In addition to regular stories on all things that make the Southwest shine, each month The Best of the Southwest is taking readers on an easy weekend getaway, sharing the ultimate itinerary for a destination either a quick drive or short flight away, in a column we call Field Trip Friday. Today’s field trip: Seattle.   

Seattle musts:

• Stay at the classy, historic Fairmont Olympic Hotel and enjoy bites from The George and pampering at the onsite spa.
• Adventure to Pike Place Market for the ultimate infusion of local artisans, food and vendors, with easy access to nearby attractions (Seatle Aquarium, Great Seattle Wheel, Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture and Chihuly Garden and Glass)
• Book a Lake Union Hot Tub Boat, with mobile hot tubs, allowing guests to cruise Lake Union with an easy-to-navigate electric motor. 

Destination: Seattle

While the fictional Emerald City may not have been Dorothy’s cup of tea, the very real Seattle — nicknamed the Emerald City for its epic evergreen appearance year-round — and the surrounding region has something to satisfy everyone’s tastes. 

Located on the eastern shore of the Puget Sound, an interconnected waterway alive with marine life including whales year-round, Seattle is surrounded by three national parks (Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park) and covered in evergreen trees in every direction. Its name is a derivative of “Sealth,” which is the name of a chief of the Suquamish tribe in the 1850s. 

Getting There: Only a 30-minute drive from the airport to Downtown Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) International Airport has more than 1,100 flights each day, on average. It has nonstop options from nearly 100 cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Reno/Tahoe, Albuquerque and Salt Lake City. The airport is less than 30 minutes from the heart of Downtown Seattle by car, and there is also light rail service, which usually takes less than 40 minutes. 

Stay: Fairmont Olympic Hotel 

While there are countless epic options from which to choose when seeking accommodations, the 100-year-old Fairmont Olympic Hotel is special, offering elegance, class, breathtaking suites, and a spa program and dining destinations that rival the most marvelous around the world. 

The resort, which is in the National Register of Historic Places, was restored and reinvigorated in recent years via a multi-million-dollar investment, and it shows. Today, the property is the perfect blend of regal architecture, historic elegance and modern amenities. 

The first thing that will strike visitors is the Olympic Bar, which serves as the centerpiece of the resort, bringing together the lobby, lounge and library spaces. Wooded and expansive, the space feels like it reaches into the heavens. As one looks up, a towering kinetic art installation inspired by the Fairmont Olympic’s historic logo comes into frame. A whimsical work of art, the piece features wood, iron, sails and rope and even has ocean-like movement. Prepare to be enchanted and hypnotized by the piece, and then by the delectable drinks and small bites from behind the bar. 

During the day, the space also hosts afternoon tea, and if one looks hard enough, they will find a hidden lounge — Founder’s Lounge — off the bar, which feels almost like a speakeasy with its dark and brooding design but is warm and welcoming for all those who enter. The craft cocktails in this space are off the charts, but it’s a first-come, first-serve lounge with limited seating so plan ahead!

Dining: Microbrews, oysters and more

Speaking of planning, set aside at least two full meals when staying at the hotel. The George, which is the hotel’s signature eatery, offers a brasserie-inspired dining experience featuring the Pacific Northwest’s freshest seafood, dry-aged meats and seasonal local produce. Named after the historic Georgian dining room, The George blends classical architecture by George B. Post with a modern redesign, including an art-deco bar, a new street entrance, pendant chandeliers and Palladian windows. 

Seafood lovers will adore Shuckers, one of Seattle’s original oyster bars. This sea-inspired treat on property offers fresh Northwest seafood and local artisan microbrews in a pub-style setting. The restaurant features intricately carved oak paneling and a distinctive tin ceiling, reflecting its past as a 1930s haberdashery (aka, a fine clothing goods store back in the day). 

Fairmont Olympic Spa day

Not to be outdone by all the food and drink, the wellness pursuits at the Fairmont Olympics are similarly stunning. The health club is nearly 11,000 square feet with a 42-foot-long heated indoor pool and hot tub in a sunny solarium with a skylight roof. Locker rooms include showers and dry saunas to improve oxygen flow and alleviate muscle aches. In addition to a host of cutting-edge equipment, the gym even has crispy Washington apples, to boot! 

Of course, there is also a full-service spa. Called Penelope and the Beauty Bar, it is unique in that it offers customized facials with top European and Japanese brands, along with advanced medi-spa procedures like fillers and microneedling as well as Coolift cryo-facials, non-surgical facelifts, European-designed body slimming machines, and then more standard favorites, too. 

One final reason to stay: The bees!

There are eight beehives on the roof of the resort, which can house up to a quarter million bees during the height of the season and results in about 500 pounds of perfect honey that is used in cocktails, dishes and even to make a custom honey-infused Olympic vodka, which is made in partnership with local distiller Sun Liquor.

Play: Pikes Place Market, Seattle Aquarium and more!

Pike Place Market

The heartbeat of the city, Pike Place Market is a nine-acre epicurean outpost that sprawls across Puget Sound and is walking distance from the Fairmont Olympic. It comes alive every morning with flying fish, produce, flower shops, an arcade, dozens of eateries, vintage clothing, sweets, wines and collectibles. 

Home to more than 500 vendors, Pike Place Market can be tough to determine how much time to budget to this bucket list foodie destination, so planning is key. Eat Seattle Tours is a great option for those who want to do it in style with a local in the know. The outfitter has a delightful walking tour as well as a coffee-themed expedition and several custom private tours from which to choose. 

Pike Place Market is a short walk from several of the city’s other musts, including the Seatle Aquarium, Great Seattle Wheel, Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture and Chihuly Garden and Glass. It’s easy to plan a day to knock out these attractions together or over the course of a few days. 

Seattle Aquarium

The Seattle Aquarium boasts a 40-foot viewing window into a 120,000-gallon aquarium filled with salmon, rockfish, vibrant sea anemones, other native Washington marine life and interactive divers. Other exhibits include two pools filled with sea anemones and sunflower sea star, a Pacific coral reef exhibit, marine mammals and an underwater dome, the aquarium’s largest exhibit. 

The aquarium is located on Pier 59, which also offers daily Argosy Cruises. This is Seattle’s largest water sightseeing tour operator with daily excursions to Seattle’s harbor, Lake Union, Lake Washington, the Hiram Chittenden Locks and Puget Sound.

The Great Seattle Wheel

The Great Seattle Wheel is a 175-foot Ferris wheel with plush enclosed glass gondolas that offer panoramic views of the city skyline, Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. 

The Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass

The Space Needle is a 605-foot-tall landmark originally constructed to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations for the 1962 World’s Fair. Guests may book tickets to visit the Space Needle or pair it with admission to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit next door. This series of galleries highlights artist Dale Chihuly’s work with color, form, and light using glassblowing and larger-than-life art installations.

Both the Space Needle and Chihuly are also walking distance from the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP. This dreamy space features radical exhibits on myths, magic, horror, rock’n’roll, science fiction, gaming and locally grown musicians including Jimmy Hendrix and Nirvana. It even has a sound lab where visitors can record music. 

There is also a slew of lesser-known adventures across the city. 

Off the beaten path: Bonus Seattle hotspots

If seeking to get on the water, book a Lake Union Hot Tub Boat. These mobile hot tubs (pack a swimsuit) allow guests to cruise Lake Union with an easy-to-navigate electric motor. Each hot tub has Bluetooth and ample cooler space for guests to bring their own food or drink. 

Should wellness be a focus, Fyre Sauna is, “fire” (as the kids say). This Nordic-style spa experience offers a slew of Scandinavian-style dry saunas and cold plunges in the middle of a blooming orchard just outside of downtown that flush toxins and boost dopamine and serotonin levels. 

And after dark? It is all about spirits and spirits thanks to Nightly Spirits Ghost Tour. A combination pub crawl and haunted tour, each experience explores the spookier side of Seattle with a drink or two along the way. 

Seattle also happens to be among the preeminent food cities in America, offering a wide variety of locally sourced Pacific Northwest fare as well as an impressive array of globally influenced drinks and dishes. Among the best bets for dining are James Beard darling Canlis, artful Atrium Kitchen and soulful Communion Restaurant & Bar. For libations, seek out the iconic Von’s 1000 Spirits, British pub Elephant & Castle, speakeasy-style Needle & Thread, wine-focused Sparkman Cellars, hand-made spirit house Copperworks Distilling and bubbly McQueen Champagne Bar. 

For more information, visit visitseattle.org.