Victoria, British Columbia
Majestic Victoria BC couldn’t be easier to visit from Seattle. Bring an overnight bag, walk on to the Victoria Clipper downtown and then explore this charming, walkable city. It’s one of the sunniest locations in the Pacific Northwest. The flowers at Butchart Gardens and high tea at the Empress Hotel will brighten any winter day. The tech boom has left a plethora of indie boutiques, galleries, cafes and lounges to sample. Want to visit the outskirts? Bring a bike aboard the Clipper to enjoy marvelous marine views.
Portland, Oregon
Leave early to avoid traffic, then check in for a perfect weekend at one of Portland’s fab hotels. The Hoxton is PDX’s latest gem, with hip design, tasty eats and drinks, and a community-focused event schedule in the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood. Enjoy the rooftop taqueria-inspired Tope, order a mezcal cocktail and star gaze from the outdoor patio. Or check into The Heathman Hotel, the Rose City’s classiest lodging. After a shimmering recent refresh, the grand dame is located just a short walk from Pioneer Square. Browse the hotel’s mesmerizing library with 3,000 signed books from all the authors who have stayed there. The Alder Street food trucks, Portland Art Museum, Powell’s Books, and Wildfang boutique make for a fun, walkable day in town. Or book a wine country tour to Oregon’s wonderful Willamette Valley. Ardiri Winery & Vineyards offers blissful views and classic Oregon pinot noir–picnic baskets encouraged.
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is a family retreat into another world. Imagine a place where magic, crafts, stories, and characters mingle with a high-excitement water park, ropes course and an arcade. The minute guests arrive they are greeted with friendly enthusiasm and are whisked away into this fairy tale as soon as the wolf ears are placed on little heads. The smiles and fun don’t stop – there is so much to do and explore. Great Wolf Lodge has upped its food game recently with Lodge Wood Fired Grill serving freshly caught seafood and dishes that all ages will love to share. Another new concept for their culinary program is the addition of a Junior Chef Council with MasterChef Junior season winners developing a new flavorful kids menu. After the kids are asleep in their beds order Wine Down Service. Choose from four different wine pairings for the perfect ending to the day.
Leavenworth
Seattleites looking for real snow instead of dark drizzle should escape to Leavenworth, the most wintry wonderland in the Northwest. This former mining town reinvented itself in the 1960s to become the destination we enjoy today. The bustling replica Bavarian village holds a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, houses a Nutcracker Museum, and most important, receives an average of 89 inches of snow every year. While the kids go wacky for snow, adults can amuse themselves at the Argonaut Espresso Bar, Blue Spirits Distillery, Doghaus Brewery, and Woohoo Winery, all conveniently located within earshot of all the German merriment. Prost!
Suncadia Resort & Roslyn
Suncadia might conjure up images of heat-drenched summer fun but this is a year-round resort bedecked in winter wonderland adventures. Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, inner-tubing, ice skating and sleigh rides are all offered. Creative types will love trying tie-dye snow art or canvas and cocoa/cocktail classes to see what images appear. Elk feeding at Nelson Farm is a unique experience. Families can stay at the lodge or rent a home; for a quieter experience couples stay at the charming inn. Portals serves delicious farm-to-table PNW cuisine with a stunning view of the mountains. For an escape from the escape visit nearby Roslyn, a cute village with shops and restaurants.
Bellingham
Is beer tourism a thing? Absolutely! Bellingham has become beer mecca, with 15 different breweries conveniently located just 90 minutes north on I-5. Bed and brew packages abound. At the lovely Chrysalis Inn on the water in Fairhaven, visitors receive four local beers, two glasses, chocolate truffles and a Bellingham Tap Trail map for an extra $30. The neighborhood offers antiquing, thrifting, and endless gastropubs. Or surprise your partner with a stay at Stones Throw Brewery Guest House—that’s right, spending the night in the brewery. On the way out of town, enjoy a boozy brunch at the Mount Bakery Cafe, the smoked salmon benny is legendary.
Port Townsend & Olympic Peninsula
From Bainbridge Island drive north for one hour to arrive in picture perfect Port Townsend, the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula. This gigantic chunk of land the size of Rhode Island offers the wildest, most spectacular outdoor setting in the region. While summer activities abound, wintry visitors can still hike Fort Worden State Park, enjoy steaming hot springs, and of course, hunker down with local fish and chips and dark winter ales at any of three local brewers. The town’s fine assortment of Victorian B&Bs offer warm blankets and hygge fireplaces to chilly travelers. Enjoy a romantic escape to another world while looking out at Whidbey Island, just across the Sound.
Bainbridge Island
Need an escape that’s quick, simple, and cheap? For just $8.50 the Washington State Ferries transport Seattleites across Elliott Bay to magical Bainbridge Island. No cars required, the entire Winslow downtown area is easy to see on foot. Urban hike along the waterfront trail.Visit book and record stores (Eagle Harbor, Backstreet Beat), specialty stores (PrettyStick, The Traveler), and museums (Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Kids Discovery). Wind down with a cask ale from Bainbridge Brewing at the Harbour Public House or the Alehouse. Maybe both? It could not be easier. Just being on the water is reason enough to go, the views of downtown are spectacular.
Eastsound, Orcas Island
Further afield, the San Juan Islands beckon like sirens to sailors. What sets Eastsound apart from every other delightful locale in the San Juans are the views and the array of top-notch dining options. Stay at the Outlook Inn, overlooking adorable Indian Island. The attentive owners will be glad to point out the town’s many great features. Darvill’s Book Store makes the perfect home base for wifi, coffee, and chatting with locals. Foodies must visit Hogstone’s Wood Oven, technically a pizza joint but actually one of the most interesting restaurants in the state. New sister restaurant Aelder promises even more dazzling farm and foraging tastings. Take a hike up Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juans, for jaw-dropping views of Mount Baker, the Olympics, and Vancouver Island.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Traveling to the region’s other big city is like entering a parallel universe: So near, and yet so different. For starters, Canada. Wallow in poutine, enjoy the fantastic exchange rate, marvel at Pacific Northwesterners who are shockingly friendly and outgoing. Culture shock abated, enjoy one of the world’s great cities. The Richmond suburb has the best Chinese food this side of Hong Kong. The downtown architecture stuns with its civically planned array of gleaming spires. Visit or stay at the iconic, original downtown Fairmont, aptly dubbed the “Castle in the City”. Be sure to rent a bike or walk along the Stanley Park seawall for maximum views of Lions Gate Bridge. Then resist the urge to just keep driving north without ever coming back.