Pining for the Shire? Here are a few places to visit to quell your hobbity cravings in Washington State without visiting Middle Earth (or at least New Zealand).

In Orondo, Washington, near the Columbia River Gorge, there exists a charming hobbit house built into the hillside. We finally got to stay there for a few nights! Here's a review with a brief video, and some things to know before you go there.

The Pacific Northwest is a great place for water sports, but it can be cold. Here are some great tips for choosing a wetsuit for the Pacific Northwest from evo -- a Seattle based outdoor gear retailer.

We visited the Nelson Treehouse Company’s B&B Treehouse point, along with a couple of other in-the-tree locations (the Forest House, Free Spirit Spheres, and -- at least in spirit -- the treehouse at Doe Bay) in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s a lowdown on getting high (up in the trees at least) along with a listing of other treehouses in the PNW you can rent.

I guess the Thule Hullavator is like an elevator, only for your hull (of your kayak). I've used the Hullavator for a few years now -- overall it's a nice piece of gear and lets me schlep my kayak around solo. But it does have a few drawbacks as well. Here's what I think, with a video demo.