On my first Alaskan cruise, I flew into Seattle and then boarded a bus to Vancouver to meet the ship. Quite frankly, the last thing I want to do after flying cross country from Philadelphia is to move from one cramped seat on a plane to another cramped seat on a bus. It’s exhausting and not much of a money saver and my time and level of grumpy gets tested. So for the next cruise to Alaska, thankfully, the Oprah Live Your Adventure Cruise chose to leave from Seattle on the Holland America Eurodam. I love Seattle and have been visiting for nearly 20 years as I have family that relocated there so I know the city and always find someone fun to discover each time.
So while my first Alaskan cruise from Vancouver ended in heartache (the ship leaked oil and we skipped the day in Glacier Bay…. on the Glacier cruise), the next cruise to Alaska from Seattle did require a lot of research on my part and a few lessons learned during the journey. So hoping to save you any surprises, I want to share my 10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle.
As for which cruise line, which itinerary, blah, blah that’s best, I’m sticking to the important features that pretty much affect all cruise lines going to Alaska from Seattle. We can all argue which cruise lines we love, like or hate to Alaska another time.
10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle
1. Alaska ain’t cheap – the cruise price is tempting but the add-ons can quickly multiply to an expensive vacation. Plan your budget accordingly and then add 20%.
2. Seattle is normally a city that has tight hotel space with normal business and leisure travelers but during cruise season be ready to pay even more for the pre/post cruise hotel. Advice is to book lodging in advance or look at the cruise line hotel options (not what I normally recommend but in this case, the pricing might be better). I tend to enjoy the boutique/luxury hotels like the three Kimpton Hotels Seattle (except the Monaco Seattle), newly renovated Hotel 1000 Seattle (Loews) and Four Seasons Seattle.
3. Booking your flight – PLEASE LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAY “GO THE NIGHT BEFORE”. Do not fly out the same day to Seattle especially from the East Coast. If you need to know why, read my nightmare flight from PHL-SEA. We had many people on the July flight leaving for a cruise that day and with our 5+hour delay, the ship sailed without them! We were scheduled to arrive before noon which should give you enough time to make it to the port for a 4 pm sail away time. However, our 7 a.m. flight didn’t arrive until after 4 p.m. The cruise ship representatives met the passengers in baggage claim and had to deliver some bad news.
4. Check your credit card for travel insurance and/or travel interruption insurance. Buy additional insurance if the scenarios required for you, your family and/or group are not covered.
5. If you are buying your flight through the cruise company (not always recommended due to price and connections), in many cases, the cruise company is responsible to get you to the next port at their cost. With enough missing people the ship could wait for you. This is the cruise company’s call based on port, schedule and a variety of other factors. So if you absolutely must fly on the same day as sailing, you might consider booking air though the cruise line. It’s your gamble.
6. Book shore excursions in advance via the cruise ship (it hurts me to type that! I usually book private guides or tours in advance directly. I rarely book via the cruise line). Unlike other cruise ports where many of the tours can be had for a lower price and with a variety of tour operators, in Alaska, many of the popular tours are aligned with the cruise ship only. They don’t offer their tours separately online or in port. So just when you thought you would save money on that helicopter ride….or hovercraft….or zodiac….think again.
7. If you are flying to a glacier, to a lake or anywhere – expect a per person cost of $300+. Most of the adventure tours are $200+ per person. If flying, understand the risk of weather and cancellation so have a Plan B at the ready.
8. The days start early, really early. Arriving in port by 7 a.m. and expecting to start a tour before 8 a.m. means that you are up by 5 a.m. depending on how many people are sharing a cabin and bathroom. With early days means early nights if you want to sleep at all. Many tours are offered multiple times throughout the day so plan accordingly.
9. Leaving port mid-day. Most days started early and then left by 3 p.m. (except in Victoria where we arrived at night for a few hours). To be fair, most of the cruise tours would arrive back to the town with a bit of time to explore (shop, eat, etc.) but not much. So plan the day in port for what matters most to you. My Sitka Nature Cruise was all day and started early, however, you could have chosen to explore on your own the Raptor Center and/or Fortress of the Bear.
10. A balcony cabin is really worth it, this from the inside cabin on the lowest deck girl. Despite it being quite cold during the sailing (even in July), the time in Glacier Bay (all day) is wonderful. The ship goes in and then turns around (a 360 degree turn) so each side of the ship has time to enjoy both sides of the bay and glaciers. While many choose to be out on the various decks for their viewing points, sitting on your own balcony with a cup of hot chocolate (or mulled wine) is a nice perk. I normally don’t recommend balcony room upgrades since you are not in the room much, in Alaska, it’s a good choice.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK6PJ7IDI_I[/embedyt]
Bonus: Make sure to enjoy Seattle for a day (or more) as it’s a fun city with a rich history (check out the Underground Tour), the colorful Chihuly Glass & Gardens and great foods, wine and beer. For me, I like to indulge in a great burger at Palace Kitchen, visit the Starbucks Roastery (for desserts) and end the night with chocolate caramels from Fran’s Chocolates.
So that’s my list of 10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle. Do you have any tips to add to help others with their Alaskan Cruise? Tips you’ve learned the hard way (like me) or learned from others to avoid heartache and disappointment?
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Finding myself at the only (for now) Starbucks Roastery in Seattle wasn’t quite on my itinerary but my local friends said “I had to see it”. I was curious to experience the Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle plus we were all in need of a snack after our Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. It was also a good excuse to finally use all the Starbucks gift cards I had (apparently my friends/family had read my gift list for travelers but forgot I don’t drink coffee or tea) because one can only buy so many bottles of water and slices of lemon cake at the airport.
Welcome to the first Starbucks Roastery & Tasting Room
We drove from downtown since we were on our way to my friend’s house but it’s not a far walk (about nine blocks) from Pike Place Market, where the original Starbucks is located. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room is located at 1124 Pike Street and parking is tough so I’d suggest walking, public transit or uber/taxi. As the five of us entered the building, we were instantly greeted by a staff member who talked to us about the various sections of the property. He offered us a guide book and directed us to the counter for drinks & food. He was surrounded by racks of coffee, tea and expresso accessories as well as Starbucks Reserve branded merchandise (no green/white Starbucks merchandise here).
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Design Layout
The property spans two levels with the top floor showcasing the food, drink and gifts while the lower level showcased the roasting process along with a tasting bar and factory line that reminded me of a winery with bags of coffee passing by instead of wine bottles.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gRozgmPF6s[/embedyt]
The bar décor is a center point of cool design in the Starbucks Roastery. The copper and glass was unique and nowhere in the Roastery would you see the traditional Starbucks white and green. This was definitely something different – contemporary with a nod to the past with the historic building and its architecture. There are many tables of different sizes and heights (all full so we stalked and then joined a communal table) as this is meant to be a destination experience.
Coffee Beans
There is a separate counter and menu for coffee beans from around the world. You can scoop up the beans for a great souvenir to enjoy at home and remember your Seattle visit. Some of the coffees are only available at this Starbucks Reserve Roastery location.
The Experience bar is on the lower level with siphon brewed coffees and drinks you can’t order at the main counter upstairs. Think tasting flights of coffee and drink guinea pig as you become part of their test kitchen for new drinks that may (or may not) be rolled out nationwide. Here’s a list of 6 “only at Starbucks Roastery” drinks you can only get at the Seattle Starbucks Roastery (for now). After your tasting experience, you might want a new expresso machine or drip coffee accessories to replicate at home.
Starbucks Roastery Food & Drink Bar
The pastries (hello lovelies) were showcased behind the glass along with the various sandwiches and food options. The girls ordered grilled cheese sandwiches, cold coffee drinks and a pastry while I went with a standard order of orange juice and a chocolate croissant. When our name was called a staff member met us and carried the trays with food and drink to our table (nice touch) that we were sharing with others because it’s a popular place and seats are scarce.
The Starbucks Roastery Show
It’s hard to miss the roasting machines and production line as it seems they designed the consumer spaces around the experience of watching the beans fly out and spin every few minutes. With videos on record we were all in awe of the process. A bit silly but still fun even for big kids like me who don’t drink coffee.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAOPecWPQKw[/embedyt]
Future Locations of Starbucks Reserve Roastery
New York is scheduled for 2018. Shanghai and Tokyo are the first Asian cities to see a Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is set for a four story Starbucks Roastery experience in 2019. Can’t wait for those locations to open? You can go online to order a Starbucks Roastery experience at home. They offer coffee subscriptions from $19-$44 per month (1-3 bags).
Final Thoughts – Starbucks Roastery in Seattle
I may not drink coffee but like the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle is part attraction, part store and part food & beverage location. It can serve everyone. For now, it is novel to be the first of its kind and experience it before the rest of the world does.
After my long travel day to Seattle, I just needed to go to my happy place – red meat, red wine and chocolate cake! I asked the concierge at the Four Seasons Seattle for the best burger in Seattle, and she recommended Palace Kitchen. She did caution that they don’t take reservations (good sign of a popular spot) so be prepared to wait or maybe hope to snag a seat at the bar. It was a summer Friday at 5:30 pm so I had a good chance she said as the restaurant opens at 4:30 p.m. (they stay open until 1 a.m. if you have a late night hankering for the best burger in Seattle). With that, I started my trek from the Four Season Seattle hotel, walking past Pike Place Market looking right for a flat cross street to walk up (Seattle has crazy hills), I chose Pine Street up to 5th Avenue before I turned left. Walking toward the Space Needle with the monorail above I saw the restaurant at the end of the street next to a parking garage.
The windows of the restaurant were open (they do not have outdoor seating). The three guys in front of me left disappointed that there were no tables for them so I was a bit worried. Lucky for me, there was one seat left at the bar for me (the universe knew that I needed to eat here). It seemed that the locals know to show up early to get a table at this no reservations, Tom Douglas institution, as the place was full.
Looking around the restaurant, the open kitchen, baskets of bread and tables full of people enjoying food was very encouraging. The bartender was doing his best impersonation of a whirling dervish to mix the drinks for the servers and bar patrons. He handed me a menu in the middle of his spinning.
Once the orders calmed down, he came over to chat and take my order saying “great choice” with my burger ($22 all in with extra toppings and fries) and Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($14). I was torn with the plethora of tempting options on the menu – the rotisserie chicken with blueberry and ginger jam or the double r ranch NY striploin with garlic and herb butter.
Seated with me at the bar – three businessmen enjoying happy hour and two couples on my side and a full bar across from me with couples. Thankfully the three guys didn’t have a friend so the seat was empty for me. Good thing because I was tired and hungry and just wanted to people watch.
The bartender set up my spot and when I saw the steak knife I knew that it was a great sign of the wonderful burger to come. When my meal was delivered, I used that knife to cut into the local bun made by Dahlia Bakery and the farm to table beef by Gebbers Farms with a Walla Walla (love that town name) onion. I had added cheddar and Applewood smoked bacon to the burger and chose the fries over a salad (ugh, salad too healthy). One bite into the burger and I smiled knowing this was a really good burger, possibly the best burger in Seattle I’ve had over the years. I was slowly slipping into my happy place bite by bite and forgetting about the awful hostage situation of delays on the plane ride I had.
By this time the happy hour crowd had departed and I had free seats next to me so both bartenders stopped by to chat with me (I was sitting in front of the beer taps so its hard not to stare at each other and not talk) and see how I was enjoying the burger. I shared the story of my very long travel day and they were both surprised. One bartender asked if I was going on a cruise (most visitors are pre/post cruise nowadays) to Alaska and I said I was. He told me of his family’s cruise and then refilled my wine glass. It was really easy to dine solo here and not feel out-of-place.
As for the burger? I ate the WHOLE DAMN THING – I had no shame in doing that. Saying no to dessert was really hard for me with all the great choices offered especially the blueberry cobbler. I had zero room left at the time (my stomach would find room back at the hotel for wine and chocolate to fully immerse me in my happy place and ready for vacation) despite my long travel day of one meal. The bartender brought my bill and I noticed that Palace Kitchen automatically adds a 20% gratuity on the bill – it’s noted on their menu and many Seattle restaurants are doing this (as a former server I wish I could have done that). I probably would have tipped more because the service was good and I know what it’s like to work a summer weekend (less money) but there is no option for that on the bill (so bring cash if you want to tip extra).
My Seattle friend asked me where I ate and when I said Palace Kitchen she replied “it’s one of our favorites” noting that the concierge had done well with the recommendation. On my next visit to Seattle, I’m definitely going back to The Palace Kitchen for another meal (hopefully without the airplane drama) and will save room for dessert!
Have you dined at Palace Kitchen in Seattle? Is it the best burger in Seattle?
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It’s rare to experience “new hotel smell” (I had it in London once) but I was lucky on my trip to Seattle. When I booked the hotel in February as a post cruise stay, I only knew that it was a new Loews Hotel acquisition in 2016. Hotel 1000 has won many accolades prior to the acquisition so I was surprised to learn a few weeks before my visit that the hotel was under a full renovation “Emerald Elegance Unscripted” by Loews. Renovations began in May during cruise season and are scheduled to be completed in Fall as it transitions to the Loews Hotel 1000. To me, the hotel is best known for business travel which is why I wanted to stay there after years of recommending it to my business travelers when I was a Global Travel Manager.
I called to inquire about the renovations, surprised that they were doing them in summer which is cruise high season. Learning that a few guest rooms were finished, I requested a new room for my stay. While they could not guarantee it, they said they would try to accommodate me when I arrived. Normally, I’m not a fan of staying in hotels during renovation and had thought of cancelling, however, this was a one night weekend stay so I didn’t mind (construction was weekday). I would still be able to review the room, room service and staff which to me was key more so than if the lobby is pretty.
Location – Loews Hotel 1000
Hotel 1000 (soon to become the Loews Hotel 1000) is located on First Avenue just a quick ten minute walk to Pike Place Market, passing the Seattle Art Museum (known as SAM), a Starbucks, Fran’s Chocolates at the Four Seasons. There are 120 luxury guest rooms along with meeting space, a restaurant space and 4th floor rooftop space with the top floors of the building housing luxury condos accessed in the main lobby by a separate entrance.
You can easily walk to the waterfront from the hotel if you want to visit the Aquarium and Ferris wheel. In the other direction, Pioneer Square is only a few minutes away. In Pioneer Square you should definitely do the Underground Tour to understand more about Seattle and why the hills seem steeper than San Francisco. The hotel is also wonderfully situated in downtown for business travelers who can walk up to many of the offices in the area. When the restaurant and meeting space is complete, event planners will have something new for their clients, including a rooftop space on the 4th floor.
Arrival
I arrived at 9:15 am direct from the cruise ship Pier 91. There was a bellman to take my luggage and walk me inside. The first floor was covered up as the restaurant was under renovation so the check in was on the 2nd floor temporarily. The walls had design boards with what was to come in the guest rooms, restaurant and meeting rooms. I love design boards to see the fabrics and feel the materials. There was also water table set up on the lobby floor. We arrived at the makeshift lobby desk on the 2nd floor overlooking the front door below. I was greeted by two staff members and offered a drink while waiting.
As check in is at 4 pm, I was able to pre-check in with credit card and leave my luggage for storage. At the time, they said they were upgrading me to a standard room with water view (normally a bonus but after a week at sea, I was done with the water view) and I inquired about a renovated room. They didn’t see the notes from my prior call but said that they would do their best to get me sorted. I provided my cell phone number and they texted me at 1:30 pm to say my room was ready (nice service touch). I replied I was at the Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the museum and would be back after 4 pm to which they replied “have fun”.
Loews Hotel 1000 New Guest Room – First Look
After the art exhibit, my friend and her kids walked me to the hotel to check in. I was given the room key and told that they did have a renovated room on the 4th floor for me. We rode the elevator up to the 4th floor and exited to a black curtain and confused where to go. We figured out to walk through the exit doors to see six rooms at the end of the hallway. Nicely decorated with splashes of pink and white flower motif with black doors we could still smell that “new hotel” smell (i.e. – carpenter work, painting, etc.) still lingering. It wasn’t overwhelming but present only adding to the excitement of what was behind the door.
As I opened the door into the room, we all were surprised thinking I was upgraded to a suite as the L shaped room was massive and unexpected. The room was a Deluxe King Room not a suite but it sure felt like a luxury suite to me. Walking a short hallway I was greeted by art and then turned slightly left to the room. The large bathroom was on my right with the bedroom and living area ahead. Before I could take it all in, the kids ran in.
The kids did what kids do – they went around to explore while I was taking in the scene. One girl was playing in the bathroom with the automatic shade between the bedroom and bathroom clear glass wall. Another was stretching out on the couch while her sister was looking at the view outside before opening all the doors and drawers. Gotta love kids.
As the room was so new with only a few guests prior to me, it felt extra special with that new hotel smell. The Deluxe King was decorated like a luxury studio apartment sans the kitchen. It was a simple yet elegant and modern design I wanted to bring home with me and replicate. I liked the art touches throughout since I’ve been on a “hotels need to add art or have better art” kick to enhance the experience and bring the design together.
New Deluxe King Room at Loews Hotel 1000
The king bed was plush and inviting with the soft color palette with gorgeous accents. The work desk and chair along with the closet and minibar area (minibar refrigerator yet to come) were a good size. The L shaped couch was actually a pull out bed + couch. The table was just large enough to enjoy a meal or drinks with friends. The room has a modern luxury design and clever use of space while providing ample room to work, relax and sleep.
Here’s my video (after the kids left when I returned after turn down service)
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6SEKv6Oivw[/embedyt]
As the room faced the street on a lower floor, there was normal city noise until about 11 pm after which the streets became a ghost town. I had a good sleep and it was really hard to move with the 4:30 a.m. wake up call (backup to my phone). The hotel does go low tech with the alarm clock in the room.
The closet had slippers (always a welcome treat), an iron and an ironing board (both dinosaurs in my opinion nowadays but there’s still some who use them). Two Loews robes – plush inside and silky outside – were in the closet as well.
Deluxe King Bathroom
Having just endured a cruise cabin and small bathroom, this open bathroom with clear window had a walk in shower and toilet room in addition to the centerpiece tub. It was glorious! The clear glass wall between bathroom and bedroom is a feature I’ve seen at many luxury hotels in the past two years. It definitely opens up the space and the layout appears to be original to Hotel 1000, the only difference is the decor which is all new.
A plethora of towels were stacked on the shelves and hung on the racks. As a solo traveler, I do love when hotels provide more towels. Toiletries, A2B Technology brand by Julien Farel (I chipmunked them all!) were supplied as well as an easy to find hairdryer (on the bottom shelf) and make up mirror.
As noted above the girls were playing with the bathroom technology to raise and lower the bathroom curtain. As it was just me in the room, I kept the curtain open to view the bathroom from the bedroom.
Turn down Service at Loews Hotel 1000
Hotel turn down service put out a robe in the bathroom and removed some of the bed pillows while also providing a small bottle of water bedside. The room lights were dimmed, the curtains closed and the bathroom night-light was turned on. It was a wonderful welcome after a busy day to just fall into a relaxing state. The only thing missing was sleepy time music.
Room Service
Given that the restaurant is under renovation, the room service menu is limited but still offers a good selection at reasonable prices. During the renovations, the hotel is waiving the room service delivery charge and taking 10% off the room service bill. At check in, I asked about breakfast option at 5 a.m. as I needed to leave early at 5:30 am, they said they would check with the chef to see if he could make my ala carte request (over easy eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes) as room service doesn’t normally start breakfast until 6 a.m.
My breakfast arrived on time at 5 a.m. and was so tasty. The potatoes were white and purple with sourdough bread and crispy bacon. I couldn’t eat it all as my stomach was still asleep, I really tried though because leaving good bacon behind is a travesty.
Seattle Taxi to the Airport
At check in, I mentioned I needed a taxi at 5:30 a.m. and given my issues with Seattle taxis in the past, asked them to order one. They couldn’t do that until the morning. As I exited the hotel, the bellman said he was calling for more than ½ hour to find a taxi and like that it just showed up on time. While I could have walked to the light rail station for a cheaper ride to the airport, I was barely awake at 5:30 a.m. so felt better with a taxi as it was quicker with no traffic.
Final Thoughts – Loews Hotel 1000 Seattle
The new rooms are lovely, a modern luxury design that is warm and relaxing. This was my first stay at a Loews Hotel and I was impressed that the service was spot on despite the renovations. Loews currently owns 28 properties in North America. Each Loews property is unique and tends to reflect the building history and the location (in Philly its Art Deco design) so I look forward to the finished product, the Loews Hotel 1000 Seattle when renovations are complete. The staff was excellent and I would definitely stay here again on my next visit to Seattle. My friend and the three kids gave a thumbs up too!
Hotel Tip: If you hotel is scheduled for renovations, call the hotel to find out what day/times the work occurs. The hotel should note the renovations online to give you a heads up but if like me you are surprised, call before you arrive. The last thing you want on vacation is to hear construction noise above or below you during your stay. I had booked a fully refundable rate so could have changed last-minute if I wanted to (i.e. Hotel Tonight deal) but am glad I didn’t as the hotel delivered a wonderful experience.
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When my friend posted photos on Facebook of the Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the Hirshhorn in Washington, D.C. I was intrigued by the art and the infinite images. I had never heard of the artist, Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist whose career spans over 65 years. She is still, at 89, a working artist in Tokyo. I tried to get tickets in D.C. but they were all sold out. So imagine my surprise when I realized that the exhibit was across the street from the Four Seasons Seattle at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). I only noticed and connected the dots (like in the Obliteration Room below – haha) when I saw a long line waiting on Saturday morning at 8:30 am and realized it was the same show.
When the lines were gone, I decided to try my luck at noon and walked up to the ticket desk. They had tickets available after 3 pm but I was scheduled to check in by 2 p.m. for the Alaskan cruise so I missed my opportunity. However, I now had a plan for the following Saturday once I disembarked the ship since check-in at Hotel 1000 wasn’t until 4 p.m. What better way to spend the day in Seattle than at the Infinity Mirrors exhibit with my friend and her girls (they were thrilled that I’d wait in line for them).
Same Day Ticket Line for Infinity Mirrors Exhibit
I arrived to the end of the line at 9:30 am at the end of the block below the famous Hammering Man and across from Starbucks. Museum staff were walking the line to answer questions and prepare us for the process once the doors opened. At 10 a.m. the doors opened and people moved inside the building into two lines – members and walk up tickets. Of course the member’s line was shorter and staff were offering up memberships while we stood in line if we wanted to join and buy tickets (skip the line and the long wait for a fee). I was tempted to skip to the front of the line for $79 (individual membership) but rational thought overtook me as to the absurdity of this unnecessary fee. I visit Seattle every other year so the membership was of no use to me and as a skip the line fee, it was too much to pay.
We moved inside the air-conditioned building and wrapped through the halls so that I arrived a block away this time inside rather than outside the building. Everyone was quiet in the line immersed in their phones for the most part. At 11 am, I reached the desk to purchase tickets – 2 adults ($34.95 each), 2 teens ($24.95 each) and 1 child (free for 12 and under). The limit is four tickets so luckily the fifth ticket was free and didn’t count again my order. I booked for 2 pm to allow my friends time to travel to the city for brunch.
Infinity Mirrors Exhibit Timed Entry
The tickets are timed in 15 minute increments and you are told to arrive 10 minutes early. What we didn’t know but quickly learned is that there are five mirrored rooms (D.C. showed six rooms, Seattle was missing “The Souls of a Million Light Years Away”) for which there were more lines to wait in. Visitors then get 20 seconds in the room, limited to 3 people at a time (singles are called out to put with couples with one exhibit having a shorter single line). Let me repeat, you wait in a line for a 15-20 minutes, to get 20 SECONDS (one exhibit is 30 seconds) inside without anything other than your camera (one room, the pumpkin room, doesn’t allow cameras – just you!). You leave your purse and stuff in the box by the entrance with the staff.
A staff member opens the door of the exhibit for you and times you while the second staff member gives instructions to those in line to prepare them. It was well orchestrated with everyone being patient in line and accepting (like me begrudgingly) the rules that the artist has put in place. We started on the left and worked clockwise (you can choose your own route, line, etc.) and chose not to repeat an experience but you can get back in line if you want. There is no time limit to the exhibit.
When you enter the first exhibit you know time is limited and you are trying to get a sense of the art, the surroundings and watching your feet to not go past the allowed area. Twenty seconds go by very quickly and by the time you experience the art and think I should take a photo or video, the door opens and you are called to exit outside as time is up. Now that you get the idea, you quickly learn to manage your time better with the experience and photos/video.
Infinity Mirrors exhibit rooms
The first exhibit is Phalli’s Field (we had kids with us – ages 10, 14, 16) so that was interesting. Thankfully the 10-year-old saw only the polka dot white tubers in the field. There are creations of phallic tubes in a few free sculptures outside of the rooms. The room is recreated from her original 1965 works.
The next exhibit was a box to look into “Infinity Mirrored Room – Love Forever” (a peep show of sorts as you see other visitors peeking through) as the lights change colors inside in different patterns. For children there is a step up box. The time to look through the window wasn’t as strict as the mirrored rooms.
The room with pink balls, “Dots Obsession Love Transformed Into Dots” that we are told we are not to kick or punch but frankly the beach balls did scream to be punched and kicked for fun. Tell me not to do something that I hadn’t thought to do, the only thing I want to do is that now. Outside the room we see pink, however, inside the room the view is purple.
Another peek inside installation associated with the “Dots Obsession – Love Transformed Into Dots” was fun vision with angles and patterns for one person at a time to look.
The pumpkin room, more specifically the newest room entitled “All the External Love I Have for the Pumpkins” 2016, did not allow any camera and required a staff member to accompany you in the room to confirm you are not taking photos or videos. This sucked. When I asked why, she replied “people have dropped their phones into the art” which damaged the art (thanks East Coast people who attended in D.C.). While the other exhibits are stuffed or plastic balls, this seemed a more fragile material. The yellow dotted pumpkins were really cool and Kusama has said that pumpkins “are a source of radiant energy” and “…pumpkins talk to me”. Because you couldn’t bring anything inside, we could actually experience the art without trying to take photos/videos and talking. Imagine my surprise two weeks later in D.C. at the Hirshhorn when I saw the giant Kusama pumpkin outside!
The last walk in exhibit was the yellow lights in “The Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity”. We were told that we would get ten seconds more, a total of 30 seconds in the room (yippee) but that the lights may go out (boo!). During our visit the lights did go off and that affected the experience, we wanted more time in there to appreciate the experience but didn’t want to wait in line again.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7XhMjC6m8Q[/embedyt]
The Obliteration Room at the Infinity Mirrors exhibit
No two are the same. As you enter the Obliteration room, you are handed sticker dots upon entry. Interactive art at its finest. Our party of five got two sheets of colored dots to create art. The room initially started off all white and visitors have placed the dots all around to create the current view. Once the exhibit ends, the room will be destroyed. There is a camera in the room to track the art being made by guests. Staff believes there will be a time lapsed video created to show the art in progress. We wondered how dots made their way to very high heights. It was interesting to decide where to place your colored dot – on the sofa, bicycle, table, wall or light, etc. – next to the same colored dot or with a different color. Our choices were interesting.
Kusama Paintings and Sculptures
Throughout the exhibit the mirror rooms are surrounded by photos, paintings and sculptures created by the artist, Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist whose career spans over 65 years. She is still, at 89, a working artist in Tokyo. You can see her letters, watch an interview and experience the paintings and various sculptures in the exhibit.
Infinity Mirrors Exhibit – Final Thoughts
We spent about 2.5 hours at the exhibit on a Saturday afternoon. The infinity mirrors exhibit was definitely an experience that you should attend – lover of art and skeptic. While I’m sure there’s a deep message that the artist wants to convey (infinite expansion), for me, it was just fun and different and frankly art needs to be fun nowadays to escape the daily dramas and 24/7 news cycle. I’m happy I connected the dots in Seattle and could share this Infinity Mirrors exhibit with my friend and her kids.
Have you experienced the Infinity Mirrors exhibit or other Kusama art? Thoughts?
To experience the Infinity Mirrors exhibit, get thee to Seattle quickly as the exhibit ends on September 10th. The art tour continues until 2019 with stops in major cities – Los Angeles, Toronto, Cleveland and Atlanta. Sounds like a fun reason to visit these cities and explore for a weekend of food and art.
]]>I’m exhausted! Now that I have a job and vacation time again, I’ve been putting it to good use this year. That said, I’m tired and woefully behind on posts as I’ve been chosing the couch over my laptop after work to decompress from my horrible commute. But there so much to share with you and I hope to start catching up soon as I’m Philly bound for a while. I still have two weeks of vacation time to plan and use by year end so trying to spin the globe and see where it takes me (thinking a hibernation sounds perfect). For now, here’s what I’ve been up to so far this year and the stories you’ll see in upcoming posts.
Disney Magic Cruise to the Southern Caribbean
In April, my family celebrated Mom’s actual 75th birthday on the Disney Magic cruise ship to the Southern Caribbean leaving from Puerto Rico. We would visit Antiqua, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Martinique. Yes, despite treating Mom to a whirlwind, luxury trip of 10 days in Paris & London last September as advance birthday celebration, I was summoned to attend the family cruise on Disney Cruise lines. Disney Cruise lines are expensive when compared with other cruise lines so I phoned a friend to join me since I was already paying the 200% single supplement for the inside room. My country mouse who joined my EPIC escape to Europe two years ago, flew on three planes and slept at the airport to join me and the family on the cruise. Country Mouse had only sailed on Celebrity Cruise lines with her mom prior to joining me on the NCL Epic and now on the Disney Magic. Her refrain would continue to be “this ain’t Celebrity”. My family has only sailed on Disney, while I’ve sampled the other cruise lines to compare. I had a different perspective to it all – here’s my sneek peek at the Disney Magic oceanview room and the Disney Cruise Lines fireworks at sea.
W Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
Prior to joining my family on the cruise, I took two days to redeem my Starwood SPG points and experience the W Vieques Island. That involved a twenty minute flight from the San Juan airport to/from on Cape Air (see the video of my flight landing at SJU Airport). I spent time on the beach reading, fell asleep to the sounds of the waves outside and had a fantastic spa treatment. It was a relaxing stay until the bug bites, which are another story. This is what relaxation on the beach looks and sounds like:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKdLdybNp_g[/embedyt]
Once home in April, I was dealing with my reaction to the bug bites and the sun before packing again for my quick trip to Scotland and London in May.
Weekend in Scotland & London
The long weekend over the Memorial Day holiday was perfect getaway to Scotland & London …in business class….using points….visiting friends….eating cookies…traveling on the Virgin East Coast train from Edinburgh to London and staying at The Dorset Square Hotel in Marylebone. I would, however, be banned from picking restaurants in the future in London as my friend ended up at McDonald’s after each meal on his way home (note: my meals were fine and we won’t talk about his pension for McD’s).
Here’s a bit of Scottish bagpipe music to get you in the mood:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAFggs2B8W0[/embedyt]
Exhausted at home, I was catching up on life, laundry, bills and blog posts. Work was busy, life was busy and my next trip was quickly approaching.
Alaska Cruise with Holland America, Oprah & O Magazine
I was set to sail from Seattle to Alaska on Holland America Eurodam with Oprah and the O Magazine team as part of the launch of the “Live Your Adventure” cruise. Twenty years ago, my first cruise to Alaska was marred when the ship broke down and was leaking oil into the water. We were forced to skip Glacier Bay on the Glacier cruise so this was me hitting “do-over” on that cruise. The new partnership with O Magazine is quite interesting and I’ll be posting more about that soon.
Sneak Peek at my Verandah Cabin on the Eurodam
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47mNQdvjIdQ[/embedyt]
Yes, I met Oprah and have a photo with her during the private charity dinner benefitting the National Parks. Who knew Oprah loved tequila as much as she does (only 1 point on Weight Watchers), well, I quickly learned as she shared the famous George Clooney tequila with us (yowza!). The excitement of Oprah’s two days on the ship, the special programming with the O Magazine team and their authors and writers plus a private concert by India.Arie and comedian Rita Rudner and the splendor that is Alaska made for an interesting journey. The flight to Seattle was torturous but I was rewarded with champagne at check in at the Four Seasons Seattle and a indulgent meal at Palace Kitchen.
Pre/Post Cruise Day in Seattle
My return to Seattle where I have a childhood friend was bittersweet as the kids continue to grow and make me feel old. I’ve been traveling to Seattle every couple of years to visit the past twenty years and have seen so many great attractions (Chihuly Glass, Pike Place Market, Wine, Waterfalls and Chocolate, the San Juan Islands) and this time I would have just one day with them – one jam packed day of brunch at The Four Seasons, Infinity Mirrors exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum, a visit to the new Starbucks Roastery and then dinner before falling into my brand new (can still smell the paint almost) renovated king room at Hotel 1000.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAOPecWPQKw[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6SEKv6Oivw[/embedyt]
Once home, I would keep busy and meet new friends for live music at the Foundry music venue inside Philadelphia’s new music hall – The Fillmore.
Weekend in Washington, D.C.
I would jump on Amtrak to Washington D.C. for an arts/food/monuments tour of the city with other luxury travel bloggers in the #BloggersTakeTheCity event in August. With a silent disco, art installations, lots of food and even more art, I got to see a side of D.C. I didn’t realized I missed on prior trips. I’m still processing all the food and fun plus new friends from that getaway. Here’s a sneak peek at the Fairmont D.C. Gold Lounge:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5KdPg7vaFA[/embedyt]
After saying goodbye to the group, I met up with a twitter friend IRL to tour the sweet treats and tapas side of the city. My final day in the city involved a whirlwind visit of The Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court before ending at The Four Seasons Georgetown for one of DC’s best burgers (spoiler alert – the burger won!) and takeaway cookies.
Home in Philly
So I’m home now for a bit to regroup, reacquaint myself with the couch to learn to Netflix and chill and detox the gluten and dairy that did somehow slip past my lips (damn bread basket and cookies!). Where to go next is the question. But for now, I have a plethora of stories, photos and secrets to share with you in the upcoming months from the trips above and still a few left from my travels with Mom. Hopefully they will inspire you to travel to one or more of the destinations (with or without your mom and/or family) and experience something new, exciting and tasty along the way.
If you can’t wait for the posts and have questions about any of the above destinations, vendors and partners, just contact me or comment below.
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I’ve been visiting Seattle for over twenty years now ever since my childhood friend married and relocated to the Emerald city. On early visits, I stayed with my friend but as her family grew, I quickly lost the guest room and then the basement and finally the air mattress. I started to stay in a variety of downtown Seattle hotels, some with fantastic memories and one that was a comedy of errors. So since I hadn’t quite found my “Seattle preferred hotel”, it was time to try a new hotel. Like my friend’s growing family, my hotel tastes had evolved over the years and as you know leans luxury. Leaning luxury in Seattle meant that it was time to stay at the Four Seasons Seattle.
For years, I flirted with the Four Seasons Seattle, checking price/availabilty, having drinks in the lobby and falling in love with Fran’s Chocolates (a Seattle classic) in the lobby so now it was my turn to check in.
Four Seasons Seattle Location
It’s all about location at the Four Seasons Seattle. It can’t get any more central in the city. Located on 1st Avenue and Union Street across from the Seattle Art Museum and one block from the famous Pike Place Market and the infamous Seattle Gum Wall. You can easily walk to most of the Seattle Attractions (find the flat streets to avoid the hills if you can), such as the Space Needle, Olympic Sculpture Park and Chihuly Glass Museum in twenty minutes or less (yes, you can also take a cab or Uber from the hotel if the hills are too daunting). In case you want to go down to the waterfront to the Aquarium and the Giant Ferris wheel, you can easily walk down the stairs outside of the hotel.
For conveninece – Target is a block away if, like me, you forgot a bunch of stuff for the cruise or didn’t want to pack the bulky toiletries. Just remember to bring your own bags because Seattle has banned plastic bags and Target charges .05 per paper bag (but might count as a souvenir). The original Starbucks is across from Pikes Place Market, Fonte Coffee Cafe is next to the hotel and the Light Rail station to the airport is a block away.
Four Seasons Seattle Arrival
As my flight was delayed (read the ordeal), I arrived at rush hour on a Friday and was not in the mood for the $40 taxi ride in traffic to the city. So I tried the Light Rail for the first time to the University Avenue stop for only $3 (approximately 40 minutes journey). As I exited the station in downtown, I walked one block from the station to the Four Seasons Seattle and was greeted by the bell staff as they opened both doors to the hotel. If arriving by Amtrak Cascades train, you can take a taxi to the hotel or walk from the Amtrak station to the light rail and go two stops.
The lobby was modern and had a bit of an office building feel with the marble floor, high ceilings, separate residence entrance and meeting room stairs. The bar/restaurant is on the right, a seating area in front of the fireplace as well as a seating area on the left.
At the front desk, I greeted and asked if I wanted a glass of champagne – I replied “Hell Yes!, oops sorry for cursing its been a long travel day” (I would later find out they offered this to celebrate France’s Bastille Day as well as the nightly macarons). My room was ready and check in was quick. As I had my own bag, I didn’t need staff assistance. I walked to the elevator bank (two cars) and went to the seventh floor (the hotel shares space with condo residences above which has a separate elevator bank off of the main lobby).
Four Seasons Seattle Guestroom
As I exited the elevator on the 7th floor, the initial view was lovely with the fresh flowers and warm muted design colors (green, cream, brown). As I turned the corner, I noticed an aromatherapy smell emitting from the machine on the floor (the smell was licorice?) and didn’t think much of it other than “that’s weird to put the machine out where it can be seen”. The hallway was devoid of any color or design elements – the hallways are screaming for splashes for color.
As I opened the door to my room I was greeted with a large room and blond woods with built ins. I had a side table by the door across from the bathroom. The storage, entertainment center and desk were all wood (I am not a fan) which was unexpected for a Four Seasons, in my opinion.
The bed was quite inviting with the plushness (note: the Four Seasons was the original hotel bed program before the Westin Heavenly bed and Sofitel So Bed). The room design was a bit odd – I didn’t like the art print on the wall as I would have liked to see local Northwest artists or Seattle colors from Chihuly, the lamps each had a different color and shapes and they had a Boeing plane for sale on the bedside table – just odd and unexpected. The plane would have been better suited to the wet bar space above the minibar with the guide books.
The room had additional furniture for a seating area and large ceiling to floor windows that overlooked the pool area below and a sliver of a water view.
The minibar had a good selection of drinks and snacks along with glasses. One funny provided amenity was the iron and ironing board – I don’t know many who use these items normally and at the luxury Four Seasons Seattle, I would initially think to send out my clothes to be pressed.
Note: I didn’t love the room design but met a housekeeping supervisor who told me that the hotel is set to do a redesign in the next few years and the machine I noticed with the aroma smells was a temporary solution to clear smells in a guestroom that had smoked (it is a non-smoking hotel) and was not normally in the hallway.
Four Seasons Seattle Bathroom
The bathroom was massive. The toiletries were L’Occitane which I love. The shower and toilet rooms were separate and the marble tub was so deep I used the side handles to get in/out for photos. The hairdryer was easy to find and they also provided a scale which I didn’t even bother to use as I was leaving on a cruise the next day. Who wants to know a pre-cruise weight when post cruise will definitely be higher?
Goldfinch Tavern at the Four Seasons Seattle
The Goldfinch Tavern is the on site restaurant and lobby bar of the hotel. It was quite busy during my stay and created a fun vibe in the lobby. During my visit, I enjoyed a chocolate dessert and glass of wine after my dinner at the Concierge suggested local Palace Kitchen (a winner!)
On my return visit to the Goldfinch Tavern after the cruise, my friends met me for brunch and it was pancakes and waffles ala carte. I’m not ashamed to admit that I ate the whole plate of pancakes which kept me full the rest of our jam packed day. Fantastic service and fabulous pancakes which set the bar quite high for other pancakes now.
Note: The hotel adds an automatic 20% tip on the bill which other establishments in Seattle are choosing to do as well.
Spa/Gym/Outdoor Pool
The spa, gym and outdoor infinity pool and patio are all located on the third floor. You need your key card to access both the gym and outdoor patio/pool. The spa has its own entrance as it is open to guests and non-guests (free parking to spa guests). The pool area was surprisingly crowded when I looked down from my room at check-in. In the early morning on a Saturday, there were only a few people in the hot tub and the pool. The sunny weather in the 80’s was quite conducive to swimming and sunning.
Fran’s Chocolates at the Four Seasons Seattle
The lobby store is Fran’s Chocolates, a local Seattle chocolate institution, known for their sea salted caramels. Their truffles are amazing as well. I always stop at Fran’s on my visits to Seattle to indulge my inner chocoholic.
Four Seasons Seattle – Overall
I was surprised to see that the majority of guests were younger and a few families with children. With the number of events held at the hotel and summer cruise season, leisure travelers seemed to outnumbered business travelers at this property. The hotel offers many promotional rates on their website so you may find that you can afford to stay at the Four Seasons Seattle during down times. For years, I’ve had the image that the Four Seasons was full of business travelers and older luxury travelers. It was good to see a good mix of ages and guests at the Four Seasons Seattle as it created a lively atmosphere. The staff were lovely throughout from check in to check out and again when I left my camera charger and had to retrieve it a week later. I would happily stay at the Four Seasons Seattle again as I always sleep well on Four Seasons beds and despite my opinion of the room design, quality of sleep is more important to me. The location is fantastic and it’s an overall luxury experience in the heart of downtown Seattle.
On past visits to Seattle, I wasn’t able to visit the Olympic Sculpture Park, so with ample time to explore the city it was a quick ten minute walk from the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition and Space Needle. The clouds of the morning were starting to dissipate and the bright sun was trying its best to come out as i walked downhill to the park entrance.
Opened in 2007, this area was converted from an industrial building/lands to an open air park and performance venue. It is a part of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Upon entry at the top, you walk on a stone path that leads to the park building in front of the performance space. The open air, multi level tiered grass areas invites you to sit out with a picnic to relax. I can imagine sitting here on a cool night with a jazz or classical performance with a glass of wine and the company of good friends.
Walking through the performance venue, there are small sculptures surrounded by wonderfully landscaped grounds.
With a Z shaped path, you make your way through the park overlooking Puget Sound and the waterfront watching the boats and ferries out in the distance. I’m not sure if the day could have been any better for a visit – the warm sun and a slight breeze at mid-day.
Seeing a rooftop in the distance and kids of all ages walking atop was curious. This house and rooftop replica delighted kids of all ages, i doubt they realized it was “art”. You could climb inside or just sit on top and stare out at the water.
Half tempted to take a seat and just watch the water, I continued onward as my day of art was so fulfilling. My creative mind was on overload (but in a good way). Seeing art outside in this fabulous backdrop of the water with well thought out landscaped grounds was a great way to capture the Seattle spirit – outdoor adventurous nature for all to enjoy.
Looking at the various sculptures, you would be remiss not to take in the flowers as they are just as much art in the park as the sculptures.
At the bottom of the z-path, you are met with more sculptures as you look out to the water as well as more people using the park for biking, running, yoga and contemplation. Everything a park should be used for – to be enjoyed.
On my way to the waterfront to exit the park, I had a few more sculpture to view
At the waterfront entrance/exit to the park, the benches are quite unique you can look out to the water, at the water fountain or the train as it passes by.
The park is free to explore with a variety of activities on offer. Do take time to explore or just find a seat to relax and look out to the water, it is a lovely way to experience the City of Seattle – the art, nature and water. For more information visit the Seattle Art Museum.
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Colorful glass has always fascinated me – drawn in by the shapes, the bright colors and the way that the light changes the piece. I have yet to take a glassblowing class maybe in fear of being clumsy around hot glass, pokers, etc. (I wonder what the insurance liability waiver looks like for that class?) After my visit to the Chihuly Gardens and Glass, I may just conquer the fear and sign up for a class nearby. If anything, it might produce a very abstract piece of glass.
I wasn’t quite keen to visit a glass gallery and gardens if I’m honest. Despite the concierge recommendation and being ranked #1 on TripAdvisor i thought what’s so special about this glass exhibit when I’ve been to Venice and seen the artisans at Murano? But I figured I’d give it a shot to kill an hour before i go to lunch. Located next to the Space Needle, the Chihuly Gardens and Glass is easy to locate and without a line on a summer Wednesday, a quick entry.
The Chihuly Glass Museum
Who was this Chihuly guy? Why hadn’t I heard of him? How did he get this showcase in Seattle? Just a few questions to answer on my visit. With my ticket in hand, I proceeded down the hall to the start the tour. I was told that photos are encouraged and flash is allowed, ok, that was a good thing and this was a bit promising.
Then I turned the corner to start my visit and was struck by the colors and lights and quickly adjusted the camera’s settings to capture the glass using no flash in low light.
From then on, i was captivated with each new room and my quick tour would be derailed as i moved in awe of the glass displays, the sculptures, his private collections and the installations.
The Sealife room contained seashells, sea creatures and water in glass. There were also sketches along the wall of what the imagined sculpture should be next to the finished actual piece.
The Colors of Chihuly
A burst of color shining out of the next room called to me to look up. The Persian ceiling was clear glass and filled with colorful glass objects each arranged and emitting colors everywhere.
I really didn’t think it could get better than this, I had taken so many photos of glass in various artistic forms and of course, I was wrong. Really wrong as I entered the inside garden display called Mille Fiori, Italian for 1,000 flowers. The size of a small hotel ballroom, the display in the middle just overtakes you as you don’t know which side to start, where to look and what’s hidden inside. Your imagination is on overload trying to see the grass, the water, the flowers, the snakes, the frogs and other garden surprises. I spent the bulk of my time here first walking around to really view it, then with my camera in an attempt to capture the experience, finally using video to take away and view later.
Thinking that the Mille Fiori was the pinnacle of the visit, I turned another corner only to have another “Wow” moment. The boat room was stunning. Looking at the colors, the reflections, the placement of the glass and the lighting made this room one of my favorites.
Chihuly Chandeliers
The chandelier room was yet another room to marvel at the sheer size of the displays as well as the intricate shapes, twists and what must be weight of the pieces. After my time in this room and the ceiling room, I realized that I’ve seen this type of glass displays before at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas and the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City. So i was familiar with the artist’s work but just not his name.
Chihuly Gardens
The last room before the gardens would be the conservatory (glass house) which displayed a ceiling piece the length of the room and while looking up you could see the Space Needle.
Walking out to the gardens on the cloudy day, the glass colors amid the green landscapes provided an instant mood pick me up. Luckily, a bit of blue sky was starting to make it’s way toward the end of my visit.
Included in your admission ticket are digital photos taken by a staff photographer inside as well as outside. You take your photo card to one of many kiosks to view and if you like the image, you can email to yourself – a nice keepsake from your visit.
One of the last stops (before the gift shop exit) was the theater which was showing various short films of the artist, his life in Washington State, his work, process and installations. Chihuly was injured to the point that he stopped creating the glass sculptures on his own and instead now leads his teams to create his visions – the conductor of the orchestra working all of the pieces together in harmony.
The Chihuly Gift Shop
Even the gift shop was impressive with Chihuly art as well as local artists of Washington and Oregon. If you want to support local artists, this is a good place to find unique gifts or take photos (like I did) and visit their websites directly.
The Chihuly limited art prints of $1,700 were out of my budget as well as the individual glass pieces which started at $4,000.
Chihuly Garden & Glass – Final Thoughts
Needless to say, my visit to the Chihuly Garden & Glass was not quick, definitely more than an hour and I missed my lunchtime (the restaurant was full). It was a great surprise to visit the garden and glass and I’m happy I did – I would recommend it to anyone who likes art as well as any photographer. Next visit, I want to go at night to see the gardens lit up under the Seattle Space Needle and a clear starry sky.
My tickets cost $19 + tax. There is a free audio tour (I didn’t do that, thinking I was doing a quick drive by art tour, boy was I wrong) as well as complimentary photos of you/your family with the displays. The onsite restaurant can be booked in advance using OpenTable, if you want coffee or a snack, there is a garden kiosk.
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