Valerie & Valise
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press & Writing
    • Work with Us
    • For Bloggers
  • Alaska
    • Articles About…
      • Anchorage
      • Denali
      • Fairbanks
      • The Kenai
      • Southeast Alaska
    • Itineraries
    • Cruises
    • Recipes
    • Glossary
  • Other Destinations
    • California
    • Great Basin
    • Hawaii
    • Mountain West
    • Pacific Northwest
    • Southwest
    • Our Favorites
    • All Stories
  • Travel Tips
    • Bucket List Travel
    • Cruise Tips
    • National Park Tips
    • Packing Lists
    • Road Trip Tips
    • Train Travel Tips
  • The V&V Shop
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press & Writing
    • Work with Us
    • For Bloggers
  • Alaska
    • Articles About…
      • Anchorage
      • Denali
      • Fairbanks
      • The Kenai
      • Southeast Alaska
    • Itineraries
    • Cruises
    • Recipes
    • Glossary
  • Other Destinations
    • California
    • Great Basin
    • Hawaii
    • Mountain West
    • Pacific Northwest
    • Southwest
    • Our Favorites
    • All Stories
  • Travel Tips
    • Bucket List Travel
    • Cruise Tips
    • National Park Tips
    • Packing Lists
    • Road Trip Tips
    • Train Travel Tips
  • The V&V Shop
    • Cart
  • Gig Harbor View
    Destination Guides

    The 13 Best Things to Do in Gig Harbor for a Weekend Trip

    July 1, 2022 / 8 Comments

    Need a weekend getaway from Seattle? Plan a trip to Gig Harbor! Here are the best things to do in Gig Harbor, plus tons of other travel tips.

    Read More
  • Travel Tips,  Destination Guides

    25 Wonderful Weekend Getaways from Seattle, Washington

    May 20, 2022 /

    Seattle is one of my favorite cities – I loved living there when I did (2013-2017), and I love traveling there now that I've moved away (I just celebrated my 35th birthday in Seattle!). But I also love escaping the city to enjoy some of the many Seattle weekend getaways around the Pacific Northwest...

    Read More
  • Eastern Cascades Road Trip Hero
    Itineraries,  Road Trip Tips

    How to Plan an Epic Eastern Cascades Road Trip from Seattle

    May 17, 2022 / 2 Comments

    When you live in or travel to Western Washington, that's pretty much the only area you spend your time. There's definitely opinions about different parts of the Evergreen State, and those who call the Puget Sound or Olympic Peninsula home don't typically cross the imposing barrier of the Cascade Mountains for much – or for long...

    Read More
  • Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary Featured Image
    Road Trip Tips,  Destination Guides

    The Ultimate Pacific Coast Road Trip Itinerary (California & the PNW)

    May 13, 2022 / 208 Comments

    The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experience – for good reason...

    Read More
  • Visit Stehekin Hero
    Destination Guides

    How to Visit Stehekin, Washington State’s “Little Alaska”

    April 19, 2022 / 2 Comments

    As the boat made its way along the meandering waterway, the mountains slowly changed. Initially low and rolling, they became snow-capped, then steeper, finally towering above our tiny vessel. As we navigated deeper into the North Cascades along Lake Chelan, it became quite obvious that the claim of being the deepest gorge in North America is not an exaggeration: this huge, deep waterway reminded me instantly of the many fjords I've visited in Alaska over the years...

    Read More
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
    Destination Guides

    How to Attend the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in 2022

    April 5, 2022 / 24 Comments

    When I moved to the Pacific Northwest from London, part of me lamented that I was even further away from the tulip fields of the Netherlands.  Imagine my surprise to learn that 90 minutes north of Seattle, the fields of the Skagit Valley bloom into a quilt of technicolor tulips throughout April each year...

    Read More
  • 2020 National Parks Header
    National Park Travel

    The 20 Most & Least Visited National Parks in 2021

    February 25, 2022 / 2 Comments

    Curious about which national parks had the greatest (and fewest) number of visitors? Here are the lists – plus other national park facts too, based on some data I crunched!

    Read More
  • Things to Do in Anacortes Hero
    Destination Guides,  Itineraries

    The 9 Best Things to Do in Anacortes for a Weekend Trip

    November 11, 2021 / 8 Comments

    If you're planning a trip to Anacortes, look no further. Here you'll find travel tips, the best things to do in Anacortes, and a suggested 3-day itinerary.

    Read More
  • Seattle Road Trips Hero
    Road Trip Tips,  Destination Guides

    9 Epic Seattle Road Trips to Plan Right Now

    November 9, 2021 / 14 Comments

    Need to get out of town? Here are 9 of the best road trips from Seattle, from the Olympic Peninsula to Yellowstone National Park.

    Read More
123

Hi! I’m Valerie! 👋🏻



I travel with my trusty valise and my husband, Mr. V.
I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. I’m also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! ✌🏻

Want to know more?
Start here.

Explore More

Capture Your Trip!

Snag My Alaska eBook Bundle!


Shop Now

As Seen On

Acknowledgement of Land

Through my site I promote travel to lands, including Alaska, Canada, and the Western U.S., which are the traditional lands of Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgement, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands.

To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

Memberships & Awards

Need More?

  • About
  • All Stories
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • The V&V Shop
  • Resources for Bloggers
All words and images © 2013-2022 The Kolibro Group LLC