New Year Fling

New Year 2015 Trip to Seattle

Smart, good looking, and loves the outdoors. Yes, Seattle is your perfect match. And it's not looking for a major commitment, just a little fun. But beware: you might fall in love. If you only have a few days to get to know Seattle, here are a few ways to ignite a spark.

Snowshoe the North Star: At 14,411 feet tall, Mount Rainier is a massive wonder with world-record snowfall that's visible throughout the northwest. And this playground for cross-country skiing, sledding, and guided snowshoe walks is only a short drive away from downtown.

Visit a Bavarian Village: Take a festive day trip and get into the holiday spirit—check out the more than 5,000 nutcrackers at the Nutcracker Museum in Leavenworth, a charming replica of a Bavarian village where you can eat schnitzel and find unique gifts. Afterwards, escape to the surrounding Cascade Mountains and work up some holly-jollies going dogsledding or taking a sleigh ride.

Do Some Island Hopping: Zip over to the San Juan Islands, scenically accessed by ferry or a Kenmore Air floatplane, for whale watching, wildlife sightings, world-class sea kayaking, and wandering shop to shop. Then head back to Seattle to dine at award-winning restaurants and nighttime hotspots.

Enjoy Seattle: At the end of your days there'll still be time to explore Seattle. Start at "the soul of Seattle"—the famous Pike Place Market. Check out this Complete Guide to Pike Place. Later grab drinks at a secret speakeasy before enjoying dinner and live music at intimate venues.

BONUS: Check out the Nine Great Day Trips Beyond Seattle. Plus find special hotel and accommodation rates at 2DaysInSeattle.com.

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