Resort at a Glance: Shining Star Ranch

Folks tired of the hectic city lifestyle may find the perfect antidote in Shining Star Ranch’s peaceful, pastoral setting. Whether you’re taking a riverside ride on one of the ranch’s horses or feeding the goats at the onsite petting area, you’ll enjoy the simpler joys of country life on display at the ranch, set amidst the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains.

• Where you’ll stay: You won’t be roughing it with these guest rooms, which come with artisan decor and flat-screen TVs. Some have scenic views of the mountains.
• Dining on the ranch ranges from a complimentary, B&B-worthy breakfast to having dinner outdoors, with a mountain view.
• For extra space, choose the Shining Eagle Suite or Celebrity Star Suite.
• Onsite activities: Take an urban-farming or beer-brewing class, or walk or bike along the riverfront trails.

Seattle: Art, Architecture, and Famous Coffee in Coastal Urban Center

Street performances, flowers, and fresh-caught fish find a common home at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Founded in 1907, this market is where both sightseers and locals shop for fresh seafood, meat, and produce. Drop into the Fish Market to watch the staff tossing salmon, halibut, cod—a famous tradition. There are plenty of nonperishable goods as well, including jewelry and other crafts. And you might want to take a picture in front of the market’s iconic sign, which now rivals Space Needle as the city’s most-recognizable symbol.

The original Starbucks coffeehouse has operated out of Pike Place since the 1970s. You can stop here for a pick-me-up before taking the half-mile walk to Seattle Central Library. Whether you love books or architecture or both, this futuristic-looking library is worth a visit. The 11-story glass-and-steel structure consists almost entirely of diamond-shaped windows arranged to look like a geometric net. The otherworldly interior is a playground for book lovers. Be sure to check out the library’s “living room” in the morning, when sunlight creates a kaleidoscopic shadow on the floor.

Like the library, the nearby Seattle Art Museum is full of spectacles, starting with its collection of “exploding” white Ford Tauruses suspended from the lobby ceiling. Exhibits range from Renaissance-era European art to Korean and Japanese panels.

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