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May 18, 2020
5 min

A Road Trip through British Columbia’s Okanagan and the International Selkirk Loop

There is nothing like a good road trip during the summer, especially when the scenery is so lovely. This trip begins at the Oroville-Osoyoos Border Crossing into British Columbia’s Okanagan for part one of this two-part series. The second part of the trip continues onto the International Selkirk Loop through the Kootenay Rockies before crossing the border at the Porthill-Rykerts Border Crossing into Idaho and visiting the towns of Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry. When planning a

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Apr 13, 2020
5 min

Destination: San Antonio

San Antonio is blooming with spring blossoms as the winter chill dissipates. Enjoy alfresco dining along the San Antonio Riverwalk, bike to historic missions or explore Texas Hill Country in this mild season. Viva is the city’s bus and trolley service which has three distinct routes to take you to the most visited sites and attractions at a very economical rate for a day pass. Where to Stay Make the most of your stay by splitting your visit into two sections. For the first h

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Mar 16, 2020
5 min

A Couple’s Getaway to Kirkland, Washington

Downtown Kirkland is a vibrant waterfront community filled with charming restaurants, wine bars, art galleries and shops. Located just east of Seattle, it is located on the shores of Lake Washington. The lovely Marina Park beckons with benches to enjoy the view and a cute little beach. The walkable town allows you to enjoy a car-free weekend. The city is filled with public works of art, and it can be fun to stumble upon them. The works are by leading regional and national art

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Feb 17, 2020
5 min

Step Up Your Winter Ski Vacation

Nothing gets you more in vacation mode than a stunning scenic drive to your destination. The epic views from the Sea to Sky Highway leading to Whistler, British Columbia, are some of the best in the world. After this drive, you arrive in Whistler Village, which is reminiscent of a European ski town, but this one has an Old-World charm with all the modern conveniences. Where to Stay There are two Pan Pacific hotels in the Whistler Village, and both are luxurious experiences wi

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Jan 13, 2020
5 min

A Winter Wonderland

When the winter snows blanket the town of West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park, the summer crowds dissipate, making this the ideal time of year to visit. West Yellowstone makes the perfect base for exploring all the area has to offer in the winter months and is the closest park entrance to the Old Faithful Geyser. Surrounded by three national forests, plenty of trout streams and lakes, it makes getting back to nature easy. There is a surprising number of things to d

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Oct 15, 2019
5 min

Asheville

Not many people realize that one of the founders of modern forestry in the United States was a Vanderbilt. The Biltmore Estate was cobbled together from George Vanderbilt’s land purchases in the Asheville area. Many were farms where the land was considered worn out. Fredrick Law Olmsted (design Central Park), who was hired to landscape the property, was not impressed with the 125,000 acres which were in a deplorable condition. Vanderbilt hired Gifford Pinchot to manage the fo

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Sep 16, 2019
5 min

Fall in Fairbanks

From September until the snow accumulates is the perfect time to visit Fairbanks, Alaska. The summer crowds have returned home, but you can still enjoy some of the warmer weather activities—and may even see the Aurora Borealis. Give yourself three full days to enjoy this itinerary, which gives you a good overview of the area. Upon arrival in Fairbanks, visit the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center to find information to explore Fairbanks and Alaska’s interior. It’s m

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Aug 12, 2019
5 min

Hells Canyon and the Wild and Scenic Snake River

“O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain” can’t help but ring in your head as you traverse miles of the grain-rich farmland across country roads and state highways and over the rolling hills of the Palouse to reach the Lewis Clark Valley and the towns of Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Washington. At some points, depending on the time of year, all you can see in any direction are “amber waves of grain.” No matter which direction you travel from, there are no

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Jul 22, 2019
5 min

Enjoy a Foodie Getaway to Spokane and the Spokane Valley

Visionary chefs from around the Pacific Northwest will be converging on the City of Spokane Valley for the annual Crave! Food and Drink Celebration July 11 through 13, 2019. With all this culinary talent in the area, it makes the perfect time for a foodie trip. Spokane is building a reputation as a food lovers’ paradise, and it is an exciting time to experience it. From older family loved restaurants to new and innovative places, there is something to love for everyone. Stay

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Jun 24, 2019
5 min

Budget Travel

Summer is upon us, and it is time for that annual rite of passage—the summer vacation. It can be an expensive extravaganza or you can choose a more frugal option. Some of my best memories of family vacations are the ones that were the least expensive. With a little planning and creativity you can have a fun vacation that won’t break the bank. Staycation. The staycation is the ultimate budget vacation, but you have to make some rules first to ensure it is a vacation. The rules

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Feb 12, 2019
5 min

Off Season in Cabo

Over the past few years my wife and I have come to really appreciate traveling in the month of September. With summer vacations over, kids going back to school and tolerable weather around most of the country, people aren’t necessarily putting travel high on their list during this month. Residing in the Northwest and being far from pale blue and bathtub warm ocean waters, we are happy to take a beach vacation any time of year. If you do head to the southern United States, Mex

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Jan 14, 2019
5 min

Vancouver’s North Shore

Vancouver’s North Shore is located just across Burrard Inlet from the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, making it a convenient base to explore all the area has to offer. Lodging is more reasonably priced on the North Shore, and with access to Vancouver’s public transportation, it is easy to get to wherever you want to go. The Holiday Inn North Vancouver looks like a chateau and is easily accessed from Highway 1 and is family friendly. For this trip, plan a day in Vancouver

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Dec 20, 2018
5 min

Quiet Season on Orcas Island

You know you have stumbled upon a hidden gem when the guests, finding out you are a travel writer, ask you not to write about the location because they don’t want anyone else to discover this special experience. So shhh, don’t tell anyone about the Smuggler’s Villa Resort on Orcas Island; it will be our secret. You will want to visit sooner rather than later as rumors abound on the island about Oprah’s recent extensive real estate purchases on the island. Mike Stolmeier has m

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Nov 20, 2018
6 min

A late Fall Getaway to the Oregon Coast

Late fall is a wonderful time of the year to visit the Oregon Coast. The summer crowds are long gone and the area settles into a slower pace. Midway down the coast, Lincoln City makes a good centrally located base for all the seaside has to offer. When planning a getaway, it’s fun to design a trip around a theme. When visiting Lincoln City, it has to be the renowned Finders Keepers project and art glass. Finders Keepers Lincoln City’s Float Fairies are busy this time of year

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Sep 17, 2018
4 min

Vernon, British Columbia

Vernon, British Columbia, is not on most people’s radar as a vacation destination and that is what makes it so special. Set in the heart of Canada’s Okanagan Valley, this lovely area is known for its lakes, fruit orchards, world-class wineries and rolling hills. As summer’s warm temperatures begin to cool the shoulder season in September is a perfect time to visit. Enjoy activities like mountain biking at SilverStar Mountain Resort and stand-up paddleboarding without the crow

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Aug 17, 2018
5 min

Havasupai Falls

Sitting in a crowded pizza restaurant on a Thursday evening in Spokane, Washington, a tradition we had going for about six months, we decided a camping and hiking trip sounded fun. Brian, my husband, and our friend Pat Cornwall put our collective minds together and came up with the idea of going to Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We quickly realized that this trip was not guaranteed as they have a competitive permit system to go, but we were prepared to try.

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Jul 16, 2018
5 min

Tri-Cities

What were once the three small Eastern Washington towns of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland has now transformed into the bustling metropolitan area known as the Tri-Cities. “Fun in the Sun” is the motto due to almost 300 sunny days each year, making the area popular year round for outdoor activities. The confluence of the Yakima, Snake and Columbia rivers creates a water paradise for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, power boating, water skiing, fishing and much more.

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Jun 27, 2018
6 min

Vashon Island – Heart of the Sound

Grab your best gals and plan a weekend getaway to Vashon Island – Heart of the Sound. With three ferry terminals on the island, if you live in Seattle, Tacoma or out on the Kitsap Peninsula, it’s just a short ferry ride and a world away. Coming from North Idaho, it is a further jaunt but makes a great base for a longer vacation. You can easily reach Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula and Tacoma from the island. When looking for a location for a girlfriends’ weekend, you want a gr

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Apr 20, 2018
5 min

Randall J. Hodges

In the age of digital photography where any image can be manipulated in Photoshop or jazzed up with an Instagram filter, Randall J. Hodges stands apart as an old-school photographer. He uses a style referred to as “All in Camera.” “I do all the work right in the camera without the use of Photoshop, Lightroom or any other post processing programs. This means I set up the color palette of my digital camera to mimic the old films I used to shoot with Kodak Ektachrome, Kodachrome

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Feb 12, 2018
4 min

Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler Village is a modern upscale resort with all the luxury amenities, packaged as an old-fashioned European town with plazas and pedestrian-only thoroughfares. Whistler Blackcomb is consistently rated as one of the top ski destinations in North America. Ski Magazine rated it No. 3 in the 2018 “Best in the West,” a reader-ranked survey. But there is so much more than skiing at Whistler. Tour museums you would expect in much larger cities, enjoy an eclectic dining scene on

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