SEATTLE — Here are 5 summer getaways that Travel Journalist Brandon Schultz likes.
He says they are away from huge crowds but still offer all the same adventure or relaxation levels… just with a little more space and a lot more bang for our buck than at those over touristed spots.
Post Falls, Idaho is just an easy 4.5 hour drive from Seattle.
It’s right off I-90, small city under 50,000 people and from there you have access to so much outdoor activity from hiking and biking to paddling kayaking boating and fishing. Whether you’re into lake life of river adventures, you’re minutes from both.
If you want to stick to land you have tons of walking and hiking trails, plus the North Idaho Centennial Trail that’s 24 miles of paved walkway that connects Washington to Coeur d’Alene, going right through Post Falls.
If you’ve got the kids with you, or even just for grown-up fun, you’re just about 30 minutes from the largest theme park in the Northwest, Silverwood Theme Park. Easily spend a whole day or more here at this enormous park that’s less overwhelmed by tourists than Disneyland, less expensive to get in and spend the day, and by staying in Post Falls you’re gonna save even that little bit more.
The smaller towns of Vancouver Island, which are great for a multi-day getaway driving from spot to spot. And the best part is you can decide how many to see based on how many days you want to spend.
So, these towns range from working fishing villages with artisan shops like Cowichan Bay to rugged coastlines with epic trail networks in Port Renfrew where you’ll find famously towering Douglas firs and cedars. Whale watching is big from here, too.
And if you’re looking for beautiful, quiet beaches but are trying to stay away from the more known spots on the island like Tofino, there are plenty of others like Qualicum Beach where you’ll find the same sandy shores, antique shopping, and other charms of coastal living your looking for.
Now, I said no airports for the first couple, so skip the airport and take the Clipper ferry directly from the Seattle waterfront right next to the Edgewater Hotel where I actually stayed last night. The Clipper takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to Victoria, you can upgrade to premium reserved seating with snacks and drinks just like a plane, but you skip the airport, and have dedicated customs on arrival so you’re not battling with hundreds of people in line to get your passport checked at the airport.
Stay overnight at the Empress in Victoria if you want to relax first, or just pickup a rental right at the harbor and be on your way to these beautiful towns.
So, now we’ll move onto some places you’ll need to fly to, but keep the flight times reasonable.
Guadalajara Mexico, which is really the birthplace of iconic Mexican heritage from mariachi to tequila and you’ll be skipping the crowds of massive Mexico City. But don’t get me wrong, it’s still a major city – the second largest in Mexico counting the whole metro area, so there's tons to do and you’re going to find a great blend of traditional Mexican culture with modern city innovation.
Look out for gorgeous Colonial architecture, especially in the Colonia Americana neighborhood, which is totally walkable but packed with restaurants, art galleries, and shopping. This was named the coolest neighborhood in the world by timeout magazine in 2022. It’s definitely a highlight, but there are other trendy neighborhoods to visit, and it’s easy to get around.
And for tequila lovers, you’re less than 40 miles from the town of Tequila where you can go tasting and see the amazing agave fields. You can hire a driver through your hotel, hop on the inexpensive bus or, on Saturdays, take the Jose Cuervo Express right from the city. That one tends to sell out fast so you want to make reservations in advance.
From Seattle it’s easy to reach with a direct flight on Frontier, but the other major airlines will get you there, too, just with a little layover.
So no passport needed, I’ve got Louisville, Kentucky. Or if you want to sound more local "Loullville."
If we’re continuing on the spirts train, this is of course Bourbon country. And while a lot of distilleries are in the rural areas surrounding Louisville, you do have 14 distilleries directly within the city + a handful of tasting rooms from those rural distilleries. And you can still easily drive out to those others during the day too.
But there’s more than Bourbon here. Louisville is big on horse racing. Of course the Kentucky Derby is here in May, but you can still visit Churchill Downs and sip a mint julep through the end of June, and again in September.
If you’re looking more family-oriented activities, you’ve got the enormous Louisville Mega Cavern with the world’s only fully underground zip lining course, underground ropes course, guided tours – lots of fun. And there's Kentucky Kingdom amusement park with 70-some attractions right by the airport.
All in all, it’s got Southern Charm with steamboat rides, bluegrass music, fried chicken, and fancy hats + one of my personal favorite hotels in the country, the 21C Museum Hotel with an enormous golden statue of David out front and a fleet of penguin sculptures you can move around the hotel whenever you want. So much fun.
Now for a serious long-haul, bucket-list vacation that still avoids the major crowds, I’ve got the incredible country of Chile. From Seattle it’s about a 12-hour overnight flight to Santiago, and keep in mind you’ll be leaving summer behind and waking up in winter, so pack warm.
From here it’s really choose your own adventure.
You can ski in the Andes at world class resorts – this is peak ski season here, June through September – or hit Patagonia in the off season to experience the quieter, calmer side of the natural beauty. This is also a great time to visit the Atacama Desert, especially for star-gazing, because the skies are incredibly clear during the winter.
Or pop into some of Chile’s wine regions off-season for tastings by the fireplace. you’re going to find a bit milder temperatures in these areas, too if you’re trying to escape from those colder spots.
But my personal favorite is the Lakes and Volcanoes route, especially in their winter. It’s a storybook landscape of snowcapped mountains, true volcanoes, and ancient forest. Anything from easy guided walks, snow trekking, snow shoeing, to more intense ice climbing, winter white water rafting – it’s totally up to how adventurous you’re feeling.
This route runs through several regions of Southern Chile but you don’t have to do the whole thing, and you can also fly back to Santiago if you do reach the bottom and want to save time getting back. I spent about a week doing this and it was incredible.
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.