Find Your Winter Reset: PNW and BC Wellness Escapes

Across the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, a new wave of wellness-focused travel invites people to reset, recharge, and reconnect in ways that feel both accessible and deeply restorative. From Seattle Southside’s urban hiking routes that blend nature and neighborhood culture, to 1 Hotel Seattle’s nature-inspired luxury, to Whidbey Island’s literary retreats, winter wellness becomes a choose-your-own-escape. Travelers seeking sunshine can find it in the Tri-Cities, where riverside trails, wine country calm, and culinary comforts provide a warm-weather antidote to the season. For those craving adventure, BC’s women-led ski and snow experiences offer empowering ways to embrace the mountains with confidence and community. 

Together, these experiences reflect a growing traveler desire for grounding moments—whether slow, cozy, active, or adventurous—rooted in authenticity and a sense of place. 

Urban Hiking Redefined: A Walkable Escape in Seattle Southside 

As interest grows in simple ways to lower stress and support overall health, Seattle Southside offers an urban hiking experience that blends nature, movement, and local flavor—easily accessible via the Link Light Rail. This link provides access to the guide, with highlights such as:  

• Start with a treat: Begin with a warm concha or pastry from Las Delicias Panaderia Y Antojitos, just a five-minute walk from Angle Lake Station on the Link Light Rail. 

• Nature + movement: Follow the forested Des Moines Creek Trail—a stress-reducing, paved path with creek sounds, forest canopy, and overhead plane-spotting. 

• Local stops along the way: Step into Carriage Country Quilts or All Points Yarn for a calming, creative pause mid-walk. 

• Refuel mindfully: Recharge at Second Love Coffee Roasters, known for small-batch roasts and a peaceful covered patio ideal for unwinding. 

Urban hiking in Seattle Southside offers a simple, transit-friendly way to reduce stress hormones, elevate mood, and support overall wellness—no car, gear, or long travel required.  

A Nature-Forward Reset at 1 Hotel Seattle 

For travelers craving a restorative city escape after the holiday bustle, 1 Hotel Seattle offers a nature-infused sanctuary in the heart of South Lake Union, blending sustainable luxury, mindful design, and wellness-forward amenities for a peaceful, grounding winter stay. The hotel’s interiors showcase reclaimed wood details, stone accents, and abundant greenery that echo the Pacific Northwest’s forests, creating a tranquil, biophilic refuge from the energy of the city. 

Guests can tend to mind and body at The Field House, the hotel’s fitness center equipped with Peloton bikes, resistance treadmills, rowers, and yoga gear. The Field House offers access to wellness-focused sessions, and guests also receive complimentary entry to DRYP Yoga Studio across the street, simply by showing their room key, making it easy to start the day with a guided yoga class. 

Dining adds another layer of comfort and creativity. The hotel’s signature restaurant La Loba features a Mediterranean- and Japanese-inspired menu grounded in seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, while Drift, the lobby lounge and bar, offers a cozy, cocoon-like space for cocktails and connection. 

By combining sustainable design, comfort-driven amenities, intentional wellness offerings including yoga, and thoughtful dining, 1 Hotel Seattle becomes an urban reset unlike any other, offering a serene, stylish, and restorative way to welcome the new year.  

A Reader’s Retreat: Island Authors, Bookshops and Literary-inspired Lodgings  

As the temperatures drop and the holidays wind down, the island transforms into the perfect setting for a cozy winter retreat—complete with a warm drink and a good book. With three independent island booksellers offering everything from local authors and mysteries to timeless classics and children’s tales, book lovers can create their own literary adventure.   

Start your journey at Book Rack in Oak Harbor, which pairs its diverse selection with an inviting café. Continue south to Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville, then discover the charm of Moonraker Books in Langley. Once you’re stocked up on reading material, settle into a snug, storybook-like lodging such as  The Writer’s Refuge, The Bluff on Whidbey Island or Whidbey Island Bed and Breakfast  all ideal for diving into a great read—or even penning one of your own.   

For thriller enthusiasts, Mystery Weekend in Langley is not to be missed. Taking place in February, this interactive event invites visitors to channel their inner detectives. Gather clues from local shops, interrogate suspects, inspect the crime scene, and put your sleuthing skills to the test as you solve a thrilling real-life whodunit.  Whether you're reading, exploring, or solving mysteries, the island offers the perfect literary escape this winter. 

A Warm-Weather Reset: Sunshine, Wine Country, and Waterfront Wandering in the Tri-Cities 

While much of the Pacific Northwest settles into gray winter days, the Tri-Cities offers a different kind of seasonal escape: crisp sunshine, big skies, and a restorative pace shaped by wine country, waterfront trails, and fresh local flavors. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s the perfect antidote to winter fatigue and an easy getaway for travelers craving light, warmth, and wide-open spaces.  

Start with a gentle riverside walk along the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, a 23-mile paved loop hugging the Columbia River with sweeping views, birdwatching, and plenty of quiet pockets to pause and breathe. Outdoor enthusiasts can also take in the region’s striking geology at Chamna Natural Preserve.  

For a deeply sensory reset, the Tri-Cities’ wine country offers more than tastings — it’s a calm, winter-friendly experience shaped by intimate wineries, wide-open views, and welcoming indoor spaces. Visitors can slow down with pours at Red Mountain wineries, like Upchurch Vineyard, Hedges Family Estate, Frichette Winery, and Col Solare, where cozy tasting rooms and sweeping vineyard landscapes create a naturally grounding atmosphere. Several wineries also offer seasonal releases, special tastings, or food-pairing experiences throughout the winter. 

Beyond wine, travelers can explore local makers and markets at Middleton Farms Market and enjoy riverside coffee or meals at The Lodge at Columbia Point, or dive into the region’s growing culinary scene. Favorites like Monterosso’s Italian Restaurant and LU LU Craft Bar + Kitchen offer comforting, seasonal dishes rooted in local ingredients. Craft-beverage fans can also stop at White Bluffs Brewing and  Ice Harbor Brewing for small-batch brews. 

Where Women Lead: Empowering Ski Experiences in BC  

 Across BC, women are taking alpine adventure to new heights and empowering others to do the same:  

Great Bear Heli Skiing: In the remote Central Coast, Great Bear Heli Skiing provides access to over 6,250 square kilometres of untouched terrain. Owned and operated by Mandi Blewett and her daughters, Dyllan and Zoe, it’s Canada’s only women-owned and operated heli-ski lodge. Every detail—from the lodge design to meals—cultivates a warm, grounded environment that feels like coming home… even when you’re miles from anywhere. How to get there: Great Bear Heli Skiing provides private charter flights from Vancouver to Bella Coola or Anahim Lake, followed by a helicopter transfer. 

Girls Do Ski: Based at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Girls Do Ski was founded 14 years ago by pro skier Leah Evans. Guests can choose from freeride sessions, backcountry training, or avalanche education led by certified ACGM guides. The camps empower women and gender-diverse skiers to push boundaries, build skills, and make lasting mountain connections. How to get there: Fly to Kelowna from Vancouver, then drive 2.5 hours to Revelstoke.

Island Lake Lodge: Near Fernie, Island Lake Lodge is a sanctuary of fresh powder, luxury hospitality, and innovative leadership. Often named among the world’s best cat-skiing destinations, the lodge employs women for half of its elite guiding team—a rare showing in a traditionally male-dominated industry. With just 36 guests at a time, private access by helicopter or nearby airstrip, and deluxe amenities like cedar saunas, this is alpine luxury at its finest. How to get there: Fly to Calgary from Vancouver, then settle in for a spectacular 3.5-hour drive through the Rockies. 

As travelers look ahead to the new year, each of these destinations offers a distinct path to restoration—urban trails that soothe the mind, hotels that nurture wellbeing through design, islands that spark creativity, wine regions that slow the pace, and mountain programs that build confidence and connection. From simple day trips to immersive multi-day experiences, the Pacific Northwest and BC provide meaningful, wellness-forward escapes for every style of traveler.