Staycation, Anyone?

Staying in a hotel in your hometown might seem unusual at first, but a mini staycation provides a change of environment, promotes mental wellbeing, and gives you an opportunity to reintroduce yourself to your home city. Here are three of our favorites for quick overnight or long weekend getaways.

 

Hotel Sorrento

A night at the four-star Hotel Sorrento can provide a refreshing break.

One of the oldest hotels in Seattle and on the National Historic Register, the independently owned Sorrento is thoughtfully renovated. The original 1909 carved wood moldings and paneling are preserved and refinished, combined with turn-of-the-century-style furniture, drapery, original art, and modern conveniences. Each room is different, and the bathroom includes a long porcelain tub, perfect for the luxurious soak you never have time for at home.

The vibe is artsy meets cozy continental, with consistently thoughtful attentive service — a rarity these days.

I recommend staying Saturday night to catch live jazz in the lovely wood-paneled Fireside Room. Dine, listen, and enjoy the fire. The excellent hotel restaurant Stella serves coastal Italian-inspired cuisine. Return there Sunday morning for more jazz during brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The music plays a large part in floating you somewhere else, combined with the architecture, décor, food, and good service.

Two blocks south is the Frye Museum, presenting contemporary art exhibits and a permanent collection of German artists, an homage by its founders to their homeland. Museum admission is always free. After browsing the exhibits, stop by the artistically decorated museum café for a Galician-inspired sandwich, salad, or snack with coffee, beer, or wine.

You won’t need to go home until late Sunday afternoon. The chores can wait.

 

Graduate Hotel

A U District fixture since 1931, when its unique combination of Art Deco style, modern concrete architecture, and height made it an instant landmark, the four-star Graduate Hotel’s cantilevered rounded corners make “every room a corner room.” The current owner, Graduate Hotels by Hilton, decorates its college-town hotels with a deep respect for local history and the nearby university community.

The Art Deco theme contains many UW touches, including sports team photos, both current and historical. The rooftop bar, the Mountaineering Club, has outstanding views of Lake Washington, the Cascades, and Olympics. A ground floor coffee shop offers breakfast, coffee, snacks, and space to hang out.

Street parking in this neighborhood is sparse. Overnight hotel valet-only parking is $44, but worth it for this dose of luxury combined with collegiate nostalgia.

 

Mayflower Park Hotel

For a quintessential Seattle staycation, the Mayflower Park Hotel offers historic charm with European elegance. Opened in 1927, this independently owned hotel features beautifully restored interiors and Queen Anne-style furnishings that balance vintage character with modern comfort.

Dine at Andaluca, where seasonal Northwest ingredients meet the flavors and spices of Spain and the Mediterranean. The restaurant serves traditional breakfast daily and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, offering dishes like marinated olives with fragrant herbs, seared scallops with lime-cilantro vinaigrette, and a hearty Andaluca Paella packed with prawns, clams, chicken, and saffron rice.

Afterward, visit Oliver’s Lounge — Washington’s first daylight bar — for a perfectly crafted cocktail.