If Seattle is the Emerald city, then the Seattle Sheraton is clearly the jewel in the crown!

I had been to the Sheraton many times before my first actual overnight stay, attending meetings, retreats and large gala’s but I was completely unprepared for the pampering that I received on a recent “stay-cation” that I treated myself and my guy Javier to. Over and over people say that large hotels often miss opportunities to acknowledge the individual, that because of their size details are overlooked and sometimes folks get lost in the numbers. I can tell you that this hotel has no such problem, we felt like family from the moment we walked through the front door.


The lobby of the Seattle Sheraton Hotel

My first impression of the staff started with the valet service. I have said this many times before; a hotel has only one opportunity to make a first impression and the Sheraton team nailed it! The gentleman who greeted us as we pulled up into the amply staffed valet portico was right to task, smiling and warmly welcoming us to this grand and beautiful hotel. Check-in was seamless and in a flash we were off the room, welcomed as a gay couple without batting an eyelash…no pun intended. We walked into a beautiful corner suite with a view of the downtown core that was awesome. If this had been my first visit to Seattle I never would have left! The 20th floor gave us views of the city’s skyscraping buildings with the waters of the Puget Sound in the background shimmering and sparkling. I remember thinking that night with the curtains open and the lights twinkling how romantic this moment was. A perfect spot for my guy and I to spend some time together, just the two of us in the middle of this magnificent city. The beds, pillows and appointments were wonderful as were the toiletries and comfy towels and robes.

Our corner suite with the amazing view!

The hotel itself is practically a small city within itself with floors of meeting and event space, café’s, gym, restaurant and a wonderful lounge, in fact---I had one of the best Manhattans I’ve ever had….okay, maybe not just one. After a brief stay at the “happy hour” we ventured into the city which is literally right out the front door. We shopped, sipped and strolled through the downtown streets, enjoying the musicians, vendors and the very unique urban groove that is heartbeat of Seattle. Once back at the hotel the lounge beckoned for some late nasche and a night cap. I had a wonderful Washington wine, Javier a cocktail---the place was alive and magic…there were at least 3 other gay couples sitting close by and having a marvelous time.

Our "Manhatten" Hangout

Saturday arrived and we were off to the gym for a morning workout and run. Situated on the top floor, it seemed that the pool, spa and gym had the best view of all. A spectacular space with all the modern equipment, one of the best hotel workout centers I’ve enjoyed. We took a dip in the spa and headed to the room for showers and then onto the Club Lounge for coffee and breakfast. We sat by the window and met a very eclectic group of fellow guests. It was a perfect start to the day! We explored the city, coming back to home-base for a rest and then venturing out again. The shear convenience of this hotel was almost too perfect as we were literally in the center of the city.

The city vibe, fitness center and spa

Sunday brought a slow start and a leisurely “hang-out” in the room with a movie and room service. There may have been a mimosa or two as well. With a short walk to the Pike Place Market and back we wrapped up our stay and headed out. I learned later that there was much to this hotel that we didn’t even know until after we had left. Such as the fact that in 1993 the Sheraton started one of the first Green hotel initiatives by mandating that each department recycle materials and the hotel implemented a composting program, one of the first in the city. They have also recently completed a promenade beautification project on the back side of the hotel to visually enhance the neighborhood and encourage foot traffic. In addition, the Seattle Sheraton has taken a leadership role in working with the LGBT Community. They have hosted many events over the years that support equality, the non-profit community and organizations dedicated to education and HIV research. They are a wonderful Tourism Sponsor for the GSBA and work diligently to make sure that everyone who walks through their doors are welcomed and treated with respect and dignity. Our stay here was one that begs for a repeat visit and I’m counting the days!

By Jerome M Bader; Director of Marketing GSBA / Travel Gay Seattle

Photos; The Seattle Sheraton Hotel

http://www.sheratonseattle.com/

Evergreen Escapes "Brews & Views"

Eco-travel is a booming sector of the tourism industry and I had the great pleasure of experiencing one of the premier eco-adventure tour companies this past weekend, EverGreen Escapes. Operating in the up and coming neighborhood of Georgetown, EverGreen Escapes offers a wide variety of escapes and adventure tours. The escapes range from regional bird watching tours, Mount Rainer day trips and international adventures in Australia, New Zealand and the Galapagos Islands. For my adventure I decided to pick the new “Brews & Views” tour.

The “Brews & Views” tour exposes guests to the booming brewery business in Seattle and lets them sample the very product that is putting Seattle on the map as the place to go to have good pint of beer. Before taking this tour I have to admit that I completely underestimated the complexity of the process of brewing beer . It isn’t so much of a process as it is a science, just as much as making wine. Move over frat boys I think beer is about to become the refined mans drink of choice.

The tour incorporates brewery stops and visits to different vantage points to give visitors a number of different views of the city. This is a wonderful tour to take for first time visitors to Seattle and long time Seattleites looking to do some urban exploration. It’s amazing how I keep discovering new vantage points that give me a fresh sense of excitement as if I’m gazing upon the city for the first time.

Arriving at the EverGreen Escapes office I was greeted by Mira Poling, the tour guide or “escape artist” as noted on her business card, for my afternoon adventure into the world of beer. She was absolutely delightful and had a wealth of knowledge to share about the city and her love for beer. Mira is a photographer by trade and also leads an adventure photography class with EverGreen Escapes in Pioneer Square.

The tour vehicle for the afternoon was a beautiful white Mercedes with leather seating, and the best part was that it runs on biodiesel! EverGreen Escapes is committed to being as sustainable as possible in their tours and daily operations. The Mercedes was the perfect vehicle to spend the afternoon cruising around the city taking in the sights and drinking copious amounts of beer.

Along for the ride that afternoon was two couples, one couple recently landed in Seattle from Virginia and the other was a local couple celebrating a birthday. At first Mira did most of the talking but after the first visit to a brewery and our first sips of beer everyone’s personalities started to come out. By the end of the day we were all laughing and exchanging emails so we could keep in contact. It was a nice bonding experience to have with a group of complete strangers. I think EverGreen Escapes made the right choice in having their tour groups be small so the group could connect, something that is difficult to do on a large tour bus.

On the tour we visited three breweries; Elliot Bay Brewing Company, Georgetown Brewing Company and the Fremont Brewing Company. Each brewery was in a different neighborhood which gave me a chance to explore three different unique areas of Seattle. I love how each neighborhood in Seattle has a distinct personality and vibe to it.

The first stop for the afternoon was the Elliot Bay Brewing Company in West Seattle. Elliot Bay Brewing Company provides an in-depth “Beer Bible” which details the different variety of hops used for the different types of beer brewed. Along with the beer sampler we were also treated to the world’s largest pretzel. This baby was huge and was big enough to feed 6 people in their mid twenties who had been drinking beer.

The Georgetown Brewing Company was the largest brewery on our stop. Little did I know walking through the giant sliding doors of the brewery that this was where Manny’s Pale Ale was brewed, which is one of my favorite beers of all time. The idea of it passing over my taste buds sends my mind racing through a kaleidoscope of images from last summer. It's so refreshing and so very delicious.

Before going on the “Brews & Views” tour I had little to no real knowledge about beer but after I actually feel like I could participate in a conversation about it. I’m sure my straight guy friends will be really impressed when I explain what makes a lager different from a stout.

The “Brews & Views” tour would be a great treat for the avid beer drinker or those looking to see Seattle from all of its famous vantage points. The tour takes place each Friday, Saturday and Sunday and usually lasts 5 hours. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon in our beautiful city of Seattle.

Evergreen Escapes:
http://www.evergreenescapes.com/

by Joshua Michael Rumley, GSBA Travel Gay Seattle JoshuaR@thegsba.org