Airline will restart Montreal-Seattle route

Air Canada is preparing to increase its presence in a city that has particularly strong connections to the airline industry. The airline will restart Montreal-Seattle service on May 1, with the carrier having earlier suspended the route because of the pandemic.

And Air Canada’s Bradley Sutherland told a recent Toronto reception that Air Canada cohosted with Visit Seattle that Air Canada will also begin offering twice-daily Toronto-Seattle service on May 1, with Seattle among other things home to airplane manufacturer Boeing, which traditionally has offered tours to aircraft enthusiasts.

Seattle is also home to the Museum of Flight, which Caitlyn Shearer of Visit Seattle told the Toronto gathering is the largest independently owned, non-profit air and space travel museum in the world. But Shearer said that showcasing air travel is only one side to her city, which she said has a flourishing music scene that has spawned such groups as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and was the home of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, remembered in part there by a statue.

Fall music festival Cloudbreak was started to lend a helping hand to local musical acs and will run for several weeks at multiple venues. “Music is a very important part of the culture,” Shearer said. “It’s woven through the fabric of Seattle. We’ve got a lot of music in Seattle.” 

The city’s skyline is dominated by the Space Needle, which includes among its features a revolving glass floor that enables visitors to peer down on the city far below. Those curious about seeing the Seattle of yesteryear can visit Pioneer Square, where an underground tour leads to what Shearer described as a “city built on a city.” The tour features old speakeasies and is “very fun,” she continued of an opportunity to see establishments that date back more than a century.

Seattle is a major departure point for Alaska cruises, but Shearer added that party-minded visitors visitors can also take to the water in “hot tub boats,” which amount to a “literally big, round, floating hot tub.” February is Museum Month in the city, with museum discounts available.

Shearer also praised the surrounding area, noting it’s home to three national parks — Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades. “What you will always find in any of them is outdoor adventure,” she reported.

Whale-watching tours are available in the San Juan Islands, Shearer continued. Shearer added that her state of Washington is the second-largest wine-producer in the United States. Shearer also noted that besides the upcoming Montreal-Seattle air service and the Toronto route, there is service to Seattle from Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary and Edmonton. Meanwhile, Sutherland — who has visited Seattle — said it offers “great breweries, great sports and great food.”