Pacific Northwest getaways: Alaskans on the go.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: TOURISM

The Pacific Northwest offers Alaskans a quick getaway with many places to go, including fine food and drink, specialty coffee havens and plenty of shopping. Museums, aquariums and science centers appeal to many Alaskans, as does the theatre.

At the Seattle Art Museum, a high-profile exhibit of Picasso's works, from the Musee National Picasso Paris, is on display through Jan. 17, a rare treat if you're not likely to see it in France. Normally these works do not tour, but their home museum faced renovation. The exhibit includes more than 150 works, with paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photographs. The museum is closed on Mondays during the Picasso exhibit.

"Weekend getaways to the Pacific Northwest are very popular," says Mary Gasperlin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for USTravel, the largest travel management company in the Pacific Northwest. "We offer packages that allow Alaskans the opportunity to enjoy all of the cultural activities of a major city, and still get you back to Alaska Sunday evening. This time of year, clients are particularly interested in weekend shopping for the holidays."

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USTravel partnered with Inn at the Market, a Seattle boutique hotel, to offer a package, Gasperlin said, which includes the guest room rate, two VIP Tickets to see Picasso masterpieces, complimentary valet parking and an entry into a drawing for a $2,500 credit gift card to be drawn at the conclusion of the exhibit.

Many visitors from Alaska enjoy sporting events involving Seattle Seahawks football, Mariners baseball or Sounders soccer. Others go for musical events at the Seattle Center. Still others enjoy sight-seeing cruises from Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with attractive parks and markets and a notable Southeast Asian influence, or to Victoria, with its mild climate, historic buildings, museums and flower gardens.

Tacoma, with its beautiful waterfront, draws golf aficionados and has the renowned Museum of Glass, featuring works of Dale Chihuly. Visitors can watch artwork being made from molten glass right before their eyes.

Some favor heading to the Pacific Northwest coast to rent a beach cottage and watch the storms roll in. Some come seeking to set up a second home, of scout for a potential retirement haven.

Alaska tourists drive or take Amtrak from Seattle to Portland to enjoy shopping, fine cuisine and another perspective. The trip takes about three hours by car, four by train...