Seattle TravelGram

As of June 6, 2011, Delta Airlines is increasing Seattle – Beijing service from five days weekly to seven days a week! All flights will operate on the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft operating. Planned schedule:

• Flight 129
  Departs Sea-Tac International Airport (SEA) 6:05pm
  Arrives Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 9:00pm
• Flight 128
  Departs PEK 11:55am
  Arrives SEA 8:25am

For more information, visit Delta Airlines.

Photo (above) courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

• Seattle to Ixtapa $199
• Seattle to Mexico City $149
• Seattle to Mazatlan $179
• Seattle to Manzanillo $199

Plus, along with these great fares, Alaska Airlines Vacations can provide you with hotel accommodations and the option of adding tours and car rentals for a carefree and complete travel experience.

*Applicable restrictions, taxes, and fees apply. No advance purchase is required, but seats are limited and may not be available on all flights on all days so book now for the best selection of flights.

For the next 96 hours, Iceland weekend getaway packages from Seattle, including three nights at a newly renovated 4-star hotel and guided glacier walking tour, are reduced by 50% to $719 per person.

This price is less than cost of airfare to Reykjavik alone, essentially making the hotel and tour free.

The offer includes:

• Roundtrip nonstop flights to Reykjavik from Seattle
• Three nights at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura
• Access to the hotel’s new spa featuring Reykjavik’s only indoor geothermal pool, saunas and a gym (reg. $30 per day)
• Day trip to the south shore with guided glacier walk to view some of Iceland’s most impressive scenery (reg. $185)
• Additional nights for $39 per person

This package is available for Thursday departures on Sept. 29 and Oct. 13 and 20 — ideal for a long-weekend getaway.

Additional weekday departures are also available from late September through October.

For more information about the package from Icelandair and to book, click the link below. Select four nights (the first night is the overnight flight) and two travelers for the Glacier Ice Walk package. Taxes of $88 per person will be displayed in the final price.  Book by Sunday, May 22.

May is a busy month for everyone, especially for those  in the travel business. Above, Alaska Airlines hauls tons of Copper River Salmon down to Seattle each year. The first 2011 shipment from Alaska has arrived, here’s where you’ll find it:

Seafood Markets

• Pikes Place Market: 86 Pike Place
• Wild Salmon Seafood Market: 1900 W Nickerson

Restaurants

• Anthony’s: 2201 Alaskan Way, 6135 Seaview Ave
• Chinook’s: 1900 W Nickerson
• Etta’s: 2020 Western Avenue
• Ray’s Boathouse: 6049 Seaview Avenue NW
• Seastar Restaurant: 2121 Terry Ave
• Waterfront Seafood Grill: 2801 Alaskan Way

Go ahead. I dare you to ask that after you go on Michael Rogers’ Belltown Restaurant tour. Michael gets our “Total Foodie” award following the Seattle Food Tours walkabout in Belltown.

Unlike other “stand up” food tours, Seattle Food Tours is more like a progressive dinner through this wonderful Seattle neighborhood. All the restaurants are within a couple of blocks…it’s a great itinerary!

We started at “Local 360″. No, it’s not the Labor Hall. The name comes from the self-imposed 360-mile limit in the restaurant’s effort to source their foods from the northwest. Our course? Oysters! The perfect appetizer for a Seattle dinner party, eh?

Next, we went to Rob Roy, which reminds me of my father’s 1960s study. Rock wall, a stereo and reel-to-reel mounted in the bookshelf. Hey–they had a whole collection of National Geographic magazines! The bartender made us some custom cocktails. I think he called it a “Communist”. There was some gin, some herbs and a cherry on top (no–a REAL one, not Maraschino!). And it was RED! All of got a brief overview on the history of the cocktail, including “old fashioned” and “cosmopolitan”. Fun!

Next, we went for our sushi course at Shiro Sushi. Master chef Shiro Kashiba was there to greet us–and offered a selection of fresh troll-caught Alaskan King Salmon, complimented by fresh Ahi. This is one of the best sushi houses in Seattle. Check it out!

Several other select eateries serve up special dishes when Michael arrives with the group. We finished off the tour at Spur, with an out-of-this-world dessert of coconut ice cream and some frozen concoction. Still trying to figure it out–it was delicious!

Check Seattle Food Tours’ site for times and prices. And plan a walking dinner in some of Belltown’s best restaurants!

Have you ever wanted your own private plane for those quick trips out of town (go ahead…chuckle)? Me, too. With Seaport Air, you can zip back and forth between Seattle’s Boeing Field and Portland just like a t-r-u-e jetsetter.

On Tuesday afternoon, we had a get-together at the Maxwell Hotel, the swanky new hostelry on Lower Queen Anne by the Metropolitan Market.

Afterwords, Jet City Woman gave me a ride over to Boeing Field. Guess what? Free parking! Guess what else? No TSA. OMG–can it get any better? Oh–free wi-fi in the “terminal”, which is about the size of the waiting room at my doctor’s office.

Seaport Air and Kenmore Air have the terminal to themselves, aside from the private hangars for all the millionaires and billionaires (we had to wait for your 757 to land, Paul Allen).

There’s no need to arrive two hours prior to your flight. In fact, 15-20 minutes prior to departure is fine. After all, Seaport‘s fleet of Pilatus PC-12s only take nine passengers. All-leather seats. The planes are turbo-charged, pressurized, single-prop planes that zip down to PDX in less than an hour. In this photo (left), we’re banking hard over I-205 and the Columbia River on final approach to PDX.

Actually, I was headed to Salem, which is a new market for Seaport. But everything moves like clockwork. After landing in Portland, Seaport has a shuttle that will run you over to the main terminal at PDX (I usually just walk. It’s about 500 yards) if you have a connecting flight, need to rent a car or need to catch the MAX light rail downtown.

The entire Seaport experience dampens the tension we have about airports in general–and the TSA in particular. Order your ticket online. Check in at the airport counter. Remember–no long lines since there’s only nine passengers per flight. Walk on board. No muss. No fuss.

So, I’m a big fan of Seaport Air. You can fly to Portland–and beyond to Salem, Newport or Pendleton, OR. Check ‘em out.

Photo (above): Jet city woman (that’s me) with daughter in tow. Taken from the Pier 66 Parasail crew at Elliott Bay.  If you’ve never been parasailing, give it a try in Seattle because it’s much safer than in Mexico and it is A THIRILLING experience with epic views of Elliott Bay including Port of Seattle’s Smith Cove terminal (for those of you who have a thing for cruise ships) and Alki Point in West Seattle (another hot spot).

Parasailing is a fun thing to do with your tween, but not for the faint at heart. As my daughter exclaimed, “look mom, no hands!” I actually had to close my eyes and practice relaxation breathing (I knew Lamaze would eventually come in handy).  Pier 66 Parasail is only upon during the summer months, (206) 622-5757 to make reservations.

I guess we were just born to fly. By the time my daughter was two years old, she had logged 15,000 air miles. I know, I know, I know… infants can fly for free on most airlines, but I believe in starting them early and racking up those highly coveted Alaska Airlines frequent flyer miles.  And guess what? THIS SUMMER, we will be racking up even MORE frequent flyer miles, 10,000 each to be exact, on Condor German Airlines.  Yup we are flying non-stop from Seattle to Frankfurt International. If you want to travel to Europe this summer, one-way tickets start at $626 USD, not including the fuel surcharge, German aviation tax, commercial fees and services charge. Condor’s non-stop Seattle-Frankfurt flights will be offered twice a week starting in June. So stay tuned as my teenage daughter and I do a little mother-daughter bonding in Germany.

Until then, you’ll probably find us out at these local hot spots: Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park because it’s a great way to spend the entire day with the family. When you go, dine at the Old Spaghetti Factory it’s on Elliott right next to the OSP.  Also a good time for little kids, the Seattle Waterfront Arcade on Pier 57 and on Pier 55 Red Robin…YUM!  If your kids are a bit older and well mannered, dine at Anthony’s Home Port (right in front of Pier 66 Parasail) or Argosy Cruises on Pier 56. I highly recommend Argosy Cruises, and even if your kids aren’t well behaved you can threaten to throw them overboard if they don’t straighten up.  Problem solved. ANYWAY… all are great ways to enjoy Seattle’s waterfront on Mother’s Day or any day of the year.

Oh and by the way, if you haven’t picked up a copy of the Seattle TourSaver, you can get one at Argosy Cruises. Lots of great 2-for-1 deals on cool things to do in Seattle.

People often think Sun Valley is synonymous with skiing. However, Sun valley is a great place to visit any time of year, trust me it is. Photo (above) Sun Valley Summer, courtesy of Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to Seattle TourSaver friends at Alaska Airlines, you can fly roundtrip from Seattle to Sun Valley Idaho for just $247. Super Cool.

There are many great places to stay in Sun Valley. Tourists and “regulars” often stay at the Sun Valley Lodge. Established in 1936 with every amenity a skier could possible imagine, it offers high class accommodations with old world charm. It’s located at 1 Sun Valley Road, and even if you don’t choose to stay the night, it is definitely worth a drive. But heck, stop for a few minutes and walk through the lobby. You’ll find old, OLD, old photos of the Hemingway family and many other celebs who have frequented the Sun Valley lodge over the decades. Plus the Sunday brunch is delicious.

Are you an independent traveler? Then look for a condo or home to rent at Sun Valley Vacation Rentals. I’ve stayed at the Tyrolean Lodge and it’s central to downtown Ketchum, which isn’t very big. Stay there because it has an outdoor hot tub, high-speed Internet access and is conveniently located to shops, restaurants and local nightlife. But don’t stay there for a Bavarian experience — if that is what you want, visit Leavenworth, Washington instead.

Don’t let the sign on the door fool you. Grumpy’s is open and they mean business! When it comes to burgers, I’m kind of partial to Seattle’s Red Mill Burgers, but trust me, sink your teeth into a big ol’ juicy hamburger at Grumpy’s (located at 860 Warm Springs Road in Ketchum), you will be glad you did.

Really food in Sun Valley is fabulous. Add to your to do list: Eat breakfast at the Kneadery (located at 260 Leadville Ave N)  — Huge portions, great decor, friendly service… Need I say any more? Eat dinner at the Pioneer Saloon (located at 308 Main Street). Enjoy hearty steaks, prime rib, fresh seafood, hard liquor, wine and beer.  Make sure you order an Idaho spud with all the trimmings — the state of Idaho is known for producing potatoes so kick your South Beach diet plan to the curb and enjoy. Thank you J.R. Simplot.

So again, what do you do if you’re not a skiier or snow boarder in Sun Valley? The answer:  Lots. Check out this exciting calendar of events:

• June 1-5: Renowned New York actor Bill Raymond will be directing “A Little Night of Laughter.” Get ready to laugh as four one-act comedies take the stage.
• June 1-25: Live Jazz featuring the Sun Valley Trio at the Duchin Lounge (located off the Sun Valley Lodge lobby). Admission is FREE
• June 11: Adams Gulch Fun Run & Walk. It starts 10:00am at Ketchum Skate Park, Warm Springs Road, heads through Adams Gulch, over Heidleburg Hill and back to skate park covering a distance of approximately 4.2 miles on a road and dirt trail. Your legs might not thank you, but your eyes will. Gorgeous. Oh, I’m sorry…are you in shape? Then signup for the Sawtooth Relay… Also June 11, visit www.sawtoothrelay.com for more information.
• June 11-12: If you’re ready to learn the basics of fly fishing then signup to attend this popular two-day class lead by Silver Creek Outfitters.
• Do you like live music? Go to Whiskey Jacques in downtown Ketchum. Check their music calendar before you go and listen to some of the best live music in the Sun Valley area. Plus, Whiskey Jacques has been a favorite watering hole to locals and tourists alike. Don’t be surprised if Bruce Willis Blues Band is playing. We can’t make any promises, but he’s been known to make surprise appearances at Whiskey Jacques.
• Did we mention that Alaska Airlines is offering a Seattle to Sun Valley web special right now? I thought so.

What to pack? The Sun Valley / Ketchum, Idaho area typically has dry sunny summers. In June you can expect a high of 71 and low of 38 — on average. It’s truly a beautiful place and a great Seattle getaway.

Remember, this Alaska Airlines special is good for travel between June 3 and June 15, 2011. Special terms and conditions may apply. Visit Alaska Airlines for complete details. Amounts are quoted per person in U.S. dollars, one way, and subject to change without notice until purchased. The final price may differ from the price shown on this page due to a real-time fare change or other mandatory recalculation.

By Nadra Angerman

Seattle is Condor German Airlines newest US departure airport.  This June, nonstop flights will begin departing from Seattle to Frankfurt, Germany — a hub that can take you to some of the most beautiful destinations across Europe. It’s definitively worth a trip! Visit www.condor.com to view the 2011 summer flight schedule.

Kenmore Air’s City Explorer seaplane flightseeing excursions are offered several times daily from beautiful Lake Union — just $89 per person. Conveniently located at 950 Westlake Avenue, Kenmore Air terminal is a quick trip from many downtown hotels by cab, streetcar or bus.  Book online or call (866) 435-9524 to make your reservations!

Fares and promotional offers subject to change without notice. Visit www.kenmoreair.com for current rates.