Outdoors
Read More ›
Seattle-based Luxury Jets Take Travel to new Heights
Get ready for takeoff with these private plane experiences for any budget
This article originally appeared in the June 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.
» Up…
Now celebrating its 70th anniversary, Kenmore Air (kenmoreair.com), based at the north end of Lake Washington, has long been the area’s go-to for seaplane transport and tours around the Pacific Northwest. The services have expanded over the years to include group whale-watching and adventure-sport day trips as well as private floatplane picnics, but Kenmore’s $99 scenic tours are still our favorite (relatively) cheap thrill. The 20-minute adventures, which offer an aerial view of our own breathtakingly beautiful backyard, depart daily from the southern end of Lake Union.
» Up…
Hopping onto a flight just to go for dinner may sound like the sort of decadence reserved for the likes of Russell and Ciara. But The Pretty Fork (theprettyfork.com), a Seattle-based foodie-experience company, is making it a more attainable special occasion with its new Destination Dinners. Choose a date online—there’s one a month through September (although more may be added)—then show up at South Lake Union around 4-ish to be whisked off via a 10-seater seaplane to a surprise destination in the Puget Sound area for a six-course gourmet dinner. Prices range from $279 to $399, depending on the destination and the restaurant. Wine pairings can be added for $47 to $55. Sound good? Then buckle up and enjoy the ride.
» And Away!
The private jet experiences offered by Seattle-based TCS World Travel (tcsworldtravel.com) aren’t merely first class—they’re in a class of their own. Hand-crafted leather flatbed seats, complimentary iPads and meals created by executive chef Kerry Sear (formerly of the Four Seasons Hotel) are just some of the luxe onboard amenities available when the sky’s the limit for your travel budget. The company will toast its 250th flight this fall with a 24-day round-the-world trip that will take in some of the globe’s most stunning wonders, including Machu Picchu in Peru, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temples and the mysterious monoliths of Easter Island. Sure, the prices start at almost $77K, but on the plus side, there’s no extra charge for checked baggage.
Follow Us
A New Perspective on the Oregon Coast
Beyond the usual suspects like Astoria and Cannon Beach lie 300 miles of open road.
The Oregon Coast is a beguiling drive year-round, but autumn is when it feels most vital. The colors deepen, whales loiter in the shallows, and kites swoop against gray skies dappled with bursts of sunlight. At Tillamook Bay, Highway 101 veers inland through fifty miles of old-growth forest before re-emerging along the water. On this…
Inn at Langley: Where the Shore Meets the Sky
After a property-wide redesign, the Whidbey Island retreat reopens with a locally inspired take on vacationing in the Pacific Northwest.
Michelin-star chef Johnny Spero never planned to end up in the Pacific Northwest. A lifelong East Coaster born and raised in Baltimore, he began his culinary career at 16, working for a series of big-name chefs and restaurants before opening his own establishments in Washington, D.C., including Reverie, which earned him his Michelin star in…
The Northwest’s Gateway to Wine, Culture & Adventure
Escape the crowds. Slow down. Savor fall in the Lewis Clark Valley. As autumn paints the hillsides in gold, crimson, and amber, the Lewis Clark Valley becomes a picture-perfect place to slow down and savor the season. Where Washington and Idaho meet, fall brings crisp days, colorful landscapes, harvest among the vines, and plenty of…
Meet West Seattle’s “Freelance Beaver Detective”
A group of urban beavers helped Pamela Adams through a tough time. Now she’s returning the favor.
Pamela Adams was living in Port Townsend when her marriage fell apart. Little did she know at the time that she would soon find love again while doggedly pursuing the Five Families—not the ones of Mafia lore, but a four-legged sort living along the Longfellow Creek Watershed. Prior to moving to Washington, Adams resided in…