The Seattle
area is in the thrust of a major economic upswing and the downtown area is a
major beneficiary.
There are a
number of new luxury hotels being built, and recently I had the pleasure of
staying at the recently remodeled Alexis Hotel. A few minutes down the road in
Redmond is the sprawling Willows Run Golf Complex,
which features two championship 18-hole courses as well as a nine-hole
executive course. The Golf Club at Newcastle also is worth a look.
The Alexis is
located in the West Edge neighborhood of downtown Seattle just a few blocks
from the famous Pike Place Market. The Seattle Art Museum and Pioneer Square
are within a brisk walk, and the Seattle waterfront is even closer.
If you really
want to get a workout, Safeco Field, home to the Seattle Mariners baseball
team, is about a mile-and-a-half walk.
Most guests
will want to spend time at Pike Place Market. This giant nine-acre market is
the hub of activity for the waterfront area. Fresh produce, fish and flowers
can be had, as well as various arts and crafts.
The Alexis’s
décor features a mix of rich colors, textures and fabrics, as well as a
selection of antiques and fine art, all inspired by the many art galleries
nearby. The Library Bistro in the lobby area is an
unique dining area. It is reminiscent of a 1940’s supper club, surrounded by a
theater of old books. The rooms are large and feature all the comforts we have
come to expect these days in a luxury property, including plasma TVs,
high–speed Internet and the most comfortable bedding.The
Alexis also serves complimentary wine each evening. For more
information visit www.alexishotel.com.
The
waterfront district is known for its coffee houses and restaurants. Just out the door of the Alexis and on the
way to Pike Place Market is the McCormick and Schmick’s
Seafood Restaurant.
This is the place if you want great fish.There are
dozens of fresh fish to pick from and I choose the trout this time around. It
was prepared almondine style and came in from Idaho.
It was so mouth watering that I can still taste it now. The restaurant is a
classic style design with scores of old pictures. It was very busy, which is
usually a sign that the food is good -- and it was. The service was excellent
and prompt. There also is dining available at the counter for those on their
own or in a hurry. For more information visit
www.mccormickandshmicks.com.
The Golf
Golf in this
part of the world is characterized by tall thick trees, emerald green fairways,
and some of the best putting surfaces in the U.S. This is certainly true of
Willows Run and The Golf Club at Newcastle.
Willows Run
features the Eagle’s Talon, Coyote Creek and Heron Links courses. Eagle’s Talon
is the most challenging, and it can be stretched to 6,800 yards from the tips.
The Coyote
Creek layout is more forgiving at 6,300 yards. Heron Links is a nine-hole
executive course on which holes can be played from a variety of lengths to suit
the level of the players.
The Willows
Run Complex also features an elaborate putting course called Rainbow Run and a
large range with covered hitting areas. For more information
visit www.willowsrun.com.
The Golf Club
at Newcastle is a very upscale golf experience with two championship 18-hole
courses. Newcastle is located in the mountains east of town and offers
spectacular views of the city and the entire Puget Sound area. The Coal Creek
course was designed by Bob Cupp and Fred Couples.
This course has dramatic elevation changes and can be played as far back as
7,000 yards. The China Creek layout is more player-friendly and maxes out at
6,600 yards.
Both courses
are in excellent shape year ‘round. Newer courses these days feature state of
the art drainage techniques, allowing the course to drain very quickly. This
has made golf in areas such as Seattle much more pleasant.
The Golf Club
at Newcastle is set on 350 acres and also features a large practice area with
multiple chipping and putting surfaces. For more information
visit www.newcastlegolf.com.
The
Seattle-Tacoma Airport, known as Sea–Tac, is about 25
minutes from downtown with no traffic. The Alexis Hotel is adjacent to
Seattle’s waterfront district and just five minutes from the freeway. Both the
Willows Run and Newcastle Golf Clubs are about 30 minutes from downtown.