Get away: Seattle, Washington

Seattle is one of the great cosmopolitan cities in the West, and with a direct flight leaving Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport early Friday morning and returning late Sunday night, it’s great for a long weekend getaway. With authentic dim sum in the International District, some of the best sushi restaurants in the country, and bistro-style bar fare at many of the city’s trendy pubs, Seattle is a gastronome’s dream.

Getting here: Drive – 10 hours west, but for a long weekend, it’d be silly not to fly

Fly – Alaska Airlines has a direct flight that gets you to Seattle Friday morning before many businessmen are starting their commute

Dining: Salumi

Founded by Armandino Batali, father of renowned chef Mario Batali, Salumi showcases its cured meats in the heart of Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square. Salumi’s artisan meats are cured in the back of their tiny storefront deli, drawing inspiration from the traditional Italian salumeria. Numerous cold sandwiches and three hot sandwiches are featured daily, with their signature salsa made of olive oil, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley and capers. Salumi is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but plan to show up early. At 10:45 a.m. on a drizzly mid-October day there was a line of 15 people waiting for the door to open.

Tip: Get the hot Porchetta sandwich: “Pork butt stuffed with meatball mix and braised for a long time.” Enough said.

Lodging: The Ace Hotel

Located in the heart of Belltown and a short walk to the Space Needle, Pike’s Place Market and the Seattle waterfront, The Ace Hotel is where you want to rest your head. A former mariners’ hotel and some of the cheapest accommodations in downtown, The Ace is a boutique hotel with lofted ceilings and hardwood floors. Standard rooms feature a sink and vanity, large windows and a minibar, with a shared bath down the hall. Deluxe rooms offer large beds, a private bath and original artwork on the walls. However, you may not have time to enjoy your weekend abode, as it could take weeks to try all the restaurants and bars in happening Belltown.

Featured activity: Pike’s Place Market

There are parks and paths to explore around the city, but it does rain in Seattle during the fall and winter so be prepared to seek shelter. Pike’s Place Market, with its covered walkway, is the perfect spot to enjoy the bountiful harvest of the Pacific Northwest and its fresh seafood, flowers and apple cider from Washington orchards. The market is a tourist destination, but for good reason. Get a coffee at the original Starbucks if you’re willing to stand in line or just enjoy the antics of the street performers; you may see a guy balancing a guitar on his chin while singing and solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Tip: Take a break from strolling the market and hit the Tasting Room Seattle, a stone’s throw up the hill. It features some of Washington’s most celebrated wines and offers a number of flights to choose from; the sparkling flight is perfect for a mid-afternoon respite.

Rob Calhoun and Margaret Marshall enjoy some of Washington’s finest wines on Oct. 18 at the Tasting Room Seattle