A Southern California island escape beyond the Pacific Northwest   The Wandering Wizard (Bob) joined his college roommate, Gregg, and slipped away from the Pacific Northwest drizzle to spend four early-spring days exploring Catalina Island , returning home Friday with stories of turquoise coves, island history, and evenings that felt like stepping back into 1930s coastal California. Gregg and Bob About 26 miles off the Southern California coast, Catalina feels worlds away from Los Angeles...

This February, we celebrated our 26th anniversary with two peaceful nights at the beautiful Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union, Washington — and it was exactly the kind of getaway we needed. From the moment we arrived, the slower pace of Hood Canal took over. We left our furry travel companion, McKenna, at home - but it's good to know that Alderbrook is pet friendly ! Our room overlooked the calm waters, and every time we glanced out the window, it felt like the world had politely agreed to...

There’s something extra special about choosing the perfect Christmas tree each year — but imagine stepping into your backyard and cutting down a tree you planted yourself. That’s exactly what you can start doing at Tree School 101 + 102 , on Sunday, March 8 , at Helping Hearts Tree Farm  in Port Orchard. Whether you’ve always dreamed of growing your own Christmas tree or you’re just curious about what it takes, this fun, hands-on event makes it easy — and affordable — to get started. 🌱 Tree...