Seattle: The Emerald City Sparkles in Autumn and Winter

Autumn is here. If you’re looking for an easy and cosy getaway to put some sparkle in the shorter days and longer nights, consider Seattle, the Emerald city.

With major sports teams, a rich arts and cultural life, and gorgeous wilderness surrounding (including evergreen trees hence the moniker, Emerald City), Seattle is a treasure trove for urban adventurers. There’s just so much to see and do. Not only that, but it’s easier than ever to get there with the launch of Air Canada’s daily, non-stop service from Montreal, direct from Toronto, as well as the return of non-stop flights by multiple airlines from cities across Canada.

Even in winter, the mild, West Coast climate allows seamless movement between the indoors and outdoors, as well as across the city thanks to Seattle’s Link Light Rail.  So, whether you’d enjoy the Pacific Northwest Ballet, or live music in local taverns, cheering on your favourite Canadian NHL team or mural hopping and record shopping with a cup of coffee in hand, the city will endlessly engage you. Here’s just a sampling of the arts and sports attractions in the city this fall and winter.

THE CREATIVE CITY

Seattle has been recognized for having more arts-related businesses and organizations per capita than any other metropolitan area in the U.S., according to Americans for the Arts.  The arts scene is inexhaustible, and encompasses both large productions and small-scale, innovative offerings.

MUSEUMS –The very word ‘museum’ can put some to sleep.  But museums in Seattle are the furthest from tedious (pinball museum, anyone?)  February is Seattle Museum Month, in which visitors staying in one of 50+ partner hotels receive 50% off admission at more than 30 incredible museums. Check out The Museum of Flight, explore Pop Culture at the (MOPOP), walk through a garden of glass at the Chihuly Garden and Glass, dive into Pacific Northwest marine life at the Seattle Aquarium, and so much more.

MUSIC – Seattle is the home of music legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana (and if you’re a fan of grunge be sure to check out the MoPOP), so not surprisingly the city pulls in many musicians. This fall and winter, for instance, you could see Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood or Lizzo.  Not your jam?  How about Sibelius, courtesy of The Seattle Symphony or Kodo, the Japanese Taiko drum phenomenon? Still not speaking (singing) to you?  Explore the music scene at small venues like a local, with craft beer in hand.

PERFORMING ARTS – Seattle has over 80 theatre companies.  There are also amazing dance venues.  Classic or contemporary plays, Broadway, burlesque, ballet, improv theatre, modern choreography, musicals, slam poetry– the city has it all. The historic Paramount Theatre (a hot spot since the Roaring Twenties) has a wide array of events in the fall and winter, including Blue Man Group, Moulin Rouge and more.  Many companies embody the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion: Seattle Rep Theatre, for instance, aims to “reflect and elevate the diverse cultures, perspectives and life experiences of the Pacific Northwest.” An exciting dance company, On the Boards, says this season’s work “asks us to consider who we are, where we come from, and to consider ways of knowing that are both inherited and learned.”

VISUAL ARTS– Seattle is one of the first cities to adopt a percent-for-art ordinance, in which the city sets aside 1% of all improvement projects to commission public art.

As well as incredible museums and galleries, non-traditional spaces showcase art from old masters to modern. The Seattle Art Museum has a new installation, American Art: The Stories we Carry, which reinterprets its historical collection to meet the present moment.  Some venues are in beautiful settings; The Asian Art Museum, in a 1933 Art Deco building sits in verdant Volunteer Park and the Olympic Sculpture Park provides views of the Olympic Mountains and the ferries in Puget Sound. In October, you can catch Refract, the nation’s newest glass art festival, a one-of-a-kind event celebrating the hundreds of glass artists working in this material who live in the Pacific Northwest. It includes programming by more than 50 organizations and 70 artists.

SPECTATOR SPORTS in the CITY

With the incredible nature surrounding Seattle, there are no end to recreation opportunities, but this coming season, why not enjoy the exuberance of spectator sports right in the city.  It’s easy with Seattle’s Light Light Rail to move from neighbourhood to stadium district.  You could even hand the reins to the experts and have your ideal sports tour organized through Elite Sports Tours.

HOCKEY –The NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, will be opposing Canadian teams in the coming months in the innovative Climate Pledge Arena, which aims to be the most progressive, responsible and sustainable arena in the world (and beautiful, with the living wall).  Take their water conservation efforts; the Arena’s “Rain to Rink” system collects rain from the roof, stores it in a 15,000 gallon cistern, and turns it into ice. No fossil fuel consumption in the arena for daily use means that even the Zambonis are electric. Not only that, but the dining options include sustainable selections from some of Seattle’s most popular restaurants.

For your own Seattle Hockey experience with our Canadian tour operator partner Elite Sports Tours click here

BASEBALL– The Seattle Mariners play at the retro-style T-Mobile Park, considered one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country. Like Toronto’s Rogers Centre (née The SkyDome), it has a retractable roof, allowing the Mariners to play, rain or shine on a real grass playing field. While most of your baseball experience here may be classic, there’s a twist: have your hot dog but add a side of chapulines, toasted grasshoppers sprinkled with chili-lime seasoning.

For your own Seattle Baseball experience with our Canadian tour operator partner Elite Sports Tours click here

SOCCER– Seattle sports enthusiasts are passionate about their soccer at Lumen Field and you will know it by their chants, songs and cheers. The games draw an incredible attendance. The Sounders won the MLS Cup in 2019 and took home the trophy as the CONCACAF champions in 2022.  The OL Reign currently ranks second in the NWSL standings.  Several of the players were on the US National team, which won the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments in both 2015 and 2019.

FOOTBALL– Seattle fans set a World Record for loudest crowd roar during a 2013 Seattle Seahawks game.  And for good reason.  The Seahawks have won nine division titles, three conference championships, and appeared in three Super Bowls since they joined the NFL in 1976.During football season, on Fridays before a Sunday game, the entire city of Seattle is a sea of blue.

For your own Seattle Football experience with our Canadian tour operator partner Elite Sports Tours click here

 

You can also check out WNBA 4x champions, Seattle Storm or Rugby’s Seawolves.

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