Travel & Outdoors

sharesies

How to Rent Camping Gear in Seattle

You don't need to own your own tent and sleeping bag to get outside. Rental programs from REI to Eddie Bauer to smaller outfits can help.

04/19/2022 By Allison Williams

Getting Out

Accessible Hikes Near Seattle and Beyond

Try these six flat and paved trails in the Pacific Northwest wilderness, great for beginners and just about anyone.

04/13/2022 By Allison Williams

Southbound and down

How to Travel Between Seattle and Portland

How to avoid getting stuck in I–5 traffic is the question that haunts us all. So what's really the best way to get to Portland—bux, train, plane, or car?

04/11/2022 By Allison Williams

GIFT GUIDE

Gifts for the PNW Outdoor Fanatic in All of Us

From REI hiking boots to locally made ski gloves to running safety gear, here are the best gifts for campers, climbers, hikers, and more.

04/08/2022 By Zoe Sayler

Tee It Up

Three Northwest Golf Resorts Are Reinventing the Game

A traditional sport reemerges in shorter, wilder, and varied forms across the Pacific Northwest, at the Skamania Lodge, Silvies Valley Ranch, and beyond.

04/07/2022 By Allison Williams

Planner

What to Do in Washington State in April

From the visual feast of the Tulip Festival to the literal feast of the Long Beach Razor Clam Festival, April has you covered on weekend plans.

04/01/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Spring to It

Where to Hit the Slopes for the End of Ski Season

The Washington ski season is almost over—better make those last turns count at these local ski resorts, including Crystal and Mount Baker.

03/31/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Teed Up

Where to Play Golf and Mini Golf in Seattle

With long fairways, short courses, and novelty putt-putt, golf season goes year-round at the Interbay Golf Center, Jefferson Park Golf Course, and more.

03/29/2022 By Allison Williams and Seattle Met Staff

Mud Ahoy

Best Rainy Day Hikes Near Seattle

Waterfalls, hot springs, and views made for wet days: The best trails to explore in the Western Washington drizzle, from North Bend to Issaquah.

03/28/2022 By Allison Williams

Aloha State

How the Pandemic Shook Hawaiian Tourism

Seattle's favorite tropical destination struggles with lawbreaking tourists and overrun hiking trails. Will Covid lead to a reckoning for visitors?

03/25/2022 By Malia Alexander

Where Parks Are More Than Just Playgrounds and Ballfields

A Q&A with Jon Blasher of the Portland-area regional government Metro, on balancing the urgency of access to nature for all with habitat preservation

By Julia Silverman [email protected]
Published 05/27/2022

Parks We Love in Portland’s Suburbs, from West Linn to Washougal

Venture beyond city limits for more great greenspaces in West Linn, Tualatin, Gresham, and Washougal.

By Michelle Harris
Published 05/27/2022

It’s Will-AM-it, Dammit! Running the Numbers on the Willamette River

Dive in at Poet's Beach, kayak at Sellwood Riverfront Park, or just worry about Portland Harbor pollutants—there’s a lot to do in the Willamette.

By Michelle Harris
Published 05/27/2022

Alt Wine Fest Explores the World of Wine Beyond Pinot

The July festival, taking place at Abbey Road Farm, is dedicated to the 80+ varieties of Oregon grapes that aren't pinot noir.

By Michelle Harris
Published 05/25/2022

Hike of the Month: Cathedral Tree Trail in Astoria

Boardwalks, tree-root stairs, and the namesake Sitka spruce line the way to the Astoria Column and stunning views of the Columbia River Bar and Oregon Coast.

By Margaret Seiler [email protected]
Published 05/20/2022

New Mural in Clatskanie Celebrates Writer Raymond Carver

A free festival this weekend shows off the almost-complete mural and includes a poetry contest and Birdman screening.

By Margaret Seiler [email protected]
Published 05/20/2022

Short Stops

A Whimsical Boutique Anchors Olympia's Eclectic Downtown

This gift and bath product store in Washington's capitol, selling handmade perfumes and lotions, reminds us why shopping on vacation is so fun.

03/24/2022 By Allison Williams

Growth Spurts

The Best Botanical Gardens Near Seattle

The Point Defiance Park Gardens in Tacoma, Ohme Gardens in Wenatchee—these are the best flowers and greenery in Western and Central Washington.

03/22/2022 By Allison Williams

Hanami How-To

A Viewing Guide for the UW Cherry Blossoms

Want to know where to see cherry blossoms in Seattle? The quad at the University of Washington has your flower peeping covered.

03/18/2022 By Seattle Met Staff

Flower Power

Guide to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The rural farmland north of Seattle erupts into a rainbow of color during the state's biggest flower fest, creating a prime spring road trip destination.

03/18/2022 By Allison Williams

Book It

Are Travel Agents Still a Thing?

Even in the age of Kayak and Expedia, the professional planner is no anachronism—and Covid has brought new urgency to the field.

03/18/2022 By Allison Williams

Map Quest

A Road Trip That Leads to Rainier

Cider, squash, and bighorn sheep: Take a drive through the rural highways that lead to Mount Rainier National Park.

03/14/2022 By Allison Williams

Layovers

Where to Eat at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Poke, bloody marys, and restaurants from actual Seattle chefs. Sea-Tac, thanks to spots like Floret and Trailhead BBQ, is tastier than you remember.

03/11/2022 By Allison Williams

Planner

What to Do in Washington State in March

Beer, birds, and gray whale season in Puget Sound—it's almost spring and already time to get outside on Washington State Parks free days.

03/04/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Soak it in

Hot Springs Near Seattle

Where to find natural soaking spots in nature and developed resorts in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, perfect for a weekend road trip.

03/03/2022 By Allison Williams

Perspectives

Covid Travel Can Mean a Whole New Kind of Culture Shock

What does it mean to be a tourist in places with a very different take on health precautions such as masking, vaccine verification, and indoor dining?

02/25/2022 By Allison Williams

Seattle Met