Travel & Outdoors

Life & Style VIDEO: Woodland Park Zoo outdoes itself with the best bear safety video ever (Video)

By Hanna Brooks Olsen Published: May 22, 2013 at 1:09 PM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 1:09 PM PDT

If you're camping or hiking this weekend, bear safety is no laughing matter. But if you're sitting in your office and watching this video from the Woodland Park Zoo, it kind of is. So take notes and remember: Bears like cake.

Life & Style Alaska volcano's ash prompts flight cancellations (Photo Gallery)

By RACHEL D'ORO,Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 2:06 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 2:07 PM PDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska volcano eruption is prompting regional airlines to cancel flights to nearby communities, including a town that reported traces of fallen ash.

Pavlof Volcano released ash plumes as high as 22,000 feet over the weekend, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

Life & Style Riverboats to resume 7-night cruises in Northwest

By The Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 1:56 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 1:56 PM PDT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The company that resumed riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River a year ago said Tuesday that it will offer seven-night trips starting next year on the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington.

Life & Style Salmon-eating terns are on their own, no more help from the Army

By JEFF BARNARD, Associated Press Published: May 15, 2013 at 2:12 PM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 2:12 PM PDT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Monday it will not continue killing gulls that have been eating baby Caspian terns at the West Coast's largest nesting colony, located at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Life & Style Senators require fingerprinting at 30 airports

By ERICA WERNER,Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 1:02 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 1:02 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreigners leaving the country through any of the nation's 30 busiest airports would undergo mandatory fingerprinting under an amendment senators added Monday to a sweeping immigration bill.

Life & Style PHOTOS: A stunning spring reminds us why we live in the Pacific Northwest (Photo Gallery)

By Scott Sistek Published: May 15, 2013 at 11:42 AM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 11:42 AM PDT

Life & Style Take a look: Amtrak unveils their new locomotives (Photo Gallery)

By DAVID PORTER, Associated Press Published: May 13, 2013 at 9:24 AM PDT Last Updated: May 13, 2013 at 9:40 AM PDT

When Amtrak unveils the first of 70 new locomotives Monday at a plant in California, it will mark what the national passenger railroad service hopes will be a new era of better reliability, streamlined maintenance and better energy efficiency.

Life & Style Travel spotlight: Rio's shantytown cable car is an unlikely tourist ride (Photo Gallery)

By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press Published: May 13, 2013 at 9:15 AM PDT Last Updated: May 13, 2013 at 9:16 AM PDT

Chatter on board the gondola on a recent Saturday soon revealed that all on board had come expressly to ride the 10-person cable-cars and get to know this long-forsaken part of Rio.

Life & Style In-depth look at how cold water can disable or kill you (Video)

By Mark Miller Published: May 6, 2013 at 5:57 PM PDT Last Updated: May 7, 2013 at 12:31 PM PDT

RENTON, Wash. -- When warm weather lures people outdoors, cold rivers are one of the most dangerous hazards.

Even for strong swimmers, experts say the cold water cold water can disable you within a minute.

Life & Style All done: See what's new and improved at the Oregon Coast Aquarium (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, KATU Multimedia Journalist Published: May 2, 2013 at 2:11 PM PDT Last Updated: May 2, 2013 at 2:11 PM PDT

The seals and sea lions at the Oregon Coast Aquarium now have more room to play and one of the biggest gripes for visitors - not being able to see them very well - has been addressed.

Life & Style Don't let the hot sun fool you, the water will be COLD (Video)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: May 2, 2013 at 2:09 PM PDT Last Updated: May 3, 2013 at 2:04 PM PDT

The sun will be shining and temperatures will be in the mid 80s this weekend, which might make it tempting for you to go for a swim.

Life & Style VIDEO: Incredible footage of a baby penguin hatching in Oregon (Video)

By Hanna Brooks Olsen Published: Apr 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM PDT

Slow clap, Oregon Zoo, for capturing this extraordinary moment, and congrats on your new baby penguins.

Life & Style Out of cash? 5 free things in Seattle (Photo Gallery)

By Associated Press Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 3:45 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 5, 2013 at 12:53 PM PDT

SEATTLE (AP) — It's not something that people in Seattle like to broadcast too much, but the Emerald City gets plenty of sunshine.

Life & Style Wildlife web cams from around the world

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: Apr 5, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM PDT

It's not often you get to see wildlife in its natural habitat - humans tend to spook creatures into hiding.

Life & Style Travel spotlight: Kyoto with kids (Photo Gallery)

By ADAM GELLER, AP National Writer Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 12:17 PM PDT

You never know how kids will react to new experiences, but not to worry. "Daddy," my daughter said, beaming as we headed for more rapids, "this must be the best summer ever!"