Mark Your Calendars: February is Seattle Museum Month Cameron Wears As we reflect on 2017, and embrace the upcoming new year, we’ve shifted to planning mode for 2018. It’s a milestone year for us. This year, we will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and Cameron will turn the big 4-0! He’s getting sooooo old. While we’re cooking up a few big adventures for 2018, we’re also planning a few close-to-home adventures. We want to take advantage of our prime loc

One of the best ways to explore any city is through its galleries and museums, especially in the winter months. When it comes to Seattle, you don’t need many excuses to duck inside and explore while escaping winter weather. Seattle Museum Month gives visitors a great reason to head to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the art, sounds and engineering marvels that the Emerald City has to offer. No matter the city’s reputation, it doesn’t actually rain every day, which is good, because some of the

Some of you might not know this about me, but I’ve spent more years of my life living in Seattle than anywhere else in the world. 16 years, to be exact!  And, despite having not lived there since I was 17, I have been lucky enough to live just a short plane ride away which means I am able to still visit numerous times each year. So finally, I am putting pen to paper (or whatever the computer equivalent is) to let you in on all of my best kept Seattle secrets. For those less familiar, Seattle

We absolutely love Seattle, Washington—the art and culture throughout the city are fantastic, the views over the bay are stunning, the food scene is great, it’s located within a short proximity to an abundance of options for outdoor adventures, and there are many wonderful museums to visit. There is always something exciting to do in the city, and, if you love museums like we do, this February would be the perfect time to visit, as it is Seattle Museum Month! The “Hammering Man” sculpture lo

Home to entrepreneurs, musicians, artists and filmmakers far up in the NorthLeft corner of the United States, Seattle has always been a beacon for the independently-minded. Given that, it’s no surprise that it has also been long recognized as one of the world’s most creative cities. But rather than just talk about the city’s creative spirit, this year we’re activating it. As part of Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Seattle Story Award is being granted to a filmmaker who exhibits innovatio

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is all the rage in April, but March is all about the daffodils. Yellow. Rows upon rows of golden blooms. A carpet of sunshine. As far as the eye can see. That’s what you’ll find at the La Conner Daffodil Festival in Skagit Valley though the month of March. Daffodil fields in Skagit Valley Andrea Mabanta Our goal for the day was simple: find an activity that allowed us to enjoy each other’s company while entertaining a toddler and an infant f

Not even a year old, PacWesty is already taking the Pacific Northwest by storm. Headquartered a 35-minute ferry ride west of Seattle, this Bainbridge Island company specializes in getting visitors (and locals!) out to the Olympic Peninsula—more specifically, getting travelers out in fully equipped VW camper vans. Even more exciting, the company is working on converting one of their vans to be electric. As an Ecotourism major I’m sure you can only imagine how delighted I was to find out about

Blue Angels fly overhead Photo: Dale Cunning Nothing is more synonymous with summer than Seafair. Some of my most vivid childhood memories are spending summer nights with my mom, dad and sister watching the Torchlight Parade downtown Seattle and summer days watching the Blue Angels fly overhead. As I’ve grown up, those memories have stuck with me as I made new ones with friends and now my own little family. And, little did I know I’d end up having a career in communications and marketing at

Whales have always been fascinating creatures to me. And I think what makes them so fascinating is not just that they’re some of the largest mammals living on our earth, but that they aren’t seen often, let alone up close. Boats docked in Edmonds Marina Photo: Erin Craft That said, when I was asked to participate in a whale watching tour with Puget Sound Express, I couldn’t refuse. So I, along with a few other Visit Seattle staff members, made my way about 20 minutes north to the Port of Edm

Seattle is known for our luscious forests, majestic mountains and natural surroundings – as well as our innovative spirit. With these assets at our disposal, our community prides itself on protecting our green by going green. Whether you are an attendee at a huge convention or visiting at your leisure, you too can be part of this Emerald City tradition.  Read on to discover four hotels in downtown Seattle that have gone green, so you can rest green! A green roof retains up to 75% of rainwate

Now that it’s summertime and the weather is getting warmer, it’s time to take lunch outside, breathe fresh air, listen to flowing fountains, take a break beside a calm pool, smell the colorful landscaped flower arrangements, and bask by the decorative grasses and tall trees. Whether you came to Seattle on vacation or in town for a meeting, these green spaces are tucked into the urban landscape, providing a convenient lunchtime getaway so you can quickly get back to your afternoon agenda. The

The fresh smell of salt air, the warmth of sunshine we all crave in these early summer weeks, and an unreal panoramic view of the Seattle skyline – pretty great way to start off an adventurous Tillicum Excursion with Argosy Cruises, right? Aboard Argosy Cruises, on our way to Blake Island. Brittany Carchano Sometimes it’s hard to believe that just off the waterfront of downtown Seattle in Puget Sound, there are beautiful islands that sit only a short boat ride away. Nuzzled between Vashon an

Seattle is flourishing with public parks and picturesque viewpoints, from Kerry Park’s jaw-dropping view of the skyline against Mount Rainier to Gas Works Park’s abandoned gasification plant overlooking Lake Union. While those are some of the best views of the city, there are so many other destinations to take in the sights of Seattle and the surrounding environment. On your next visit, take the road less traveled and head to one of these seven locations with views that are just as captivati

Photo: Alan Levine Malt. Hops. Yeast. Water. Four simple ingredients put on this earth to serve a much larger purpose together than apart. A combination so powerful, men and women have been drawn in groups to lowly lit chambers to experience this magical infusion in person, often pairing these concoctions with a salty wafer or deeply fried vegetable. In the Emerald City, our brew masters elevate the process with flavors so robust, rich and local – and with such a variety of choices, I though

When people think about Seattle, a number of things come to mind like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, grunge, and coffee. But on top of those things, Seattle is renowned for its public art. Did you know Seattle was one of the first cities in the country to adopt a percent-for-art ordinance? This ordinance declares that one percent of eligible city capital improvement project funds be put toward the commission, purchase and installation of artworks in different settings around the city.

Earlier this year, we partnered with Film Independent to create the first ever Seattle Story Award – recognizing a filmmaker who exhibits innovation, diversity and uniqueness of vision while having a history of transforming perspectives through rich stories; because that’s what we believe this city does itself for anyone who has spent time here. Our first recipient, Matty Brown and his #LoveLetterToSeattle, Dreamcatcher captured the magic of Seattle perfectly. We loved activating the city’s

Located at 5th and Pine, the Seattle Monorail connects the downtown core to the Seattle Center within 2-minutes. Addie Davis Eat, play, and explore more of the Emerald City with the Seattle CityPASS. Offering visitors the opportunity to see the top attractions in select cities for nearly half price, the pass is a great tool to craft a perfect Seattle stay. Let’s start with the facts: the pass includes admission to five major attractions at a cost of $89.00 for adults and $69.00 for children.

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good road trip. There’s something so be said about the freedom of an open road- a fresh playlist to jam out to, a selection of good snacks to munch on, and if you’re really lucky, a few companions that enjoy the spontaneity of venturing to new places as much as you do. After gaining inspiration from Seattle Met Magazine’s “The Prettiest Road Trip in the Pacific Northwest” I figured what better way to see the fall foliage than a day trip around the Cascade

Market entrance at Ballard Ave NW and 22nd Ave NW.Photo: Edan Patterson When a friend of mine invited me to spend my Sunday roaming the Ballard Farmers Market, I realized how infrequently I took the time to explore the city I call home. As a student at the University of Washington, it’s easy to stay close to campus – Seattle’s U District is teeming with plenty of restaurants, shops, and recreational activities to keep a student’s weekend busy. Nevertheless, I took my friend up on his offer,

The Nordic Museum has been a fixture of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood for nearly four decades. Originally opening in 1980 as the Nordic Heritage Museum, it moved to its new-and-improved location on Market Street earlier this year. The museum is dedicated to honoring the legacy of immigrants to the United States from the five Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. In addition to their regular exhibits, the Nordic Museum also hosts a variety of dances, films, and f