Seattle TravelGram

This is the last week to “Do The Puyallup” fair which is the largest fair in the state. There is something for everyone here from excitingt rides to petting the farm animals. Be sure to come hungry because the fair food is really great.

The concert line up this year is outstanding and there are still tickets available for many of this week’s performances.

I had the opportunity to spend a week down in Waldport, Oregon this summer. My friend has a fantastic ocean front home that is a rental property for families wanting to take long walks on a sandy beach, gaze over the Pacific Ocean and visit wonderful communities up and down scenic highway 101. We did all that plus relaxed with our 3 dogs, 2 parrots, our 2 daughters and her husband. It was paradise. AHHH

It’s a 6 hour drive south to get to the Newport area. After Portland Oregon you’ll get out of the city traffic and start going through beautiful forest, windy roads and then highway 101 with its spectacular ocean views. The coast of Oregon has dozens and dozens of view points, beaches and camping grounds that are all open to the public. Every turn out and every view point is worth stopping for.

We played tourist and went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Take several hours for this experience. We started by going through Passages of the Deep where you walk through a tunnel and sharks swim over and around you. You’ll see Octopus, seals, sea lions, jelly fish, sea otters and all sorts of birds and wildlife that hang out in our coastal waters.  It’s a great experience for adults and children.

When you get down that way make sure to dine at Panachein historic Newport. This is one of the best meals I’ve ever had. We started out with a trio of freshly smoked halibut, salmon and tuna. I ordered halibut for my main course and it was crusted with chopped almonds and cranberries. OMG- tasty. All the other dishes around the table were just as impressive.

Winter or summer the coast is a great getaway.

October is just around the corner and there is an exciting and extraordinary exhibit that you won’t want to miss starting October 8^th at the Seattle Art Museum. Picasso Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris will be in Seattle for only 3 months. Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), is arguably the most radical and influential artist of the 20th century. This exhibit presents 150 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs which are iconic works from virtually every phase of Picasso’s legendary career.

Hotel Ändra  has partnered with the Seattle Art Museum and is offering guests a VIP package that includes:  

• Overnight accommodations for two.
• Two VIP tickets to the exhibit (allowing you to skip the line and reserve a viewing time).
• Drinks and appetizers in Lola ($25 credit, also applicable toward breakfast, lunch or dinner). Lola is a Greek inspired restaruant by award winning chef Tom Douglas.
• A beautiful full-color catalogue of the Picasso exhibit: PICASSO: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris.
• A late check-out of 2pm which will allow perhaps for another viewing, or a stroll through the city.

Hotel Ändra is a Scandinavian-inspired small boutique hotel. This hotel is stylish and inviting and is convenient for business and pleasure travelers because of its close proximity to trendy Belltown restaurants, downtown shops, the Seattle Convention Center, Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum.  Hotel Ändra’s 119 rooms are comfortable as well as beautiful and have a distinctly Northwest feel.

Make your plans now to see this amazing collection at the SAM, and be sure to book your reservations at now for the VIP package at Hotel Ändra.

On Thursday September 23rd,  you have an opportunity to ride on the last of the Seattle’s Misquito Fleet’s Virginia V and enjoy the September Full Moon on a Jazz Cruise with live music by vibraphonist Susan Pascal Quartet. Light hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be provided and there is a cash bar.

6:00pm Boarding
7:00pm Depart SLU
9:00pm Return to Dock

The Virginia V departs from the Historic Ships Wharf in Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N., for a cruise around Lake Union and Lake Washington.

Tickets are $45 per person or $88 per couple. Reservations required.
Call 206-624-9119, email tickets@virginiav.org.

The Virginia V was built right in the Seattle area in 1921 and built of local old-growth fir logs. On June 11, 1922, the Virginia V made her maiden voyage from Elliott Bay in Seattle to Tacoma down the West Pass. She continued to make this voyage nearly every day until 1938.

In 2002 the Virginia Foundation put the Virginia V back on the water after a 6 year, $6.5 million dollar restoration project.

Vessel Facts:

Length: 125 feet (38 m) on deck, Beam: 24 feet (7.3 m), Draft: 8 feet (2.4 m), Displacement: Approximately 150 tons. This beautiful ship is on view at the South Lake Union Park.  

There are a few tickets left so act quickly.

You can expect that very soon airline prices will start to increase anticipating the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday travel. Now is the time to set your travel plans and save.

Numerous carriers such as Virgin America, American, and United to name a few are posting sales that sometimes only last for a day or two.

For the best views of downtown Seattle look no further than Kerry Park. Located on Queen Anne Hill, only minutes from down town Seattle, this park offers panoramic views of the downtown city scape, views of the Olympic Mountains, and the Puget Sound.

From this hill top lookout you can capture postcard-esque pictures of the Space Needle and enjoy the public art pieces located at the at the entrance of the park. This lookout is considered by many tour companies a must see so you will be in great company taking photo to bring home to show your friends and family 

The largest park in Seattle is Discovery Park. With miles of easy hikes, beautiful views and long secluded beaches, this urban wilderness  is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a day outside.

Situated in the quiet Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, Discovery Park is less than a 10 minute car ride from down town Seattle. The park encompasses the northern most point of Magnolia Bluff and looks over the inland waters of Puget Sound and Elliot Bay. With spectacular views of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges this is one of the most scenic points in Seattle. The secluded park includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, sand dunes, thickets and streams.  

Located inside the park you will find Fort Lawton, a small military base that once encompassed all 534 acres of the park.

Also within the park you will find Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. This is a Native American cultural center described by its parent organization United Indians of All Tribes as “an urban base for Native Americans in the Seattle area.” Sometimes while hiking in the park you will hear drumming because the cultural center is a location for pow wows that are held frequently by the local Indian Nations.  The center hosts a wonderful collection of art pieces that are open for the public to view.

SEATTLE–SEPTEMBER 14, 2010– This morning, Virgin America cut fares on nonstop flights to nationwide destinations from Seattle. At $69-$119 each way, these are the lowest prices Virgin has released on these routes in months.

Travel Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays from Sept. 21 – Oct. 6. For an additional $10, fly Oct. 7 – Dec. 15. This is the
first time Virgin America has put late November and early December dates on sale. (Nov. 24 and 27-29 are blacked out.)

Sample fares from Seattle (each way):
- San Francisco … $69
- Los Angeles … $89
- San Diego … $109
- Fort Lauderdale … $119

The sale ends 11:59 p.m. PT Monday, Sept. 20.

To book, click below. Taxes will be approximately $10-$22 each way. Tickets must be booked seven days before
traveling

After a fantastic week like this last one it’s really hard to think of Fall and Winter activities however that is exactly what you need to do. Hotel Ändra is teaming up with the Seattle Art Museum to offer a VIP package that includes tickets that move you to the front of the line to view 150 of Picasso’s masterpieces.

Hotel Ändra  is offering a VIP package that includes:

• Overnight accommodations for two.
• Two VIP tickets to the exhibit (allowing you to skip the line and reserve a viewing time).
• Drinks and appetizers in Lola ($25 credit, also applicable toward breakfast, lunch or dinner).
• A beautiful full-color catalogue of the Picasso exhibit: PICASSO: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris.
• A late check-out of 2pm which will allow perhaps for another viewing, or a stroll through the city.

Hotel Ändra is stylish, urban and sophisticated. As a guest you will  immediately feel right at home because of the casual yet plush surroundings. The hotel is walking distance from downtown shopping, trendy Belltown restaurants, Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum.

Make your plans now to see this amazing collection at the SAM which will be showing October 8^th– January 11, 2011. Be sure to book your reservations at now for the best viewing times and dates and for the VIP package at welcoming Hotel Ändra.

Tour the expedition’s sailing vessel Ocean Watch and meet its crew. Climb aboard the 64’ sailing vessel Ocean Watch at this year’s Lake Union Boats Afloat Show and learn more about the marine and ocean health issues explored by the scientists and crew who spent a year circumnavigating the Americas.  With the mission of inspiring, educating, and engaging citizens of both continents to protect our fragile oceans, the expedition came full circle after returning to Seattle this past June.

WHEN: Sept. 15-19, 2010; 10am – 6pm daily

WHERE:      South Lake Union in Seattle

During the expedition’s 28,000 nautical-mile journey, the crew explored marine health issues including polar ice melt, coral reef health and ocean acidification. Around the Americas was organized by Pacific Science Center, an independent not-for-profit educational institution and Sailors for the Sea, in partnership with the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab, the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere & Ocean, MIT Sea Grant College Program, and NASA.

Ocean Watch’s onboard educators, scientists and crew will share with show-goers what they learned after 382 days at sea and more than 50 stops.  Guests will be able to participate in hands-on activities, including: constructing a marine food web; learning about water sampling techniques; driving the submersible ROV (remotely operated vehicle); conducting cloud observations for NASA; learning about ocean acidification and more.

This will be the 32nd annual Lake Union Boats Afloat Show, where you’ll see hundreds of boats the way they were meant to be seen – on the water! From cabin cruisers, from sailboats to hundred-foot mega-yachts and everything in between, Boats Afloat has it all!