It’s hip. It’s urban. It’s techie.  It’s Austin on steroids.  Seattle is also a great escape from the summer heat.  This coastal seaport city is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest.  It is home to Starbucks, Nordstrom, and the iconic Space Needle.  As I found out, Seattle is a perfect getaway for a long weekend.

I checked in to the luxurious Hotel Monaco Seattle.  Fun and luxury meet in this Kimpton boutique hotel located in the heart of the city.  It is ranked by Fodor’s as one of the “Top 100 Hotels in the World.”

Hotel Monaco has all of the amenities you would expect from a luxury hotel.  Each of the hotel’s 189 guest rooms and suites have plush pillow top beds with Italian Frette linens.

It is the hotel’s sense of fun, and even a little quirkiness, that sets it apart.  Need a robe?  Grab an animal-print one from the closet.  Feeling lonely during your stay?  How about a little guppy love.  Upon request, a companion goldfish can keep you company during your stay.  Need a good stretch or are a yogi?  “Mind. Body. Spa.” features the Yoga Channel on your in-room television and yoga accessories are available for use during your stay, including a yoga mat supplied in every room.  Don’t feel like heading to the spa?  Indulge in treatments like a rejuvenating massage or revitalizing body treatment in the privacy of your guestroom with Hotel Monaco Seattle’s In-Room Spa Services.  If you travel with your pet, Hotel Monaco Seattle welcomes your two and four-legged, feathered and furred travel companions because your pet is a VIP.  That’s Very Important Pet.  Hotel Monaco even offers special pet services like pet-setting and dog walking referrals.  The concierge can even give you a personalized doggie itinerary.  Want to go for a bike ride? Take a spin on one of the hotel’s complimentary bikes.

You definitely dine and drink in style at Hotel Monaco Seattle.  Every evening from 5 to 6 pm, Hotel Monaco Seattle has a hosted wine hour in the lobby.

Regional American cuisine with a Southern flair is served up at Sazerac.  This seriously flavorful spot is a favorite of locals and tourists.  Seattle Times said, “This Southern-style spot is destined to be a Seattle classic.”  Sazerac is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it is really hopping during its famed happy hour when they are serving up snacks, tapas, and shellfish like oysters on the half shell and steamed clams, along with creative cocktails like Honey Love with tequila, Departing Gift with brandy, and 4th & Spring with vodka.