Seattle Vacation Ideas

Looking to get out of Washington? Want to pamper yourself while exploring a part of the Northwest you may not have visited recently (or ever)? Well, you can find luxurious spa resorts in the darndest places…including the high desert country of Central Oregon.

About five hours from Seattle lies Spa Wanapine at the Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino. It’s a haven for some relaxing pampering in family-friendly surroundings. And just in case you’re thinking this place might be too obscure to consider, Spa Wanapine was named a top-five U.S. spa by Shape Magazine (2000).

And unlike some of those hoity toity have-to-leave-the-kids-at-home spas, this resort is family friendly. When you’re not enjoying your favorite treatments (such as the Spa Wanapine Massage with essential oil–$95–or an invigorating salt-glow exfoliation and six-head Vichy shower–$110), you and your family can explore the Olympic-size swimming pool and mini golf course. Adults will also enjoy the 18-hole golf course, and of course there is gambling at the casino. More nearby family-friendly activities include fishing, rafting, and kayaking on the Deschutes River. There’s also a museum at Warm Springs, which features great collections of Indian art and artifacts.

Overnight lodging is quite reasonable. If you want to pamper yourself, consider the luxury Chief Suite for $279, but if you’re looking for a more economical outing, consider bringing the RV ($40 per night for an RV site) or staying in a tepee (tepees provided but bring your own bedding) for $69 a night.

More information:

http://www.kahneeta.com/

If you’re looking to beat the crowds and find a vacation spot within a couple hours of Seattle, Lake Crescent may be the place to visit.

Located on the Olympic Peninsula, the lake is rimmed by an impressive array of mountains and lush green trees. You can find all the usual activities (swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, etc.) on and around the 624-foot deep 8.5-mile long lake. Freshwater Lake Crescent is especially known for its Beardslee trout, a large subspecies that runs in the 12-14 pound range and is known for putting up a fight once it’s hooked. (Apparently that’s a good thing if you’re a fisherman or woman who likes a challenge.)

If you’re looking for a place to stay, you can check out the Log Cabin Resort on the lake’s northeast end. Rates start around $50, and you can find rustic cabins, motel rooms, and waterfront A-frame chalets. There’s some history to the place, and many of the buildings have been standing since the 1920s. There are also hookups for RVs, if you prefer your 21st Century luxury motorhome to a rustic historic cabin. Or if you really want to rough it, they have tent spots too.

You can experience all the lake activities without leaving the resort. There’s a grocery store, and meals are served in the lodge if you prefer someone else do the cooking. When you’re done eating, head outdoors for rowboat, canoe, paddleboat, and kayak rentals. You’ll get quite the workout if you kayak all the way around the lake! (I’m not sure I’d try it in a paddleboat.)

The resort is located three miles from Hwy 101 on E. Beach Road and is open April-October.

http://www.logcabinresort.net/

I adopted a dog a few weeks ago, so now I’m thinking of dog-friendly vacation spots. Seattle can be a great city for pets (lots of dog parks, trails, and hiking spots), and there are more and more hotels that allow pets these days. Even luxury hotels are catering to dog owners.

Here’s a look at a few of the pet friendly hotels in Seattle:

Sorrento Hotel
900 Madison Street
Seattle, Washington 98104

According to their website, dogs are welcome. There are no notations on size restrictions or extra costs, but you may want to call ahead and check that out. (Many hotels will only allow small dogs and almost all of them charge a deposit and/or cleaning fee.)

W Hotels Seattle
1112 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101

These guys charge a $100 cleaning fee and an extra $25 a night, but they have services just for pets: “toys, treats, bedding, dog-sitting, dog-walking and more.”

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Seattle-sea-tac Airport
19621 International Blvd
Seattle, Washington 98188

This hotel is near SeaTac and allows pets with a $125 deposit ($50 is kept for a cleaning fee). Dogs may be left unattended in the room if they are crated. There is a lake across the street to take your pet for a walk.

Hotel Vintage Park
1100 5th Ave.
Seattle, Washington 98101

This looks to be a luxury hotel for pets as well as people: “The boutique Hotel Vintage Park welcomes your pooch with Hotel Vintage Park dog tags and grape-shaped dog treats from Chez Puppy for our canine guests during wine hour. We can also arrange for dog-sitting services and a personalized doggie itinerary, designed to keep pooches happy while owners are away. Fees for these services vary based on need.” It’s in the heart of downtown within walking distance of lots of sight-seeing stops.

These are just a few of the hotels that allow dogs in Seattle. If none of them fits your bill, do a Google search for “pet friendly hotel in Seattle” to get more results.

Lots of skiing enthusiasts in the Seattle area head up to Whistler, BC for the famous snow, but did you know the area has five championship golf courses as well? If you have a set of golf clubs (or just think it’d be fun to learn to play), you can head up for a weekend of luxurious resort-style living and golfing on renowned courses.

The Coast Whistler Hotel is next to the Arnold-Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Course, if you’re looking for a place to stay that is nicely located. It’s perched near Whistler Village, where you can browse the 200-odd shops, choose from 100 restaurants, and hit the numerous bars for a taste of Canadian night life.

And when you’re not busy shopping, eating, and drinking, you’ll spend your time on the par-71, 18-hole, 6722-yard golf course. It’s surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lined with ancient cedars and fir trees, and the home of winding streams, lakes, and pristine white sand bunkers. Apparently, this being Canada, it’s not uncommon to see a black bear sauntering across the fairway (I suggest you let the bear play through…)

http://www.coastwhistlerhotel.com
http://www.whistlergolf.com/

If you’re booking a trip to Seattle, you can stay in any old hotel–such as one by a commercial chain that’s exactly the same no matter what part of the world you’re staying in–or you can spend the night in a hotel that is a part of the culture of the city. From Puget Sound to Lake Washington, to dozens of smaller bodies, water is everywhere in the Seattle area, so why not stay in a waterfront suite? And it doesn’t get much more waterfront than a hotel perched on a pier overlooking the Sound.

Located in the heart of downtown, the Edgewater Hotel offers views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay. The sun sets over the water, so their outdoor patio would be a great place to dine in the summer, and even in cooler months you can enjoy the view from a cozy chair inside your room.

The hotel is decorated like a mountain lodge (all rooms offer pine furnishings and gas fireplaces) but features all the modern conveniences: fitness center, restaurant with Asian-inspired Pacific Northwest cuisine, internet, massage, babysitting, dry cleaning, and don’t forget the in-room coffee service where you receive free (what else?) Starbucks coffees and teas.

Rates start around $170 a night.

http://www.edgewaterhotel.com