Blog

Space Needle and Seattle Skyline Table of Contents Space Needle Observatory Pros Space Needle Observatory Cons Space Needle Observatory Pricing Columbia Center Skyview Observatory Pros Columbia Center Skyview Observatory Cons Smith Tower Observatory Pros Smith Tower Observatory Cons Written by Mark Dahl |  updated August 21 2025 Visiting Seattle and wondering which observation deck you…

Mount Rainier National Park is the best day trip from Seattle, and this is your guide to making the most of that day Written by Mark Dahl |  updated July 25, 2026 Can you visit Mount Rainier as a day trip from Seattle? Yes, and it’s the trip I’d recommend first to anyone with a…

Visiting Mount Rainier in Each Season Written by Mark Dahl |  updated May 18, 2025 When is the best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park? Late July through September, if you want the whole park open and your best odds of actually seeing the mountain. Every other season has its own case to make,…

  Tours Northwest offers friendly and knowledgeable guided tours of Seattle and nearby destinations that cater to just about any travel objective. Our scenic, expertly narrated public tours cover quintessential Seattle as well as incredible natural areas like Mt. Rainier National Park and Snoqualmie Falls, and our private tours can take you just about anywhere….

TL;DR No car? No worries! There are several alternative transportation options when visiting Seattle, including the Link Light Rail, county bus, the country’s second oldest monorail, Washington State ferry, e-scooter and e-bike, and good old walking. There’s even an option to get to trailheads if you’re a hiker. This guide reviews each option in greater…

Washington’s world-famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is an annual event that takes place the entire month of April in Washington state’s Skagit Valley. Millions of blooming tulips grace the pastoral valley farmlands, creating breathtaking blocks of vivid color and drawing visitors from around the world. On a clear day you can see both the Olympic…

Updated 6/5/26 Seattle is one of 11 US Host Cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seattle will host a total of 6 games, including 4 group-stage matches and 2 knockout-stage matches. One of the group-stage matches will feature the U.S. Men’s National Team. Seattle will host the six FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches at…

The Best Seattle Tours Let’s get the shameless self-promotion out of the way first – if you’re looking for a great overview of Seattle’s most famous sights and fascinating neighborhoods from the comfort of a tour bus (so you don’t have to navigate our traffic or public transit), our City Tour is perfect for you. …

Walking beneath a moss-covered branch in the Hoh Rain Forest – Olympic National Park In my years as a professional tour guide, I’ve noticed one recurring question which I had no good answer for: “How can I visit Olympic National Park without a car?” My usual answer included an explanation of how even though…

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN SEATTLE IF YOU ONLY HAVE A SINGLE DAY If you only have one day in Seattle, you can still experience many of the city’s most iconic attractions—including Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the waterfront, and historic neighborhoods. This itinerary shows you how to make the most of your…

Written by Mark Dahl |  May 20, 2025 If you’re planning a trip to Mount Rainier National Park this summer, you might be surprised to learn about the new reservation system being implemented by the National Park Service (NPS). Don’t worry, though – even though you’ll need to do a bit more planning, this article…

The Best Job You’ve Probably Never Considered The Great Resignation (or Great Reshuffle, or Great Rethink – take your pick) has left many workers with tremendous clarity about the jobs we don’t want to do anymore, but the question of what to do next can remain frustratingly nebulous.  Reinventing your career often requires finding a…