Boutique hotels in the state of Washington allow travelers to experience the diverse characteristics of the Pacific Northwest region. The best of these specialized lodging choices incorporate the local environment into their design and amenities, to satisfy the guest who desires something outside of corporate chain hotels.
Located in a historic building in the downtown Seattle core, what was once the city's Vance Hotel has been transformed into the stylish and eclectic Hotel Max. Dubbed "hipper-than-thou" by "Travel and Leisure Magazine," the distinguishing feature here is art; the hotel has lots of it. With over 350 original paintings and photographs throughout the lobby, hallways and guest rooms, it's like visiting a gallery of Washington state's acclaimed and emerging artists.
The hotel's on-site restaurant, the Red Fin, serves Asian Fusion cuisine, with happy hours and late night hours. The location is within walking distance of all the major attractions of downtown Seattle, including Pikes Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum and the Experience Music Project.
Hotel Max
620 Stewart St.
Seattle, WA 98101
206-728-6299
hotelmaxseattle.com
The Abeja Winery and Inn offers guests a chance to sleep in the heart of the Washington State wine country. Surrounded by vineyards bursting with fruit and golden wheat fields, the Walla Walla region of Eastern Washington is home to over 100 wineries. The Abeja winery is housed in what was once a mule and horse barn in a turn-of-the-century farmstead; the various outbuildings across the property have been transformed into guest quarters. The individual cottages were once working facilities like a bunk house, chicken coop, summer kitchen and carriage house. They now offer full kitchens, gas fireplaces, satellite television and Internet access. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, this boutique winery inn is noted in Fodor's travel site for its "bucolic views" and "beautiful grounds," as well as for their private winery tours.
Inn at Abeja
2014 Mill Creek Road
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-522-1234
abeja.net
Tucked away in the middle of a temperate rainforest in the Olympic National Park, the Lake Quinault Lodge is a rustic hotel built in 1926 on the shores of a glacial lake. The Gayot Travel Website calls this lodge "the Northwest's answer to Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn." There are miles of hiking trails just outside the door; each guestroom is equipped with a hand-carved walking stick to make trekking through old-growth forests a bit easier.
The Grand Room in the lobby invites guests to sip brandy by a massive stone fireplace and play chess or board games. There are no phones in the rooms, television only in the lakeside facility. Don't expect Internet access; this is a place to embrace nature in a true sense.
Lake Quinault Lodge
South Shore Rd.
Box 7
Quinault, WA 98575
360-288-2900
olympicnationalparks.com
