The Seattle Traveler

Another year is coming to a close, and it’s my opportunity to look back on the year and share with you a few of my favorites.  You’ll recognize some of these from previous list, but there are a few new favs on the list. 

And remember, I’m not claiming these are the BEST (although I think some of them are!).  This is my list of FAVORITES for 2008!

• Favorite special occasion restaurant:  Canlis.  Great food and great service.  If you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate, these folks will go out of their way to make sure it’s memorable.
• Favorite casual restaurant:  Via Tribunali.  Serving up pizza and more at two locations.
• Favorite fast food restaurant:  Dick’s Drive-In.  I think this is a permanent fixture on my favorite list, but nothing beats their burgers.
• Favorite steakhouse:  El Gaucho, Belltown.  Another permanent fixture on my list, but this old-style classic restaurant is terrific.  Their tableside presentation is still the best around. And with the El Gaucho Inn right upstairs, it’s a great place for a weekend getaway! 
• Favorite seafood restaurant:  Place Pigalle in the Pike Place Market.  Try the mussels.  To die for!
• Favorite ethnic restaurant:   El Taco Maestro, a small taqueria that reminds me of Guadalajara, Mexico (23646 Pacific Highway South, Kent).
• Favorite view restaurant:  Salty’s at Alki.  I still think they overprice and under deliver on the food, but the view is great.
• Favorite out of town restaurant:  Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie
• Favorite Hotel:  Hotel Vintage Park, a downtown boutique hotel with each room names for a wine or winery.  Lots of nice services including free wi-fi, nightly wine reception, and Tulio’s restaurant right next door. The hotel has been around for awhile, but I just recently discovered it.
• Favorite Museum:  The Frye on Capital Hill.  It’s FREE so you can go often to catch its wide variety of exhibits.  A great little cafe too.
• Favorite thing to do in Seattle on a sunny day:  Wander Kubota Gardens, wondering why yard doesn’t look like this.
• Favorite thing to do in Seattle on a rainy day:  Have a cup of tea and watch the world go by.
• Favorite place to take a child:  Woodland Park Zoo.  No matter how often you go, there’s always something new to see and do.
• Favorite drink after work bar: Purple Cafe & Wine Bar.  With so many wine choices, you can visit regularly and never have the same thing twice.  Good nibbles, too.
• Favorite nightspot: Triple Door.  Multiple options all in one place, with varied lineup of performers.
• Favorite music venue:   Benaroya Hall.  Hands down, some of the best acoustics around.
• Favorite touristy thing to do:   Watch fish throwers at the Pike Place Market.  You’ll see it in photos and videos, but whenever I’m at the market, I still need to stand around and watch for awhile, wondering if they’ll ever miss.
• Favorite day trip from Seattle:  Mud Mountain Dam, where you’ll find a great nature trail and picnic area.
• Favorite weekend trip from Seattle:  Las Vegas.  I’d stayed away for awhile, but in returning have found nicer hotels, good restaurants, and impressive entertainment choices.
• Favorite blog post:  An Angel Whispered to me “See Corteo.”  This year I fell in love with Cirque du Soleil all over again, and in addition to seeing this traveling show (it was excellent!), I managed to see two addition shows in Las Vegas (Ka and LOVE).

Feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree, and share a few favorites of your own.

See you in 2009!

Image credit:  SXC

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