Travel & Outdoors

High Desert Praise

What to Do in Bend

Central Oregon doesn’t stay inside during any season.

10/23/2025 By Allison Williams

Short Stop

Olympia Has One of America's Only Assyrian Restaurants

Nineveh brings an ancient culture to the capital city.

10/16/2025 By Allison Williams

Destination Dossier

What You Need to Know About a Trip to Olympia

The capital city has indie shops, great food, and a love of a good groove.

10/16/2025 By Allison Williams

Interstate Love Song

Best Pit Stops on I-5 from Seattle to Portland

Don't get mad at the backups or boring stretches. Just stop a lot.

10/07/2025 By Allison Williams

Terror Fix

Seattle's Best Haunted Houses and Frightful Draws

Things are getting spooky at these scary events and Halloween celebrations.

09/30/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Planner

What to Do in Washington in October

Cider, spooky events, and a music fest that celebrates the best of the 1990s.

09/30/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Off Grid

Unplugging Outdoors Is Hard but Totally Worth It

How one kayaking company is paying customers to ditch their phones—and why it matters so much.

09/26/2025 By Allison Williams

An Apple a Day

The Best Cidery Road Trips from Seattle

Nine Washington cidermakers (and one cider cousin) worth a full day trip.

09/25/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach and Allison Williams

Oh My Gourd

Best Pumpkin Patches near Seattle

It's time to bust out the flannel and sharpen your carving knives.

09/22/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach and Seattle Met Staff

Hear me out

It's Time to Stop Hiking the Enchantments

Yeah, I said it. But it's not for the reason you might expect.

09/19/2025 By Allison Williams

Shuck This

The Best Corn Mazes Near Seattle

Hit the farm and get lost among the ears.

09/18/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Palette Cleanser

The Best Fall Hikes in Washington State

Go beyond the larch trees. Some of the best seasonal foliage is lower to the ground.

09/11/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach and Allison Williams

Fair Game

Our State Fair Is...Which State Fair?

It's time to ride the coaster and hang with the 4-H kids—but there's more than one place to gorge on elephant ears.

09/04/2025 By Allison Williams

Listen Up

Things to Hear in Washington Before You Die (or Leave)

Our bucket list of sounds you can’t get anywhere else.

09/04/2025 By Allison Williams

Adrenaline Junkies

Things to Do in Washington Before You Die (or Leave)

Our bucket list of the state’s top experiences.

09/02/2025 By Allison Williams

Planner

What to Do in Washington in September

Fair season, fall activities, and a lot of cider.

08/28/2025 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Uncharted

The Local's Map of Washington

A visual guide to the real state geography.

08/28/2025 By Allison Williams Illustrations by Hawk Krall

Public Lands

The Best State Parks in Washington

From half-acre pocket parks to surf beaches and cross-state trails, the state park system is a whole different kind of wild.

08/26/2025 By Allison Williams

Seattle Centered

Things to Do in Seattle Before You Die (or Move Away)

Our bucket list of local activities.

08/25/2025 By Eric Nusbaum

Double Double Trouble

I Braved Washington’s First In-N-Out Burger Line

Worth the wait? Sure. Worth the drive? It depends.

08/21/2025 By Allison Williams

Seattle Met