Seattle, the Emerald City

Seattle is known as “The Emerald City” because of the lush, dark green coastal rainforests surrounding this urbane wonderland. Perched on an isthmus with Puget Sound on one side and Lake Washington on the other, from the air it’s a green paradise. But the moniker could equally refer to the green, healthy, organic experience you’ll find in the city, too. From a hotel with a growing green grass roof (no kidding!) to the well-known favorite of tourists and locals alike, Pike Place Market, where you can select flowers and produce so fresh they might be glistening with morning dew, Seattle has a lot to offer environmentally conscious visitors.

 

Arriving at the SeaTac airport, grab a taxi, rent a car, or splurge a little and arrange a limo to your hotel. You can then check into the Hyatt at Olive 8 (yes, the site of that green grass roof) in style. Conveniently located within walking distance of Pike Place Market and downtown shops and restaurants, the hotel offers luxurious accommodations with beautiful, modern furnishings, and high speed internet. The expansive Presidential Suite features a kitchenette, two dining areas, a living room with fireplace, a bath and a half and a walk-in closet. There’s even a nice office, complete with a computer for your own personal use. In the bath, your own personal television embedded in the mirror will keep you up on the latest news while primping for a night on the town. With huge, floor to ceiling windows offering incredible views, you just may decide you want to stay for longer than a few nights.

When you’re ready to begin a culinary adventure, Seattle has you covered. Fresh seafood from the surrounding waters, locally produced wines and brews, fresh cheese, bakeries highlighting local ingredients and restaurateurs focused on farm-to-table cuisine all combine to create a foodie’s paradise. This city is sublimely focused on their local organic offerings so experience some of the best by spending an afternoon on a guided culinary walking tour with Savor Seattle Food Tours. Starting at Yellow Leaf Cupcake where you can choose a swoon-worthy Pancakes ‘n’ Bacon cupcake, you’ll make your way through offerings as diverse as freshly made pizza from Serious Pie and locally produced brews at the Pike Brewing Company. It’s the perfect introduction to local foods.

When you’re ready to sample more, there are plenty of great restaurants in Seattle to satisfy a foodie’s desires.

Andaluca is located downtown in the lobby of the historic Mayflower Hotel. It’s a very popular spot for locals and hotel guests alike. With a Mediterranean influence evident in the mahogany mill work and hand painted murals, Andaluca offers seasonal salads, Northwest specialties and some fabulous local cheeses. Be sure to order a platter of them. Also try the fresh and delicious pear salad, the tender steak skewer, and the lovely crispy potato croquettes. Then get the melting chocolate cake for dessert – even if you have to order it to go!

Agrodolce is a casual trattoria hidden away in the Fremont neighborhood featuring handmade pasta inspired by Italy’s coastal cuisine and other delicious offerings, all made with organic and sustainable ingredients from the region. The restaurant is owned by Maria Hines, winner of the James Beard Award for best chef in the Northwest in 2009 and also the Iron Chef winner in 2010. The restaurant’s delicious focaccia bread, made fresh daily and served with imported virgin olive oil, will surprise you. Try the amazing cream of onion soup and one of the house’s homemade pastas. And don’t forget to save room for dessert as the rice pudding fritters are a must. Crispy and golden brown, they’re served with a scrumptious caramel sauce for dipping. After dinner, take a stroll around the artsy Fremont neighborhood where you’ll find loads of interesting shops and cafes, some situated by beautiful Lake Union. You’ll also spot plenty of houseboats moored in the lake, which inspired the movie “Sleepless in Seattle.” And don’t let the crowds deter you from exploring and tasting more as you go along.

Urbane, in the Hyatt at Olive 8, also specializes in Northwest cuisine supervised by Executive Chef Greg Lopez, who says “Good food depends on good ingredients.” He works with farmers across Washington and the region who are dedicated to sustainable growing techniques and bringing the best possible product to market and this is definitely reflected in the menu, which changes seasonally. Try the rib eye steak with locally sourced fiddlehead ferns.

After noshing your way through the city, check out the Space Needle, probably the most famous landmark. Open daily 365 days of the year, you can get the best view from 520 feet up on the observation deck.

When you’re ready for some down time and feel like treating yourself to some relaxation, make time for an incomparable spa experience. Spend an entire afternoon enjoying The Equator where you will relish waterfalls, a rain forest and a desert-like environment. The locally owned Ummelina Spa is a virtual trip around the world with most of the services employing organic and local ingredients like salts, oils and mud sourced globally. All the spa’s therapies are shaped by the natural environment and the philosophy that for centuries, indigenous people listened to the earth and used its riches as part of their lives. This philosophy helps restore health and promotes a balance between the individual and the environment. An interesting aspect here is the Tea Spa where a variety of tea rituals are available with unique and organic herbal teas specially blended and brewed for a variety of purposes. The spa uses over 250 organic herbs to create teas formulated for their medicinal value, a practice used for hundreds of years.

Seattle easily satisfies another love for visitors – shopping – with over 1,000 different retailers, both large and small centrally located in the busy and energetic center of downtown. The famous Nordstrom retail chain is based here and their flagship store on Pine Street is one of their best.

 

Whatever your passion, you can indulge in it in The Emerald City, a charming and friendly destination with plenty of options for all.

The area code for Seattle is 206.