T R AV EL
Seattle & The Olympic Peninsula
Washington’s Great Northwest Adventure BY MARIKA FLATT AUSTINITES LOVE VISITING SEATTLE. WE ENJOY GOING TO ANOTHER PART OF THE U.S. THAT IS SIMILAR TO OUR OWN GREAT CITY (CASUAL DRESS, DOWNTOWN SCENE, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE) BUT DIFFERENT ENOUGH TO FEEL LIKE VACATION (COOLER WEATHER, DELICIOUS SEAFOOD, WATERFALLS). BUT THE NEXT TIME YOU VENTURE TO THE GREAT NORTHWEST, ADD THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA TO YOUR ITINERARY, SINCE IT’S JUST A FERRY HOP ACROSS THE PUGET SOUND FROM SEATTLE AND OFFERS A HOST OF GREAT TRAVELING OPPORTUNITIES.
In the first of this two-part travel series, we’re going to explore some highlights of the Northwest that include culinary delights and outdoor escapes. In our next installment, we’ll explore crossing over the Canadian border into British Columbia (primarily Vancouver and Victoria). SEATTLE AREA STAY
I’m a fan of finding accommodations outside the big city. When considering my options of places to stay in Seattle, I thought of the W Hotel downtown and also Edgewater, both fairly centrally located. However, I settled on The Heathman Hotel, nestled in nearby Kirkland (just 12 miles from Seattle) because I’m a sucker for the quaint small town feel. I love walking the streets of a village, trying out local craft beers, visiting shops and, in this case, walking along the waterfront. Kirkland is just a quick 20-minute drive from Seattle, but it feels hundreds of miles from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Kirkland’s Heathman is a boutique hotel, small and informal. I recommend springing for a corner suite with an outdoor patio that overlooks the town. One of these suites can adjoin a room with two doubles if you’re traveling with kids. This is an ideal set up because the kids have their own space, you have a living room with a kitchenette in the middle and a king room on the other side next to the patio. Guests at The Heathman can visit the small market behind the hotel, load up on wine and snacks and enjoy dining on the suite’s outdoor patio, which makes for a relaxing evening (especially when you leave triple-digit temps in Austin and enjoy evenings in the 50s-60s in Kirkland). EAT
The Heathman’s restaurant, Trellis, can be considered a mix between fine dining and casual bistro. You know you’re in the Northwest when the little ones can order
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salmon from the kids’ menu. The chef prepared a delightful monk fish served with broccolini and paired with a crisp chardonnay. In 2011, Sunset Magazine named Trellis one of the best places for farm-fresh food; you taste that distinction with each bite. Other dining options within walking distance away include George’s, a casual café a few blocks from The Heathman where you can grab a cold beer and a delicious burger. And, for breakfast, you can run across the street to The French Bakery and indulge in a chocolate croissant with coffee. PLAY
The Woodland Park Zoo in the heart of Seattle is a real treat for the entire family. And, there’s an app for that! You will want to download the free zoo app prior to your arrival and plan your route, the shows you don’t want to miss and any special exhibits you’d like to see. You can also use it to discover the Hidden Zoo mobile tour that leads the way to many of their most unique, though less known, fun facts and experiences. The zoo opened the new Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit recently and currently has twin sloth bear cubs, a trio of jaguar cubs, four lion cubs, a young wallaby joey, a quickly-growing red-crowned crane and incredible programming to enjoy. The "elephant poo paper" making station in the African Savanna is a fun experience. They also offer elephant feeding daily in their Tropical Asia area for a small fee and Zoomazium is packed full of entertainment for the kids, including puppet shows and storytelling. While in Seattle, you can also enjoy shopping at Pike’s Place Market and load up on fresh veggies and seafood. Since we had access to a kitchen, we purchased salmon (from the famous spot where the guys throw the fish around over your head), crabmeat for homemade crab cakes, tomatoes and basil for Caprese salad, broccolini and lots of fresh fruit. You can also purchase local souvenirs like homemade flame-worked glass bead