Inn at the Market
Seattle, Washington

In the midst of the bustle of Seattle's popular Pike Place Market, travelers seeking a deluxe hotel are in luck...the Inn at the Market awaits! As we walked through the courtyard and entered the well-appointed lobby, we knew that our visit promised indulgence and creature comforts.  The streets outside are a flurry of commotion, but the Inn is a gracious isle of relaxation.   As we checked in, the front desk staff was happy to provide any information or assistance that would enhance our stay; in fact, the Inn's excellent customer service began even before we arrived....phone calls regarding dinner reservations and other plans were handled with the utmost of care and courtesy.

There are 65 accommodations within the Inn, including 10 suites and several water-view guestrooms.  On the way to our room, strolling through an outside passageway, we caught a glance of the attractive courtyard below.  The first thing we noticed as we entered our room was the floor-to-ceiling bay window...with a view of the Market, lively Post Alley and Elliott Bay.  Oh, how we enjoyed that panorama during our visit!   From cushy overstuffed chairs we watched the vendors arrive each morning and prepare for another energetic day in the Market; in the evenings we observed the winding-down activities...followed by restaurant diners and twilight amblers as they wandered through the area.  In addition to this prime people-watching spot, our room offered a mini-fridge, coffee maker (we're in Seattle, after all!), voice mail, modem dataport, additional phone extensions, hair dryer, downy robes and many other amenities.  Since our visit included the July 4th holiday, we discovered to our delight that our "nest" was the perfect vantage point for viewing a spectacular fireworks show (the famous "4th of Jul-Ivars" celebration, for those familiar with Seattle lore).  We burrowed into our swiveling chairs and watched the display through our bay window while listening to the simulcast descriptions on TV....one of the best views around, in total comfort!!

The Inn has an appealing roof-top deck with sweeping views of Puget Sound, a wonderful site for catching sea breezes.  There are also three restaurants and several specialty shops sprinkled about the courtyard.

Renowned Pike Place Market, with all of its treasures (and also some "junque"), is just steps away.  Highlighted by fresh flowers, produce and seafood (flying above the crowd's heads!), there's a bit of everything contained within these old buildings.  We especially enjoyed excellent dinners at two refined restaurants in the Market -- Maximilien and Chez Shea.

There are all sorts of things to see and do (and buy!) within walking distance of the Inn at the Market.  Downtown Seattle is full of places to investigate and appreciate (and shop at!)...remember, the Nordstrom "mothership" (as I call it) is located here!  The Seattle Art Museum is nearby, and just below it the grand Harbor Steps lead to the Waterfront.  The downtown area is connected via monorail to Seattle Center and the Space Needle. 

Since there's a lot of water around Seattle, we naturally wanted to explore it.  We've taken boat trips during previous visits, but this Argosy "Lock Tour" was one of the best.   Departing from the Waterfront area, we cruised through Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, then headed from salt water to fresh water via the Hiram Chittenden Locks into Lake Union.   Never having been through a Lock before, it was quite an interesting experience for us.  An extra treat was the fact that we took the tour on the Fourth of July, the anniversary of the Locks -- which opened July 4, 1917.  So there were special festivities in addition to the holiday band concerts and picnics we floated past.  The marvelous cityscape provided ever-changing scenic vistas; and the floating house community brought thoughts of "Sleepless in Seattle".

We've always enjoyed the historic Pioneer Square district, Seattle's oldest neighborhood.  I'm attacked by fits of giggles every time I recall the infamous Underground Tour (located in the district), which we took on a previous trip....the tale of the upflushing crapper must be heard!!  Take a peek at the Seattle portion of our "Jan's Journeys West Coast Roadtrip" pages for some of those preceding experiences:
http://www.jans-journeys.com/roadtrip/seattle.htm

It's been a year since that July '98 jaunt to Seattle...unfortunately, hectic schedules delayed this entry into "Jan's Journeys" far beyond my best intentions!  However as I sifted through John's photos and began collecting my reminiscences to write, I found that all of the details were clearly and indelibly imprinted on my mind....our stay at the Inn at the Market was memorably enjoyable!!  You may contact the Inn at 1-800-446-4484, send an e-mail to info@innatthemarket.com, or visit their website at http://www.innatthemarket.com/...then go ahead and make your own Seattle memories!

Copyright © 1999 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- July 13, 1999
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:28:56 GMT