From start to finish, my trip to Port Townsend left a special place in my heart for this whimsical, seaport town. Located on the Olympic Peninsula and only a ferry ride and 90-minute drive away from Seattle, Port Townsend is surrounded by natural beauty. At the heart of Port Townsend is a historic downtown filled with delicious restaurants, unique shops and architectural touches of a Victorian past. Driftwood shores Photo: Chelsea Westerlund Arriving in the morning, our first stop was the No

A Minke Whale breaches in Puget Sound Photo: Janine Harles, 2016 It’s a beautiful gray day in Seattle. Dark for summer. A gossamer mist. A little ominous. It doesn’t worry me that we are heading out into Puget Sound in search of the largest and most amazing creature in the world – the Orca Whale. The wake of the Chillkat Express as we head into the Sound. Photo: Alisa Carroll I’m floored that these ridiculously stunning mammals live moments from our bustling downtown. After driving 20 minute

1. Bainbridge Island Photo: Joe Nevill A hop, skip, and a ferry ride away, Bainbridge Island is a perfect walk-on day trip from Seattle. You can drive your car on the ferry if you want to explore the whole island, which is definitely recommended, but there’s a simple beauty in hoofing it. The crossing is gorgeous and brief. I like to stand on the outdoor decks of the ferry and snap pics for my Instagram or just take in the views of Seattle, Elliott Bay, West Seattle, Mt. Rainier, and the loo

Seattle’s list of claims to fame is not brief. When separated by decades, the 1980s were defined by Microsoft’s ascension to a household name. The counter-cultural response to this corporate rise was the emergence of grunge onto the American music scene in the ’90s. And controversial red-zone play calls have thus far defined the 2010s (…too soon?). But what about the aughts? The decade of dot-com bubbles and Starbucks proliferation has come to be known for its culinary expansions as much as

Leave it to Seattle to make you think, “Why haven’t I tried that yet?” The city’s cuisine showcases incredible flavors the rest of the US isn’t acquainted with. At the same time, it has an unparalleled ability to take the foods you thought you knew and twist them in new-yet-somehow-obvious ways. Once you taste them, you’ll be surprised they don’t exist everywhere.   1. Geoduck Photo: Kevin Tao Pronounced “gooey duck,” it is neither gooey, nor a duck, but is instead up to three feet and

SEATTLE’S BEEN CALLED a “city of neighborhoods,” and for good reason — each corner of the Emerald City has its own distinct personality. Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, and to truly get to know it on an intimate level, you’ve got to explore inside and out and all around the edges. Everyone has a favorite neighborhood and feels at home-away-from-home somewhere; it’s just a matter of finding yours. The following guide should help you do jus

Photo: Visit Seattle. What do you do with two adults, a ten-year-old and two little girls under three that won’t break the bank and entertains all? Seattle CityPASS! Recently, family friends from France visited me. Amélie had been our exchange student when I was a freshman in high school but her husband Philippe and three kids had never been to Seattle before. I’ve known about CityPASS through my professional career but haven’t had a real opportunity to use it personally. The booklet of admi

View from our guest room at Semiahmoo Resort Photo: Min Guo Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington is renowned for its world class golf courses. The recent passing of golf legend Arnold Palmer has brought a spotlight back on their greens – Palmer designed and dedicated the course at Semiahmoo in 1987. But what if you don’t golf? Less than two hours out of Seattle and perched just below the Canadian border, Semiahmoo is an ideal weekend getaway for the urban city dweller looking to get away f

THE EMERALD CITY has long beckoned to music lovers. From the electric bliss of Jimi Hendrix to the unique baritone vocals of Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, the Seattle sound is rooted deep in creativity, innovation, and, simply put, something that’s indisputably authentic. Check out the Sounds by the Sound series, which features live performances and stories from Seattle’s legendary music scene, to get a sense of the kind of musical evolution at work in the Emerald City. And get to know the artis

My first “Seattle” photo atop Alexander Liberman’s ‘Olympic Iliad’ sculpture. Find it for yourself at Seattle Center under the Space Needle. Photo: Kristin Gillespie “You are so Seattle.” This is a phrase my mother has recently taken to saying to me. When I pull out my reusable shopping bags in the checkout line at the local organic co-op grocery store: “You are so Seattle.” When I declare that my waterproof hooded jacket was sufficient a

THE 60 DAYS (give or take) of fall and winter that comprise “the Holidays” demand a diverse spectrum of celebratory activities; one day you’re gorging on turkey and yams, the next you’re shopping for loved ones in a marathon mall crawl, then you’re headed to the slopes for fresh powder, then you’re cheering on your team in an ugly, ugly sweater. And before you know it, you’re turning your eyes up to the midnight fireworks exploding overhead. In Seatt

Five Seattle chefs at the top of their game. Between them, they have 19 James Beard award nominations, 16 restaurants, and countless rave reviews from some of the nation’s toughest critics… And oh, they all happen to be women. These five chefs are part of a growing number of women changing the culinary landscape and man, are we lucky to have them here in Seattle. This is the second installment of a five-part blog series about the worlds of Chefs Maria Hines, Monica Dimas, Rachel Yang,

Five Seattle chefs at the top of their game. Between them, they have 19 James Beard award nominations, 16 restaurants, and countless rave reviews from some of the nation’s toughest critics…And oh, they all happen to be women. These five chefs are part of a growing number of women changing the culinary landscape and man, are we lucky to have them here in Seattle. This is the third installment of a five-part blog series about the worlds of Chefs Maria Hines, Monica Dimas, Rachel Yang, Sh

FEBRUARY IS SEATTLE MUSEUM MONTH, when visitors staying in select area hotels are invited to explore the city’s museums for half off the regular price of admission. From jamming on a guitar at MoPOP to climbing into a jet fighter cockpit at the Museum of Flight, Museum Month is an awesome opportunity to dive into Seattle’s diverse collection of multi-sensory exhibitions, with hands-on doses of art, culture, and science. And no, you don’t have to use your “inside voice.” MoPOP, the Museum of

Seattle is easily one of the most beautiful port cities in the country, full of the sights and sounds of a city complemented by unparalleled scenery. Forests of never-ending greenery, high peaks rolling into sweeping valleys, islands, waterways, and gorges envelop the city, making it one of the most inviting places to visit in the United States. The growing metropolis attracts travelers from around the world and plays host to some of the most brilliant minds in the technology, art and outdoo

Five Seattle chefs at the top of their game. Between them, they have 19 James Beard award nominations, 16 restaurants, and countless rave reviews from some of the nation’s toughest critics…And oh, they all happen to be women. These five chefs are part of a growing number of women changing the culinary scene and man, are we lucky to have them here in Seattle. This is the fourth installment of a five-part blog series about the worlds of Chefs Maria Hines, Rachel Yang, Shannon Martincic,

Starbucks coffee isn’t the only thing brewing in Seattle. There’s a lot of diversity thrown into the mix thanks to its unique geography. The city’s strategic location along the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains has consistently placed it at the crossroads of cultures and into the throws of history, making it an enticing place to settle down for generations. Over the years, Seattle has molded and morphed from an industrious Gold Rush town into a prosperous tech haven. Its rich past has be

Of all the nicknames of U.S. cities, Seattle’s is perhaps the most puzzling to visitors. No, “Emerald City” has nothing to do with the fictitious Wizard of Oz capital so you won’t find any yellow brick roads or flying monkeys here. What is very real though are the thousands of acres of green space spread throughout the urban area. Echoing Washington state’s nickname as the Evergreen State, Seattle is a surprising sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s time to learn why Seattle i

An urban oasis amongst sprawling natural beauty, Seattle is one of those destinations that appeals to just about everyone. Home to much more than just the Space Needle, interesting shops, restaurants and landmarks abound. From the outdoorsman to the art collector to the busy bee, we’ve found the best Seattle has to offer — right in the heart of the city.   Worth the Hype: Pike Place Market If you ask anyone in Seattle, they’ll tell you there’s no better place to peruse than Pike Place

I have no shame when it comes to my cooking show obsession. Iron Chef, Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, Top Chef, The Next Food Network Star — you name it, I’ve binge-watched it. So when I saw the 2017 Taste Washington chef lineup come together, I was thrilled. That’s because this is the year of top chefs at Taste Washington. And I do mean Top Chefs. With a star-studded lineup that includes not one, but FIVE Top Chef alums, my fellow foodies and cooking show enthusiasts have a lot to