Carless and carefree: Seattle to Bellingham

I prefer road trips that don't include me as the driver. And now with the gas gods scowling down on us, even folks who would never leave their beloved vehicles at home are opting for alternative ways to roam. Plus, lots can happen when you're not behind the wheel. You can read. Listen to tunes. Eavesdrop. Take a snooze. Or see familiar sights with fresh eyes. My favorite way to travel to British Columbia is a combination of trains, buses, boats, and planes. This is the first in a series of my carless, carefree getaway to B.C. Depending on your time and budget, cut and clip as necessary.

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It's all bad for you, and it's all good

I appreciate the media bringing attention to health issues. Particularly good is Jean Enersen's HealthLink on KING-5. But recently, a number of the advisories have made me more neurotic than usual. The one about moisturizers increasing skin cancer really made me listen, although I was less concerned when I heard that the study was conducted on hairless mice.

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The 'Water Dogs' visit Cama Beach State Park

A women-only getaway doesn't have to be all about spas. These "Water Dogs" prefer kayaking to pedicures, and the new Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island is the perfect setting.

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Europe in our front yard

If you're upset because that two weeks in Italy isn't part of your summer plans due to our lowly little dollar, never fear. All the Europeans are over here. It seems wherever I go, there they are. On a whale-watching trip out of Port Townsend recently, there was an ornithologist from Vienna on board, along with two Swiss guys in their twenties. OK, the Swiss guys were with me, family friends from Zurich staying with us for a week on Whidbey Island. But I think they're typical of the Western Europeans who are flocking to the U.S. this summer.

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Eat and walk your way through Northwest cities

Our Whidbey Island correspondent shares her favorite way to explore the food and atmosphere of Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle.

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BC Ferries offer better fare

Even though I'm a Washingtonian, if I had to choose between the Washington State Ferries (WSF) and the BC Ferries, the Canucks win by a kilometer. Granted, BC Ferries has had its share of mishaps. In 2006, the Queen of the North sunk while cruising the Inside Passage on its 18-hour journey between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. One hundred and one passengers were on board, and two are still missing and presumed dead. Human error was blamed for the sinking. Two years later, the Queen of Oak Bay lost power and plowed through dozens of boats at a marina in West Vancouver while attempting to dock at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.

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The sun sets on a certain demographic

Recently I received one of those familiar white envelopes with the clear window that's obviously been bulk mailed. It was the three words above my address, in bold and all caps, that caught my eyes: SENIOR CITIZEN OFFER. Accompanying it was was the personalized message: "Sue Frause, we miss you! To tempt you back, we'd like to offer you 12 issues of Sunset at our Senior Citizen Rate. Our guaranteed low rate!"

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From Whidbey to Seattle via ferry and rail

As a Whidbey Islander living in Langley, Wash., I won't be able to vote for the Sound Transit levy in November. But as somebody who uses mass transit whenever possible, I'm hoping it passes. I worked for Metro Transit three decades ago when voters turned down an important levy, one that could have changed the face of transportation in our region.

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Oklahoma is OK: They have lots of Dale Chihuly glass!

And they even have their own Underground. When the Seattle SuperSonics move to the Sooner State, they'll miss some things but not others. After a visit, our correspondent compares and contrasts.

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