December 18, 2024
The big dark descending on the Pacific Northwest might have you dreaming of far-off lands and a change of scenery. The good news is whether you’re in the mood for bustling international cities, mystical mountain peaks, colorful jungles, or warm sandy beaches, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has you covered. With more airlines offering nonstop and direct flights to more international destinations from SEA the possibilities are endless. By the end of 2024, SEA will have 55 international services to 35 destinations on 28 carriers, as well as service to 95 domestic destinations (with flights on Alaska Airlines to Vail, Colorado starting December 20).
- If all these new options have inspired you to book a trip out of SEA, you’re not alone. With eight new international services added at SEA just this year, a record-breaking number of travelers have flown in and out of the International Arrivals Facility (IAF). As of June 2024, SEA saw a 12.5% increase in international travel over 2023 numbers
- On August 10, the airport broke the record for international passengers coming into SEA through the IAF, with 10,536 travelers processed
Need another reason to dust off your sandals or hiking books and book your next vacation? Learn about the fun and fabulous things you can see in these new international destinations.
Take the stairs in Chongqing
Built on and around mountains, Chongqing, China is known for its endless staircases — elevators and escalators are more common than roads in some areas. In fact, you can travel through the city without ever touching flat ground. And it’s often enveloped in a thick layer of fog, creating a mysterious and surreal atmosphere.
While you’re there:
- Help yourself to a fiery hot pot in the birthplace of the famous cuisine
- Take the city’s monorail Line 2, which passes directly through a residential building
- Check out the "diaojiaolou" or traditional stilted wooden houses built along the steep slopes and riversides
Book your flight on Hainan Airlines→
Find the secret panda in Taipei
Taipei has all the offerings and culture of a big city — street food and night markets, temples, museums, and shopping — plus nature on its doorstep like beaches, volcanoes, hot springs, and hikes. While you’re exploring don’t miss a visit to the Taipei 101, once the world's tallest building, and discover its hidden mascot — a panda! Inside the building, on the 35th floor, peruse the panda-themed art space that many visitors overlook.
Check out these other uniquely Taipei experiences:
- Sample the cuisine at Taipei's Huaxi Street Night Market, also known as Snake Alley, once famous for its exotic snake delicacies
- Head to the annual Beef Noodle Festival, which honors the beloved national dish. Chefs compete for the title of the best beef noodle soup, and people take this competition very seriously!
- Go fishing for giant prawns in an indoor pool in the middle of the city. And have the shrimps grilled for you on an in-house barbeque!
With four airlines adding service to Taipei this year from SEA there are many ways to get to Taipei.
Book your flight on EVA Air, STARLUX Airlines, China Airlines, or Delta Airlines→
Find the beer pipeline in Munich
You probably already know Munich is famous for its beer, but did you know that during Oktoberfest, there's actually an underground beer pipeline that supplies beer to the festival tents directly from the breweries at a speed of over 25 centimeters per second? That way beer flows smoothly and quickly into your beer stein at a blissfully cold temperature of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit!
Don’t miss these unique experiences while you’re there:
- Catch a wave on the Eisbach, a small channel of the Isar River that runs through Munich. It has a standing wave that's popular among surfers year-round, even in winter!
- Examine a mysterious footprint in the floor near the entrance of the Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady). Legend has it that this is the devil's footprint, left when he was tricked into thinking the church had no windows
- Drink pure beer at Munich’s famous Oktoberfest, which follows the Reinheitsgebot, or Beer Purity Law, dating back to 1516. According to this law, only beer brewed within the city limits of Munich, using just water, malt, hops, and yeast, can be served at Oktoberfest
Book your flight on Lufthansa→
Go underground in Toronto
The best way off the beaten path in Toronto, one of Canada’s major cities along Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore, is to go underground. The PATH is Toronto's extensive underground pedestrian walkway network and is the largest underground shopping complex in the world. Meander through 19 miles of tunnels connecting shops, offices, and entertainment spaces.
Here’s what else should be on your list:
- Walk in the clouds 116 stories above the city with nothing but a harness securing you. Try the Edgewalk at the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere
- You might want to brush up on your Duolingo! Immerse yourself in the one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with more than 180 languages are spoken in the city
- Dare to explore the home of the city’s first mayor, the Mackenzie House on Bond Street, which is said to be haunted. Find out if the legends of ghost sightings, a piano that plays itself, and an antique printing press in the basement coming to life in the dead of night are real. An exorcist was brought in when the house was donated in 1960, and it now operates as a museum
Book your flight on Alaska Airlines or Air Canada→
Ride in a Jeepney in Manila
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, mixes Spanish colonial architecture with modern skyscrapers. While you’re there, hop in a Jeepney, an iconic form of public transportation. The colorful and highly decorated public utility vehicles were originally made from surplus U.S. military Jeeps left over from World War II, and today offer a crowded and lively atmosphere.
Here’s where to head in your Jeepney in Manila:
- Browse the world’s oldest Chinatown. Established in 1594, the cultural and culinary hotspot offers delicious traditional Chinese dishes infused with Filipino flair
- Discover a city within a city in the heart of old Manila — a fortress city built by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century. Inside, you’ll find narrow streets, churches, and museums that give off a distinct old-world vibe in the midst of modern Manila
- Visit a cemetery for the dead and the living. The 100-acre Manila North Cemetery in the Philippines is also home to 10,000 residents who are alive and well
Book your flight on Philippine Airlines→
Explore an active volcano in Liberia
Travelling to Costa Rica’s Gold Coast? While in Liberia, spend some time exploring Rincón de la Vieja National Park, home to an active volcano. The area features geothermal activity, hot springs, mud baths, and other fascinating natural phenomena.
Here’s what else to see while you’re there:
- Immerse yourself in the "sabanero" or cowboy culture of the region. See this tradition celebrated in local festivals and rodeos, particularly in July during the "Fiestas de Liberia"
- Hike to Rio Celeste. The powerful Rio Celeste Waterfall plunges 98 feet into a pool of bright blue water surrounded by dense tropical forest
- Take a short boat ride from the mainland to Monkey Head Island, a volcanic island that is home to monkeys, crocodiles, and plenty of birds
