With autumn in full swing, it’s already time to start planning winter getaways. Here are a few options from KPLU travel expert Matthew Brumley:
Hitting The Slopes
Maybe the most obvious wintertime activity in these parts is skiing and snowboarding. Western Washington and the surrounding region offer plenty of options. Close to the Puget Sound area, you’ll find Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain and Mt. Baker.
Farther afield in British Columbia is Whistler, host to the 2010 Olympic skiing events.
And Sea-Tac Airport offers flights to plenty of famous ski destinations including Denver, Salt Lake City and more.
If You Don’t Ski
Not everyone in the same family skis. And some people just want a winter getaway without having to put sticks on their feet and slide down a hill, or over a meadow.
Brumley says the Methow Valley offers some great retreats where you don’t need anything more than a book and a cup of hot chocolate. (It was recently featured in Sunset Magazine. And in Leavenworth, you can try the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort.
Getting There
Traveling through the Cascades, or really any mountain range, in the winter can be harrowing. But there are some options if you don’t want to drive.
Amtrak has an overnight train that can get you to Whitefish, Montana for the weekend. There, you’ll find a few options for skiing and wintertime R&R. There's a sale on right now, too.
The Snow Train runs day trips to Leavenworth. It’s a scenic excursion that goes round-trip on the same day, and only once per week, so it’s and not really meant as a means of transportation to Leavenworth.
And you can take a train to Vancouver, B.C., where you’ll catch the Rocky Mountaineer for Whistler.
---
Matthew Brumley is the founder of Earthbound Expeditions, which organizes group travel to destinations around the world for various clients, including KPLU. "Going Places" is our new travel segment exploring all aspects of getting from Point A to Point B. Tell us what you think about responsible travel, or suggest topics for future installations of this series. Have a travel hangup or a tip? Let us know in the comments.
