I’m headed to the Seattle Travel and Adventure show at the Seattle Convention Center as media (it’s in town this year from Jan 10-11th) and I’ve never been so I’m not sure what to expect. It’s not just for travel trade, it looks like there are some interesting talks and travel deals. You can find out the destinations that will be there on the exhibitor list. I’m curious to hear updates from places like Travel Portland, Travel Juneau Alaska, Palm Springs and Uncruise Adventures who will be at the show. (Also If you are looking for free tickets to the Seattle Travel and Adventure show, go to this Uncruise instagram post and read the caption, they may still have some left)
I also know that Rick Steves and Pauline Frommer will be at the Seattle Travel and Adventure show talking travel (check the speaker schedule for dates and times) and this alone might be reason enough to go. General admission for either day is $20 (there may be discounts booking online) We are looking to book some of our last trips before the boys go off to college so I’m hoping to get inspired a bit about where we might go. There is a race or sporting event in Europe that the guys think we’re going to go to in 2026 and our plan is quite likely that we’ll be in Australia in the summer of 2027. I’m partially writing these here so if I look back in the future, I can compare these dreams to what we actually did.
I was at the show on the opening day about 45 minutes before it opened for a tour. Media started the day with a chat with AAA one of the conference sponsors. The AAA booth was very huge at this show. After that we went on to chat with a few of the booths at the show including Visit Jamaica and Collette Tours (this booth was giving out infused olive oil and was very popular). Around 30 minutes before the show opened Travel Advisors were able to stop by the booths too (I think they pay a different rate than general admission and have more included). Then once the doors opened the show was pretty busy and it was standing room only for the Rick Steves talk. (People started finding seats about 30 minutes before his talk).
After Seattle this Travel and Adventure show heads around the USA so it may end up in a city near you too. (It will next head to Washington DC for January 17 and 18th, then New York January 24-25th, Phoenix Feb 14-15 then Chicago Feb 21-22nd, South Florida Feb 28-March 1, Los Angeles March 7-8, Bay Area March 21-22nd, Dallas March 28-29, then Denver April 11-12)
Do these kinds of events help you make travel plans? How do you make your travel plans? And where are you thinking of going this year?
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)