Seattle

Seattle – October 01, 2026 -- Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Canada & New England season, running May through October aboard the Volendam and Zuiderdam.

The season marks the regional debut of the post-Evolution Zuiderdam, following what the cruise line calls its largest fleet investment in 153 years. Cruises range from seven to 14 days, with longer Collectors' Voyages also available, departing from Montréal, Québec City, Boston, New York and Fort Lauderdale.

Zuiderdam brings new staterooms and dining to the region

The refurbished Zuiderdam introduces purpose-built Solo Verandah staterooms, new Bridgeview Suites with forward-facing views, and the Grand Dutch Café. Refreshed staterooms, updated guest spaces and Pinnacle Class-inspired enhancements round out the overhaul.

Seattle – September 22, 2026 -- Holland America Line has completed a major refresh of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, its private Caribbean island, adding a new Beach Club, food pavilion and upgraded amenities in time for cruises sailing from October 2026 through April 2027.

A new Beach Club opens for booking in early October

The exclusive Beach Club will offer priority tendering from ship to shore, dedicated waiter service, all-inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, included beach accessories and specialty food offerings. The design uses the cruise line's signature blue, orange and cream palette paired with natural textures and open-air spaces.

Seattle – September 22, 2026 -- A whitefish sold in the freezer aisle of most major grocery stores is drawing new attention as a whole-food protein source, delivering 26 grams of complete protein per 3.5-ounce serving. Wild Alaska Sole, often labeled Wild Alaska Flounder in the U.S., comes from Alaskan waters and contains all nine essential amino acids the body cannot produce on its own.

The fish arrives as shoppers increasingly scrutinize where their protein comes from, not just how much of it they're eating. Many high-protein products on store shelves rely on soy or vegetable isolates, while Wild Alaska Sole offers protein in its natural, unprocessed form.

Seattle – September 20, 2026 -- Jones Soda Co. is releasing a club-exclusive 12-pack that turns fictional Nuka-Cola flavors from the Fallout video game universe into real, drinkable sodas ahead of Fallout Day on October 23, 2026.

The "Vault-Dweller Variety" pack marks the fourth Fallout-themed collaboration between Jones Soda and Bethesda Softworks. It is expected to begin shipping September 11, 2026, and will be sold exclusively at participating club retail locations across the United States and Canada.

The pack bottles two Nuka-Cola flavors that have never existed outside the game before

The 12-pack contains four glass bottles each of three flavors: Nuka-Cola Quartz, Nuka-Cola Cranberry and Nuka-Cola Quantum. Quartz and Cranberry are being produced in reality for the first time, while Quantum, the glowing blue variety familiar to longtime Fallout fans, returns as the collection's centerpiece.

Seattle – September 18, 2026 -- Renters across the United States are paying $1,066 less per month than typical home buyers, according to Zillow's latest Rental Market Report, with the gap holding in all 50 largest U.S. metros.

Typical rent sits at $1,948 versus a $3,014 mortgage payment

The Zillow Observed Rent Index puts typical U.S. rent at $1,948 a month, while the typical new home buyer's monthly payment -- including taxes and insurance -- totals $3,014. That works out to $12,792 a year in savings for renters, a gap Zillow says has widened as mortgage costs rose $140 over the past six months, more than four times the $32 increase in typical rent over the same period.

Needham, Mass. – September 17, 2026 -- Tripadvisor has released its 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants, ranking eateries and culinary experiences that fall among the top one percent of listings on the platform based on diner reviews collected between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Fogón Asado in Buenos Aires tops the global Fine Dining list.

The Argentine restaurant, known for its interactive open-fire asado tasting experience, claims the No. 1 worldwide spot. In the U.S., Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands, North Carolina, takes the top title for its Northern Italian menu and wine cellar.

Four new categories track how travelers eat while exploring.

Alongside longstanding lists like Casual, Date Night, Hidden Gems and Vegan & Vegetarian, Tripadvisor added Food Tours, Cooking Classes, Wine & Beer Tours, and a "Viral Right Now" category for socially trending food spots.

Seattle – September 17, 2026 -- Seattle Children's has secured a spot on U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll for the third consecutive year, a recognition given to only 10 hospitals nationwide.

The hospital ranked No. 1 in Washington state and tied for No. 1 in the Pacific region, which covers Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

Four specialties crack the national top 10

Seattle Children's ranked in every specialty category evaluated by U.S. News. Four of those specialties -- Cancer, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery -- placed among the top 10 in the country.

Seattle – September 16, 2026 -- Tineco closed out IFA 2026 with a string of awards for three new floor care products, covering steam cleaning, wet-dry washing and cordless vacuuming.

The FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam, FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam and PURE ONE STATION 7 ZeroTouch each received the Gadgety Award Best of Showstopper IFA 2026.

The FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Boost Steam heats water to 230°C in seconds

The S9 Artist Boost Steam also won the Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026 Indoor Cleaning Technology Gold Award, plus recognition from Smarthome Assistant and a Tech Star 2026 honor from GameStar Tech. Its BoostSteam technology reaches 230°C, producing steam in 20 seconds on first use and as fast as five seconds afterward. The device pairs high-temperature steam with Tineco's intelligent floor-washing system in one machine.

Seattle – September 15, 2026 -- Holland America Line is moving up the renovation of its Oosterdam ship by five weeks, adding five new voyages after strong demand for cruises aboard the newly reimagined vessel.

Oosterdam's first post-renovation cruise now departs October 31, 2027

The ship will undergo its Holland America Evolution transformation in Marseille, France, returning to service with a 10-day voyage from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Trieste, Italy. Guests on that sailing will visit Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.

Because the dry dock start date moved earlier, several previously scheduled voyages between September 11, 2027, and December 9, 2027, have been canceled. Affected guests and travel advisors are being contacted directly about rebooking options.

Seattle – September 11, 2026 -- REI Co-op is donating $1 million to organizations that maintain America's National Scenic and Historic Trails, and shoppers get a say in how some of the money is spent.

Members and customers can vote online or in stores through October 2

From September 8 to October 2, REI members, customers and employees can vote in stores or online to help direct a portion of the funding to eligible nonprofit trail organizations. The donation, tied to National Public Lands Day on September 26, supports groups caring for more than 60,600 miles of trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail.