26 | USA
www.nitravelnews.com
January 2025
SEATTLE’S MUST SEES
Nicknamed the Emerald City due to its lush surrounding landscapes, Seattle has plenty of outdoor spaces waiting to be discovered. With summer on the horizon, below are eight ways in which travellers can explore the city before heading out to the city’s borders. Mountain lovers, adventure seekers and island hoppers, rejoice – there’s a spot for everyone to get their nature fix.
to see the Puget Sound and travel up to Alaska from Seattle. Having cele- brated 25 years of sailing to Alaska in 2024, the Port saw 275 sailings with more than 800,000 passengers from April to October. The 2025 season will see new sailings from Cunard and a continued commitment to environ- mental sustainability.
Spot Orcas from the San Juan Is- WASHINGTON D.C.
Visitors to the State of Washington in 2025 can immerse themselves in the state’s culture and community at one of the many concerts, food festivals, sports events and natural wonders that happen year-round. See our top picks in a calendar of events below: Ellensburg Winterhop Brewfest, Ellens- burg, 15 February
Beer enthusiasts will love sipping their way through the Winterhop Brewfest, which invites breweries from around the Pacific Northwest to pour beers in down- town Ellensburg venues. Whether visi- tors enjoy an IPA, a lager, or an ale they will enjoy some of the best brews the Pacific Northwest has to offer, as well as local music across downtown venues in Central Washington.
Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival, Bell- ingham, 15-17 March
Visitors can join the community in celebrating diverse cultures and im- merse themselves in arts, crafts, food, song, dance, storytelling, and other cre- ative endeavors in the historic Fairhaven district at the annual Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival. The event brings together a multitude of cultures to celebrate their unique heritage and traditions. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mount
Vernon, 1-30 April This iconic Washington State event brings visitors to the Skagit Valley each spring to view the acres of tulips and daf- fodils that blanket the valley in a patch- work of colour. The month-long Skagit Valley Tulip Festival includes more than just blooms and display gardens. Visitors can also enjoy art shows, a street fair and concerts as well as sample wines from the Puget Sound AVA at tasting rooms in La Conner.
Cruise season starts for the Port of Seattle, April-October
Cruise season to Alaska kicks off in late April allowing visitors to the state
lands, May-September Orcas can be sighted in the Puget Sound throughout the year, but vis- itors’ best chance for spotting one of the three Southern Resident pods is usually from May through Septem- ber. San Juan Outfitters offers visitors wildlife tours where naturalists not only point out orcas, but also porpois- es, humpback whales and bald eagles. A portion of each ticket goes into a fund for salmon and orca conservation. Tick- ets from £98
Spokane Hoopfest, Spokane, 28-29 June Every year Spokane hosts Hoopfest, the
world’s largest three-on-three basketball event, more than 6,000 teams play 14,000 games across 42 blocks in downtown and an- yone is welcome to get involved. Alongside the basketball there is an outdoor festival with shopping, food and interactive enter- tainment for attendees to enjoy, don’t miss The Toyota Shootoff and slam dunk competi- tion which are some of the event highlights. Sequim Lavender Weekend, Sequim, July exact dates tbc Every summer, the landscape around Se-
quim on the Olympic Peninsula turns purple as the lavender fields bloom. Visitors should aim to be there during the third weekend in July to experience all things lavender. The Lavender Festival Street Fair, for music and lavender products, as well as visits to local farm fields.
Summertime stargazing in Olympic Na- tional Park, June-August On clear nights during the summer, visi- tors can join a Master Observer at Hurricane Ridge for an evening of astronomy and star- gazing. With 95% of the park designated as wilderness and an absence of human-caused light, Olympic National Park is the perfect place to experience the wonders of the night
sky.
Breathtaking National Parks Mount Rainier National Park For a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience, a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park offers some of the best opportunities for adventure, exploration and learning, all just a two-hour drive from the city. Set sights on the stunning mountain teamed with gorgeous valleys, waterfalls and subalpine meadows. At 14,410ft, Mount. Rainier has more than 130 trails to explore on foot, ranging from easy to challenging, but all with scenic views.
ARIZONA
Arizona’s New Astrotourism Attractions Flagstaff Welcomes New Astronomy Discovery Center The
new Kemper and Ethel Marley
Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff opened in November 2024. The center offers visitors an opportunity to journey into the universe through the lens
of astronomy
with interactive exhibits and experiences. Designed to educate and delight guests of all ages, children can enjoy building their own rockets at the Orbits Curiosity Zone while adults learn about the planets and constellations by marveling at the Universe Theater’s two-story, 165-degree curved LED screen. Once the sun sets, journey up to the open-air rooftop planetarium to witness Flagstaff’s famous starry dark skies and look for Pluto, discovered at Lowell almost a century ago.
Stargaze in Arizona’s Two Newest Dark Sky Communities: Tubac and Bisbee Marvel at the breathtaking starry skies
over Arizona’s two newly certified Dark Sky communities, Tubac and Bisbee. These Southern Arizona small towns earned the designation for their ongoing efforts to reduce light pollution, allowing for clearer skies where stargazers can spot constellations, shooting stars and planets. Tubac and Bisbee are both also known for their thriving art scenes, which visitors can explore during the day before enjoying twinkling stars at night. With these two new additions, Arizona now has 22 dark-sky communities, places and parks.
New Stargazer Domes Open Near Grand Canyon West
Enjoy views of the galaxy while drifting to sleep when staying at the new stargazer domes at Grand Canyon Glamping Resort near Grand Canyon West. Thanks to stargazer domes’ floor-to-ceiling windows and glass skylights over the beds, guests can watch a signature Arizona sunset transform into a star-speckled sky from the comfort of their room.
Arizona Science Center’s Dorrance
Planetarium Gets Major Tech Upgrade - opening spring 2025
The reimagined Dorrance Planetarium
at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix will be the most technologically advanced planetarium in North America when it opens in spring 2025. The planetarium promises an increasingly immersive experience with its new 18 meter diameter CX System LED dome display and 100 times the brightness of most planetarium projection domes using Cosm’s CX System.
North Cascades National Park A 2.5-hour drive from the city centre, North Cascades National Park is home to more than a third of the glaciers in the lower 48 US states. With towering summits and broad lakes, the park boasts accessible waterfall hikes, alpine meadows and a range of furry wildlife. On the west side sits Ross Lake and Diablo Lake, with waters of turquoise blue and beautiful views, whilst east is home to the green wilderness of Okanogan National Forest. Winding through the park are trails to trek, which journey through ageing forests and magical meadows. Here, visitors can spot the chirping wildlife, including chipmunks, marmots and pikas.
Island Hopping San Juan Island Across the water from Seattle are the
San Juan Islands, an archipelago of 172 different islands, one of the biggest of which is the San Juan Island. Accessible via a ferry from downtown Seattle, San Juan Island offers a picturesque harbour, sweeping fields with livestock and beautiful vineyards where visitors can sample a variety of different wines. With historic lighthouses and sweeping fields of lavender, the Island is an ideal spot for those looking to relax, unwind and enjoy slow travel. Bainbridge Island
Entirely surrounded by salt water and famed for its outstanding natural beauty,
proximity
rustic to
the
character city,
and close Bainbridge
Island is a popular destination for day trippers. Travellers can wander around the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, visit one of the six wineries, or try watersports such as kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. Bainbridge Island also has a fantastic gastronomy offering, with everything from farm-to-fork restaurants to local coffee roasters. For more information, please visit:
https://visitseattle.org/.
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