Nothing signals the coming on of fall more than a trip to Pullman. Driving along Highway 195, the rolling wheat fields are especially striking when a wind whips through the land, creating a sea of amber waves. For Cougar fans, it means the start of football – and renewed hope for a winning season. Although Pullman is the epitome of a college town, there is lots to see and do off-campus, or at least outside the confines of Martin Stadium. For golfers, Palouse Ridge Golf Club is a picturesque,

There's no better way to spend a summer day than at the lake. Nestled in the heart of the Cascades, Lake Chelan is Washington's premier waterfront destination. For generations families have been making the journey to the lake, creating priceless memories. Sure, there’s boating, fishing, water skiing, swimming and lake cruises in 55-mile long Lake Chelan. But this recreational paradise offers so much more to fill the senses. The city of Chelan sits at the eastern end of the lake, offering resort lodging, fine dining, cool treats and refreshing drinks, quant shops and art galleries. The nearby community of Stehekin, accessible by boat, plane or on foot, offers pine lodges, hiking, camping, bicycling and a nature interpretive center.

On the Washington Coast, located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and bordering the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Sequim  (pronounced Skwim) is known for its fields of lavender, beaches, hiking trails and wildlife.

Nothing is more disconcerting than arriving at an airport, needing assistance and looking around to find there’s no one to help. The Spokane International Airport and Diamond Park'N Jet have services to  make your travel experience memorable and hassle-free.

Fifty-seven-year-old Roland Lamarche has been to the mountain top. In fact, he’s been to so many mountaintops he finds it difficult to count them all. But his most recent expedition to the highest peak in North America is one he’ll never forget. On June 9, Lamarche and four team members reached the summit of Denali (also known at Mt. McKinley) in Alaska.

1. Ken Griffey Jr. is back in action. 2. A action-packed mural inside Safeco Field is part of the $1.3 million Art in the Park program. 3. Forget peanuts; in Seattle, delicious Ichirolls are a fan favorite.

When the temperature goes up, the tops go down. It’s convertible season in the Inland Northwest. But it isn’t only muscle-bound men working on those muscle cars. And it isn’t just grown-up boys cruising in those classic autos.  Women can fall for those hunks of metal just as easily as men can, as we found out by talking to a few female auto enthusiasts. They’re having fun, fun, fun. And nobody is going to take their convertibles away.

Almost every day between Thanksgiving and January, Tom Michalski packs his Canon camera to Lake Coeur d’Alene’s Wolf Lodge Bay to shoot hundreds of photos.

Autumn, which officially began Sept. 22, is a beautiful time of year in and around Spokane.

That’s when the colder weather and shorter days help to turn the leaves of the thousands of deciduous trees and bushes in Spokane to brilliant yellows, reds and oranges before they lose their grasp and fall to the ground.

The guy behind me brought a tuna-fish sandwich on board, and the teenagers across the aisle are eating fast-food hamburgers. Pee-ewe! The ultraclose quarters of a 727 airplane is not the place for smelly food.

If you haven’t flown in the past few years, be prepared for significant food deprivation. Most carriers have eliminated or severely restricted food available on board to minipacks of salty snacks. My maxim: Never get on a plane without a food-and-water stash, no matter how short the flight.

Fair and rodeo season hits the Inland Northwest. Soon, there will be laughter in the air as bells of merry-go-rounds ring in the distance. Hooves will be clattering in large barns, and some animals will be adorned with blue ribbons. It will be a time for families to come together and have fun while spending time with one another. It will be a time for the fair.

Small-town festivals offer unique contests, healthy events and less-than-healthy food. Small-town festivals have just the right ingredients to give a double dose of happiness. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a festival as an occasion for feasting or celebration, and opportunities for feasting are always big festival attractions. So is the good music, fun events, culture, history, fun runs, dancing, fresh air and, of course, the beauty of rippling water, rolling hills, rising forests or whatever else might be just beyond a small Inland Northwest town.

Use your Economic Stimulus Act checks to travel the West!

Uncle Sam probably has or will be sending you an economic-stimulus check, so why not make a break and jet to Seattle, San Francisco or San Diego. Granted, the $600 per person rebate won’t cover all expenses, but with some savvy planning, you can stretch those dollars into some well-deserved fun. Plus, it sounds like a lot more fun than stocking up at Costco.

Here are some money-saving tips: Travel midweek. Avoid summer and holidays. Rely on public transport instead of renting a car. Check your destination’s Web site for free attractions. Search relentlessly for hotel deals online, and then compare by calling the hotel directly and asking for specials or an AARP or AAA discount.

Last summer, I spent an edifying afternoon touring Idaho’s new wine region with a group of travel writers. It’s a good thing the tourism folks had arranged a van and driver for us because by the end of the day I was gleefully humming the words to an anonymous ditty: “Wine, the sweet kind—it tickles my mind and makes me feel like red roses look.”