Kevin Fliess

Yesterday’s election of Barack Obama as the 44th President was an historic moment for the United States on many levels. People today are talking about what an Obama presidency means for America’s standing in the world, her economic future and the future of its citizens.

If the initial reaction from the international community is any sign, it’s safe to say that the United State’s perception in the world enjoyed a significant jump overnight. The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom said:

So often crudely caricatured by others, the American people yesterday stood in the eye of history and made an emphatic choice for change for themselves and the world.

For those of us in the travel business, it’s interesting to examine what this election means to the future of the U.S. travel industry. Will personal fortunes rise over the next four years and spurn more tourism? Will the United States see an increase in international visitors?
Roger Dow, President of the Travel Industry Association had this to say:

… we look forward to working with our policy leaders to address two of the most daunting challenges facing America today: improving the U.S. economy and strengthening America's image around the world. We have already seen President-elect Obama take important steps over the past year to demonstrate his support for travel by cosponsoring the Travel Promotion Act, encouraging expansion of the Visa Waiver Program and speaking out on our nation's deteriorating air travel system. He now has an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to improving the American economy and winning hearts and minds around the world by supporting lower barriers to travel to and within the United States, and by making improvement of the travel process a central priority of his administration.

It is my belief that the next four years will be transformative for the United States, and that we’ll see an economic resurgence that will lead to more discretionary income at home and abroad, and ultimately yield a strengthening of U.S. tourism. Further bolstering the travel sector will be increased investment in infrastructure—such as upgrading our airports and air traffic control system—leading to more jobs and a more efficient travel experience for consumers. Lastly, I suspect that Obama’s global perspective and multi-cultural background is likely to stoke Americans’ curiosity in the world and trigger more foreign travel.

Am I just a hopeless romantic, or do you agree?

What are your thoughts on the travel industry on this historic day?

Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin’,
Tossed salad and scrambled eggs

Oh My
Mercy (alt: Quite stylish.)

And maybe I seem a bit confused,
Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!

But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs.
They’re callin’ again.

Ah Seattle. Home of the Seahawks, Starbucks, Pike Place Fish Market, and yes, Dr. Frasier Crane. (It’s still not clear to me what that little ditty has to do with a) Seattle or b) psychiatry, but I had it my head, and now you do, too. Sorry.)

What’s not to love about a city that’s surrounded by water and mountains? A city where you can easily get around by foot, bike or public transit. A metropolis that feels one with nature, and yet is hip and urban at the same time.

On a recent October weekend, my family hopped up to Seattle to re-connect with friends who are now lucky enough to call this beautiful city home. We stayed in the lovely town of Kirkland, about 20 minutes from Seattle, on the shore of Lake Washington. On Saturday morning we ventured into downtown Seattle and explored the Seattle Aquarium, which sits right on Puget Sound. We arrived just in time for the scuba diver show, where kids sit in front of a 40- by 20-foot wall of glass while volunteer divers in dry suits educate them from inside the aquarium.

Next we headed up no fewer than 11 flights of outdoor stairs to Pike Place Market. Our timing again was great—the famous fish mongers were busy filling orders and flinging enormous salmon with startling precision. We fell for the “errant fish into the crowd” gag, which was actually a stuffed animal that had us all ducking for cover.

Lunch was amazing at the Steelhead Diner. The kids enjoyed what has to be the world’s best homemade mac ‘n’ cheese, made with cheese produced across the street from Beecher's Hand Made Cheese, and I had the best mussels of my life, which were prepared with chorizo and a savory garlic broth.

Sunday morning a few of us hearty souls enjoyed a tour of the University of Washington campus by participating in the 23rd annual Dawg Dash, a 5K/10K race that benefits the University of Washington Alumni Association. Nobody bothered to mention just how hilly the UW campus is, but it is gorgeous, and from the top you can take in the Seattle skyline and majestic Mount Rainier.

Our only regret on this trip is that we only had a few days to visit. The next time we head to the northwest, we’ll spend some more time in Seattle and continue on to Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.—two cities that remain high on our TravelMuse trip list!


View from Queen Anne Boulevard of Seattle Skyline Photo: Kevin Fliess