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Hotel Ballard

(28 posts)

Started 3 months ago by Compass Rose
Latest reply from phoo

Compass Rose

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Just read the story posted on the homepage. From the website, the hotel looks pretty nice. Rooms from $189 to $479. Pretty spendy on the high end. Are we going to start having celebrity sightings on Ballard Ave. now?

Posted 3 months ago #
gracie

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Glad to see a hotel in Ballard but man those prices are a little spendy. When my cousin from Iowa was coming out here he asked me for name of a good hotel in Ballard. Told him there wasn't any. Told him don't do anything on Aurora (he was looking online for places) and they ended up in Northgate area. I don't think he would pay that much as this place.
I've always wanted (don't know why) to play "tourist" in Seattle. Go to the tourist-y places and stay in a hotel downtown. Also at Xmas time to stay in hotel in downtown and check out the lights and window displays and have dinner at Tom Douglas restaurant. Haven't done it yet.

Posted 3 months ago #
Compass Rose

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Gracie, there is currently one hotel on Ballard Ave., where the old SRO hotel was. But it's nothing like this new one.

It's great fun to play tourist in your own city. We've always said we're going to take our sailboat over to Bell Harbor (the marina on the downtown waterfront) in the winter and shop at the market, go to restaurants around there, etc. We haven't done it yet either, but I'd like to. It's a great way to see your city in a different light.

Posted 3 months ago #
earl danger

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I grew up in the 'burbs just south of Seattle - and we used to stay downtown one weekend over the holidays and play "tourists" - it was a blast! I definitely recommend it =) Now I live in Ballard and work downtown, can't pay me to get downtown over the holidays if it's not for work!

Posted 3 months ago #
gracie

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Compass, this was before that other hotel in Ballard when my cousin came out here. Some day I hope to play tourist.

Posted 3 months ago #
iPlod

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Compass Rose, add some zeros to those figures and that might attract a few recently belligerent "celebrities". :D

Posted 3 months ago #
Compass Rose

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iPlod, let's hope not. I was half-joking about that, but I can see it happening. Ballard is a fine destination for a weekend in Seattle.

Posted 3 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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For 479.00 I can get a nice camper and sleep in downtown Ballard for free every night')

Posted 2 months ago #
Norwest

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Hmmm. They going to send the cops in to clean up the "gentrified" Old Ballard Ave"? Perhaps they will highlight the "rough edge"/bowery theme?

Posted 2 months ago #
NW whippet

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LOL! On the tourist subject... We took the lil hawkette out to the Great Wheel for her birthday, and went to dinner at Ivar's in downtown, and they had a wall of tourist brochures. I've only been in Seattle for 2 years, so I started grabbing all the booklets thinking to play tourist since of course I haven't seen everything yet... and Hawk was like all "Why you making me look like a cheesy tourist where I live?" I was like... I kinda still am a tourist... Sad Panda.... I wanted to do the hotel thing but that got nixed cause of the whole cheesy tourist perception.. :)

Posted 2 months ago #
Cate

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NW whippet - Once a year my whole family goes and stays in a downtown hotel and does the tourist thing - and my family has been here since the before WA was a state. Go be a tourist!

Posted 2 months ago #
NW whippet

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I have to work on the "persuasion" factor, but I do want to stay a night downtown once. While we were out we saw an Argosy tour dinner boat taking off. The lil hawkette and I wanted so badly to go on that boat... and I think we can actually convince the Daddy Hawk that it wouldn't be that cheesy. The boat looked awesome from the dock with a lovely dinner and casino. We are definitely going on a whale watching tour. But trying to get the family on a duck (which looks like such a fun time to me) is proving impossible... lol... I wanted to go on a ferry just to get our car on one, since we don't have ferries around my hometown, and that got a big laugh, but the lil one thinks it would be awesome. Has anyone here ever taken the ferries? Are they worth a trip just as a day trip?

Posted 2 months ago #
Cate

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NW Whippet _ I love the ferries! Sometimes I just walk on and ride to Bainbridge Island and back. Best ferry trip (and do it before the summer madness) are the ferries to the San Juan Islands. Beautiful. You can see the islands in a long day but a weekend is better (and I recommend Doe Bay resort to stay at - moderately priced, kind of funky, great place for kids to explore and a vegetarian friendly restaurant).

Posted 2 months ago #
NW whippet

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ohhh. That sounds right up our alley. BuffaloHawk just said his mom has been up here a couple of times, and she asked him the same thing, lol. He said she was like "Why haven't you taken them to the San Juans?"

I think that would be an awesome place. Do you know if the ferries drop off at the resort or is there a drive? We were looking for more weekend trips to take, so this one might be excellent, especially if we can camp anywhere there. We set up a tent in our living room this weekend to give the lil one a taste of camping, and she loved it. So we are wanting to make more camping trips as well.

Posted 2 months ago #
Cate

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Doe Bay Resort has camping sites! Some right on the water. You do have to drive there from the ferries.

Posted 2 months ago #
NW whippet

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oh Kewl beans!! This is a most excellent idea. Thank you so much Cate for the suggestion. We'll post the result when we go. :)

Posted 2 months ago #
teigyr

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The wheel is fun!!! I'm 8-9 years here and still have so much to see. There's some boat in a reservoir/water powered type electric plant where I think they even give you food, I'd like to do that. I'm sure people know more about it than I do, and my search terms are variable at best right now. The duck is actually ok. Mr T is 100% against it but I went with a group I'm involved in and was surprised how much I liked it. I'm offended when it passes me even now but I will say I had an incident where a driver was unprofessional and the company/local mgmt was very responsive. Mr T still won't go though and if I even acknowledge the duck, I get dirty looks but it wasn't bad.

Re the downtown tourist thing, is fun. Before I moved here and when I visited I thought I'd go to Pike Place every day for flowers and fresh veggies. Yeah...am lucky if I go there once a year :) Of course in SoCal I'm lucky if I went to the beach every 5 years, I guess you take where you live for granted.

Oh and lastly re ferries, you CAN take the ferry up the inside passage in Alaska. The ferry system there is incredible and it is tons cheaper than a cruise. There's nothing wrong with expanding the tourism but acting like a local.

**edit** I think this is it? http://www.seattle.gov/light/tours/skagit/

Posted 2 months ago #
enatai70

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To stay some place cheap in city just do Air BNB

Posted 2 months ago #
ks

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Doe Bay is on the other side of the island from the ferry. It is about as far from the ferry landing as you can get on Orcas. It is almost on the easternmost edge of the island beyond Olga and the entrance to Moran State Park. It is maybe 3 miles from the end of the road in East Orcas.

I only went to the resort once, for the Doe Bay Fest two years ago. The property is quite rustic but apart from the natural beauty of the property there are amenities. They have a great dry sauna and tubs in the woods overlooking the cove. Just know that they are clothing optional. Joe has become a player in the music industry and he has regular music from up and coming artists -- including quite a few who draw crowds in Seattle -- in the cafe throughout the year. If you go in the next month you should also be able to score tickets to the Doe Bay Fest in August. They give first priority to purchase fest tickets to those who stay there in the off season and may actually sell out this year without a public offering due to resort visitor pre-sales (or allocation).

-K

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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I have lived here my whole life & never been to the San Juans. That's a crime. The more I read here the more I'm convinced I have to fullfill my wish to play tourist in Seattle and area. I'm going to check out that Doe Bay. Sounds good. And also when the weather is a little warmer I'm going to do the tourist thing in Seattle. There are so many things I haven't been to like the Sculpture Park. I haven't been to the zoo because I have issues with animals in captivity although they have changed there. Before to see the conditions for the elephants, the monkeys was deplorable.
And ferries - I LOVE riding on the ferries. I will take one "just because". But also I have relatives "on the other side of the pond" and while I could drive, I always take the ferry.
While my first love is the Oregon Coast and I'm well known by co-workers, friends to go there every year I have to admit our area is really beautiful.

Posted 2 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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When my parents come out to visit my mother will shop at Macy's while me and my dad enjoy a few pints on the outdoor patio at Kell's in Post Alley. To pass the time me and dad play a game called locals & tourist (people with maps & cameras are disqualified). It is a fun time trying to read body language, clothing styles and attitude to determine who is visiting and who lives here.

haHa

teigyr .. When I was a tourist and decided to move here I also thought I would do the majority of my shopping at Pikes Place Market. I can get the majority of my groceries for less than it would cost to park downtown;)

Posted 2 months ago #
boatgeek

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There's hardly a better way to see Seattle than from a ferry arriving near sunset. By May or so there will be some great weather. You can walk on to the Bainbridge ferry, eat dinner or ice cream over there, and come back. The ferry costs less than 10 bucks a head round trip. If you go on a Sunday, you can park downtown for free if you can score a street spot not too far from the ferries.

Posted 2 months ago #
phoo

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WHY am I just finding out about Doe Bay 6 years after I moved here? When I lived in Oregon I would periodically go to Breitenbush. http://www.breitenbush.com/

Gracie, wanna go in on a cabin together?

Posted 2 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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phoo .. She doesn't really exist;) She is like Manti Te'o's girlfriend. It must be an online thing.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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phoo - I'm now checking out all vacation rentals at Orcas Island. Doe Bay has some gorgeous cabins. I'm looking for one with cooking facilities, and hopefully a fireplace or such. I'm not into camping - been there done that. Looking online it's amazingly beautiful up there. Can't believe I've never gone.
And again BH, you've already gone down this road with me. Time to get a new "shtick". Seriously. You just aren't very good at snarking. The old BH was a much better read.
Been meaning to ask you - but you are always snarking at me lately - is your avatar your little mini me? Cute picture.

Posted 2 months ago #
phoo

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gracie, I don't mind if you don't exist, long as you pay for half the cabin. :D

Yah, I'm looking for a cabin too. I do note that their full kitchens have a GAS stove. However, funds are likely limited for both of us, so do note that I have a portable butane burner, so that could help make a kitchenette more workable, as long as there is a safe place (and some ventilation from windows and whatnot) to have some flame and smoke (the stove does not smoke, but the pan might).

I'm looking for a cabin without too many stairs and an indoor bathroom is a must.

Posted 2 months ago #
gracie

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Phoo: *LOL* about me being non-existent. Oh yes, indoor bathroom a must. I did see some didn't have that - that is SO not me.

Posted 2 months ago #
phoo

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I really don't mind camping, but I don't want to do it all the time, and this time of year is not so good. And around lots of people it's not so good. Anything else I can work with. And it's nice to be near the hot tubs/sauna. The Eden cabin looks nice, if not very private.

Posted 2 months ago #