Vacations Blog

Seattle From West Seattle

 

A telephone ringing

Operator: Hello, Directory assistance

Santa Claus: Uh, yeah this is Santa Claus and I was wondering if you could help me with a potentially huge problem I have.

Operator: Santa Claus? Ok, buddy, I’m hanging up now.

Santa: No. Wait, wait.  I really am Santa Claus and I can prove it.

Operator: Ok, you have 5 seconds.  Impress me.

Santa: Uhh…ok, ok.  Remember how you asked me for The George Forman Grill last year? You wanted to lose a few pounds around the middle to impress that cute girl in the apartment next…

Operator: Ok, Ok. Enough said.  I’m starting that tomorrow.  So you are really Santa Claus huh?

Santa: I love doing that.  Yeah, the one and only real Santa.  That’s me.

Operator: Wow! How exactly can I help you Santa? Or should I call you Mr. Kringle?

Santa: Season’s over, so call me Nicki.  My problem is this.  Valentine’s Day is this weekend and I haven’t done anything at all for Mrs. Claus. I’m desperate!  I’m already in the doghouse for spending too many weekend nights hanging out at the pool hall with Dasher and Dancer.  Those guys are real hustlers.  Have you seen The Color of Money? Anyway, they nearly cleaned me out of all my spending money for the month. I need to find a place to take the Mrs. at the last minute, which will also be easy on the pocketbook.

Operator: Hmmmm….Well, I am based out of the Seattle area, which is a short flight down from the pole. I’m assuming you won’t get any reindeer this time of year.  And with Airfare deals at Alaska Airlines being some of the best in quite some time, you could bring her down here for the weekend.  There are loads of great romantic places you could potentially book at the last minute.

Santa: Ooooh, that’s a great idea.  I like it a lot.  Any specific places you had in mind?

W Hotel Room: Seattle

Operator: Well, if you are looking for a romantic evening in the city, I might be able to help you out.  I have a copy of ‘The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest’  here on my shelf.  Let’s see, if you are looking for a downtown hotel for the evening you could try Alexis Hotel, which has an Aveda Spa and wine tastings, or the W Hotel with its “chocolate colored velvet drapes on soaring windows.”  There are also the Hotels Monaco, Andra, and Vintage Park which all get great reviews from the book…but all will most likely be out of your price range if you are really on a budget.

My Personal recommendation would be to stay just outside of downtown proper at the Villa Heidelberg, a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in the western part of the city with rooms starting at $100 a night double occupancy.  It is romantic and best of all affordable.  It doesn’t take kids, but I’m guessing you and the Mrs. won’t be bringing any along.

Santa: No, we are a bit old for that.  That actually sounds real nice.  What about dinner options?

Icon Grill Seattle

Operator: If you stay at Villa Heidelberg, you are just up the hill from one of the most romantic Italian restaurants in Seattle La Rustica.  Or you could travel to downtown for dinner at The Icon Grill with all of its beautiful blown glass, which I can attest exudes romance. For other romantic options, there’s the Dahlia Lounge, Café Campagne, Chez Shea, or Andaluca.

Santa:  Wow, you are giving me some terrific ideas. Thanks.  How can I top it all off?

Operator: Well, I would suggest that before dinner you take Mrs. Claus over to Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint, otherwise known as Constellation Park to gaze over the Puget Sound and watch the sun set over the Majestic Olympic Mountains.  It’s simply magical.  The Park is along Beach Drive in West Seattle and just down the road from La Rustica.  It will be the perfect start to an amazing evening.

Santa:  I’m sold!  I am going to go book something right now.  I can’t thank you enough.  Man, tell me what can I do for you??  You name it.

Operator:  Awesome. Well, it would be nice to get a new iphone as a late Christmas gift.  Can you do that?

Santa:  Sure!  Consider it done.  I’ll send it special delivery with Rudolf tonight!

Operator:  Thanks Santa!! You are the Best.  Maybe I’ll see you in Seattle.

 Seattle photo by: joiseyshowaa (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0); W Hotel photo from starwoodhotels.com; Icon Grill photo from Icongrill.com