The world of travel is always changing. New hotels and museums open. Restaurants and nightclubs close. Establishments move. Washington is no exception, so, we've tried to keep tabs on what's new and noteworthy throughout the state. The following are some of the highlights.
Seattle
If you're flying in to Sea-Tac International Airport (www.seatac.org/seatac), expect to encounter construction. The central terminal is in the midst of a major expansion that is expected to be completed some time in 2005. Concourse A is being completely rebuilt and is scheduled to reopen in mid-2004. So leave lots of time for getting around the airport. Of course, you were already planning on extra time in the airport due to security measures, right? Oh, yes, and if you're looking for a shuttle van or taxi, be sure to head to the third floor of the parking garage. If you're looking for a Metro bus, you'll find them outside the baggage claim area.
The big news on the Seattle hotel scene is the opening of the new Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way (tel. 800/228-9290 or 206/443-5000; www.marriott.com), a luxury hotel right across the street from where cruise ships bound for Alaska dock.
With the slow economic times, 25 of Seattle's high-end restaurants have been joining together for a month in the spring and again in the fall to offer three-course prix fixe dinners for $25. This "25 for $25" program has been very popular, but, unfortunately is not offered during the busy summer months. However, if you happen to be in town during the spring or fall, check local papers for advertisements for this program.
In the International District, don't miss the atmospheric Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House, 607 S. Main St. (tel. 206/515-4000), which is filled with historic photos and offers a fascinating glimpse into the neighborhood's past.
The Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59, 1483 Alaskan Way (tel. 206/386-4300; www.seattleaquarium.org), has added a new exhibit called "Life of a Drifter," which focuses on jellyfish. The pulsing, diaphanous moon jellies are fascinating to watch. There are also new tanks for the aquarium's giant octopus and its hideous wolf eels.
Fans of contemporary art won't want to miss the new James Turrell Skyspace at the Henry Art Gallery,University of Washington, 15th Ave. NE and NE 41st St. (tel. 206/543-2280; www.henryart.org). The little sky-viewing room is a tranquil and mesmerizing space. At night, colored lights illuminated the glass outer skin of the Skyspace.
The Seattle Seahawks (tel. 888/NFL-HAWK or 206/682-2800; www.seahawks.com) football team has now moved into the new Seahawks Stadium adjacent to Safeco Field. The roof of this behemoth doesn't roll back (as the roof of adjacent Safeco Field does), but, then, who ever heard of calling off a football game on account of rain?
Opera fans, take note. The Seattle Opera (tel. 800/426-1619 or 206/389-7676; www.seattleopera.org), world renowned for its stagings of Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelungen, has a new state-of-the-art home. Seattle Center's new Marion Oliver McCaw Hall opened in the summer of 2003, replacing the aging Seattle Opera House.
Down Pike Place Market's Post Alley, you'll find The Tasting Room, 1924 Post Alley (tel. 206/770-WINE; www.winesofwashington.com), a cozy wine bar with the feel of a wine cellar. This wine bar is cooperatively operated by several small Washington state wineries.
The San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island & The Emerald Coast
On Whidbey Island, in Langley, you'll find creative meals and good views at The Edgecliff, 510 Cascade Ave. (tel. 360/221-8899). In Coupeville, you'll find the best meals in town are at a tiny hole-in-the-wall called The Oystercatcher, 901 Grace St. (tel. 360/678-0683), which is located a block off the waterfront.
Even if you're just passing Anacortes on the way to or from the San Juan Islands, you may want to leave time in your schedule for a meal at Adrift, 510 Commercial Ave. (tel. 360/588-0653), a casual new restaurant that serves some of the best food in Anacortes.
December, 2003 -- On San Juan Islands fares on the Washington State Ferries (tel. 800/84-FERRY or 888/808-7977 in Washington, or 206/464-6400; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) route to the San Juan islands continue to skyrocket. At press time, it will cost you (and your car) as much as $40 to travel from the mainland to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. For economical meals in Friday Harbor, check out Market Chef, 225 A St. (tel. 360/378-4546), a new combination espresso bar and gourmet takeout restaurant that also bakes outrageously good chocolate chip cookies. Although it's hard to find, Backdoor Kitchen & Catering, 400b A St. (tel. 360/378-9540), another new and inexpensive restaurant, is well worth searching out. It has a patio dining area that is part of a plant nursery.
On Orcas Island, Rosario Resort & Spa, 1400 Rosario Rd., Eastsound (tel. 800/562-8820 or 360/376-2222; www.rosarioresort.com), is planning a major renovation in time for the 2004 summer season. This resort was already the finest full-service resort in the islands, and the renovation should make it even better. Not far away, The Inn at Ship Bay, 326 Olga Rd., Eastsound (tel. 877/276-7296 or 360/376-5886; www.innatshipbay.com), has a new chef who formerly worked at Rosario Resort & Spa.
In Bellingham the wonderful little American Museum of Radio, 1312 Bay St. (tel. 360/738-3886; www.americanradiomuseum.org), continues to expand.
Tacoma
Move over, Seattle: Tacoma is on its way to becoming the cultural capital of the Puget Sound region. With the recent openings of the new Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock St. (tel. 800/4-MUSEUM or 253/396-1768;www.museumofglass.org), and the new home of the Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave. (tel. 253/272-4258; www.tacomaartmuseum.org), Tacoma has become the best museum town in the state. Within three blocks, you can visit both of the above museums as well as the Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave. (tel. 888/238-4373 or 253/272-3500; www.wshs.org/wshm). And right outside this latter museum, you can hop aboard one of Tacoma's new light-rail cars. Although the light-rail line isn't very long (from the Tacoma Dome to the downtown theater district), it's convenient for visitors. Best of all, it's free.
While in town, you might also want to visit the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, Wright Park, 316 South G St. (tel. 253/591-5330), which, at press time, was getting ready to reopen after a thorough renovation.
Tacoma also has a new waterfront hotel. The Silver Cloud Inn Tacoma, 2317 N. Ruston Way (tel. 866/820-8448; www.silvercloud.com), is not just on the waterfront, it's built on a pier over the water.
The Olympic Peninsula
Lavender lovers should be sure to schedule an Olympic Peninsula vacation to coincide with the July flowering of the lavender fields in Sequim. Lavender farms continue to proliferate in the area. For good economical accommodations in the area, check out BJ's Garden Gate, 397 Monterra Dr., Port Angeles (tel. 800/880-1332; www.bjgarden.com); Juan de Fuca Cottages, 182 Marine Dr., Sequim (tel. 866/683-4433; www.juandefuca.com), and Sunset Marine Resort, 40 Buzzard Ridge Rd., Sequim (tel. 360/681-4166; www.sunsetmarineresort.com).
On the grounds of Olympic National Park West, way out on the western shores of the Olympic Peninsula, in the town of La Push, you'll find some of the best accommodations on the coast at the La Push Ocean Park Resort, 330 Ocean Dr. (tel. 800/487-1267; www.ocean-park.org). There's also good food at the River's Edge Restaurant, 41 Main St., La Push. (tel. 360/374-5777). Both of these businesses are on the Quileute Indian Reservation.
Southwest Washington
To the Long Beach Peninsula's list of great restaurants, add The Depot Restaurant, 38th St. and L Place, Seaview (tel. 360/642-7880), which is situated in a former railroad depot and serves very creative food.
For many years in the Cascades, apples were one of the mainstays of the Lake Chelan economy. However, with apple prices down for several years now, local farmers have been looking for new ways to make money. Several have hit on wine-making as a potential new business, so, if you're in the area, be sure to do some wine tasting at some (or all) of these new wineries: Chelan Wine Company, 105 Spader Rd., Chelan (tel. 866/455-WINE); Lake Chelan Winery, 3519 Wash. 150, Chelan (tel. 509/687-9463); Wapato Point Cellars, 200 Quetilquasoon Rd., Manson (tel. 509/687-4000; www.wapatopointcellars.com); or Tsillan Cellars, 3875 U.S. 97A, Chelan (tel. 877/682-8463 or 509/682-9463; www.tsillancellars.com).
To go along with this newfound wine-country appeal, the town of Chelan also has a new gourmet dining establishment. Capers, 127 E. Johnson St. (tel. 509/682-1611), serves the best food in town.
The Wenatchee Valley apple and pear growers have also been giving wine-making a try. New wineries between Leavenworth and Wenatchee include Eagle Creek Winery & Cottage, 10037 Eagle Creek Rd. (tel. 509/548-7668; www.eaglecreekwinery.com); Icicle Ridge Winery, 8977 North Rd., Peshastin (tel. 509/548-7851; www.icicleridgewinery.com); Wedge Mountain Winery, 9534 Saunders Rd. (tel. 509/548-7068; www.wedgemountainwinery.com); and La Toscana Winery & Bed & Breakfast, 9020 Foster Rd., Cashmere (tel. 509/548-5448; communities.msn.com/latoscan).
The Columbia Gorge is perfect if you're ready to get up to your neck in hot water, check out the new Bonneville Hot Springs Resort, 1252 E. Cascade Dr., North Bonneville (tel. 866/459-1678; www.bonnevilleresort.com), a classically elegant hotel deep in the woods of the Columbia Gorge.
Eastern Washington
Yakima & the Wine Country have some new and noteworthy wineries which include Chandler Reach, 9506 W. Chandler Rd., Benton City (tel. 509/588-8800; www.chandlerreach.com); Hedges Cellars at Red Mountain, 53511 N. Sunset Rd., Benton City (tel. 509/588-3155; www.hedgescellars.com); Maison de Padgett Winery, 2231 Roza Dr., Zillah (tel. 509/829-6412); Paradisos del Sol, 3230 Highland Dr. (tel. 509/829-9000; www.paradisosdelsol.com); Snoqualmie Vineyards, 660 Frontier Rd., Prosser (tel. 509/786-2104; www.snoqualmie.com); Wineglass Cellars, 260 N. Bonair Rd., Zillah (tel. 509/829-3011; www.wineglasscellars.com); and Windy Point Vineyards, 420 Windy Point Dr., Wapato (tel. 509/877-4446).If you're in the Yakima Valley wine tasting, be sure to have a meal at the new Barrel House, 22 N. First St. (tel. 509/453-3769; www.barrelhouse.net), which serves lots of local wines by the glass.
The Walla Walla wine country continues to boom at a phenomenal rate, with new wineries opening up monthly. Among the new wineries (or wineries with new tasting rooms) we should highlight Amavi Cellars, 635 N. 13th Ave. (tel. 509/525-3541; www.amavicellars.com); Pepper Bridge Winery, 1704 J.B. George Rd. (tel. 509/525-6502; www.pepperbridge.com); and Rulo Winery, 2525 Pranger Rd. (tel. 509/525-7856; www.rulowinery.com).
At lunch or dinner, you can't miss with a meal at the new Creek Town Café, 1129 S. Second St. (tel. 509/522-4777), near downtown Walla Walla.
The big news in Spokane is the reopening of The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. (tel. 800/899-1482; www.thedavenporthotel.com), a luxurious historical hotel that has the most elaborate and palatial lobby of any hotel in the state. Definitely not to be missed. Just a block or so away from the Davenport is a very atmospheric little basement restaurant called the Catacombs Pub, 110 S. Monroe St. (tel. 509/838-4610), which has the feel of a German rathskeller.
If you like good wine, and good port in particular, be sure to drive north of Spokane to Townshend Cellars, 16112 Greenbluff Rd. (tel. 509/238-1400; www.townshendcellar.com), which produces a wide range of ports, including one made from huckleberries.