| Seattle may not get much snow, but there is plenty | | | | seems like just about anything you want is for sale - |
| of Christmas spirit, and that makes it a special place | | | | fresh fruits and produce, honey, herbs, dried flower |
| for a Christmas shopping getaway. | | | | bouquets, jams and jellies, nuts, fruits, chocolates, |
| From Seattle Center to Westlake Center to the Pike | | | | tee-shirts, purses, you name it. There actually are |
| Place Market, the usual visitor attractions become | | | | several fish markets in the same building, as well as |
| just a little more special on a chilly winter's day. | | | | restaurants where you can dine on fresh fish before |
| Throngs of excited, bundled-up families and couples | | | | you even leave the market.. |
| sample the seasonal offerings at Westlake such as | | | | Just across the street from the market, in front of |
| Quest carousel rides, or the kettle corn and elephant | | | | the Starbucks, a musical group called Slimpickens was |
| ears nearby. Christmas music is everywhere, while | | | | warming up the crowds with lively 1930's style music |
| vendors make balloon animals for the kids. | | | | played in a four-piece configuration: guitar, stand-up |
| Make it an overnight trip and it's even better. First, | | | | bass, violin and washboard. Dressed in 30's garb, the |
| you'll be sure to see the numerous Christmas lights | | | | group also seemed to be getting a Depression-era |
| along downtown streets including the famous star on | | | | response to their music: lots of smiles and |
| Macy's, the Space Needle lights and many other | | | | toe-tapping, but not many coins dropping into their |
| special seasonal touches. And, by staying overnight, | | | | prominently placed cup. |
| you can turn a shopping trip into a true getaway. | | | | Along about here we encountered Piroshky, Piroshky, |
| Our base of operations was a Seattle landmark, the | | | | a tiny take-out restaurant serving up fresh Russian |
| Edgewater Hotel. Maybe you remember that the | | | | piroshkies for just under $5. These were just baked |
| Edgewater was famous during the Sixties when the | | | | and, if you're wondering, the piroshky is a little like a |
| Beatles stayed there and fished right out their | | | | flakey turnover filled with meat, cheese or other |
| window. In fact, it became the obvious choice for | | | | fillings. They're delicious and, for us, provided a quick |
| many famous rock groups that came into town | | | | and inexpensive lunch. |
| during that period to play for one of Pat O'Dea's | | | | Some friends of ours went instead to Von's Grand |
| spectacular rock concerts. | | | | City Café, just a few blocks from the |
| Today the Edgewater has a classic elegance that | | | | market on Pine Street where the meal was fine but |
| combines the best location in Seattle with an updated | | | | they reported back that this was the first time they |
| interior design that evokes the Northwest's rich | | | | had encountered canned champagne. They ordered a |
| Native American heritage. The first thing we saw | | | | split of champagne and the can that was delivered to |
| when entering our waterfront room was a | | | | their table had a straw attached - which our friends |
| Washington State Ferry - just out the window and | | | | said reminded them of the fruit drink boxes they get |
| across the waters of Elliott Bay. Our view made us | | | | for their kids. Of course that's what visiting the "Big |
| feel like we were traveling on a cruise ship with | | | | City" is all about - experiencing new things. |
| nothing but water between us and the ferry. This, of | | | | A few blocks from the market is Westlake Center, a |
| course, is the major attraction of the aptly-named | | | | modern, multi-story shopping center with upscale |
| Edgewater - a location literally out on the water with | | | | stores and - because of its location near Macy's and |
| incredible views of Puget Sound and nearby islands. | | | | Nordstrom -- the epicenter of retail activity |
| Our room featured many Northwest accents such as | | | | downtown. It's here that, for just $2 each way, you |
| a log headboard on our comfortable king-size bed, | | | | can hop on board the Monorail - originally built for the |
| bark trim and a wood panel above the corner | | | | 1962 Seattle World's Fair - and zip over to Seattle |
| fireplace, Native American designs on the carpets | | | | Center where their Winterfest celebration has |
| with knotty pine baseboards, and Indian characters | | | | continual holiday entertainment and one of the |
| and designs on the wood-frame entertainment | | | | coolest model railroads and miniature Christmas towns |
| center. In the bathroom, a large claw-style bathtub | | | | your kids will ever see. |
| looked awfully inviting, while the modern colors and | | | | Soon it was time to head back to the Edgewater, |
| fixtures made the room look like something you | | | | where we watched the fog roll in and marveled at |
| would see in a magazine on interior design. The floors | | | | how the few sailboats that were out on this wintery |
| were amber quartz slate, while the room also | | | | day were able to dodge the Washington State |
| included a glass-enclosed European spa shower. | | | | ferries. Thank goodness for foghorns and radar, we |
| With a room at the Edgewater - which features a | | | | would guess. Just a few minutes walk from the |
| constant parade of boats just outside your window | | | | Edgewater is the Spaghetti Factory, where we |
| -- there is the temptation to just stay there and | | | | enjoyed a tasty but inexpensive dinner. |
| enjoy the endless sights and sounds. But we came to | | | | The night was restful and, when the sun came up |
| Seattle to check out the city's Christmas activities so | | | | the next day, the skies were blue and the views |
| first stop was the Pike Place Market, a few blocks | | | | from our room were like a picture postcard. No need |
| and easy walking distance from the Edgewater. | | | | to lose that view while having breakfast -- |
| The market is one of Seattle's most recognizable | | | | downstairs at the Edgewater we stopped in for a |
| symbols - right up there with the Space Needle. That | | | | hearty meal with the best views in town at the |
| probably has something to do with the way TV | | | | hotel's award-winning Six Seven restaurant. We were |
| sports announcers always make a point of showing | | | | pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices, given |
| footage of the market while broadcasting Seattle | | | | the restaurant's prime location and upscale reputation. |
| Seahawks or Washington Huskies sports telecasts. | | | | More downtown exploration was on tap for our |
| Typically the shot is one of the fish handlers throwing | | | | second day, with no shortage of merchandise |
| King salmon - thus we were pleased that, upon our | | | | available at unusually good prices. Soon it was time to |
| arrival, the fish were indeed flying. Just like the 50 or | | | | go home, but it wasn't like a trip home from the mall |
| so other visitors standing around watching, we had | | | | in which you're exhausted and swear never to go |
| seen for ourselves the famous Pike Place Market fish | | | | shopping with the multitudes again. Yes, we'd |
| throw. | | | | accomplished our Christmas shopping all right -- but |
| Those fish handlers in their sweat suits, hoodies and | | | | we also felt invigorated by an unforgettable holiday |
| aprons aren't the only reason to stop by the market | | | | trip to Seattle's Winter Wonderland. |
| at Christmas time. The market goes all out in its | | | | For more information on Seattle, go to visitseattle.org |
| decorations and, in fact, has Christmas trees available | | | | or phone 206-461-5840. For more information on the |
| - not that we wanted to cart one back to the | | | | Edgewater Hotel, please visit or phone |
| Edgewater. Take a walk just north of the first fish | | | | 1-800-624-0670. |
| market and you enter a beehive of activity where it | | | | |