It’s likely you imagine cold and ice in Iceland. It’s called Iceland, after all. But what would you say when you learn it’s green, so many shades of green. It’s also blue — an astonishing blue in the sky and in the sea. … read more

Seagulls screech overhead, kayakers and paddleboarders weave in and out of the marinas and visitors by the dozens stroll along the waterfront, stopping here and there to read an interpretive sign or snap a photo of the scenic view. Gig Harbor has long … read more

When Hood Canal and the towering peaks of the Olympic Mountains fill your windows like huge, framed prints of paradise, the rest of the house almost doesn’t matter. So says Susan Roe Ramsey of the Hood Canal home that first served as her … read more

A road trip through artsy, progressive Vashon-Maury Island feels a bit like tumbling down Alice’s Wonderland rabbit hole. At 40 square miles, the island is home to an eclectic mix of farmers, artists and ferry commuters who prefer both its rural lifestyle and … read more

Downtown Port Orchard is another beautiful waterfront community in Kitsap County. With a population of 14,000, it’s the county seat for Kitsap. William Renton and Daniel Howard first settled Port Orchard in 1854 and set up a sawmill as the first business in … read more

No one builds a house without a set of plans. Carol and Sonny Loidhamer, high school sweethearts, knew their life plan started with being together. After that, they had a plan — for the moment. Sonny Loidhamer got right on his, opening United … read more

Transplanting themselves from the Bay Area to the Pacific Northwest, Barbara McFarren and Stan Noel found their lovely Gig Harbor view home in 2008, completing the move a year later. The couple was attracted in part by the “good bones” of the garden … read more

Magnificent. Majestic. Magical. Sedona wears its rainbow of hues through every season, a painting in living color in Northern Arizona. Come for a day or a week or a lifetime, — Sedona will seduce you. It’s nature’s playground and a whole lot more. … read more

The magical view from the deck says it all — mountain peaks, placid lake and a garden that beckons you to leave the deck and wander through it to the water’s edge. This lovingly tended garden of Denice and Don Heblich on Wooten … read more