Travel articles and ideas for locals who want to find new and interesting things to do in their city. Insider information for visitors who want to experience a city and feel like a local.
Join the forum, find a city to visit, add your own story or join our newsletter to keep up on all our travel tips, contests and giveaways.
As you cruise up and down I-5 in Washington you may ask yourself, ‘what’s happening in Tacoma?’—the answer is a lot. No longer the ugly step child of Seattle, Tacoma has cleaned up its formally blemished downtown and has set itself up to be a true destination for Washington visitors and the place to start is the Museum District.
Remember Aesop's fable about the tortoise and the hare? A hare in a race with a tortoise that got so far ahead he became over confident and stopped for a nap. While he was sleeping, the tortoise plodded past and won the race.
Today, our lifestyles push us so fast we feel like the hare, and our ancestors feel like the tortoise. But there's a link between throttling down and living a richer life. A trip through Washington's rural Clark County will reacquaint you with the past and a sensible pace of living.
A visit to Seattle, a city famous for coffee, the grunge music scene and rain would not be complete without a thorough exploration of the waterfront. This coastal city and major seaport, sits on an isthmus between Puget Sound-an arm of the Pacific Ocean-and Lake Washington on Elliott Bay. With a myriad of piers, markets, aquariums, vendors and live music this is certainly a fun way to navigate a day especially if you have kids in tow.
As a resident of Portland, Oregon I have no excuse that I have never visited Seattle. I have always wanted to go but have never taken the time to plan the trip. Having only lived in the Pacific Northwest for four years I guess it’s reasonable, but I am embarrassed to admit it.
Edmonds perches on the edge of Puget Sound just 15 miles north of Seattle. The ambiance of a beach town combined with a vibrant local culture offers many opportunities for a perfect day. You'll find plenty to do browsing the shops, exploring the beach, or hiking in the park.
Everything about Seattle is tall-- from the 607-foot Space Needle and snow-capped 14,410-foot Mt. Rainier that fills the skyline, to the lattés and mochas found on every street corner. If you're looking to location with big city flavor, Washington's Emerald City is just the place. Being the corporate home of Starbucks, there's no shortage of great coffee either. And if you prefer a different brew, there is plenty of competition.
Seattle is well-known for its waterfront, weather, the space needle and coffee, but what often goes unnoticed is a thriving market for antiques. You'll find traditional items such as 18th and 19th C American and European furniture as well as Asian art and antiques, reflecting Seattle's diverse cultural heritage. Two particular areas in downtown Seattle offer a concentration of shops, allowing you to see a lot in one perfect day.
Seattle, one of top foodie cities in the U.S. is also a walking city with easily navigable streets and a waterfront not to be missed. Combine the two for an exploration of Seattle's yummiest spots while walking off some of the calories as you go.