Join a Media Trip
If interested in participating in one of the following media trips, contact Allen Cox at editor@nwtravelmag.com by August 15, 2026. Participants will be selected and notified by August 24.
The ideal applicant…
- Is excited to learn about and share aspects of the destination
- Is self-reliant
- Plans to pitch favored outlets with island stories
- Has an engaged following on social channels and/or a blog or Substack
Western Skagit Valley: Coastal Charm & Agriculture
September 30 – October 2, 2026
- 2 nights lodging
- Meals
- Admission fees
- Tour historic Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway
- Explore the towns of Bow-Edison, a foodie hub featuring valley ingredients
- Explore Padilla Bay Estuary
- Deception Pass Jet Boat tour
- Hiking at Deception Pass State Park
- Explore Anacortes
- Wine tasting
- Farm visits and tulip bulb planting lesson
Western Skagit Valley is a vibrant hub of agritourism, historic waterfront communities, and marine beauty bordering the Salish Sea. Visitors flock here to experience the world-famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which transforms the flat fields into a massive carpet of color every spring. Food lovers can taste their way through the regional farm-to-table culinary scene, stopping at artisanal bakeries in Bow/Edison or enjoying seaside dining in the artistic enclave of La Conner. This coastal flank is also highly praised for its wildlife viewing, hosting massive winter migrations of snow geese and trumpeter swans across the scenic river delta.
Eastern Skagit Valley: Mountain Majesty & Wilderness
September 26 – 28, 2026
- 2 nights lodging
- Meals
- Admission fees
- Explore the historic town of Sedro-Woolley
- Attend the “Farm to Pint Fest” in LA Conner
- North Cascades National Park visitor center
- Picnic, waterfalls and hiking
- Local dining
Eastern Skagit Valley rises from flat farmland to the jagged peaks and dense forests of the Cascade Mountains. This region serves as the dramatic gateway to the North Cascades National Park and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Towns like Sedro-Woolley anchor the area with a rustic, historic charm, offering direct access to subalpine hiking, freshwater river fishing and camping. In late fall and winter, the rushing Skagit River becomes a premier destination wildlife watchers hoping to spot hundreds of bald eagles returning to feed on spawning salmon.
San Juan Islands: Choose Your Own Adventure
October 1 – 3, 2026
- Ferry fare
- 2 nights lodging
- Select meals
- Admission fees
- Explore the town of Friday Harbor with locally owned shops and galleries
- Visit the Whale Museum, the first in the country dedicated to the stewardship of a species
- Whale Watching and Wildlife tour
- Visit to a working shellfish farm
- Farm-to-table dining
- Optional biking, hiking
- Choose between a tour of an animal retirement sanctuary, a wine experience at a local winery, or a guided forest-bathing tea ceremony.
- Explore the village of Eastsound with locally owned shops, galleries and a historical museum
- Naturalist-guided hike in Moran State Park
- Visit the oldest ceramics studio in the Northwest
- Farm-to-table dining
- Choose between a tasting at a local winery or distillery, a shrub and heirloom preserve tasting, or tour a farm and learn how to make a bouquet of a floral tattoo.
- No scheduled activities. Explore the island on your own.
As the ferry glides through the San Juan Islands, feel yourself unwind. Watch for bald eagles and listen for the spouts of orca or humpback whales. You won’t find fast food, stoplights, or Jet Skis; you will find hidden forest paths, sweeping shorelines, and a mosaic of wildlife. Be seduced by “Island Time” in a place without bridges or malls. Strike up a conversation with a local and you’ll find stalwart orca researchers, entrepreneurs, famous artists, composers, and outdoor guides–all with stories to tell. San Juan Islands video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxjwtMU-Gv0.
Choose you adventure on either San Juan Island, Orcas Island or Lopez Island. The FAM trip on San Juan Island and Orcas Island will be guided by a host. The FAM on Lopez Island will not be guided, and you must provide your own ground transportation on that island.