The Bumbershoot Seattle Arts Festival over Labor Day Weekend

Washington's San Juan Islands: A Little Piece of Paradise

On a rather untypical Seattle day, with driving rain instead of drizzle, five passengers waited in order of destination to load a refurbished 1966 seaplane operated by Kenmore Air.

The first passenger, a black lab named Roxy, enthusiastically took the first seat. Her owner followed with special dog earmuffs in hand, followed by two others, and finally myself. Read more of Elizabeth's story about the San Juan Islands.

Yurts and Cabins in Washington and Oregon State Parks

I opened my eyes and gazed up at the glass dome above my head. Overhead, Douglas Firs stretched up endlessly into a velvet sky stitched with a million silver sequins.  A blurry primrose moon glided ghost-like through charcoal trunks. As I floated in the all-encompassing silence that echoed the curve of the yurt I was lying in, I felt like an unborn child curled up in the womb again: mind empty, soul utterly at peace, senses heightened in a world newly discovered.

Then I realized I needed a wee. As I stumbled through the huddle of yurts in the forest clearing, their orange lights glowing in the darkness, I tried not to think of the possibility of bears lurking in the shadows, and instead breathed in the cool pine-filled night air.

Sweetheart Sites of Seattle

Although Seattle’s downtown core is a mish mash of past and present, it all works together harmoniously. New-age high rises hover above Gold Rush landmarks, trendy boutiques snuggle between flagship department stores and government headquarters brush up to corporate conglomerates.

There are countless cozy espresso bars where you can escape the drizzly weather, ethnic-varied restaurants to appease the most discerning palate and so much cultural diversity it’ll make your head spin. This destination that’s embraced by the glistening Puget Sound and backed by snow tipped peaks is so picturesque it’ll tug on any heart strings. Read more about Jane Cassie's story about romantic sites in Seattle.

Friday Harbor on San Juan Island

Winthrop, Washington: The Next Jackson Hole?

Remember Jackson Hole, Wyoming? Cute western town, board sidewalks, beautiful vistas, high, ragged peaks, clean mountain air, cowboys and the old west everywhere?  Remember? As in past tense? That’s right, the old Jackson Hole is now gone to movie stars, endless crowds and ridiculously priced real estate.

But now there’s a new contender every bit as beautiful, remote and western as the old Jackson Hole ever was. It’s called Winthrop and it’s over the mountains to the west in the state of Washington.Read more about JC Bailey's exploration of Winthrop, Washington.

Bumbershoot and Beyond: The Hippest Caffeine Coast Happenings

Rolling Stone Magazine has called Bumbershoot, "The mother of all arts festivals," and it's a well-deserved moniker. With the Seattle Center's 74 acres of indoor and outdoor stages and galleries, filled with over 2,500 artists in every genre, including music, dance, film and video, literary arts, kids, comedy and culinary arts, as well as visual arts, the annual Labor Day Seattle Arts Festival is the ultimate celebration of the creative spirit. And one worth traveling for. Read more of Dana Little's round up of happenings at Bumbershoot.

Read more GoNOMAD stories about Washington:

Yurts and Cabins in Oregon and Washington State Parks

Sustainable Seattle: Green Space and Local Produce

A Mancation in Spokane: Unforgettable Thrills

Cowboys and History in Washington State: Exploring the Highland Historical Loop Drive

Seattle Destination Guide

Seattle's Happenings