Seattle went futuristic
By Carole Orlin SPECIAL TO THE D A I LY PRESSI f you’re looking for a break from the summer heat or a change of scenery from our rain-deprived landscapes, allow me to suggest a cool, sunny and spectacularly beautiful location that is about a two-hour plane ride from L.A. — the Pacific Northwest. I recently returned from the appropriately monikered “Emerald City” — Seattle, Wash. My trip began in downtown Seattle at the Hotel 1000. It has been open for only one year and is on the vanguard of the new luxury “smart” hotels. Until I had the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art technology of a “smart hotel,” I did not realize how cutting-edge technology impacts the quality of the guest’s stay. As things were being explained to me, I had visions of Big Brother, but actually it is just the opposite. The high-tech amenities allow for a smoother stay and more privacy (for example, there are infrared sensors that alert housekeeping staff not to disturb the guests when they are in their room). Do Not Disturb signs (that I usually forget to put out) are a thing of the past! After your first visit there, your room is set to your preferred temperature, your art preferences are displayed, your bar knows when you are low on your favorite refreshments, and more.
Forget having to hassle with those annoying key cards (that I usually put in backwards a few times before I get it right); with just a wave of the card by the key box, the door opens. Each room has an audio/visual hub for a lap-top, flash drive, digital audio player and portable DVD player. Each room is fitted with MP3 and iPod docking stations. They also have 40” HD/LCD televisions with 5.1 surround sound, two line VOIP phones with touch screens, etc.
I could go on about the hi-tech angle of this hotel simply because it is so fascinating. However, I don’t want you to think you are walking into some futuristic, Jetsons’ type hotel. It is actually quite warm and inviting, with an Asian type décor. As my husband noted, with all this amazing new technology, what becomes most important is how this technology is incorporated into providing customer service. We felt extremely comfortable and cared for at all times. There is even an entertaining aspect of this new technology within the Hotel 1000 — The Golf Club. It’s a virtual reality setting that includes 50 top international PGA courses (from Pebble Beach to St. Andrews). The experience is fun, even for a novice like me. Another nice amenity is their oversized bathtubs with a spectacular view of Elliott Bay. But, be careful! The water for the bathtub comes straight down from the ceiling. Strange at first, but fun once I got into it.
No matter how incredible the room, and how wonderful the service, we still had to eat and explore Seattle. We dined at Hotel 1000’s restaurant, BOKA. Fantastic food, wonderful choice of wines (we sampled Washington wines … when in Rome…), wonderful service and a beautiful setting down to the very last detail. When we finally ventured out, we realized we were just about two blocks from the famous and quirky Pike Place Market, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer and where you can find the original Starbucks coffee shop among dozens or maybe hundreds of other fun shops.
We spent half an hour at the fish market watching the “show” the fishmongers put on for us tourists. We loved Beechers, where you can get handmade cheese! Also, close by, are the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Aquarium, historical Pioneer Square, and the waterfront of Elliott Bay. We were also just a five-minute ride from the Space Needle and the Ballard Locks (a must see).
Yes, we did touristy things; but hey, we were tourists. One Seattle resident we met described Seattle as “a city, with the feel of a town.” It’s true; it manages to be a sophisticated, cultured city that remains fun, friendly and easy to get around.
As we continued on our journey, we traveled to Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle. We stayed at the Woodmark Hotel and Yacht Club, which is situated on Lake Washington. What a spectacular lake! We took their complimentary boat ride around Lake Washington. We boated by Bill Gates’ compound, (not too shabby, all 45,000-plus square feet of it), and got to see the floating house where “Sleepless in Seattle” was filmed. Woodmark is definitely a great place for boating and events. On the weekend of our stay, there were two weddings and a bat mitz-vah the first day and a wedding and brunch the next day.
The marina, the breathtaking view of Lake Washington, the excellent food and service are clearly the draw. However, if you are going there for a quiet time, it’s probably best to go during the week. The place was rocking from morning to night while we were there!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.