Take Your Next Coffee Break in Seattle

Best For:  Culture, Nightlife, Culinary Scene, Natural Beauty, Outdoor Activities

Best Time to Visit:  May through September

I was expecting a bit more pow from Seattle. For a city with a reputation for having a lot of character, everything seemed a little bit understated; now I realize that subtlety is part of the Seattle charm. There’s no flash, but the city certainly has its own kind of pizzazz. It’s quirky, chill, intellectual, and fun without feeling the need to brag about it. Used to a more conservative vibe, I wondered if my East Coast attitude would glare in the city’s shabby-chic dive bars. But the open-minded locals barely took notice -- and if they did notice, they didn’t seem to care. After all, you would have to be fairly laid-back to handle 300 cloudy days per year, so dealing with a feisty and opinionated consultant is probably only slightly amusing at best.  

Cityscape with Mount Rainier 

Culture:  Many American cities have long been associated with various scenes. Washington, DC is synonymous with politics, and L.A. is home to the glitzy motion-picture industry. Seattle, still in its infancy as a city, seems to embrace its youth with the fickle angst of a teenager struggling to find identity through rebellion. Home to hipsters and the birthplace of grunge, the city always seems to be leading the counter-culture pack. Its eccentric vibe combines with an entrepreneurial spirit to attract people who are an interesting blend of unconventional and Type A. During a visit here, the best way to get immersed the culture is to hang with the locals in the thriving art galleries and music venues.

The Space Needle

Nightlife:  Much like its inhabitants, Seattle’s nightlife can best be described as quirky and offbeat.  Where else can you find a bar in a converted funeral home or one that doubles as an arcade offering 16 vintage pinball machine games?  Nightclubs are hard to come by; in this city, music is played by bands, not spun by DJ’s. Pioneer Square is for rowdy 20-somethings, Belltown’s cocktail lounges offer a more upscale experience, and Capital Hill has a thriving gay scene.

Culinary Scene:  Adventurous chefs and fresh seafood make Seattle a noteworthy food town. Restaurateurs increasingly have a farm-to-table philosophy, making it likely that your meal will be made using fresh, organic ingredients. Seattle also shines in the beverage department. Take a peek inside the original Starbucks in Pike Place Market just to say you saw it, but get your morning joe somewhere else; the city is filled with offbeat coffee houses vying to make you the best latte in town. The city has a number of microbreweriesserving evening (or afternoon) refreshments.  And don’t forget about the wine: Washington State is one of the leading producers in the country and makes especially good Rieslings.

        

Mountain View from Bainbridge Island Ferry

Natural Beauty:  Nicknamed “The Emerald City” after the lush evergreens surrounding its urban center, Seattle has the feeling of a city that was plopped down in the middle of a forest.  The mountainous views add to the city’s natural feel.  On a clear day, you can see the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascades to the east, the crown jewel of which is Mt. Rainier.  The best way to enjoy the scenery is to take a ferry across the Puget Sound to charming Bainbridge Island.  Or, take a day trip to some of the scenic wonders on the outskirts of the city.  Favorites include the rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula and the glaciers of Mount Rainier National Park.

   

Boating in Seattle

Outdoor Activities:  It makes sense that a city with such beautiful natural surroundings would have plenty of options for enjoying the outdoors. Parks come in all shapes and sizes and range from city-center greens to heavily-forested nature reserves. Try Kerry Park for famous cityscape views, Gas Works Park for people watching, or Seward Park for nature walks.  Boating is big here, and plenty of companies offer kayak and canoe rentals.  For those willing to leave the city limits, there are plenty of skiing and hiking options in the surrounding mountainous areas.  

After a few days in Seattle, urban dwellers will want to either head south to the city's little brother, Portland, or cross the Canadian border into the more cosmopolitan Vancouver.  

For devoted nature lovers, Seattle might be no more than a short stopover.  Head north to the San Juan and Victoria Islands, west to the Olympic Peninsula, or East to the Cascades for some of the most beautiful wildlife that the region has to offer.  

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland: The Hills Are Alive

Best For:  Natural Beauty, Outdoor Activities, Relaxation, Charm, and Public Transportation

Best Time to Visit:  Year-Round

The Valley Floor

As part of a European tour in 2009, I planned a two-night stopover in Lauterbrunnen so that I could go look at some pretty mountains.  I knew that the neighboring town of Interlaken had a reputation for attracting backpackers and frequenters of active-wear shops, so I booked a room in the village that seemed more my speed.  The minute I stepped foot in Lauterbrunnen, I realized I had made a grave planning error:  this place was magical, and I needed to spend the rest of my days here.  During the one day I had in the region, I was an outdoorsy superstar!  I went sledding on top of the Jungfrau (at 11,000 ft!), zip-lining amongst snow-capped peaks, and hiking under crashing waterfalls (though I passed on jumping off the cliff side in a flying squirrel suit).  Then, true to form, I saddled up at a café, ate raclette, and watched the world go by... and in this heavenly wonderland, that world mainly consisted of mooing cows.  So, go to Lauterbrunnen, even if you do just want to look at some pretty mountains, but be prepared to find that athlete lurking inside.

Top of the Jungfrau

Natural Beauty:  The Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the world’s great visual stunners.  Nestled in the mountainous Berner Oberland, it presents a striking combination of landscapes.  Lauterbrunnen allows impressive views of craggy, snow-covered mountains with the soft, lush backdrop of rolling meadowlands.  Running the length of each side of the valley floor are two imposing cliff faces, adorned by no less than 70 different waterfalls.  This spot is especially striking during the warm-weather months, when the expansive valley floor has a vibrant green hue, made to appear even brighter against the electric blue sky and patches of yellow wild flowers.  Lauterbrunnen also makes the ideal base for exploring the region’s other scenic offerings.  Nearby Interlaken, true to its name, links two dazzling lakes:  Thun and Brienz.  Travel to the top of the Jungfrau for breathtaking views of the Aletch glacier and the nearby summits of the Eiger and the Mönch.

Outdoor Activities:  This year-round travel destination offers outdoor activities for both the warm- and cold-blooded sportsman.  Switzerland is the second-most-popular destination for adventure sports in the world (behind New Zealand), and nearby Interlaken is at the heart of the industry.  Here, adrenaline junkies can book guided tours for paragliding, hang gliding, skydiving, bungee jumping, canyoning, river rafting, or rock climbing, to name a few.  Outdoor enthusiasts with a more restrained sense of adventure can explore the area’s many scenic trails on foot or mountain bike.  Snow bunnies will want to take advantage of the many local skiing and snowboarding spots.

       

Looking Down into the Valley

Relaxation:  The valley’s astounding scenery encourages visitors to sit back and soak in their surroundings.  Travelers looking to slow down their pace have many options for relaxation.  Take a ferry ride on Lake Thun and enjoy the water’s serenity before stopping for lunch in one of many charming lakeside towns.  Or, ride the cog train up the mountain, stop in one of the ski towns, and find a café with a breath-taking view. 

Charm:  The quaint, chalet-filled, mountain towns scattered through the region are the cherries on top of this destination.  Lauterbrunnen has one main street with a bakery, cheese shop, small grocery store, bar, and a smattering of hotels and restaurants.  Loiter on one of the eatery’s porches for a twilight dinner, and your meal will almost certainly come with evening entertainment: a farmer herding his cows down the road, their bells clinking a serenade as you enjoy your fondue. 

Public Transportation:  Don’t bother with a car around these parts – the punctual and expansive Swiss rail system does not disappoint even amongst Europe’s tallest peaks.  Lauterbrunnen serves as an excellent transportation hub for exploring the Berner Oberland.  Interlaken, which is easily accessible from all of the major Swiss cities, is one stop down the mountain.  Heading further up the mountain, travelers can stop in their choice of ski villages, each connected to one another by a series of gondolas and funiculars.  Or, just head straight to the top of the Jungfrau, home to the highest rail station in Europe.

The Valley Floor

You could spend an entire lifetime taking in this region’s beauty, but some travelers like more variety in their trips.  Here are some suggestions for Lauterbrunnen trip add-ons: 

Consider heading southeast to Lake Como, Italy, via the charming Swiss cities of Lucerne and Lugano.  Lake Como is almost as beautiful as Lauterbrunnen and offers the added benefits of amazing food, a different culture, the chance to live in the lap of luxury for a few days, and the possibility of a George Clooney sighting.

Head southwest to gorgeous Lake Geneva.  Though not as ideal for sporty-types, you will get a touch of culture, nightlife, and shopping in the lux lakeside cities of Lausanne and Geneva.

Costa Rica: Viva la Pura Vida

Best For:  Natural Beauty, Ecotourism, Outdoor Activities, Relaxation, Family Friendly

Best Time to Visit:  December through April 

Waterfall in La Fortuna

I don't really do nature.  I look at it.  I appreciate it.  Then I go to a café, do some window shopping, or hit up a museum, and if the nature is still in my field of vision while I'm enjoying the cultural sites, I'll appreciate it some more.  So, a couple of years ago when my mom and I decided to skip out on Christmas, I was a bit skeptical about heading to the tropics.  But Costa Rica isn't your dime a dozen Caribbean spot.  The nature is so vibrant, the pace so relaxed, and the people so lovely, it even made me slow down and enjoy the pura vida (pure life), as the locals call it.  By the end of my week here I was scoping out spots for a retirement home.    

Natural Beauty:  Containing up to 6% of the worlds’ plants and animal species in an area roughly the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has been called the most bio-diverse country on earth.  Varying landscapes offer travelers a visual smorgasbord of black sand beaches, lush rainforests, lava-spewing volcanoes, misty cloud forests, and grand waterfalls.  One of the great joys of a trip to Costa Rica is seeing exotic animals in their natural habitat.  It’s not unusual to spot monkeys hanging in trees or sea turtles inching along the beach.  Bird watchers may even get a glimpse of the rare resplendent quetzal.  Some of the most scenic inland parks include Monteverde and Arenal, while Manuel Antonio and Corcovada are coastal treats. 

   

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Ecotourism:  Costa Rica wrote the book on ecotourism.  With over 25% of its land protected by conservation areas and national parks, the country has led the way in wildlife preservation.  Here, conservation goes even beyond land protection – ecotourism is also in the details.  Hotel key cards prevent guests from leaving their lights on unnecessarily, products are made from eco-friendly materials, and trash bins offer multiple recycling options. 

Outdoor Activities:  Costa Rica is an adventure-lover’s playground.  Hikers, bikers, and rafters can take advantage of the countless trails and white water in the rainforests and parks.  Thrill seekers will not want to miss zip lining above forest canopies – Monteverde is best.  Water worshippers can enjoy scuba, swimming, snorkeling, or surfing on either of the country’s two coasts.

Guanacaste Beaches

Relaxation:  After trekking through the rainforest or battling the ocean waves, visitors will need some time to unwind and enjoy the pura vida.  Those visiting volcanic areas, such as Arenal (pictured right), can take a soak in one of the many hot springs, naturally heated by underground volcanic rock.  Sun worshippers can choose from remote beaches, such as those on the Caribbean and South Pacific Coasts, or more developed spots, like the Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio areas.

Family Friendly:  If you feel like you’ve missed out on international travel since starting a family, consider taking your kids to Costa Rica.  Children of all ages will love its attractions and will especially appreciate not being dragged to boring museums.  Many of the parks offer family-oriented activities such as butterfly gardens and hanging bridge tours.  And who doesn’t love the beach?