Arts, Design & Culture

Whether you prefer a classic museum experience strolling galleries lined with paintings, or a more interactive exploration of some of Oregon’s most important industries, Portland has you covered. If you only have a couple of days in the city, all of the museums below are well-worth your time. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – […]

Let it be known that Seattle gets less rainfall each year than other American cities like New York or Atlanta—but that doesn’t stop us from appreciating a flawless raincoat. At Hotel Theodore, we’re big fans of the coats from Freeman Seattle, a local company that husband and wife team Scott and Brittany Freeman founded in […]

If you’re planning your first visit to the Emerald City, you might not know that the Space Needle is nestled within one of the city’s main hubs of learning and exploration: Seattle Center. Ascending the iconic, 605-foot observation tower is a “must,” but there are many other opportunities for fun and adventure just a hop […]

While less drizzly than its reputation would suggest—Seattle is actually sunnier than cities like New York or Philadelphia—The Emerald City is no stranger to precipitation. When the rain comes, there are myriad ways to spend a day in town. Here are a few of our favorite ways to dodge raindrops, with some of the best […]

Pike Place Market No trip to Seattle is complete without a jaunt through Pike Place Market. Sample piroshkies from Piroshky Piroshky and grab a milkshake from Shug’s Soda Fountain before heading up to the verdant garden rooftop for sweeping views and breathing room away from the downstairs crowds. Go for a Jog Enjoy one of […]

Seattle is one of the cultural hubs in the Pacific Northwest, home to dozens of museums devoted to a wide range of media and subjects. Here, we share our favorite Seattle museums. Seattle Art MuseumThe Seattle Art Museum comprises three major facilities: its main location downtown, the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, and […]

Sitting atop a 456-foot hill, Queen Anne offers some of the best views of the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, and Elliott Bay. It’s also one of the city’s main hubs for the arts—as it’s home to the Seattle Opera, Children’s Theater, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Spend an afternoon strolling Queen Anne’s residential neighborhoods and […]

Founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Microsoft has grown to be an $86.8 billion company with nearly 130,000 employees worldwide. After moving headquarters to Bellevue, Washington in 1979, its innovation and massive growth became a driving force of technology and development throughout the Seattle area. By […]

For over a century, Nordstrom has been one of the major players in American style. But how did a local shoe store grow to become a coast-to-coast arbiter of taste? Here’s the history of Nordstrom’s rise. In 1887, John W. Nordstrom immigrated to the United States from Sweden. Settling in the Pacific Northwest, he purchased […]

Holiday shopping in Seattle can be a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and its seemingly endless arts and crafts community. Check out one of these five independent boutiques so that you’re shopping local and picking up one-of-a-kind gifts—perfect for your one-of-a-kind friends. Momo Located in the Chinatown-International district, Momo is a hodgepodge […]

A longtime photography curator shares his story. Wandering the halls of Hotel Theodore, you’ll notice that there are dozens of rare, historic photographs and artifacts throughout our downtown Seattle hotel. That’s thanks to our partnership with Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry, which helped curate our collection. One of the key players of that partnership […]

What to see at the Boeing tour in Seattle. Just 25 miles north of Seattle, you can visit Boeing’s Future of Flight Aviation Center. Watch 747s, 777s, and 787 Dreamliners come to life, and learn all about the technology, materials, and humans behind them. Extend your tour with a visit to one of the campus’s […]