Arts & Entertainment
Friday,
April 8, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 14
Tue, May 21, 2013
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
Out of Town |
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| Great Hideaways of the Pacific Northwest | ||
| by Andrew Collins
Whether youre seeking an urbane getaway in Portland, Seattle, or Vancouver, or youd rather a quieter and more secluded retreat - perhaps on British Columbias scenic Salt Spring Island or in Oregons lush Willamette Valley - youll have little trouble finding a distinctive, inviting, and Gay-friendly accommodation in the Pacific Northwest. Some people assume the region is too rainy or cold to visit except in summer, but the Pacific Northwest offers a relatively mild climate year-round, and in late fall through early spring its possible to find some great hotel and B&B deals. Heres a look at just some of the many desirable getaways in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, from cosmopolitan boutique hotels to rustic countryside inns. ACE HOTEL, Seattle This ultra-chic boutique hotel in trendy Belltown, a short drive or cab ride from the Gay bars and businesses of Capitol Hill, contains just 28 rooms, with soaring loft ceilings, hardwood floors, and futuristic furniture. Some units have shared baths, making this one of the more affordable yet stylish lodging options in the Pacific Northwest. The best - and priciest - rooms overlook Elliott Bay and the distant Olympic Mountains. Fresh flowers brighten the otherwise minimalist rooms, which are all wired for high-speed Internet. CLOUD 9 B&B, Salt Spring Island, B.C. Built in 2000 on Gay-friendly and exceedingly beautiful Salt Spring Island, this 5,000-square-foot house with brilliant water views exudes luxury and offers plenty of seclusion. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired main house sits on 5 acres of wooded hillside. There are just three rooms, one in the main house and two in the separate Coach House, a short stroll away. The two suites in the Coach House offer the most privacy and room to spread out; each has a Jacuzzi whirlpool tub, heated floors, and a fireplace. CD-stereos, down duvets and pillows, and satellite TV/VCRs round out the in-room amenities, and theres also an outdoor hot tub on the grounds. DEER PATH LOOKOUT, Kaleden, B.C. This distinctive adobe-style inn sits perched amid fragrant pine trees and sagebrush, nestled in the heart of interior British Columbias delightful South Okanagan wine region. This part of the province is dry and sunny, yet rife with lakes, vineyards, and breathtaking natural scenery. The Gay-owned inn, whose design seems inspired by the Pueblo-style homes of northern New Mexico, contains four simply but elegantly furnished rooms; theres also a separate one-bedroom bungalow with two secluded courtyards and a full kitchen. Some rooms have fireplaces, and the inn has a heated outdoor swimming pool. THE ENGLISH INN, Port Townsend In the secluded but sophisticated town of Port Townsend, on Washingtons lush Olympic Peninsula, this venerable pale-blue inn offers guests a true taste of Victorian splendor. The imposing Italianate structure dates to 1885 and contains four lavishly outfitted but reasonably priced rooms, all with fine antiques and beds decked with cushy throw pillows and downy linens. The inn lies just a mile or so from the towns idyllic waterfront, which is lined with fine restaurants and shops. From here you can also catch the ferry to Whidbey Island and the San Juan Islands. EXCELSIOR INN, Eugene An intimate and upscale hotel edging the campus of the University of Oregon, this former frat house basks in luxury today. The 14 finely appointed rooms are named for classical composers and range from cozy doubles with hardwood floors and arched windows to full suites with marble baths, VCRs, and vaulted ceilings. The on-site restaurant presents stellar Northern Italian fare, plus a memorable complimentary full breakfast each morning. HOTEL LUSSO, Spokane The Hotel Lusso is in the heart of Spokane, a relatively conservative eastern Washington city where a group of ambitious business leaders announced plans to create a Gay district in early 2005. The plan has been met with mixed reviews, even by some Lesbian and Gay residents. But if youre keen on checking out what this city of 200,000 has to offer, consider booking a room at this historic and very charming boutique hotel. It comprises a pair of adjoining turn-of-the-century buildings with light, airy rooms with subtle earth tones and clean lines. The hip yet homey accommodations have 12-14-foot high ceilings and state-of-the-art amenities, and theres a first-rate steak and seafood restaurant on the ground floor. INN AT SWIFTS BAY, Lopez Island A highly romantic hideaway thats long been popular with Gays and Lesbians, this attractive inn has exquisitely furnished guest rooms; the most romantic suite has wine-color walls, skylights, a separate sitting room, and twin showerheads in the bath. Theres a common library stocked with books and movies, a hot tub tucked into the garden, and a separate exercise studio with a two-person sauna. Part of the scenic San Juan Islands archipelago, Lopez Island offers plenty of peace and quiet. METROPOLITAN HOTEL, Vancouver, B.C. With properties in Toronto and Vancouver, Metropolitan Hotels has emerged in recent years as one of Canadas favorite brands for urbane, sophisticated travelers who appreciate personal service and slick decor. Vancouvers Metropolitan is set along Howe Street, close to Burrard Inlet, the great shopping of Robson Street, and historic Gastown - its a 10-minute walk from Gay nightlife in the West End. The hotel has about 200 rooms and 18 suites - many units have private balconies, and all have marble bathrooms with separate showers and deep soaking tubs. Amenities include a top-notch gym, heated indoor pool, steam room, and squash court. The restaurant, Diva at the Met, earns considerable kudos for such stellar fare as Pacific halibut with artichoke-fennel ravioli and lobster consomme. MORICAL HOUSE GARDEN INN, Ashland The charming and progressive southern Oregon community of Ashland has long been a favorite Gay getaway, especially as its home to one of the worlds most acclaimed Shakespeare festivals, from February through October. The sleek and rather cosmopolitan Morical House Garden Inn lies within easy walking distance of the festival theaters and downtown shops and restaurants. Although this Eastlake-style Victorian house dates to the 1880s, the interior feels thoroughly 21st century, with clean lines, contemporary art and photography, and nine sublimely decorated rooms with 360-thread-count linens and Asian furniture. Two acres of organic gardens and lawns surround the house, traversed by paths and punctuated by Adirondack chairs. Its hard to imagine a more relaxing retreat, and in a more inviting community. VILLA MARCO POLO INN, Victoria Occupying an Italian Renaissance mansion built in the 1920s in Victorias exclusive Rockland district, Villa Marco Polo has just four suites, but each offers its own fabulously sensual theme and lots of space to make yourself at home. Choose from among the Silk Road, Zanzibar, Persia, or Alexandria suites - each contains sumptuous imported furniture and linens. Other impressive in-room touches include fireplaces, separate sitting areas, plush bathrobes, wireless Internet, leaded-glass windows, hand-painted murals, and fresh flowers. In the morning, enjoy an expansive breakfast in the sun-dappled dining room - the pear-ginger pancakes with ginger-marmalade syrup are a specialty. WHITE HOUSE B&B, Portland Its amazing just how much this Greek Revival wedding cake of a mansion resembles its presidential namesake in Washington, D.C. This White House was built in 1911 for one of the citys most esteemed lumber barons, and its now one of Portlands Gay-friendliest inns, sitting within walking distance of the hip Pearl District and the lively shopping and dining along Northeast 23rd Avenue. The Main House contains five glorious and huge rooms, and the snug Carriage House offers three more opulent accommodations. Theres wireless Internet throughout the house, and a well-regarded full breakfast is served each morning. Best of all, Portland offers the perfect balance between a dynamic urban destination and a green, garden-studded landscape. THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK Ace Hotel (2423 1st Ave., Seattle, WA, 206-448-4721, www.acehotel.com). Cloud 9 B&B (238 Sun Eagle Dr., Salt Spring Island, BC, 250-537-2776 or 877-722-8233, www.cloud9oceanview.com). Deer Path Lookout (150 Saddlehorn Dr., Kaleden, BC, 877-497-8999, www.deerpathlookout.bc.ca). The English Inn (718 F St., Port Townsend, WA, 360-385-5302 or 800-254-5302, www.english-inn.com). Excelsior Inn (754 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, OR, 541-342-1417 or 800-321-6963, www.excelsiorinn.com). Hotel Lusso (1 N. Post St., Spokane, WA, 509-747-9750, www.slh.com/lusso). Inn at Swifts Bay (856 Port Stanley Rd., Lopez Island, WA, 360-468-3636 or 800-903-9536, www.swiftsbay.com). Metropolitan Hotel (645 Howe St., Vancouver, BC, 604-687-1122 or 800-667-2300, www.metropolitan.com/vanc). Morical House Garden Inn (668 N. Main St., Ashland, OR, 541-482-2254 or 800-208-0960, www.garden-inn.com). Villa Marco Polo Inn (1524 Shasta Pl., Victoria, BC, 250-370-1524 or 877-601-1524, www.villamarcopolo.com). White House Bed & Breakfast (1914 N.E. 22nd Ave., Portland, OR, 503-287-7131 or 800-272-7131, www.portlandswhitehouse.com).t Andrew Collins is the author of Fodors Gay Guide to the USA and eight additional travel guides. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com. |
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 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 NOT THINKING STRAIGHT Madelyn Arnold |
