial (503-861-2471), and then head into town for a hot meal at the new Bridgewater Bistro (503-325-6777; bridgewaterbistro.com). Epic views of the ocean and river are your reward for climbing the 164 steps that lead to the top of the 125-foot Astoria Column. The more sensitive among us assemble every February for the annual Fisher Poets Gathering (clatsopcollege.com), a kind of Deadliest Catch of readings and slams attended by fishermen from around the country. Lewis and Clark would shiver in appreciation.
Drive time 3 hours, 19 minutes
When to go Year-round
7 | Get Your Bavarian Freak On
Despite the store facades (faux village), the town uniforms (lederhosen and dirndl dresses), and a Bavarian twist on practically every sign (“Das Copy Shoppe”), there’s more to do than play German in Leavenworth—the town that shed its moribund lumber industry in the early 1960s and opted to “Go Alpine!” Pitched high in the Cascades, Leavenworth is also a hub for outdoor adventure. Hike any one of the 2,500 miles’ worth of trails in surrounding Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests (fs.fed.us). Saddle up at Eagle Creek Ranch (509-548-7798; eaglecreek.ws) for a horseback tour of the region. Or ride the Wenatchee River with the white-water raft guides at River Riders (509-548-4575; riverrider.com). Still, the Bavarian theme runs strong in these parts. And there’s no denying that a helluva good time can be had by going bottoms up on steins of Bitburger with a rowdy crowd of tourists and locals. Live it up at the München Haus (509-548-1158; munchenhaus.com) an outdoor eatery and beer hall (Hofräu München is our favorite). Sleep it all off at the Bavarian Ritz (509-548-5455; bavarianritz.com). Wake up the next day and do it all over again.
Drive time 2 hours, 17 minutes
When to go Oktoberfest, Fridays and Saturdays, October 2–17
Published: January 2009
