Many of the communities affected by this year's wildfires in central and eastern Washington have economies that rely heavily on tourism.
KPLU travel expert Matthew Brumley says once the wildfire danger has passed, people should consider taking time to visit central and eastern Washington, to inject money back into the economy.
Some places have been evacuated and suffered damage from the wildfires. But others are just in a region people have chosen to avoid, to steer clear of wildfire danger this summer.
Here are some good places to look:
Twisp: The city is in the middle of the Methow Valley, and is close to golf courses, ski areas and trails. The Phoenix Festival is coming up on Oct. 3. It's the second year for this event celebrating the resilience of the Methow Valley.
Leavenworth: This Bavarian-themed community is base camp for a lot of Stevens Pass skiers each winter. But it has year-round festivals, including Oktoberfest in the fall.
Lake Chelan: There's a car show scheduled for the second weekend in September, and hydroplane races planned for the first weekend in October.
Sun Lakes: The area includes a state park with lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Winthrop: The fires have spared businesses and buildings in the city itself. The Methow Valley rodeo happens here on Labor Day weekend.
