Travel & Outdoors

Behind the Scenes

Climb Every Mountain

What's better than a generic scenery photo and a story phoned in from sea level? Sending a photographer 10,000 feet up to accompany our fearless editor.

07/23/2019 By Jane Sherman

Shade Index

Washington's Worst Hiking Trails

Deception Pass and Cape Disappointment aren’t even the half of it.

07/23/2019 By Mac Hubbard

Fixing Paradise

An Inside Look at the Paradise Inn Remodel

After a $24.5 million, two-year renovation, the classic Rainier hotel reopened in May 2019.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

School of Thought

A Small-Town Schoolhouse Gets New Life as a Creative Arts Center

Artists and writers use vintage classrooms to uncover a new side of Rainier.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

From the Outside In

12 Ways to Do Rainier Without Actually Entering the National Park

Beyond the park boundaries sits a wealth of small-town charm, not to mention lesser-known hikes and stellar views of that big lump of volcano everyone loves so much.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Heart of the Mountain

Mount Rainier's Unseen Side Is Otherworldly

A whole labyrinth of caves lies beneath the surface of the active volcano.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Wild Cards

A Guide to Rainier's Rare Flora and Fauna

Bears, marmots, big leafy ferns? That’s everyday stuff at Mount Rainier National Park. Hold out for a sight of these lesser-seen species.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Get High

Meet Rainier's Temporary Town at 10,000 Feet

A day and a night at Camp Muir, home base for climbers, guides, and rangers, halfway up a volcano.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Open Secrets

The Top Things to See and Do Inside Mount Rainier National Park

More than two million people visited the park last year. How does a first-timer tackle its 369 square miles?

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Cover Story

The Secrets of Mount Rainier

The uncrowded campsites, tucked-away trails, rare wildlife, and hidden histories inside the crown jewel of the Cascades.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Work Hard, Play Hard

Local Essentials: An Intern's Guide to Seattle

Skip the Space Needle and live like a Seattleite with this roundup of our favorite off-the-clock spots.

07/18/2019 By Seattle Met Staff

Pre-Flight Fancy

Just Landed: A New Alaska Airlines Lounge at Sea-Tac

Craft beer. A mom-ready nursing mezzanine. Fried chicken. Star Trek vibes.

07/12/2019 By Anna Coumou

In the Media

REI Is Launching Its Own Print Publication

For real. The Seattle retailer will hike into the magazine world with Uncommon Path in the fall.

06/24/2019 By Rosin Saez

Cannonball

Great Swimming Holes within 2 Hours of Seattle

You don’t even need a boat for water hijinks—just hit the road to the region’s best swimming holes.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

All Aboard

Sail the Local Seas on These 8 Boat Rentals and Cruises

How to travel our waterways the easy way.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

SUMMER ON THE WATER

A Shipshape Guide to Boating in Seattle

Water is the city’s favorite playground—a place for sports, relaxation, even a creative commute. Come aboard with our guide to splashing around Seattle’s lakes, bays, and waterways.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams Photography by Tegra Stone Nuess