In the wintertime, many Pacific Northwesterners live by the credo: "If it's raining here, it's snowing in the mountains." This perspective-flipping tactic shifts the focus to awesome ski conditions and tranquil trails (rather than shorter days and dreary drizzle). Others embrace these months inside hygge-filled spaces that serve up delicious food and drink alongside an endless supply of coziness. Here are 10 destinations making the season brighter. Bellingham and Whatcom County made the list. Less than 90 miles north of Seattle, enjoy a laid-back vibe and small-town charm among friendly locals in Bellingham, humorously dubbed "the city of subdued excitement." In this artsy university town, book comfortable apartment-like accommodations at the Hamlet Hotel, which makes an ideal, central home base for on-foot explorations... Read the full article here.
