Seattle-cation: the new stay-cation

When the gloomy Seattle clouds finally part for those two whole days a year, why let the tourists have all the fun?

I’m not going to use the term stay-cation, because I think we’re all a little sick of that term – so let’s go with Seattle-cation instead.

A vacation in Seattle is the perfect cure to the Spring Fever that is starting to hit us all this time of year. But you don’t have to have kids to enjoy a little vacation in your own city – it’s a great way to squeeze in some downtime away from the chores and responsibilities that are always looming at home. Book a room in a neighborhood that you would love to explore but never get the chance to!

With Spring Break in Seattle just around the corner, now is the perfect time to pack up the family for a little overnight adventure in one of the city’s fun hotels.

First, the requirements for the perfect Seattle-cation location

A Pool
This one is a given if you are planning a Seattle-cation with the kids since most of us Seattle-ites don’t have pools at home. Most of the hotel pools in the city are indoor, but if you’re planning a Seattle-cation for the summer months, consider splurging on The Four Seasons on First Avenue – their outdoor rooftop pool is worth it!

Room Service
Depending on your budget, room service can mean ordering your entire meal from the hotel’s menu or just having ice cream sundaes delivered before bedtime. If you aren’t too keen on room service, you can always have a pizza delivered from your favorite place or do some exploring of the restaurants around the hotel. It’s a great way to check out a new neighborhood and maybe find a new favorite place to eat!

A Great Room
When you’re planning an overnight, get the best possible room you can afford. Since the idea of this is almost to have a slumber party at the hotel, you want somewhere that is comfortable and that you actually want to spend time enjoying! We’ve all stayed at hotels that you hardly want to touch the remote, let alone kick off your shoes and relax – this is not the time to stay at the Last Chance Resort for $29.99. Remember – you’re still saving a bundle by not having to travel, so put a little bit more into a room than you normally would, if possible.

Now, let’s talk about some places in Seattle that have great Seattle-cation potential

The Maxwell Hotel, Lower Queen Anne
One of Seattle’s newest hotels, The Maxwell is a great Seattle-cation option. First of all, the location is excellent – right on the north edge of the Seattle Center where you can run around the fountain if the weather is nice or take a visit to the Science Center or Children’s Museum. They have a wonderful indoor pool that is family friendly and kids will love the Ala Carte Program where they can order a cart full of fun goodies like Legos and art supplies.

Westin Hotel, Downtown
For the perfect downtown Seattle-cation location, the Westin is hard to beat. Amazing heated indoor pool? Check! Room service menu that will make parents and kids both happy? Check! Westin Heavenly Beds ensured to have you all sleeping like babies? Check! We also love the Westin for family travel because they are so incredibly accommodating – you can even have them get you a jogging stroller for your stay! Be

Hotel Bellevue, Downtown Bellevue
Going to the Eastside counts as getting out of town, right? The Hotel Bellevue is the hotel at the Bellevue Club, a members-only athletic and social club on the Eastside. But, you don’t have to be a club member to enjoy the hotel, which also gives you access to all their great equipment and activities. Hotel Bellevue is a great option for a family with older kids – they can check out the Youth Lounge with ping pong tables and arcade games, while you have a spa treatment! Sounds like vacation to me!

A few more Seattle-cation tips

Be flexible with dates if you can to get the best deal. Depending on the hotel, it may be cheaper to stay during the week verse the weekend or it could very well be opposite if they have a conference booked during the week. Call and find out.

Pack light. You don’t need much and lugging luggage makes this all a lot less fun.

Surprise the kids! How fun would it be to pack them up like you’re going to a dentist appointment and then SURPRISE! Seattle-cation! They’ll love you for it.

Check out more by Katie at Being5 Blog.

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