Anyone familiar with Seattle?

[socalfandabodys]

Hey Guys,

Taking a trip to the Seattle/Tacoma area with my lady friend. Giggidy. Were going to Olympic National Forest for a few days, Tacoma for a day and two days in Seattle. I'm familiar with the other two areas and all set up there with hotels and nice restaurants. I'm kind of splurging so what can you recommend for a nice hotel downtown in the heart of the action and a few great restaurants. The nicer, the better. Looking for good views or walking distance to good night life and restaurants. Thanks

[astroracer]

I was just out there last year to visit my son. Stayed at a place within walking distance of the Needle. Get yourself's up there for dinner, very cool. It was a little cool and rainey that day (natch...). It was sprinkling at ground level but it was snowing on the dinner platform... Oh, and don't bother looking... I saw ZERO evidence of the place being an alien ship... :)
Mark

[19sixtynine]

Here's a few idea's, I live here but don't get out much....HA!

I can recommend all of these from experience though....

Hotels:

The Edgewater - edgewaterhotel.com‎ (this is the quintessential Seattle hotel made famous for being able to "fish out your window" years and years ago, and also a raucous Led Zeppelin party in the 70's)
Hotel 1000 - hotel1000seattle.com‎
Inn at the Market - innatthemarket.com‎
Sorrento Hotel - hotelsorrento.com‎

Restaurants:

El Gaucho - www.elgaucho.com (very expensive, very awesome!)
The Pink Door - thepinkdoor.net/ (quaint and small)
Il Bistro - http://www.ilbistro.net/
Japonessa - http://www.japonessa.com/ (very interesting fusion sushi)


Also, they just installed a huge Ferris wheel on the pier downtown, check it out if you get a chance:

http://seattlegreatwheel.com/

[68lovebuzz]

I live in Tacoma and I love it here. It's a real melting pot. It is close to Seattle, Water and mountains. The Lemay museum recently opened up near the Tacoma Dome downtown. I went and thought it was great for the all around car lover. It is a part of one of the biggest car collections on the west coast if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately there wasn't as much American muscle as I would have liked to have seen; It is however full of amazing cars from across the world and right here in the US. I would recommend it but I realize you may only have day here. Also the museum of glass is pretty cool as well.

If you are Looking for a nice place to stay downtown Seattle with beautiful views is the Sheraton Hotel. The Westin is also nice and both offer great accommodations. They are close to everything including shopping, bars, Pike Place and night life. Always been impressed with the service and amenities. El gaucho in Belltown is a great steakhouse and top shelf, but you will find many other great eateries in the downtown and Belltown area, all being close to both those hotels. Enjoy Seattle, The weather has been unusually dry and fall beauty has set in.

[socalfandabodys]

68lovebuzz and 19sixtynine,

Thank you very much. I'm a DOD contractor now so, I actually lived in North Tacoma near stadium district from October 2011-April of this year. I was working on JBLM 6 days a week and my EX was still in my life at that point. Kind of soured me on the experience. I did not get to enjoy or do all the things I wanted. Just did alot of outdoors stuff and hiking with my dog to clear my mind. Salmon Beach is great btw. Anyway, I can say I have lived in California for many years, back east for many more and been all over the world. The Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful, interesting area I have ever been and will settle down there one day. Can't wait to go back and knock some of these things out on my vacation. Were spending a whole day and night in Tacoma. Going to run Narrows bridge, Salmon Beach, Lemays auto museum and Asado for Dinner and staying at Hotel Murano as the offer a package deal with the museum. I think I'm settled on either the Edgewater or Hotel 1000 as those two have come up a bunch. Will also eat at the El Gaucho they have in Seattle. Theres one in Tacoma too guys! I plan on going to to the top of the Space Needle but, I heard the food is just ok. Maybe one night we will eat there.