While the rest of the country is still thawing out from blizzards, Seattleites are sitting pretty by Elliott Bay sipping iced lattes. No matter which neighborhood you’re exploring, life is pretty grand in Seattle. Now, it’s a bit of a folly to say that spring is the best time to visit the Seattle when it’s truly a year-round destination. However, here at Expedia Canada, we feel like spring is a prime time for an epic trip to the Emerald City–which is wh

Photo by Mikaela Cowles   Having flown to most of Kenmore Air’s destinations, I was shocked when I heard the term “hopscotch flights.” What are they? Where do they go? How much do they cost? I needed to find out. And so, on a crisp winter morning, I found myself sitting in a de Havilland Beaver with Kenmore Air’s chief pilot, Chuck Perry. The sun was just cresting the horizon. The waters by Kenmore Air’s Lake Washington terminal were black and calm. Our engine roared. Kenmore Air Pilot

The five members of Seattle’s Historic Theatre District. Clockwise, from top left: The 5th Avenue Theatre, the Paramount, The Moore, Town Hall and ACT. Seattle is often in the national news these days in the context of a story about technology expansion, a building boom, our high cost of housing, or other current-day concerns. And all that is certainly real, and part of our culture of growth, innovation and change. Also important are our efforts to protect and preserve significant pieces of

There’s no decade in American history more fascinating than the 1920s. Jazz-filled speakeasies, scandalous flappers, glitz and glamour—I love it all. So I was understandably excited when I heard that American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition was coming to Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). An exhibit dedicated to the story of Prohibition…including a re-created speakeasy? I was in. As I walked up to MOHAI on a sunny April day, Lake Union was bustling with activity. Per

Tonkotsu Kara Miso Ramen from Hokkaido Ramen Santouka | Photo by Amy Tachasirinugune Ahhh, that familiar feeling of pushing a spoon down and seeing the rich, creamy umami broth swirl into my spoon. Can anything beat a nice hot bowl of Ramen on a cool, crisp Seattle day? Growing up in Asia, and traveling occasionally to Japan, I’ve always been on the hunt for good ramen. You can say that I’m rather picky when it comes to this Japanese dish. After moving to Seattle, I’ve tried many ramen joint

  Taking a break at the Discovery Park Lighthouse. Photo by Jody Morehouse. “My class is going on a Seattle field trip, Auntie Kake – will you go, too?” “Of course, sweetie.” My 10-year-old niece, Rowyn, calls me “Kake,” rather than Kris, and I’ve learned not to argue with this very persuasive young lady. So, when she asked me to help chaperone her Evergreen Elementary field trip from Spokane to Seattle, I immediately jumped into trip-planning mode. It helps to work at Visit Seatt

Wallace Falls. What involves the city of Seattle, 24 hours and a list of nearly 300 challenges ranging from hiking Wallace Falls to jumping into a body of water with all your clothes on? Cotopaxi’s Questival Seattle race! This past May, four of my friends and I, along with a trunk full of camping gear and our fully-charged smart phones set out on an epic day-long Seattle weekend adventure known as Questival. This condensed version of the popular Amazing Race television show is hosted by Coto

The inaugural Seattle Art Fair is set for July 30-August 2, and is shaping up to be a great reason to visit Seattle. Produced by Art Market Productions (the well respected company behind similar fairs in New York, San Francisco, Miami and more), and Paul Allen’s Vulcan, the fair will offer a chance to view art from top galleries, plus an extensive program of installations and special programs. Designed to showcase the vibrant culture and diversity of the Pacific Northwest, the event wi

Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Photo by Joan Magnano-Damm. Seattle is a city of gourmet coffee, micro-brew beer, sensational spirits and award-winning Washington wines. We have some pretty terrific liquids here, and Seattle’s four- and five-star hotels serve them up to visitors and locals alike. Of course, a fringe benefit to hotel beverage tasting is that we’re also granted entry to some of the city’s most glorious  hotel restroom facilities. And, on those occasions when I’

Bumbershoot to be held September 5-7, 2015 What’s your Labor Day tradition? In Seattle, we have a great one. Celebrating 45 years in 2015, Bumbershoot is Seattle’s annual Labor Day weekend arts festival, and one of the largest arts and culture celebrations in the country. Bumbershoot is unique in many ways, from its easily accessible central city location on the 74 acre Seattle Center campus (home to notable icons the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass and EMP Museum), to its creat

Parfait Ice Cream. Photo by Alison Ishii. With Seattle hitting all-time high temperatures this summer, there are more reasons than ever to pick up some ice cream. Seattle has a plethora of local shops; some with offerings a bit different than your traditional fare. Never one to pass up an ice cream trip, the recent weather was the perfect excuse for me to eat my way through the city’s best frozen treats. Molly Moon’s on Capitol Hill. Photo by Alison Ishii. One of my favorite places in

The race begins. The Visit Seattle yacht passes the Tower Bridge in London. Photo: 20150830 Copyright onEdition 2015© Every tourism board travels the globe to lure visitors to its destination. But, few do it under full sail. This week, Visit Seattle’s namesake 70-foot yacht joined the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The race started in London August 30 and will take 11 months to conclude. The Visit Seattle yacht and 11 others will log some 40,000 nautical miles and visit 14 ports in that

Photo by: Evergreen State Fair. Summer goes by so fast and has so many fun events, it was a challenge to find the perfect and unique end of season adventure for my god-kids and family friends. On a whim, we selected the Evergreen State Fair and didn’t even know that $2 Tuesday offer existed! The fair-goers: Angela and Lilly, Annie, Kris and Jacob. Also, rain-schrain – we had a sprinkle or two, but that doesn’t stop a Pacific Northwesterner from getting outside! First up, rides. Kids do like

Klahhane Ridge. Photo: Chelsea Westerlund. It will be one year this October since moving to Seattle. Growing up as a Native Floridian, mountains were mostly foreign to me. I was used to sandy, warm beaches, palm trees, flat terrain and reptiles—those cute, little gators. I had seen mountains before, having been to the northwest and traveling to the northeast for family vacations, but the awe didn’t really set in until I began hiking in them. After my first hike upon moving out here, I was ho

Jack’s Bar-B-Que on Broadway. Photo: Spencer Davenport. Editor’s note: This post is part of a series themed to Project: Time Off, a national advocacy campaign created by the U.S. Travel Association.  Visit Seattle is committed to promoting the importance of travel and we remind our hard-working team members with a “Spontaneous Getaways” program. Each quarter, we award one employee a trip of their choosing. We provide the transportation and allocate extra paid time off, they return reju

There is something magical that happens in Seattle when those tiny white lights start appearing in the trees downtown. It’s incredible that a little arbor accessory can be so powerful. It’s a subtle sign that the holiday season has arrived in the Emerald City. I’ve always looked forward to this time of year. While all the seasons in Seattle have their charms, there’s something special about winter. As the sun sets you can sneak a peek of the snow on the perfectly silhouetted mountains that s

WHETHER THIS IS YOUR FIRST holiday visit to Seattle or you’re an old pro, you’ll find there’s so much to experience in the Emerald City during this time of year. From the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s brand new performance of the Nutcracker to awaiting the arrival of the Christmas Ship, here are some of my favorite things to do in the city over the holidays. 1. Experience WildLights and the carousel at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo: Ryan Hawk A lot of zoos celebrate the holid

I love bagels.  Toasted whole wheat bagels with melted butter and strawberry jam, or marmalade, depending upon my mood.  Bagels with cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomatoes and onions, or just a plain cranberry orange bagel, and the list goes on. When we lived in Ballard, I used to buy my dozen while grocery shopping at the Ballard Market.  After moving to Downtown Seattle, I was on the hunt to find my next dozen.  I landed at Market Bagels at 1525-1st Ave,  at the Pike Place Market which was

  I’m a Seattle transplant. From Virginia to Vegas to points in between – I’ve seen a lot of this beautiful country. But, it wasn’t until I moved to Seattle that the photography bug bit me. And bit me good. A little over a year ago I started a photography business capturing life’s moments and using the incredible natural sunlight our city provides as my light source. Fall is one of the busiest times of the year for family photographers as everyone wants to get THE photo to adorn their

  CLIPPER VENTURES SYDNEY A Seattle Seahawks sail was hoisted recently in Sydney Harbor, Australia, by the crew of the 70-foot Visit Seattle Clipper Race yacht. Namesake of Seattle’s destination marketing organization, Visit Seattle is promoting the Emerald City while racing some 20,000 nautical miles to date across the world’s most dangerous oceans. Arrival at the fourth port of call in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race coincided with Seahawks Fan Appreciation Week. The crew of mo