A quick stop in Seattle

The Sorrento Hotel was a very nice place to stay. In fact, it is one of the nicer hotels in Seattle. The location is outstanding (right downtown near the convention center and the sports facilities) and my stay was very enjoyable. The hotel was very elegant without being ostentatious. It has been around for a while, but does not show any signs of aging. It feels like it was just renovated.

I had a small but very cozy room. It had an exceptional bed, with very nice linens and soft pillows. Everything I needed was in the room (iron, hairdryer, ironing board, food, drinks, etc.). There was also free high-speed internet access and a mini business center (printer and fax) in each room. The bathroom had some charm (interesting tiles and fixtures) and included a nice shower and tub (the perfect size if you wanted to take a bath).

The hotel also had a small business center that was located in the same room as the fitness center. It had internet access and a free printer, but it was a little weird having it in the fitness center. The fitness center was a little weak, but it did have some basic exercise equipment. There was also a nice bar and restaurant. I had a drink and enjoyed hanging out in the bar for a little while. Spa services were available on the lower level of the hotel.

The valet and receptionist were extremely friendly. The valet gave me directions, pointers on the area, radio station suggestion, and he quickly got my car.

All things considered, this was a very nice hotel that I enjoyed very much. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an upscale hotel experience at a place that has a bit of charm.

I wanted something healthy and Café Flora did not disappoint. They served excellent vegetarian and vegan food. In fact, the food was, without qualification, outstanding. Not only that, but there were many interesting choices. I had the strawberry Brie pizza. It was very tasty and unique (the crust was sensational). I also had the coconut tofu salad. The tofu was fried, but it still felt and tasted healthy. Both dishes were fantastic. The desserts were very good as well. It was hard to believe they were vegan.

There was a very eclectic crowd. In a span of a few tables, I noticed purple hair, several tattoos, and a lip piercing. There were also some people dressed in suits but there was definitely a veggie/earthy feel to the crowd.

The restaurant had a very bright, airy, cheerful atmosphere. I knew I was going to like the restaurant from the second I walked in the door. You had the choice of a pseudo outdoor café and an inside dining room. Both were great.

My waitress was very attentive and provided quick service. She helped me pick the items I chose and I appreciated her recommendation. She also helped me find a store I was looking for. The neighborhood was in a neat section of town that included lots of good restaurants and interesting local shops.

I needed some exercise so I stopped in the Montlake Bicycle Shop. I thought the neighborhood was very interesting and I knew that there was a bike path that wound around the city. It took a couple of minutes to rent a bike and then I was on my way.

I headed to the Burke-Gillman Trail. It runs for 27 miles around the city. I went through the University of Washington and several interesting neighborhoods. There was a flat paved path, with dirt path option on the side. The strong smell of flowers and trees was very nice. The flowers were in full bloom and were very beautiful. Other sections provided a very nice view of the water. If you went far enough you really got to see a lot of different parts of the city.

If you want some hills, head up into some of the neighborhoods to break up the flats. Some of the homes are very unique and I enjoyed checking them out.

Considering how nice the path was, it was relatively uncrowded. A few people were walking their dog, jogging, roller blading, and biking.

All things considered, I enjoyed the ride very much. It wasn’t overly exciting, but it was perfect very a leisurely ride around the city (or a good workout if you put some effort into it). It was a really nice way to get a feel for the city.