For The Ticket at The Seattle Times: Brew Up a Bonsai @ Pacific Bonsai Museum

Bundle up and experience the fall colors in miniature through the most geographically diverse public bonsai collection in the United States, then get out the scissors as you learn how to create a bonsai of your own to take home.

This hands-on afternoon session at the Pacific Bonsai Museum starts with a guided tour of the museum’s 150 bonsai trees, which hail from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States…

Read the rest on The Seattle Times website

For The Seattle Times: A 48-hour getaway just 30 minutes from Seattle (Sponsored Content)

With travel costs on the rise, regional travel is emerging as a trend. Exploring local destinations reduces the investment in gas, logistical planning and travel time while creating more potential for spontaneity to take advantage of great weather or midweek deals.

“We’ve definitely seen interest in the idea that a getaway doesn’t have to require a flight or a full week of vacation,” says Amanda Beltran, PR and advertising strategist for Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel…

Read the rest on The Seattle Times website

From Cambodia to Indonesia: My community tourism experiences with G Adventures

In the last two years, I’ve taken four G Adventures tours, with a  fifth booked for this upcoming fall. One of the reasons I keep returning to the brand is that I appreciate their responsible travel principles.

Prior to booking a tour, I’m able to see how much of my money will go into supporting local communities by checking the Ripple Score – the company’s way of showing the impact your money has on the places you visit – and understand where my tourism dollars can make a real impact…

Read the rest on the G Adventures blog

 

Much of that impact comes from G Adventures’ partnership with Planeterra, an NGO that supports and develops community tourism enterprises to make sure local people see real, tangible benefits from tourism. 

 

On my trips to Southeast Asia, I’ve visited five projects where I’ve seen the commitment to supporting women-led businesses and witnessed firsthand how providing tourism and hospitality training lifts up entire communities. 

For The Ticket at The Seattle Times: Taste of the Sound @ Fishermen’s Terminal

Life can present some tough choices: Chocolate or cheese? Beer or wine? Popcorn or pickles? At Taste of the Sound, the answer is yes, please, to all of the above, as dozens of local makers gather at Fishermen’s Terminal to showcase the best Washington specialty foods and beverages, plus natural products like soap and skin care…

Read the rest on The Seattle Times website

For G Adventures: 7 epic experiences for your Antarctica bucket list

Antarctica is a place many dream of but very few are lucky enough to see up close. On the world’s only uninhabited continent, there are no cities, but there are penguin rookeries large enough to spot from space. Streetlights are replaced by twinkling stars, and the only skyscrapers are glaciers and icebergs. At the extreme south of the earth, nature’s raw power is on full display. Here are seven experiences that make a voyage to Antarctica a life-changing adventure…

Read the rest on the G Adventures blog

For Tripadvisor: How to spend a perfect day in Amsterdam for less than $100

With about 75 museums and countless other attractions and activities, Amsterdam is an easy place to spend money. But it’s also a city full of free entertainment, from hidden sculpture gardens to local markets and canal-side strolls.

During the three years I lived there, my favorite thing to do was head out for a walk with no particular direction in mind and just discover the beauty of the city as it unfolded before me. This itinerary embodies that spirit, but adds a little structure, so you can hit the top sights while also getting you out of the very busy (and expensive) city center to explore at a local’s pace—and closer to a local’s budget…

Read the rest at Tripadvisor

For The Ticket at The Seattle Times: Belltown Blast Community Street Party

rank a classic neighborhood block party up to 11 and you’ve got Belltown Blast. This second annual street party in the heart of Belltown packs in a little bit of everything that makes this vibrant community tick.

Live music? Of course. Thirteen acts across two stages, all afternoon. Street art? You bet…

Read the rest in The Ticket Top Picks on The Seattle Times website

A freelance travel writer/editor based in Vancouver