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| Hotel 1000 has high-tech charm. photograhpy courtesy of Richmond Public Relations |
WHERE TO STAY:
Seattle has more fresh, funky hotels than Dallas has rib joints, so deciding where to stay can be a challenge. Located in the heart of downtown’s hip Belltown neighborhood, The Inn at El Gaucho has a decidedly masculine feel, from the décor (brown leather furniture and muted orange walls) to the toys (wide-screen plasma TVs and Bose stereos in each room). It’s even named after its sister steakhouse, El Gaucho, which provides the room service menu. Each room also has an office with complimentary Wi-Fi (2505 First Ave., 866-354-2824, http://inn.elgaucho.com/inn.elgaucho). For a truly Pacific Northwestern experience, check out the Edgewater Hotel, Seattle’s only waterfront stay. This 223-room hotel feels more like a secluded cabin with knotted woods, flannel fabrics, views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliot Bay, and in-room fireplaces to keep you warm on cool summer nights (2411 Alaskan Way, Pier 67, 800-624-0670, www.edgewaterhotel.com). Or if you prefer high-tech to natural charm, look no further than Hotel 1000. Even before you step foot in your suite, room preferences can be pre-programmed, including pillow softness, room temperature, and artwork, which is selected from a comprehensive digital library. Chic décor complements the sleek amenities, such as an intelligent private bar that notifies the staff when you’ve run out of your favorite food or drink. And an on-site virtual golf center allows you to tee off at Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, or any of more than 50 other top courses in the country from the comfort of your hotel (1000 First Ave., 877-315-1088, www.hotel1000seattle.com).
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| Dessert at Crush. photography courtesy of Crush |
WHERE TO EAT:
Consistently one of Seattle’s top-rated restaurants since it opened nearly 20 years ago, Wild Ginger is the perfect place to bring clients on a business lunch. The dining rooms are large enough to accommodate the hoards of locals and visitors who clamor for the delicious Pacific Rim-Asian cuisine (1401 Third Ave., 206-623-4450, www.wildginger.net). When hunger strikes and you’re off the clock, dine at Marco’s Supperclub, a casual lunch option with character to spare. The warm months bring seasonal outdoor seating on the covered patio, where diners nosh on Mediterranean fare like fried sage leaves, a Marco’s favorite (2510 First Ave., 206-441-7801, www.marcos supperclub.com). As evening approaches, head to the Metropolitan Grill, a boys’ club-type steakhouse where high-rollers throw down big bills for top-notch steaks and sauvignon (820 Second Ave., 206-624-3287, www.themetropolitan grill.com). Or fall in love with Crush, a restaurant set in a charming 102-year-old, renovated Tudor home in the East Madison area. Foodies delight in the perfected New American menu, and the simple décor puts the cuisine (rightly) at center stage. But good things come in small packages: The two dining rooms seat only 41 people in all, so be sure to make a reservation early (2319 E. Madison St., 206-302-7874, www.chefjasonwilson.com).
WHAT TO DO:
There are several rites of passage every Seattle neophyte must check off his or her list. First, take the elevator—or climb 848 stairs, if you like—to the Space Needle’s 520-foot-high observation deck where you can see the city and its serene surroundings (400 Broad St., 206-905-2100, www.spaceneedle.com). Next, catch a catfish—no waders required. Pike Place Market, the place for food, flowers, and flying fish, has been a Seattle institution since 1907 (1508 Pike Place, 206-682-7453, www.pikeplacemarket.org). Then, fuel up. Starbucks-savvy caffeine addicts know that Seattle is home to their favorite chain. Get a cup of joe at the original location that made the non-fat, double-shot, no-whip mocha a household name (1912 Pike Place, 206-448-8762, www.starbucks.com). Looking for fun further from the beaten path? Get your feet wet—but hopefully not the rest of you—at the Center for Wooden Boats. This “hands-on” museum houses a collection of, you guessed it, wooden boats. But here, the exhibits can be taken out on the water. If your sailing skills are a bit rusty, the CWB offers boating instruction as well as boatbuilding, sailmaking, and knot-work workshops (1010 Valley St., 206-382-2628, www.cwb.org). Prefer your boats bigger and manned by a professional? Get to Colman Dock at Pier 52 to catch a Washington State Ferry across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Sunset is the perfect time to admire the pristine water and the majesty of the mountains (Colman Dock: 801 Alaskan Way Pier 52, Ferry information: 206-464-6400, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries). Or if seeing the mountain peaks in the distance inspires you to tackle them, visit Mount Rainier National Park, where you can backpack, climb, or cycle on and around this active Cascade volcano (360-569-2211 or www.nps.gov/mora for directions).
Washington State Convention & Trade Center
800 Convention Place
206-694-5000
www.wsctc.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS MONTH:
July 7-10:
Association of College and University Housing Officers Intl. Annual Conference and Exposition
July 12-13:
National Association of College & University
Food Services 2007 National Conference
August 24-29:
UPS 100th Anniversary/Management Conference
