In 1979, Microsoft moved its headquarters to Seattle.

Just 15 years later, in 1994, Amazon was founded in the evergreen-laced city.

And today?

Seattle is a high-tech city as in-demand for travelers as engineers and entrepreneurs.

While there are countless options for choosing where to stay, the Fairmont Olympic Hotel stands out.

The 100-year-old resort — a favorite of President Teddy Roosevelt and John Lennon — was recently restored and renovated by architecture powerhouse MG2 and Barcelona-based Lázaro Rosa-Violán. As a result, expect an epic escape that honors the past while seamlessly merging modern amenities in every direction.

Of note are the rooms and suites, all of which are equipped with multimedia charge ports and Sonicast, allowing guests to enjoy streaming services with ease. The rooms are modern and elegant, especially the two presidential suite options, which are 3,000 square feet of unadulterated luxury, with space to entertain, eye-popping city views and chic decorative accents.

The entirety of the resort now uses energy-efficient LED lighting, and there is a breathtaking kinetic art installation that serves as the centerpiece of the lobby bar. As a kinetic display powered by motors, the art piece brings soft, ocean-like movement to the lobby, while casting dynamic shadows on the vaulted ceiling created by technical lighting installed below.

Of course, those in the lobby bar are in for more than just the visual spectacle, especially those who find the hidden Founder’s Club. A speakeasy-style lounge with dark woods and cognac lockers, the Founder’s Club offers a menu of hand-selected spirits and exclusive cocktails unavailable anywhere else.

The resort’s signature eatery, The George, is similarly impressive. It uses modern technology and certified sustainable methods to source fresh seafood from local waters, meats and produce from Washington Farmers, and herbs and other ingredients from local foragers.

Fairmont Olympic also boasts a luxurious 42-foot indoor heated pool and sunny solarium, both of which are bathed in natural light thanks to a massive skylight roof, as well as the critically acclaimed Penelope & The Beauty Bar, a full-service spa with traditional treatments as well as a facial program that melds European and Japanese brands with high-tech methodology and procedures like fillers and microneedling.

The regal hotel is within walking or biking distance of the world-famous Pike Place Market, a 9-acre marketplace featuring flying fish, fresh produce, flower shops, an arcade, dozens of eateries, vintage clothing, sweets, wines and even collectibles. Given the market’s sheer size, savvy travelers always opt for a professional tour to explore this culinary mecca in style. Eat Seattle Tours is a particularly impressive outfitter, offering a general market tour and a VIP coffee crawl that provides guests with a behind-the-scenes look (and several tastings) at how Seattle revolutionized the coffee scene across the country. For those looking to elevate their experience, Eat Seattle also specializes in custom private tours, where the only limit is the capacity of one’s stomach.

Pike Place Market is just a quarter mile from one of the city’s other must-visit attractions, the Great Seattle Wheel. This 175-foot Ferris wheel, located on Pier 57 along Elliot Bay, is not only one of the largest wheels on the West Coast but also among the most luxurious. Each gondola is climate-controlled and provides panoramic views of the city skyline, Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Additionally, there are VIP gondolas featuring leather seating, along with the option to enjoy a fully catered dinner and drinks while aboard.

Of course, that is not the only sky-high fun in the city. Seattle is also home to the Space Needle, a 605-foot-tall landmark originally built to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations for the 1962 World’s Fair. Guests can book tickets to simply visit the Space Needle, ride to the top, or pair it with tickets to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit located right next door. A full-sensory adventure, this series of galleries showcases artist Dale Chihuly’s work with color, form, and light through glassblowing, larger-than-life art installations, and even videos of the artist himself.

Both the Space Needle and Chihuly are within walking distance of the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP. Unlike any other museum in the world, this dreamlike space showcases radical, vibrant and often interactive exhibitions on myths, magic, horror, rock ‘n’ roll, science fiction, gaming and local musicians, including Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. It even features a sound lab where visitors can record their own music.

Looking for options that are even more unconventional? Think about incorporating some water, a touch of fire and a wealth of spirits.

The water? That’s courtesy of the Lake Union Hot Tub Boats. Believe it or not, Seattle features wood-fired hot tubs that can cruise across Lake Union thanks to an electric motor. Guests can easily navigate them due to modern technology, and there’s even an option to adjust the water temperature at the flip of a switch. Each boat is equipped with towels, waterproof phone cases, a Bluetooth speaker, drinking water and on-board storage for snacks and drinks.

The fire? Discover it at Fyre Sauna, an authentic Nordic-style spa experience nestled in a lush orchard just outside Seattle. With five Scandinavian dry saunas designed to open blood vessels, flush toxins, and enhance circulation, along with a variety of frosty cold plunge options, each aimed at reducing inflammation and naturally elevating dopamine and serotonin levels.

Finally, all those spirits? Thanks to the Nightly Spirits Ghost Tour, visitors can have some fun all over town. A combination pub crawl and haunted tour, each experience explores the spookier side of Seattle while enjoying a drink or two along the way.

Alongside being one of the most high-tech cities in the world, it is also regarded as one of America’s premier culinary capitals.

The region is unique in that its cuisine certainly reflects a Pacific Northwest sensibility, but it also has strong global influences. There are also dozens of local distilleries, wineries and breweries in nearly every direction.

If you’re seeking a classic Seattle culinary experience, stop at Shuckers, the ultimate dream for fresh seafood lovers, or Von’s 1,000 Spirits, which features specialty sourdough, scratch-made cocktails and a giant wheel spun for decades to determine drink specials throughout the day and night. Elephant & Castle is another must-visit. Located beneath the Motif Hotel and just five blocks from Pike Place Market, Elephant & Castle offers a twist on a British pub, infused with local sensibilities. Condé Nast and New York Times award-winning Communion is perfect for a seasonally inspired, soulful meal with whimsical riffs, while Canlis has been the city’s preeminent fine dining institution for over 70 years.

Need more ideas? Book a wine-tasting experience at DeLille Cellars or Sparkman Cellars; enjoy flights of bubbles with sumptuous small bites at McQueen Champagne Bar, and taste test spirits and cocktails with locally distilled whiskey, gin and vodka at Copperworks Distilling.