Located off Highway 101, Kennedy Creek is protected within the Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve, a 203-acre parcel comprising stretches of tidal salt marsh, winding waterways, and thick forests.

This humble creek is the location of Puget Sound's largest Chum salmon run. Every fall, over 24,000 fish return to spawn at the exact gravel bed where they themselves were born, completing a life cycle that plays a critical role in our region's ecology.

But the creek wasn't always well cared for. By the end of the 20th Century, habitat degradation had damaged Kennedy Creek beyond recognition. In the summer, locals used the waterway as an ATV track. A discarded sofa was famously left abandoned in the creekbed. This neglect had reduced the salmon run to an average of only 100 fish per season.

Luckily, and with the help of a couple of passionate nonprofits, the Squaxin Island Tribe intervened and began the difficult work of restoring the salmon run. Now, Kennedy Creek is considered one of Washington's premiere salmon-viewing trails, with interpretive signs and trained docents available to answer any of your questions.

Every November, Kennedy Creek attracts over 5,000 visitors eager to see the end of the Chum's heroic journey home from the Pacific.

At only half a mile, this guided route is approachable for all visitors regardless of experience. In fact, it's my opinion that the wheelchair-accessible path actually contains some of the creek's best vantage points.

Beyond appreciating the salmon run for its critical impact on our local environment, witnessing the spawning Chum is powerful. It's rare that visitors to Kennedy Creek don't walk away moved by the grit and sheer determination of this remarkable and quintessentially Northwest species.

1. The Lights of Christmas

2. Leavenworth Christmas Tree Lighting Festival

3. White Pass Winter Carnival

4. Lake Chelan Winterfest

5. Shelton

6. Tacoma

7. Puyallup

8. Leavenworth

9. Ice Skating at Riverfront Park

10. Snow Tubing at Summit Tubing Park

11. Cross-County Skiing

12. Thanksgiving Day Cruise

13. Snowy Cabin Treehouse

14. Goldmeyer Hot Springs

15. Hot Tub Cabin Getaway

16. Bull Hill Guest Ranch

On May 8, 1964, construction began on the USS Plainview in Seattle, Washington, by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company. It took over one year to complete and $21 million to build, which is equivalent to approximately $80 million today.

This was no small ship. The ship was 210 feet long and weighed 320 tons. It featured two General Electric LM1500 free-turbine turbo-shaft engines and could reach speeds up to 50 knots. It could also rise more than 10 feet as it flew across the water on just three struts. During hull-borne operations, it used two diesel engines.

In 1969, the Navy vessel was officially placed in service and was sponsored by Mrs. John T. Hayward. The ship conducted long-range experimental programs, evaluated design principles of hydrofoils, accessed tactics and doctrines for hydrofoils, and determined the possible uses of hydrofoil operations.

Throughout the years, the USS Plainview stayed busy, with approximately 268 hours of traveling on its foils.

This navy ship was used for nearly ten years, but on September 22, 1978, in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the USS Plainview was decommissioned. Two days later, on September 30, 1978, it was struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

The ship was eventually sold to a Tacoma company, and partial scrapping of the ship began in 2004.

As of April 10, 2019, the USS Plainview sits on mudflats on private property near Astoria, Oregon. While you cannot visit the ship in person, simply viewing images of this large vessel is eerie and chilling.

It is certainly a reminder of times past and untold stories.

Located in the picturesque Madison neighborhood, a couple minute's walk from Lake Washington, this quaint restaurant is a local favorite.

The cozy interior serves as the perfect fox-hole on drizzly, overcast days. In sunnier weather, The Harvest Vine offers outdoor seating within earshot of the sleepy Madrona sidewalk traffic, surrounded by vibrant flower pots.

With over 24 habit-forming entries on the current dinner menu, diners will have a harder time narrowing down their choices than they will at finding something they're in the mood for. But tapas-style dining celebrates such indecision! You'll find your plates are scoured clean by the end of your meal, regardless of whether you ordered a bit more than initially planned.

Save room for dessert! My date-night cheat code at The Harvest Vine is to order sweets exclusively. It's my personal conviction that no romantic outing can be a snoozefest when you're eating dessert for dinner.

Before pursuing a culinary career, owner Carolin Messier got a little sidetracked and studied to be a physician. Luckily for us all, she came to her senses and embraced her passion for food, which she traces back to a coconut-covered, bunny-shaped cake she baked for her family when she was eight.

When executive chef Joey Serquinia arrived in 2008, so did the secret spice. Since he assumed the kitchen's helm, The Harvest Vine has gone from strength to strength. One of Serquinia's specialties is paella. It's worth checking ahead to see if this classic entrée is on offer, as it isn't always available.

You'll find Orchard Kitchen on a stunning five-acre farm just outside the quaint town of Langley on the island's southern end.

If the sun is shining, the best place to sit is outside, where you can look out at the idyllic red barns and rows of vegetables growing alongside you. Many of these ingredients you'll also find on your plate!

When the weather turns gloomy, the restaurant's interior is equally inviting. Warm wood touches, cream accents, and candlelight create an ambiance of rustic elegance that is perfect for any special occasion or romantic outing. And while you may be further from the farm, you're closer to the open kitchen where the workflow of talented chefs provides spectacular tableside entertainment.

Are you returning to Orchard Kitchen for a second time? Expect different offerings. Chef Nattress takes pride in never repeating a menu, so savor every flavor of your multi-course meal.

Besides injecting excitement into the kitchen's routine and enriching the diner's experience, the evolving menu is a consequence of Orchard Kitchen's hyper-seasonal philosophy.

Whidbey Island offers different culinary opportunities every day. One morning, the garden may contain enough edible flowers to garnish an appetizer course. The following afternoon, local fish purveyors might contact the kitchen about a successful morning's catch.

Chef Nattress's passion is synthesizing these ever-changing ingredients into spectacular meals that delight his guests and connect them to their environment.

The result is an unforgettable dining experience that feels remarkably intimate and profoundly personal.

Bowl and Pitcher's well-maintained trail will take you across a raging swathe of the Spokane River before leading you right back to the trailhead. This loop-style hike is a great way to keep things engaging for kids who might be discouraged by a there-and-back-again trek.

Pause on the majestic wooden bridge that begins your adventure and enjoy the stunning water views. Spokane River is a major tributary to the nearby Columbia, and it has served as a vital resource to people living in Spokane Valley since well before the arrival of European settlers.

You'll find that the river has different temperaments depending on the season. At the end of summer, it's much calmer. To see it in all its glacial-melt glory, visit Bow and Pitcher Loop in spring!

While you can reach the rocky riverfront to hang out and explore, some surrounding rocks are a little large to picnic on. Massive boulders line the river, creating spectacular eddies and currents that will amaze you and delight younger visitors.

When we say a trip to Bow and Pitcher Loop can include the whole family, we really do mean everyone. Pups are allowed on the trail so long as their owners clean up after them. Make sure they stay on the lead, however! Besides mistaking seasonal mushrooms for a trail-side snack, your furry friend may encounter wildlife. Many hikers have snapped pictures of deer and even moose cooling off at the river!

While many of the larger trees are evergreens, the understory still colors up beautifully in the fall. So long as you have a raincoat and a stiff upper lip in the event of rain, this would be a lovely destination in the autumn season.

Your adventure will begin at Seattle's King Street Station. This historic gem makes for an auspicious start to your daytime trek, especially with a piping hot coffee in hand. Tickets to Leavenworth cost around $50. Check the Amtrak timetable for this route's schedule and plan to reserve your tickets ahead of time.

Bring books and table games to entertain you and your family. You may not want the distractions, though. As the train glides past picturesque Snohomish, you'll likely be pressed to the window, taking in the lovely pastoral views.

The trees lining the Snohomish River turn a startling orange in the fall, and on a clear day, the water's surface reflects them, doubling the impact of their autumn foliage.

The rail passes the quaint town of Monroe, known as the entry point to the Cascades. From here, watch the landscape change as you ascend into the rugged mountains.

Your trip began with serene rivers curling through rural fields. Now, the Skykomish River churns beneath jagged alpine peaks.

The remote scenery of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is worth your undivided attention. Now may also be the opportune moment to visit the train's dining car for a bite or a sip of something that pairs well with jaw-dropping views.

While a jaunt to the dining car is mandatory for the full passenger train experience, a packed dinner or lunch is just as satisfying, and a thermos of cocoa puts the ideal button on this fall adventure.

Your arrival to sleepy Leavenworth can mark the perfect start of a weekend vacation or the halfway point in your railway travels.

With a population of under 1,000 people, Grayland is a very small Washington town, indeed. Located in the southwestern corner of Grays Harbor County, this quaint community is primarily known for stunning Grayland Beach State Park.

Many folks from the Evergreen State don't know that this area is also home to a multi-million dollar cranberry industry. Over a hundred years ago, farmers identified that the confluence of ocean spray and marshy land would be perfect for cultivating this beautiful fruit.

An industrious Massachusetts man named Anthony Chabot was the first to see the potential for big profit in Washington's bogs. Trusting Chabot's vision, other farmers bought up 1,600 acres of land between 1872 and 1877 and devoted themselves to cranberry production.

The Great Depression almost killed this unique Washington industry, but a handful of individuals persevered through rough times and businesses slowly rebounded.

Washington may not be the largest cranberry producer in the United States, but local farmers have made significant contributions to the industry. While most farms practice "wet method" harvesting, which requires flooding fields, in 1957, a Grayland resident named Julius Furford invented the machine that made dry harvesting possible. You can still see the bog where it was first used at 1818 Cranberry Road!

For 30 years, Grayland has celebrated its cranberry industry and farmers at the Grays Harbor Cranberry Festival. The festivities are being held at the historic Grayland Community Hall this year.

You'll love this unique exhibition of all things cranberry! Peruse the selections of local vendors, immerse yourself in cranberry cultivation on a bog tour, compete in a cranberry cook-off, and delight in the firelight parade.

1. Alchemy Bistro & Bar, Port Townsend

2. Elements Restaurant, Vancouver

3. Asado, Tacoma

4. The Melrose Grill, Renton

5. Clinkerdagger, Spokane

6. The Butcher's Table, Seattle

7. Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse, Bellingham

Perhaps you are familiar with the charming town of Sequim along the Olympic Peninsula, long revered as the lavender capital of North America. And indeed, the lavender fields found here are truly extraordinary.

But what you may not know is that this quaint little town comes alive with color during the autumn season. You'll be enamored by the beauty you discover here.

Sequim's city parks offer pathways lined with vibrant, colorful trees during the fall. These picturesque storybook scenes truly invigorate the senses.

Note the way the mist clings to the top of these colorful maple, spruce, and hemlock trees to create the quintessential autumn mood all throughout town.

You'll find the scenes along the coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to be especially mesmerizing in their beauty. In consideration of Washington's array of coastal towns, Sequim is arguably among the most tranquil and picturesque in the fall.

Take a walk along portions of the Olympic Discovery Trail for a glimpse of this 130-mile backpacking route. While this moderately challenging trail should only be conquered by those prepared and conditioned for the multi-day hike, you can still enjoy portions of the trail from Sequim.

Sequim is full of history and hidden gems to explore such as the Marine Sciences Laboratory, which is located on Sequim Bay in Washington's Puget Sound. This state-of-the-art facility is the Department of Energy's only marine research laboratory.

Breathe in the crisp autumn air and soak in a peaceful sunset on the beach of Sequim Bay. The pastel colors reflecting off the tranquil waters are reminiscent of an oil painting. You will find no shortage of reasons to fall in love with the town of Sequim in the fall.